Project Description     Student will research and identify a long-term career that he/she is interested in pursuing.

Project Description    

Student will research and identify a long-term career that he/she is interested in pursuing.

Many times as managers we think about managing businesses, people, and the various functions of the business. We understand the need to plan, to organize, to lead, and to control. We rarely think about managing our own careers. This assignment requires you to apply the leadership practices discussed in class to the management of your career.  In order to complete this assignment, you will need to utilize your own personal situation and create a career action plan for yourself.

Instructions:

If you have some career that you like to pursue then you should brainstorm the following:

• List 3 things that interest you the most or that you are passionate about doing (doesnt necessarily have to be a specific job);
• Access the following links for guidance on what to look for in identifying a future profession, or getting an idea where you may excel in:

   http://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-find-your-career-path-1628537579

   https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/finding-the-right-career.htm

   https://content.wisestep.com/choose-career-thats-best/

   Use your personality profile to find what is right for you.

Based on the information or insight gathered from the above sites:

• Identify a specific professional title/position you want to work towards (can also be an entrepreneur);
• For students who are still unsure identify any two positions that interest you;
• Based on the profession title(s)/position(s) identified conduct research to determine the following:

   General Job Description for the profession(s) selected;

   Requirements for the chosen profession(s);

   Job outlook for the profession(s) selected.

   Number of positions available in the U.S. and the medium salary for this career.

• Suggested sites to research this information are:

   http://www.onetonline.org

   http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/statistics/occupations.htm

Once you have collected these data, write an essay in the following format

First paragraph Introduction

• Identify the career and state two important skills, two critical knowledge, and two major responsibilities one needs to be in this career.
• Why you are interested in this career.
• Limit this paragraph to no more than 9 sentences.

Second paragraph Skills and knowledge

• Discuss why the skills identified in the first paragraph are important for this career.
• Discuss why the knowledge identified in the first paragraph are critical for this career.
• Limit this paragraph to between 4 to 8 sentences.

Third paragraph Responsibility

• Discuss why the responsibilities identified in the first paragraph are its main responsibility.
• Are these responsibilities something that you are willing to do?  Are these responsibilities something that you like to do?
• Limit this paragraph to between 4 to 12 sentences.

Fourth paragraph Outlook for this career

• Is the number of positions increasing, decreasing, or stable in the future.
• What kind of living standard would someone have with this career?  Is this living standard what you want from a career?
• Limit this paragraph to between 4 to 12 sentences.

Fifth paragraph SWOT

Create a SWOT Analysis based on the template provided (see below).  SWOT analysis is described in our textbook. You might consider this exercise as part of a marketing plan for your own career.  The SWOT analysis should reflect your personal strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats in the career area you have selected.  Make a comparison between your current level of skills and knowledge with what is expected for this career.  The paragraph should answer the following:

• Identify what you lack and how you might be able to close the gap.  For example, is there an education requirement (like a bachelor’s degree) or is there a certification requirement (like an exam that one must pass)?
• Do you need to sharpen any skills or learn new skills to enter into this career?
• What is the employment outlook for this career?
• Limit this paragraph to no more than one page.

Sixth paragraph Conclusion

• After the research, is this career still attractive to you?
• If you do not possess the level of education (or pass the needed certification), how are you planning to get it done?
• If you are pursuing this career, where might you be in this career in five or ten years?
• If you do not like this career any more, what might be your backup plan?
• Limit this section to about 1 page.

Deliverables:

1. Written Essay paper: No more than 5 (Five) pages. 

Includes your one page Current Resume attachment.

2. Resume:    A Copy of Your Current Resume