Session 1
- A strategic process involving self-awareness, research, planning and decision making.
- It is about finding a direction that is right for you, matching who you are to the life you want to lead.
Have a look at Career Planning by The Open University. Based on the DOTS model this interactive tool has activities and videos to help you start your career planning goals.
DOTS stands for Decision making, Opportunity awareness, Transition Skills and Self-awareness. We are going to look at each area in more detail.
Self-awareness
Do I know what....- I want out of a job?
- Motivates me?
- I am good at?
- I find interesting?
- I have got to offer?
- I like and enjoy as a person?
Have a look at the Prospects Planner on the Prospects website or Careers Report on TARGETjobs. These tools will help you to:
- Identify what you want out of a job
- Generate and evaluate job ideas
- Identify what you can offer to the job and employer
- Compare options and identify the right types of jobs to apply for
- Provide useful and relevant information resources
Opportunity awareness
Do I know what....- I can do with my degree?
- Careers are open to me?
- The entry requirements for this career are?
- These jobs involve?
- I have got to offer?
- Where vacancies are advertised?
What careers are open to me?
- Using your subject page on the Careers and Employability Service website.
- What do graduates do? on the Prospects website.
- Professional Bodies - Career Comp@nion have compiled a list of over 350 professional bodies and their related career sectors.
What do different jobs involve and what are the entry requirements?
- Choosing your career pages on the Careers and Employability Service website – many graduate career areas covered.
- Events programme At the recruitment events taking place on and off campus you can to talk to employers about job opportunities and what they look for in applicants. Our workshops will enable you to develop your skills and increase your occupational knowledge.
- Networking.
- Work experience and work shadowing.
Sources of Vacancies
- Vacancies on our website.
- Prospects, TARGETjobs, Inside Careers and Milkround
- Social media sites e.g. LinkedIn
- Graduate directories – Times Top 100 Graduate Recruiters.
- Professional Bodies and journals.
- Graduate recruitment fairs and events.
- Local and national newspapers.
- Recruitment agencies.
Decision Making
- How do I choose between options?
- What are my chances of getting in?
- What are the pros and cons of different choices?
- Who should I consult about this?
- How do the jobs I’m interested in match up to the criteria I’ve specified?
What kind of a decision maker are you?
Have a look at the decision-making styles at Rutgers Career Services page and identify what kind of decision maker you are.
Transition Skills
- How do I apply for vacancies?
- How do I put a CV together?
- What should I write on an application form?
- What will they ask me at interview?
- What happens at an assessment centre?
Careers Report (TARGETjobs)
Career Planning (Careers Advisory Service, The Open University)
Using your subject (Careers and Employability Service, University of Nottingham)
What do graduates do? (Prospects)
Professional Bodies (Career Comp@nion)
Choosing your career (Careers and Employability Service, University of Nottingham)
Events programme (Careers and Employability Service, University of Nottingham)
Vacancies (Careers and Employability Service, University of Nottingham)
Prospects (Prospects)
TARGETjobs (TARGETjobs)
Inside Careers (Inside Careers)
Milkround (Milkround)
LinkedIn (LinkedIn)
Decision-Making Styles (Career Services, Rutgers)
References
This page uses an image from the Open Clip Art Library page "Calendrier / Calendar", which is available under the CC0 PD Dedication