The career planner discusses the importance of students strategically planning their transition from school to work. He advises students to define their skills and value before applying to jobs, in order to find an employer and environment that matches their strengths. Rather than just fitting any available job description, the planner stresses self-reflection to identify what students have to offer employers and what workplace factors are most important to them for long-term career satisfaction and trajectory.

1. The School to Work Transition
Discussions with a Career Planner
Jeremy D

2. Say
“The biggest oversight is in choosing the 'right'
employer”
“Don‟t just apply anywhere, and don‟t just fit yourself
into someone else‟s job description”
“Define your own „Value Add‟ first, seek a school/job
that fits/needs that value”
“The transition from school to work should be
strategic”
“Workplace Environment is key - It will dictate your
working life more than most factors”
“You will work in numerous companies, the first ones
will dictate a large part of your career trajectory”
Students need to define the „Value Add‟ or Career
Brand without a specific job in mind

3. Do
It was an electronic discussion, he was not
present in the room or able to demonstrate
what he was referring to

4. Think
He thinks more emphasis should be put on self-
definition BEFORE jobs are even applied for - in
High School/ University?
He thinks students are not unprepared for their
jobs, but that they ARE unprepared for the job
market / job search
He thinks the more students know about
themselves, their skills, and what they want in
terms of a boss, coworkers, a work
environment, etc., the more able they will be to
find those things and thus be happy in their
careers

5. Feel
He is upset by this supposed lack of
preparation given to students, especially
seeing as the costs they‟ve been asked to take
on to become educated
He feels sorry for students who get stuck in
work / work environments they dislike
He feels good about trying to solve what he
thinks is a big problem

6. Problem Statement
Capable but uninformed high school and
college students need help defining their
strengths, needs, and wants BEFORE they
leave their current academic institution, so
that they can find destinations that are well
suited to them, not simply available.