Chapter 13

Designing Your
Own Career

Chapter 13 - Overview
Designing Your Own Career
Career Choice Theory
Self Assessment
Career Information
Getting the Job

Career Choice Theories

Holland Six Orientations
Roe Multiple Variables
Strengths Applying Positive Psychology

Hollands Six Orientations

(Developed theory regarding vocational behavior)

1. Realistic: apply scientific principles in things

that they do. pilot, electrician, engineer

2. Investigative: like abstract thinking,
discovering new knowledge, testing
hypotheses, solving problems. research
scientists, professor
3. Conventional: enjoy working in structured
situations, very self-disciplined, orderly like
organizing and can work comfortably at
routine, repetitive task accountant, bank
teller

Hollands Six Orientations

continued

4. Enterprising: includes people who are

persuasive, like to influence other people, are

risk-takers and enjoy business ventures.
business owner or manager
5. Social: like to work with people especially in
helping relationships. counselor, teacher,
health caregiver
6. Artistic: creative, imaginative, emotional, and
who hold unconventional perspective which
they like to express in artistic forms painter,
dancer, musician, writer

Roes Variables
(related to vocational behavior)

State of economy
Family background
Chance
Marital situation
Physical

Intellectual
Temperament and

personality
Interest and values
Learning and education
Acquired skills

Focusing on Strengths
Buckingham and Clifton Develop your talents

and strengths, not your weaknesses

Suggest most organizations are built on two

flaws
1.

2.

That each person can learn to be competent in

almost anything.
Each persons greatest room for growth is in his or
her areas of greatest weakness

Signature themes through StrengthFinder

Seligman Core values and signature strengths
Values-in-Action Strengths Survey

Self Assessment
Witnessing Stance
Become introspective
Writing
Feedback
Inventories and surveys
Strong Interest Survey
MBTI

On-line assessment
www.flvc.org

Portfolio development

Sources of Career Information

Books
Websites
www.bls.gov/ooh
www.flvc.org

Campus Career Center

Professional Associations
Interviews
Interning or Volunteering

Career Planning
Setting Goals
Written Career Plan
Overall goal
General abilities and requirements
Current skills, interests, experiences
Short term, specific goals

Getting the Job

Preparing your resume
Visit https://mdc.optimalresume.com/ and create

your resume using your mymdc email

Preparing for the interview

Resume Requirements
Who You Are
Job Objective or Goal
Education
Experience and Achievements
In reverse chronological order
Use action verbs like managed, designed,

coordinated, developed, wrote, or organized in

describing your job experiences and achievements

References

Information About the

Organization or Company

Nature and purpose of the organization

Key leaders in the company
Size of organization; number of employees; amount of sales;

number of clients served

Locations or branches
Organizational pattern of company
Major competitors
Organizations reputation
News stories about the organization
Requirements of the position
Job description; responsibilities of work
Why this position is open?

Five Cs of Interviewing
Challenged
Communicative
Candid
Comfortable
Confident

Interview Process
Introductions
Invitation to be seated
Listen, respond, ask
Note follow-up requests
Sense when interview near end
Thank the interviewer
Summarize your pleasure at the interview, what your

next step is, and state succinctly your enthusiasm

and qualifications for the job
Follow up with a letter of thank you

Tips to Remember
When Interviewing
DOs

Homework get

information
Rehearse practice

orally
Prepare questions to ask
Dress a level above the

job you seek

Arrive on time
Have a firm handshake

LISTEN
Show interest
Be nice
Be yourself
Think what its like to be
the interviewer
Send written follow-up
letter of thanks and
interest in position

Tips to Remember
When Interviewing
DONTs
Be rude
Question about salary

Appear uninformed about

organization
Talk too much
Pretend to be listening
Interrupt the interviewer
Put yourself down
Be arrogant

early
Be an extremist in dress,
ideas, or attitudes
Do a telephone
interview if you can
Be vague or indirect
Be negative