Category Chapter 2

Feb 11 2015

Ongoing Career Assistance

Offering career information on a daily basis, SmartBrief on Your Career provides brief summaries and links to articles and other information.  These resources cover topics ranging from resumes and interviews to leadership and effective communication.  This service would be of value to those looking for their first job as well as seasoned professionals with a desire for ongoing career advancement. 

For samples of SmartBrief on YourCareer and to sign up, click here:

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students conduct online research to determine the most valuable websites for keeping up to date on career planning activities.
  • Have students select an online career source and create an elevator speech with a summary of the information presented. 

Discussion Questions 

  1. What topics might be most valuable for keeping up to date with career planning?
  2. Explain how social media might be used for career planning activities.
  3. Describe how career information needs differ between entry-level employees and those who are at an advanced stage of their careers.
Feb 4 2015

The Case Interview

In many types of job interviews, a person will encounter decision-making situations.  A case interview is one example, in which a prospective employee has the opportunity to demonstrate a capacity to think in a structured, creative manner when presented with a real-world problem.

When involved in a case interview, consider these actions:

  1. Carefully read the case to understand the background and the main problem of the situation.
  2. Plan a framework to organize your analysis and to show the relationship among key issues.
  3. Prepare alternative courses of action to show varied approaches and versatility in thinking.
  4. Use evidence to support your analysis and suggested actions.
  5. Clearly communicate your analysis process, conclusions, and recommendations.

For improved success in a case interview:

  • prepare by using practice cases online and researching the organization’s culture.
  • talk with people who have experienced the case interview process.
  • ask questions of the interviewer to clarify key points.
  • stay focused on the key question for the situation and main issues.
  • avoid stock answers; popular frameworks and buzzwords may not be appropriate.
  • emphasize the process, analysis, and actions rather than finding the “right” answer.
  • prepare by researching current business events and organizational trends.
  • practice the process with others who are willing to help.

For additional information on case interviews, click on the following links:

Case Interview Prep Guide

Interview Prep_McKinsey

Video-Preparing for a Case Interview

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students describe business situations that might be the basis of case interviews.
  • Have students create possible responses for potential case interview situations that they might be asked when applying for a job.

Discussion Questions 

  1. For what types of employment positions might a case interview be used as part of the selection process?
  2. Explain how case interviews help employers select the best candidate for a job.
  3. What actions should be taken to prepare for a case interview?
Nov 29 2014

Telling Your Career Story

Communicating your career experiences with the use of stories is an effective way to promote your professional life. Jobseekers need to tell their stories in varied ways, using many tools.

Start the career story development by identifying a clear idea, mainly why someone should want to hire you. Focus on your skills. What do you have to offer that is better or different than others?  One approach is to review the position for which you are applying.  Create your story to relate your skills and experiences to the job description.

Your online presence should include a profile of your passion and expertise.  Most important is evidence that you are able to address the needs of the available employment position.

Emphasize a “CAR” or “PAR” approach to storytelling. CAR is “challenge, action, results.” PAR is “problem, action results.”  Tell stories to explain challenges or problems and how you handled them.

For additional information on telling your career story, go to:

How to tell your career story so people will listen

How to tell your career story so people will listen

http://www.jobactionday.com/2014-Job-Action-Day.html

 Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students research various approaches for communicating a person’s career skills and experiences.
  • Have students create a short video that communicates their career skills and experiences.

 Discussion Questions 

  1. What themes or story settings might be used to communicate your career skills?
  2. Explain how social media might be used to communicate your career story.
  3. What are some skills and experiences you would emphasize in your career story?
Sep 13 2014

U.S. Job Growth: Eight-Month Low, Labor Force Shrinks

U.S. employers hired the fewest number of workers in eight months in August and more Americans gave up the hunt for jobs . . .”

This Reuters article describes current employment trends and the effect it has on both the economy and the actions of the Federal Reserve.  Specifically,

  • Nonfarm payrolls increased 142,000 in August after expanding by 212,000 in July.
  • The jobless rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.1 percent in August.
  • The lower jobless rate in August was the result of more people dropping out of the labor force and not because of an increase in working Americans.
  • The Federal Reserve Board and Fed Chair Janet Yellen will use the weakness in the unemployment numbers to keep interest rates at present levels in order to provide a stimulus for the economy.

Specific information about different industry sectors, labor force participation, the number of part-time employees, etc. is also provided in this article.

For more information go to http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/05/us-usa-economy-idUSKBN0H008E20140905

Teaching Suggestions

You may want to use the information in this blog post and the original article to

  • Reinforce how the nation’s economy can affect a person’s ability to obtain employment, develop a financial plan, and achieve both personal and financial goals.

Discussion Questions

  1. Assume you are unemployed and looking for a full-time position after graduating from college.  What knowledge, skills, and experience do you have that will make an employer want to hire you?
  2. What steps can you take to provide financial security if you think the economy is about to experience a recession?
May 17 2014

Developing Career Capital and Achieving Success

Most career planning experts believe that “career capital” is vital for success.  Career capital refers to differentiated skills that are both rare and valuable, and usually involve creativity, impact, control, or autonomy. A great job requires that you can offer something of value. Factors that contribute to building career capital include:

  •  an attitude of “what can I offer the world and my company?”
  • understanding what’s valuable in your career field by seeking varied expert opinions
  • continuing to expand your skill set
  • obtaining feedback to gain knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses
  • setting priorities on what will benefit your career
  • creating goals appropriate to your career stage

For additional information about developing career capital, go to

http://www.forbes.com/sites/laurashin/2013/05/22/7-steps-to-developing-career-capital-and-achieving-success/

Discussion Questions

  1. Why are some people more successful in their careers than others?
  2. What factors might be used to measure career success?
  3. How might a person better prepare for future career success?

Teaching Suggestions

  • Have students create a list of attitudes, behaviors, and skills that they believe are important for career success.
  • Ask students to explain actions they are currently taking to enhance their future career success.