The document outlines a 3-step process for career planning: [1] self-assessment of interests, personality, skills and values; [2] career exploration including researching trends and specific careers; [3] developing a timetable and using contacts to pursue goals. Self-assessment involves evaluating interests, skills, personality and values through activities, compliments received, and preferred work environments. Career exploration recommends researching labor market trends, occupations, changes in the work force, and specific careers using several online resources and talking to people in fields of interest. The final step is to set short- and long-term goals and use networking to work toward your career.

1. Career Decision Making
Gayle E. Wood, M.Ed.
Director of Access and Diversity

2. 3-Steps to Career Planning
• Self-Assessment
– Evaluate your interests, personality and
values, skills and abilities.
• Career Exploration
– Evaluate career trends.
– Complete an information search.
• Put it Together
– Set a specific timetable for completing goals.
– Use your contacts.

3. Self-Assessment
• Interests
– What sparks my interest?
– What activities give me the most
pleasure?
– What’s really important to me?
– What volunteer activities do I find most
enjoyable?
– What school subjects do I find most
interesting?”

4. Self-Assessment
• Skills and Abilities
– What are areas in which I excel?
– What are my special gifts and talents?
– What are some things I do for which I
receive compliments?
– In what subjects do I earn the highest
grades?”

5. Self-Assessment
• Personality and Values
– What are my lifestyle preferences?
– Do I prefer to be indoors or outdoors?
– Would I rather be with lots of people or by
yourself?
– Do I consider myself a quite, calm person or
an active person?
– Would I prefer a 9-5 work schedule or a
flexible work schedule?

6. Tools for Self Assessment
• Daydream about careers that
interest you.
• Review the classified section of the
Sunday Newspaper.
– Make a scrapbook of the job listings
you cut out of the newspaper.
– Pay attention to similarities in job
choices.

7. Tools for Self Assessment
• Participate in a Shadow Program.
• Review your Transcripts.
– Highlight those courses in which you
earned an A or B.
• Take a Career Assessment.
– Meet with a counselor and take the
Campbell Interest Skills Survey.

8. Career Exploration
• Review Career Trends.
– Labor Market Trends
• Which employment fields will be dominant?
– Occupational Trends
• What careers are predicted for fast growth?
• What changes are occurring in occupational
trends?
• How has the work force changed in the last
few years?
• What significant work force changes will occur
in the next 5-10 years?

9. Career Exploration
• Complete an Information Search.
– Use the following Internet sites to research
specific careers.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov/oco/
• Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com/cte/
• What Color is Your Parachute?
www.jobhuntersbible.com
• America's Career Infonet www.acinet.org/acinet/
• Tennessee Career Information Delivery System
www.tcids.utk.edu/

10. Career Exploration
• Talk to people in the field.
• Participate in an internship.
– Contact the placement office for more
information on internships.

11. Put It Together
• Set a Specific Timetable.
– Write down long- and short-term goals
that guide you toward achieving the
career you want.
• Teach K-5, graduation date, internship,
licensure, etc.)
– Periodically evaluate those goals.

12. Put It Together
• Use Your Contacts.
– Network with people in your field before
you graduate from college, especially
during your last two semesters in
college.

13. Need Help?
• If you need assistance with career
planning, contact Counseling Services:
– Blount County Center - 981-5303
– Division Street Campus - 971-5218
– Magnolia Campus - 329-3113
– Pellissippi Campus - 694-6547