Components of a Career Plan

1. Components of a Career Plan Vision or the �Big Picture� Self Assessment Gap Analysis & S.W.O.T Analysis Objectives & Goals Short-term & Long-Term - Specific, measurable & achievable Action Plan/Strategies - Specific, measurable & achievable Each of us must develop a vision for our life & for our future. Strategic Planning is really about managing change to achieve a vision. Manage your career like you do your time, $, & other important & limited resources... Be PRO-ACTIVE about this process. The 1st step in a job search process isn�t to write your resume & apply for jobs � it�s to assess your skills, preferences, & your personality. Most folks spend more time selecting a cell phone or a car than they do planning their career. Strategic Plan Analysis applications for career planning : Values � guiding beliefs Mission - purpose Vision � what we desire to become Trend Analysis, Individual Assessment, & Strategic Issues Strategies, Goals, Objectives, & Action Steps Implementation, Monitoring, & Assessment Each of us must develop a vision for our life & for our future. Strategic Planning is really about managing change to achieve a vision. Manage your career like you do your time, $, & other important & limited resources... Be PRO-ACTIVE about this process. The 1st step in a job search process isn�t to write your resume & apply for jobs � it�s to assess your skills, preferences, & your personality. Most folks spend more time selecting a cell phone or a car than they do planning their career. Strategic Plan Analysis applications for career planning : Values � guiding beliefs Mission - purpose Vision � what we desire to become Trend Analysis, Individual Assessment, & Strategic Issues Strategies, Goals, Objectives, & Action Steps Implementation, Monitoring, & Assessment

2. Be realistic, but don�t avoid challenges. Consider the obstacles & challenges you might encounter. Some obstacles may actually be opportunities in disguise. Your career plan is a series of calculated steps that lead to an end result. There may be more than one path to reach your goal. Which is the right path for you? Which route will you take on your journey? Goals must be specific, realistic, & have a time component. Be realistic, but don�t avoid challenges. Consider the obstacles & challenges you might encounter. Some obstacles may actually be opportunities in disguise. Your career plan is a series of calculated steps that lead to an end result. There may be more than one path to reach your goal. Which is the right path for you? Which route will you take on your journey? Goals must be specific, realistic, & have a time component.

3. Self-Assessment Who, where, what, why, and how? What education has been attained? What skills have been developed? What experiences have taken place? What is the current state of your career? What is your S.W.O.T. Analysis What do you enjoy doing? What are the key values? Yesterday? Today? Tomorrow?Yesterday? Today? Tomorrow?

5. Your Personal S.W.O.T. Analysis It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieving the objective. SWOT analysis groups key pieces of information into two main categories: Internal factors � The strengths and weaknesses internal to the organization. External factors � The opportunities and threats presented by the external environment. If SWOT analysis does not start with defining a desired end state or objective, it runs the risk of being useless. A SWOT analysis may be incorporated into the strategic planning model. An example of a strategic planning technique that incorporates an objective-driven SWOT analysis is SCAN analysis. Strategic Planning, including SWOT and SCAN analysis, has been the subject of much research. If a clear objective has been identified, SWOT analysis can be used to help in the pursuit of that objective. In this case, SWOTs are: Strengths: attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objective. Weaknesses: attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objective. Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective. Threats: external conditions that are harmful to achieving the objective. Asking and answering each of the following four questions, many times: How can we Use each Strength? How can we Stop each Weakness? How can we Exploit each Opportunity? How can we Defend against each Threat? What Differentiates you from the other 1.5m college grads each year ( in the U.S. alone)? Work History &/or Internship � employers will select someone with prior experience over someone without Volunteer Experience Student Organization participation & leadership Cross-functional skills � problem solving ability, team player, communication, leadership, customer service skills, A Record of Accomplishment Technical skills, languages, etc... It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective. The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieving the objective. SWOT analysis groups key pieces of information into two main categories: Internal factors � The strengths and weaknesses internal to the organization. External factors � The opportunities and threats presented by the external environment. If SWOT analysis does not start with defining a desired end state or objective, it runs the risk of being useless. A SWOT analysis may be incorporated into the strategic planning model. An example of a strategic planning technique that incorporates an objective-driven SWOT analysis is SCAN analysis. Strategic Planning, including SWOT and SCAN analysis, has been the subject of much research. If a clear objective has been identified, SWOT analysis can be used to help in the pursuit of that objective. In this case, SWOTs are: Strengths: attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objective. Weaknesses: attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objective. Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective. Threats: external conditions that are harmful to achieving the objective. Asking and answering each of the following four questions, many times: How can we Use each Strength? How can we Stop each Weakness? How can we Exploit each Opportunity? How can we Defend against each Threat? What Differentiates you from the other 1.5m college grads each year ( in the U.S. alone)? Work History &/or Internship � employers will select someone with prior experience over someone without Volunteer Experience Student Organization participation & leadership Cross-functional skills � problem solving ability, team player, communication, leadership, customer service skills, A Record of Accomplishment Technical skills, languages, etc...

6. Gap Analysis Assessing today against the vision Career Situational Assessment: Where are you in relation to where you want to go? Current situation? How near or far are you from your desired goal? What stage are you at in your career? Are you in a job that will take you to your ideal situation? Which areas require improvement? Close the Career Gap: In business and economics, gap analysis is a business resource assessment tool enabling a company to compare its actual performance with its potential performance. What is your market potential? Write your IDEAL Resume & compare to reality � Figure out what you must do to address these career gaps or shortcomings. Career Situational Assessment: Where are you in relation to where you want to go? Current situation? How near or far are you from your desired goal? What stage are you at in your career? Are you in a job that will take you to your ideal situation? Which areas require improvement? Close the Career Gap: In business and economics, gap analysis is a business resource assessment tool enabling a company to compare its actual performance with its potential performance. What is your market potential? Write your IDEAL Resume & compare to reality � Figure out what you must do to address these career gaps or shortcomings.

8. Setting Your Career Direction Your Profile: Major Skills Interests Values Preferences Translate into Careers Learn from Others Reality Career Counselor Network Job Shadow Online Resources Info Interviews Intern/Volunteer Part-time work Potential Careers Job Goals Goal A Goal B Goal C Long Term Goal : Short Term Goals: Range of Prioritized Goals, Target Employers, Timeframe, & How to fill the Gaps

9. What Differentiates You? Work, Volunteer, Internship Experience Student/Professional Organization participation & leadership Cross-functional skills � problem solving ability, team player, communication, leadership, customer service skills, etc... Record of Accomplishment - Technical skills, certifications, foreign languages, etc... Are you managing partner/CEO/management material? Could they put you in front of their clients? The recruiter/HR manager�s job is to lower the risk & cost of hiring. Average college new-hire costs $5-6k. Action Plan & Strategies: Identify/brainstorm all relevant actions to take Relate actions to specific vision, goals, and objectives Create action plan to accomplish objective with specific action steps Segregate action steps into near, medium, and long-term time frame Identify measurements of completion/success Monitor Plan & Celebrate Milestones Reached Commit plans to writing Action Plan & Strategies: Identify/brainstorm all relevant actions to take Relate actions to specific vision, goals, and objectives Create action plan to accomplish objective with specific action steps Segregate action steps into near, medium, and long-term time frame Identify measurements of completion/success Monitor Plan & Celebrate Milestones Reached Commit plans to writing

10. Manage Your Career & Job Search Work at it every day! Finding a job really is a job! Start early, have a plan & a schedule, Be systematic, follow-up, focus your energy & time Be proactive Do your research & don�t overlook great opportunities. Your materials must be flawless!!! Your Top 25 Employers? Thank folks along the way!!! Put yourself into the position of the most possibilities Don�t waste time on the Internet The degree alone won�t insure success in securing that perfect job. Employers are looking for a combination of skills & abilities � the total package. Graduates need to demonstrate to employers that they have what it takes. Employers want to see demonstrated motivation & initiative, critical thinking & problem solving abilities.  Willingness to learn quickly & continuously. Related Work Experience. The degree alone won�t insure success in securing that perfect job. Employers are looking for a combination of skills & abilities � the total package. Graduates need to demonstrate to employers that they have what it takes. Employers want to see demonstrated motivation & initiative, critical thinking & problem solving abilities.

12. How Employers Fill Jobs:2/3 of jobs filled through networking!80% filled before ever advertised! Look internally to fill openings Ask network contacts � Do you know someone who...? Then, as a Last Resort: Post if not filled otherwise � results in high volume of applicants who are unknown

17. Career Development Programs Fall Semester: CS Student Employment Job Fair CS Health Professions Career Fair SoBA Employer & Student Networking Event BAP Accounting Opportunity Night Spring Semester: MISA Technology Opportunity Night SoBA Employer & Student Networking Event CS Big Sky Career Fair BAP Finance Opportunity Night Missoula Job Service Career Fair SOBA Exit Strategy Workshop Each Semester: SoBA Workshops - Outstanding Resumes, Dressing for Success, Networking, Interviewing, Dining Etiquette, & Negotiation Employer Resume Critiques & Mock Interviews for Acctg 202 students Employer Info Booths - in GBB 1st Floor Lobby