NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSTY COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES, BEHAVIOURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

Personal Career Development Plan

Present in partial fulfillment of the course COUN238: Career exploration and Planning

By Sylvia Fray James ID# 18061330

To: Ms. Shaye-Ann Campbell

September 19, 2011

Personal Career Development Plan Introduction The role of a teacher in the 21st century in Jamaica and other parts of the world is a dynamic one and is becoming more increasingly time and focus driven and demanding as well as the need for proper training, to be successful. This SWOT analysis of my career plan is to enhance my career goals and opportunities. It looks at the pros and cons of my career development and advancement. Analyzing my career strength, weakness, opportunities, and possible threats, will certainly help with choices I might have to make in order to accomplish my career goals and success as a Primary Educator with Bachelor of Arts degree and minor in school guidance and counseling.

Strength With a major in Primary education and a minor in guidance counseling and over a decade of working experience. Three years of voluntary working experience as a teacher of literacy and numeracy with the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong learning. Co-founder of a reading club, called READABILITY founded in 2004 in the community f Frazers Content, Spanish Town, St Catherine. Some of my strength as a student and teacher in training having a keen sense of responsibility and I am very flexible, make me worthwhile team player in the education system. I also have experience at the grade four level of the primary education where the grade four literacy and numeracy examination is

administered and have a clear understanding of the curriculum. I also have experience at the lower primary grades implementing the integrated curriculum 3/4

Weaknesses Although I have over ten years working experiences none of these years were spend in the classroom in the capacity of a teacher. This can be a problem as working experience in the field of ones career is always an advantage. Many primary educators are leaving the universities and colleges with little or no new spaces being made in the primary school system across the island, this will make getting employment more competitive, and with the Ministry of Education seeking to reduce staff further studies is an option with a large price tag. 1.5/4

Opportunities Job opportunities are available overseas and in the Caribbean as well as in Jamaica, howbeit limited. Being a special education teacher would enhance my employment possibilities; hence I am looking to advance my training in the field as a reading specialist. A MBA or another degree would most certainly increase employment possibilities in Jamaica or overseas. Volunteerism is something that can advance ones career and I do a lot of that as it adds to my experiences and increase the likelihood of employment.

Advancing in my chosen field will take approximately one or two years as I need `to be employed to be able to fund any further upgrading. 4/4

Threats Financial obstacles are a major threat to career development, but I am forging ahead nevertheless. The requirement in the field of teacher education remain the same for the most part, however there are new ideas and practices that are being .implemented that as a educator it is important to keep abreast of The surplus of teacher education students that are graduated each year; the economical atmosphere in Jamaica and other parts of the world and there is always the possibility of cut in back in the Ministry of education. This continues to narrow employment possibilities. 3/4

Marketing Plan Objectives: To get a job by January 2012 Take steps to advance my career.

Marketing Plan: Make a listing of all the schools that are in the region where I reside and even in other region where I could possible take residents. Send out application to all these school including the ministry of education office those regions Action programs:

Volunteer some time in school in the proximity of where I live. Use the ministry of education website to keep up to date and current with what is happening in the field of education and the schools

Research and learn as much as possible about the schools I applied to. Utilize the internet to learn more teaching skills and ideas.

References: Ken Erickson Sample SWOT Analysis for Career Planning http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ppc/swotanalysis.htm? id=45390&gclid=CIHG0caEr6sCFdoS2godiV3xKw

Format & Grammar SWOT 11.5/16 Marketing plan 7/11 Reference 1.5/3

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