Planning a Career

 

Steps 1.               Explore Yourself

Explore your skills, interests, competence & aptitude

You may take the help of a professional counsellor

 

Think about:

·    What you want to do?

·    What is your goal?

·    What fascinates you most?

·    What you enjoy most? List of interests.

·    What are your nice past experiences?

·    What past activities and associations you have liked most?

·    What are you good at – both learned and natural skills?

·    What type of environment you like most?

Explore your personality

You may take the help of a professional counsellor

 

Think about:

·    What type of person you are?

·    What are your traits?

·    What values you hold or respect most?

 

 

Schools can depute a professional counsellor or avail the services of a professional counsellor for the students

 

Steps 2.               Explore Career Options

Learn about career options available that suits your temperament and goal

Source: Internet, Career Book, Magazines, TV, Newspapers, Friends, Teachers, Parents, Counsellors, Exhibitions, Institution Prospectus

 

·        Get a true description of a career;

·        Don’t go by its glamour only

·        Don’t go obsessively for any one objective like money, power or fame

·        Have a balanced set of objectives

·        Be open to suggestions, advices. At least listen to others & analyse the comments

 

Think about:

·    Match your skills, interests, aptitudes with the requirements of the careers

·    Highlight the common entries

·    Check if those entries can be turned into a career

·    List all suitable careers with it requirements and pay packages, facilities & personal growth with future prospects

 

 

·Schools can provide these facilities to the students.

·Professional colleges can send information about the institution to the schools through email, broachers etc.

 


Steps 3. Choose Career Options

Narrow down your search for career

Compare the following with the career requirements

·    Your educational qualification

·    Your skills

·    Your Interests

·    Your financial expectations

·     Your idea of job satisfaction

·    Your future prospectus in the career

Meet persons from the field for their views

 

·     Career should be for living & growth

·     Career itself should be a long lasting one

·     New avenues carry more risk and more & quick rewards

 

 

Schools can invite successful personalities from different walks of life for interaction with the students

 

 


Steps 4. Choose Institutions

Look for the most suitable institution in your pursuit for the desired career

Source: Internet, Career Book, Magazines, TV, Newspapers, Friends, Teachers, Parents, Counsellors, Exhibitions

 

Analyse & Study the following:

·    Geographical, Social & Financial aspects

·    Financial Aids available

·    Meet with the Alumni of the institution

·    Study Survey Reports

·    Study Campus Recruitment opportunities & links with the industry/probable employers

Try work hard to meet all the required parameters for admission/entry into desired career.


Balanced Personality Dimensions

·     Physical fitness

·     Intellectual depth

·     Psychological Maturity

·     Aesthetics

·     Material well being

·     Spiritual awareness

Your characteristics:

ABILITIES:            Am I able to complete the assignments?

INTERESTS:            What helps my attention?

NEEDS: What gives me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment?

VALUES: What makes me feel good? What I feel about something?

PERSONALITY:    How others describe me?

GOALS: What I want to do? How would I like to spend my life? What would I be doing after few years from now?

SKILLS: Life, Business, Executive, Study, Technical, Managerial

 

 


Guidance & Counselling services in schools

·     Guidance & Counselling Centre at primary, secondary & senior secondary level

·     Information centre compiling information about careers from different places

Role of these centres:

·     Guidance, Counselling & Psycho-analysis assessment of students

·     Assessing students’ development levels & abilities including the special assistance to physically & mentally challenged students

·     Identifying factors that can be barriers in learning & development

·     Considering educational adjustments

·     Personal counselling in relation to individual safety & crisis management

·     Helping students manage relationships & behavioural difficulties

·     Providing assistance to the secondary & senior secondary students in studying skills, subjects, course selection, career planning & decision making

·     Plan & assist in planning to help students achieve positive outcome

Guidance:

          Educational

Placement

Occupational

Change in career

Study Abroad

Specific Career

Financial Help/Aid – Loans & Scholarships


Tips for Interviews

 

Project your image

·     Dress appropriately

·     Be on time (with some time to spare for relaxation)

·     Note address, phone No., name & designation of interviewer

·     Learn about the organisational structure of the interviewing body

·     Fill out forms, if any, neatly

·     Carry your personal data sheet & supporting documents

·     Keep on tips, the important events in your life

·     Carry pocket notebook & pen

·     Learn about career requirements

·     Analyse why you are fit for the career

·     Analyse what concerns you most

 

Non-verbal Communication must show your confidence

·     Posture

·     Walk

·     Dress

·     Facial movement

·     Energy

·     Gesture

·     Eye-contact

·     Firm hand shake, only if hand is offered


Show your positive attitude

·     Natural greetings

·     Let interviewer start dialogue

·     Listen carefully

·     Ask thoughtful questions, if need be

·     Show your willingness to do work & to contribute to organisation’s growth

·     Show your commitment to learn

·     Exemplify your flexibility to adjust to new situations

·     Elaborate your skills

·     Don’t project negative image of third person

·     Try to be job oriented in all your answers

Handle difficulty

·     Welcome all questions

·     Ask for clarifications, if need be

·     Take time to answer but don’t be indecisive

·     Be honest in your answers

·     Sandwich answers to questions that reflect your negative image – Give a positive statement followed by admission to a negative fact terminating with another positive statement about what to do to overcome it

Some expected questions

·     About yourself – education, skills, experience, interests, values, expectations, weaknesses (always turn it into positive), strengths

·     Your interest in career

·     Best & worst opinion about the career

·     Your future prospects & aspirations

·     Your contributions & innovations in career

·     Evaluation of your leadership & initiatives in team projects

·     Planning your career