Career Planning Is NOT an Option!!

1. Career Planning Is NOT an Option!! Keys to Planning for Career Options

2. FACTS……. • One third of today’s graduates fail to find stable employment by age 30. • Just getting a college degree in anything will not guarantee you a great career! • 1 out of 3 Domino’s Pizza drivers has a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. • Today’s teenager can expect to change careers paths seven times.

3. Educational Facts • Each year, 18.3% of students in grades 7-12 don’t return to school. • 88.2% of community college students don’t go on to a four year college. • 52% of students attending four year schools don’t finish their degree. • Students that don’t finish their educational goals will be unprepared for the workforce

4. Education after High School is a necessity!! • Half of all adults (ages 35-53) are enrolled in post-secondary career-related coursework • College graduates, age 25 and over, earn nearly twice as much as workers with a high school diploma. • Students who do not follow through with their educational goals lose $420,000 over a lifetime by not completing school.

5. Education is a major investment!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ • Tuition costs have climbed more than twice the inflation rate for the last 10 years. • Financial aid is shifting from a grant to a loan-based system, accounting for 58% of all aid. • 64% of college seniors now graduate IN DEBT..a load that has doubled in the last 8 years! • 42% of full time college students are employed or looking for work. • The lesson here: spend your time wisely in college !!

6. What Kind of Degree Should I Get? • The type of degree you have influences your employability • Technology/communications tops the list of employability skills • The top five fastest growing occupations all require a high level of computer capabilities • The careers with the most opportunity and highest salary all require at least an associate’s degree.

7. Do You Really Want to Get a Career by: • Luck ???…whatever happens… happens… • Compromise ???…..oh, well it could be worse, at least I can pay my bills…even if I hate my job!!! • Accident ???…..do you really like being a pinball????? IF NOT…….

8. Make a Plan of Action • Find out who you are • Take plenty of aptitude, interests and skills tests • Pick a Career Pathway • Make plans for preparation • Make personal contacts

9. Begin by Assessing Yourself…. • Be aware of your values (personal, important things) • Know your personality • Know your desired lifestyle and what it will cost.

10. Types of Tests Interest Tests Identify careers related to your selected hobbies and interests Aptitude Tests Identify your academic strengths/weaknesses and the connection to careers Skills Tests Where to Take Tests As a part of your school counseling program Your Career Center On-line tests Take Career Assessments

11. Pick a Career Pathway

12. Plan for Your Career Preparation

13. Make Real World Contacts • Do Volunteer work in your proposed Career Pathway • Find a mentor in your Career Pathway that can help guide you • Keep a file of business cards for professionals you meet and others who can help

14. Career and Technology Courses

15. Maintain a sense of flexibility and balance • With the passage of time, you will change. • With the passage of time, the world, business, technology, and industry will change. • Make sure that you have the training, skills, and patience to change with it!!

16. Move out of your “comfort zone” • Don’t let “fear” (whatever your personal fear happens to be) keep you from your visions!!! • Overcoming your fears, increases your sense of personal power and enables you to achieve even more of your desires.