Self-assessment

Self-assessment is taking an in-depth look at who you are and understanding your values, interests, needs, aptitudes, abilities and limitations. In choosing a degree program, chances are you have already done some self-assessment in determining your interests. In career planning, you should take self-assessment to the next level. Understanding yourself is the first step in career planning, because you must understand who you are and what you want in order to know what to look for.

Defining your personal priorities is the first step to discovering what job situations will give you the most satisfaction in all areas of your life. Why is this important? Because, as most career experts will tell you, achieving a comfortable balance between work and your personal life is key to long-term professional success.

Start by asking yourself what you want to do. What are your dreams, goals and ambitions? What would satisfy you the most from a career or position? Is helping others, for example, more important to you than a high salary? Evaluating your academic experiences can help you determine what you want to do and help you identify your aptitudes and abilities. Which subjects did you like and dislike? In which courses did you do particularly well? Why? What career(s) do the courses you enjoyed and excelled in directly relate to? If your degree program is in criminal justice, for instance, and you enjoyed and did very well in sociology or psychology courses, you may want to consider targeting a career in community corrections where you work directly with people rather than one as a legal research assistant in a law office. It is important to tailor your résumé to the specific position you are seeking, so you must start by having a clear idea of what that position is.

There are self-assessment tools available through Career Services on the Virtual Campus and on the internet, but sometimes the best self-assessment comes from the questions you ask yourself and through input from family, friends, instructors and professional contacts. Make sure you take notes and make a list, because the information you gather from your self-assessment fits into the next step in career planning.

Information-gathering

Now that you know enough about yourself to give you an idea of what sort of position will be a good fit for you, it is time to do your research into what positions are available and what those positions entail. There is a wealth of information out there and this can be a daunting task, so the key is to get organized. Start by creating a work space dedicated to your career search where you can store information. Keep a filing box with folders and create a directory on your computer so you can quickly access information during a phone call. Use a calendar or planner to keep track of appointments. Make a checklist based on your self-assessment that you can use to make sure you cover everything that is relevant to you about each position you are researching. Now that you are ready to store information, let's take a look at some potential sources for information-gathering.

Start by getting the word out that you are searching for a position in your chosen field. It is common knowledge that most positions are landed through networking. Let your family, friends, and professional contacts know that you are seeking a position in your field and ask for contacts. Then follow through and contact them! Even if they are not seeking applicants if your field, they may know someone who is. You may be able to set up an informational interview through which you can gather more information about the organization and/or the positions you are targeting.

In this day and age it is tempting to rely on the internet in your career search. Job sites such as Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com can be valuable sources of information, but they are only a fraction of the resources at your disposal. Traditional sources such as the public library, job fairs, classified ads, trade and professional associations and the Career Services department at AIU Online are tried and tested and they work! It is wise to use all the resources at your disposal in your career search.

Compile a list of available positions that fit the results of your self-assessment checklist and then carefully research each position. Familiarize yourself with the organization that has posted the position. Find out what specific duties are required in each position and what knowledge and skills are required to perform those duties. Make sure your knowledge and skills are a good match for the position. Make sure that the organization offers opportunities and a work environment that can satisfy your needs and wants. Having detailed information about the organization and the position you are seeking will make you feel more confident and appear more confident to the hiring manager. Now use that information to tailor your résumé!