C.J. Neely, PhDAssistant Director of Employer Relations

CJ.Neely@jhu.edu410-955-3034

http://www.jhsph.edu/careers

Hope is Not a Plan:How to Use Proactive Career Planning to Prepare for the Future

Connecting students to global careers!

Discussion Topics

•Proactive Career Planning

•Career Exploration

•Informational Interviewing

My Personal Career Journey

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BS in Molecular BiologyTowson University

PhD in Microbiology & ImmunologyUNC-Chapel Hill

Postdoctoral FellowshipSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Assistant Director in the Career Services Office Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Proactive Career Planning

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What is it?• A process in which you actively work towards career-goal• Instead of “get through now and figure it out later”

Why do it?• Reduce stress associated with future job search• Increase likelihood of obtaining a satisfying job upon graduation

How to do it?• Create a customized career development plan so you can

progressively work towards your career goals in an achievable fashion

• Develop SMART goals

Customized Career Plan:Your Personal Roadmap to Success

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START

ENDGraduate, obtain a job, start a fellowship or pursue additional education

Step 1: Determine your Timeline

Your personal timeline will influence your priorities and dictate your plan of action!

Step 2: Identify Your Career Path of Interest(or next step in career)

Very Clear Goal! Uncertain?

Unsure of Your Career Path of Interest

• Interested in multiple career paths

• Had specific goal, but interests have changed

• Unsure of the options available

Career Exploration

Ideal Career Path

Self-reflection• Take time to reflect on your skills, interests, values, and

personality

• Think about past experiences– Full-time jobs– Part-time work– Volunteer opportunities– Internships– Fellowships

• What did you like to best and least about each position?

Self-reflections•What technical skills have you developed?

•What do you enjoy most: activities related to people, things, or data?

•What courses or assignments have you found the most interesting and were excited to work on?

•What is more important: direct service to others or service to benefit the “greater good”?

•How important is work-life balance? Do you want flexible work hours?

•Do you prefer to work as part of a team or alone?

•Do you prefer a regular routine or an ever-changing schedule?

Research Career Options

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American Public Health Association

Association of Schools and

Programs in Public Health

Explore Health Careers

Council of State and Territorial

Epidemiologists

American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

American Academy of Environmental

Engineers and Scientists

American Association of Immunologists

American Society of Microbiology

National Institutes of Health

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JHSPH Career Services Office – Outcomes Survey Final Reporthttps://www.jhsph.edu/offices-and-services/career-services/for-students/career-resources/JHSPH%20Career%20Outcomes/JHSPH_Career_Outcomes_Survey_Final_Report.pdf

Informational Interviews

• Opportunity to learn about a specific career path, industry, or organization

• Required skills• Daily responsibilities• Work environment

• Talk to people within the field• GoHopOnline Alumni• LinkedIn Local professionals and alumni• Ask your network for introductions

GoHopOnline.com

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LinkedIn

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Informational Interviews• Be professional

• Do your research ahead of time

• Come prepared with questions and bring a notepad

• Actively listen

• Do not ask for a job, but can inquire more generally about opportunities • Where are they advertised?• Training opportunities within company or in the field?

• Follow-up with a thank you email

Gain Experience• Internships

– Biomedical Careers Initiative (for PhDs and Postdocs only)– JHU Technology Ventures: Commercialization Academy

• Volunteering– SOURCE– Biomedical Odyssey

• Practicum courses– BCP and PHASE

• Students Groups– JHSPH Student Assembly– Johns Hopkins Graduate Consulting Club

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Step 3: Identify required skills• Read job descriptions

• Conduct informational interviews with individuals within the field

• Technical skills: research, data analysis, computer

• Soft skills: communication, collaborating, leadership

Assess your own skills and determine which ones require the most improvement!

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Step 4: Create a Plan• Break your plan into 1-6 month segments • Create individual short-term goals for each segment

Example #2:Timeline: 2 years until graduationCareer Path of Interest: Scientific Writing???Skills to Improve: Communication (written and oral)

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YEAR 1 YEAR 2

Segment Goal Segment Goal

July-December Career exploration July-December Research companies and build a network

January-June Skill development: oral and written communication

January-June Apply for jobs and prepare for interviews

Step 4: Create a Plan• Break your plan into 1-6 month segments • Create individual short-term goals for each segment

Example #2:

Timeline: Deadline- Late January 2018Career Path/Next steps: ASPPH/EPA Environmental Health Fellowship Program

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Segment Goal

October-November Update Resume/CVAsk for 2 references for recommendation letterWrite essay

December-January Revise essaySubmit Transcripts

Specific: Is it focused and unambiguous?

Measureable: Could someone determine whether or not you achieved this goal?

Action-oriented: Did you specify the action you will take?

Realistic: Considering difficulty and timeframe, is this goal attainable?

Time-bound: Did you specify a deadline?

Step 5: Establish SMART Goals

Create SMART Goals• First identify an overarching goal• Then create an action plan to achieve it

Example: Build your professional network 3 possible SMART goals for the next 6 months: 1) Attend one networking event per month and talk to at

least 2 new people2) Submit an abstract to present at a conference in your

field within the next 3 months network at conference3) Perform 1 informational interview per month

How to Implement Your Plan• Posting your SMART goals in a visible spot: desk, locker,

fridge

• Entering key dates into your calendar

• Pencil in dates for conversations with “accountability” buddies

• Approach your goals in manageable chunks so that you don’t feel overwhelmed

Review and Revise Career Plan• Review your progress at regular intervals

• Take stock of the goals you achieved and those you failed to achieve

• Evaluate the factors that facilitated or impeded your progress

• An opportunity to revisit—and perhaps revise—your longer-term objectives

Questions?????