Finding a CareerFinding a Career

What you can do with What you can do with that shiny new that shiny new

degree!degree!

What You Need to Know About What You Need to Know About Picking a Career PathPicking a Career Path

Finding and pursuing your interests Selecting interesting careers Research, research, research! Weighing the positives and negatives Knowing your strengths and weaknesses Selecting your path Knowing when to turn back

Finding Your InterestsFinding Your Interests

A number of ways to explore your options

Pick different types of classes

Get involved in the clubs relating to psychology, HDFS, might learn about a subtopic field

Get involved in research or practice!

Talk to classmates

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Pursuing Your InterestPursuing Your Interest

Find research experience, counseling experience in the field you’re interested in

Talk to professors about research relating to your interests that you find interesting

Read books, articles and other materials to learn more about your interests

Start thinking about careers in your field of interest

This preparation will help you narrow down to a career and will boost your graduate school resume

Research, Research, Research, Research, Research!Research!

Use a job test if you wish; may help you discover something you’ve never heard of

Check out broad categories (ex: social sciences), and look for interesting job descriptions

Or, if you know what interests you, search these sites for those jobs and check the duties and qualifications

Try to find people in those jobs and talk to them about how they got into it, what education they needed, etc.

Start compiling a list of jobs that interest you, education needed, annual salary, etc.

Check the Career Center for additional help!

How to Find Information on How to Find Information on JobsJobs

http://www.onetonline.org/*: Job Descriptions (also gives for fast-growing jobs)

http://www.princetonreview.com: Job Descriptions

http://www.monster.com: Job Listings http://www.indeed.com: Job Listings http://www.careerbuilder.com: Job Listings

http://www.salary.com: Salary information for jobs

Weighing the Positives and Weighing the Positives and NegativesNegatives

Requires you to know yourself very well Ask friends and family about your personal

qualities if needed Many factors to consider

- Education needed- Locations where most of the jobs are- Personal fit for the job - Whether the job fits with your personal values- Could you see doing this job happily for many years?

Compiling a list of the positives and negatives for each job will help in making in comparison

Knowing Your Strengths and Knowing Your Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

Obviously, if you are terrified of snakes, a career in herpetology is not for you

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is essential to selecting a career

Knowing what you can and cannot do will help to weed out careers that would simply not work for you, or you would be unhappy in

Also listing your strengths and weaknesses relative to the task is a good method for comparison

Sample List of JobsSample List of Jobs

Job Description Qualifications

Clinical Psychologist - Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders- Some specialize in severe mental disorders- Others may help people deal with personal issues- Interview patients and give diagnostic tests in their own private offices- Some work in hospitals, some in universities and medical schools

Ph.D or Psy.D in psychology

(general, counseling or clinical)

Sample List of JobsSample List of Jobs

Job Positives Negatives Strengths for

Job

Weaknesses for Job

Clinical Psychologis

t

- Help people - Make own schedule- Specialization creates higher salary and more freedom

- Long time for education- Personal and job stress- Possibility of malpractice and other ethical dilemmas

- Caring- Works well alone- Good at solving problems- Easy to talk to

- Sometimes too caring- Difficult to separate emotions

Selecting Your PathSelecting Your Path

Next search for job openings

Check online job sites

Check YellowPages and contact potential employers, ask about job openings

Go to Career Fairs before graduation

Visit the Career Center

Network!!! Picture from http://www.libertiny.com/libertinyfinancial3/?p=573

Sites for Finding JobsSites for Finding Jobs

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/jobseekers/11372/open_state_and_local_government_career_opportunities/

(for civil service jobs in Pennsylvania) http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/(civil service

around the country http://www.monster.com http://www.indeed.com http://www.careerbuilder.com

Median Salaries of Jobs for Median Salaries of Jobs for HDFS StudentsHDFS Students

College TA: $14,648 Nursing Home

Activities Director: $34,437

Academic Advisor: $40,204

Special Education Teacher: $46,840

Researcher: $47,555 Community Outreach

Specialist: $50,254

Social Worker: $53,959

Work/Life Program Manager: $99,718

Human Resources Director: $115,564-$139,594

www.salary.com

Applying to JobsApplying to Jobs

The next step after finding jobs is to apply to them

Sometimes need to file an application

Submit a resume with a cover letter (all jobs require this)

Need an interview

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Creating a ResumeCreating a Resume

Consider which kind of resume to use* Chronological resume: Basic, focuses on work

experience, reverse-chronological employment history

Functional resume: New, focuses on key skills and less on work experience. Good for new graduates and those with a history of job-hopping

Combination resume: Description of functional skills and qualifications, followed by reverse-chronological employment history

*Taken from http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-writing-tips/is-a-combination-resume-right-for-you/article.aspx

Example of Chronological Example of Chronological ResumeResume

http://www.distinctiveweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/sales-account-management-sample-resume.pdf

Example of a Functional Example of a Functional ResumeResume

http://www.distinctiveweb.com/example-projects/sample-resumes/functional-resume-example/

Example of a Combination Example of a Combination ResumeResume

http://susanireland.com/resume/how-to-write/format/combination-template/

Creating the ResumeCreating the Resume

For new students, using a functional or combination resume is usually the best option- Highlights key accomplishments and skills, rather than related training and job experience

Certain difficulties with using the functional resume; may be obvious and frustrating to employers to see very little professional experience

Combination resume may be the best option, then, if the applicant has very little professional experience, but some skills

Creating the Creating the ResumeResume

Experience is listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent first)

Most important accomplishments are listed, others are disregarded

Only list jobs and experiences related to your intended job

Same with skills, whatever you can relate

Relate each skill and accomplishment to what you can bring to the job and company

Best resume is 1 page, but if necessary, can fit onto two pages

Always have someone read your resume; friends, career center, professors, etc.

Resist the temptation to copy from a template; best resumes are original

You can take examples from example resumes, but formatting should be your own

The Cover LetterThe Cover Letter All resumes must

have a cover letter! A cover letter should

be short and sweet (2-3 paragraphs)

Covers the essentials of your application

A quick read for employers

If they don’t like it, they’ll move on!

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Cover Letter ExampleCover Letter Example

http://www.technical-resumes.com/systems-administrator-cover-letter-example/

The InterviewThe Interview Often the scariest

part of the job hunt Must balance

professionalism with personal charm

Interviews will be used to weed out potential applicants

Have to present yourself as the strongest candidate while being honest

Typical Interview Questions Typical Interview Questions and Answersand Answers

How did you find this position?

Why are you interested in this position?

Why do you feel that you are qualified for this job?

What are some of your positive qualities?

What are some of your negative qualities?

Scenario Have questions for us?

Easy to answer

Always lead back to how you can benefit job

Again, lead back to benefit. Discuss positive qualities which relate

Do not over exaggerate; be honest with your good qualities

Honestly describe negative qualities in a positive manner and change

What would you do? Ethical issue

ALWAYS have questions: Do your research!

Tips for InterviewsTips for Interviews

Bring copies of resume and cover letter, pad and paper

Always do research and have questions to ask after the interview

Always shake interviewer’s hand and thank for time

Always dress appropriatelyBetter to dress up than down

If you must cancel, call ahead of time and reschedule

Show enthusiasm for position

It’s ok to be nervous, you can admit it

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Any Questions?Any Questions?

Original picture from www.dannychoo.com; edited from http://www.marcofolio.net/imagedump/top_40_demotivational_posters.html