edtechdev/chatbotfiles · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Access for free at openstax.org

12.2 • Your Map to Success: The Career Planning Cycle

Figure 12.6 Your fit for a job lies at the intersection of your attributes and the elements of the position. When your strengths align
with the employer needs, both can mutually benefit.

The importance of finding the right fit cannot be overstated. Many people don’t realize that the KSAs of the
person and the requirements of the job have to match in order to get hired in a given field. What is even more
important, though, is that when a particular job fits your four factors of self-knowledge and maximizes your
KSAs, you are most likely to be satisfied with your work! The “fit” works to help you not only get the job, but
also enjoy the job.
So if you work to learn about yourself, what do you need to know about jobs, and how do you go about
learning it? In our diagram, if you need to have self-knowledge to determine the YOU factors, then to
determine the JOB factors, you need to have workplace knowledge. This involves understanding what
employers in the workplace and specific jobs require. Aspects of workplace knowledge include:
• Labor Market Information: Economic conditions, including supply and demand of jobs; types of
industries in a geographic area or market; regional sociopolitical conditions and/or geographic attributes.
• Industry Details: Industry characteristics; trends and opportunities for both industry and employers;
standards and expectations.
• Work Roles: Characteristics and duties of specific jobs and work roles; knowledge, skills, and abilities
necessary to perform the work; training and education required; certifications or licenses; compensation;
promotion and career path; hiring process.
This “research” may sound a little dry and uninteresting at first, but consider it as a look into your future. If you
are excited about what you are learning and what your career prospects are, learning about the places where
you may put all of your hard work into practice should also be very exciting! Most professionals spend many
hours not only performing their work but also physically being located at work. For something that is such a
large part of your life, it will help you to know what you are getting into as you get closer to realizing your
goals.
How Do We Gain Workplace Knowledge?
• Understand that there is a wide range of occupations and industries that fit together so that we can see
how all jobs contribute to the workplace. With the use of formal career assessments, it will be easy to see
where you fit in using the map below.

379

380

12 • Planning for Your Future

Figure 12.7 The World of Work Map demonstrates the interconnected areas of occupation and interest. You can use it to help
navigate your exploration of workplace knowledge. (Credit: Based on Work by ACT.)

• Learn the “textbook” definitions of what is involved in the jobs you are considering. In Chapter 4, you used
the Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://openstax.org/l/OOH) to learn more about the requirements
for occupations. Its sister site (http://www.mynextmove.org), will help show you more specific job titles.
• Read online information that is relevant to the professions you are interested in. Good sources for this
include professional associations. Just “googling” information is risky. Look for professional and credible
information. The Occupational Outlook Handbook has links to many of these sources. Your career center
can also guide you.
• Whether you are just choosing your major or are already in a major and want to know what options it
offers in terms of future work, look for this specific information. Your department may have this
information; your campus career center definitely will. One very good site is What Can I Do With This
Major? (https://openstax.org/l/majorexplorer)
• Join professional clubs on campus. Many of these organizations have guest speakers who come to
meetings and talk about what their jobs are like. Often, they also sponsor field trips to different companies
and organizations.

Access for free at openstax.org

12.2 • Your Map to Success: The Career Planning Cycle

• As mentioned earlier, attend campus networking events and programs such as job fairs and recruiting
information sessions so that you can talk to people who actually do the work and get their insights.
Something to keep in mind as you make choices about your major and career is that the training is not the job.
What you learn in your college courses is often foundational information; it provides basic knowledge that you
need for more complex concepts and tasks. For example, a second-year student who is premed has the
interests and qualities that may make her a good physician, but she is struggling to pass basic chemistry. She
starts to think that medical school is no longer an appropriate goal because she doesn’t enjoy chemistry. Does
it make sense to abandon a suitable career path because of one 15-week course? In some ways, yes. In the
case of medical school, the education is so long and intensive that if the student can’t persevere through one
introductory course, she may not have the determination to complete the training. On the other hand, if you
are truly dedicated to your path, don’t let one difficult course deter you.
The example above describes Shantelle. They weren’t quite sure which major to choose, and they were feeling
pressure because the window for making their decision was closing. They considered their values and
strengths—they love helping people and have always wanted to pursue work in medical training. As described
above, Shantelle struggled in general chemistry this semester and found that they actually didn’t enjoy it at all.
They’ve heard nightmare stories about organic chemistry being even harder. Simultaneously, Shantelle is
taking Intro to Psychology, something they thought would be an easier course but that they enjoy even
though it’s challenging. Much to their surprise, they found the scientific applications of theory in the various
types of mental illness utterly fascinating. But given that their life dream was to be a physician, Shantelle was
reluctant to give up on medicine because of one measly chemistry course. With the help of an advisor,
Shantelle decided to postpone choosing a major for one more semester and take a course in clinical
psychology. Since there are so many science courses required for premed studies, Shantelle also agreed to
take another science course. Their advisor helped Shantelle realize that it was likely not a wise choice to make
such an important decision based on one course experience.

Focus Your Path
When you know yourself and know what to expect from a workplace and a job, you have information to begin
to make decisions. As we’ve discussed throughout this book, you’re not attending college solely to get a job.
But this is likely one of your goals, and your time in school offers a tremendous opportunity to both prepare
for your career (or careers) and make yourself more attractive to organizations where you want to work.
Successfully learning the content of your classes and earning good grades are among the most important.
Beyond these priorities, you’ll learn the most about yourself and your potential career path if you engage in
activities that will help you make decisions. Simply sitting back and thinking about the decision doesn’t always
help you take action.

Take Advantage of Every Resource You Can While in School
Your college has a wealth of departments, programs, and people dedicated to your success. The more you
work to discover and engage with these groups, the more successfully you’ll establish networks of support and

Access for free at openstax.org

12.2 • Your Map to Success: The Career Planning Cycle

Figure 12.6 Your fit for a job lies at the intersection of your attributes and the elements of the position. When your strengths align

with the employer needs, both can mutually benefit.

The importance of finding the right fit cannot be overstated. Many people don’t realize that the KSAs of the

person and the requirements of the job have to match in order to get hired in a given field. What is even more

important, though, is that when a particular job fits your four factors of self-knowledge and maximizes your

KSAs, you are most likely to be satisfied with your work! The “fit” works to help you not only get the job, but

also enjoy the job.

So if you work to learn about yourself, what do you need to know about jobs, and how do you go about

learning it? In our diagram, if you need to have self-knowledge to determine the YOU factors, then to

determine the JOB factors, you need to have workplace knowledge. This involves understanding what

employers in the workplace and specific jobs require. Aspects of workplace knowledge include:

• Labor Market Information: Economic conditions, including supply and demand of jobs; types of

industries in a geographic area or market; regional sociopolitical conditions and/or geographic attributes.

• Industry Details: Industry characteristics; trends and opportunities for both industry and employers;

standards and expectations.

• Work Roles: Characteristics and duties of specific jobs and work roles; knowledge, skills, and abilities

necessary to perform the work; training and education required; certifications or licenses; compensation;

promotion and career path; hiring process.

This “research” may sound a little dry and uninteresting at first, but consider it as a look into your future. If you

are excited about what you are learning and what your career prospects are, learning about the places where

you may put all of your hard work into practice should also be very exciting! Most professionals spend many

hours not only performing their work but also physically being located at work. For something that is such a

large part of your life, it will help you to know what you are getting into as you get closer to realizing your

goals.

How Do We Gain Workplace Knowledge?

• Understand that there is a wide range of occupations and industries that fit together so that we can see

how all jobs contribute to the workplace. With the use of formal career assessments, it will be easy to see

where you fit in using the map below.

379

380

12 • Planning for Your Future

Figure 12.7 The World of Work Map demonstrates the interconnected areas of occupation and interest. You can use it to help

navigate your exploration of workplace knowledge. (Credit: Based on Work by ACT.)

• Learn the “textbook” definitions of what is involved in the jobs you are considering. In Chapter 4, you used

the Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://openstax.org/l/OOH) to learn more about the requirements

for occupations. Its sister site (http://www.mynextmove.org), will help show you more specific job titles.

• Read online information that is relevant to the professions you are interested in. Good sources for this

include professional associations. Just “googling” information is risky. Look for professional and credible

information. The Occupational Outlook Handbook has links to many of these sources. Your career center

can also guide you.

• Whether you are just choosing your major or are already in a major and want to know what options it

offers in terms of future work, look for this specific information. Your department may have this

information; your campus career center definitely will. One very good site is What Can I Do With This

Major? (https://openstax.org/l/majorexplorer)

• Join professional clubs on campus. Many of these organizations have guest speakers who come to

meetings and talk about what their jobs are like. Often, they also sponsor field trips to different companies

and organizations.

Access for free at openstax.org

12.2 • Your Map to Success: The Career Planning Cycle

• As mentioned earlier, attend campus networking events and programs such as job fairs and recruiting

information sessions so that you can talk to people who actually do the work and get their insights.

Something to keep in mind as you make choices about your major and career is that the training is not the job.

What you learn in your college courses is often foundational information; it provides basic knowledge that you

need for more complex concepts and tasks. For example, a second-year student who is premed has the

interests and qualities that may make her a good physician, but she is struggling to pass basic chemistry. She

starts to think that medical school is no longer an appropriate goal because she doesn’t enjoy chemistry. Does

it make sense to abandon a suitable career path because of one 15-week course? In some ways, yes. In the

case of medical school, the education is so long and intensive that if the student can’t persevere through one

introductory course, she may not have the determination to complete the training. On the other hand, if you

are truly dedicated to your path, don’t let one difficult course deter you.

The example above describes Shantelle. They weren’t quite sure which major to choose, and they were feeling

pressure because the window for making their decision was closing. They considered their values and

strengths—they love helping people and have always wanted to pursue work in medical training. As described

above, Shantelle struggled in general chemistry this semester and found that they actually didn’t enjoy it at all.

They’ve heard nightmare stories about organic chemistry being even harder. Simultaneously, Shantelle is

taking Intro to Psychology, something they thought would be an easier course but that they enjoy even

though it’s challenging. Much to their surprise, they found the scientific applications of theory in the various

types of mental illness utterly fascinating. But given that their life dream was to be a physician, Shantelle was

reluctant to give up on medicine because of one measly chemistry course. With the help of an advisor,

Shantelle decided to postpone choosing a major for one more semester and take a course in clinical

psychology. Since there are so many science courses required for premed studies, Shantelle also agreed to

take another science course. Their advisor helped Shantelle realize that it was likely not a wise choice to make

such an important decision based on one course experience.

Focus Your Path

When you know yourself and know what to expect from a workplace and a job, you have information to begin

to make decisions. As we’ve discussed throughout this book, you’re not attending college solely to get a job.

But this is likely one of your goals, and your time in school offers a tremendous opportunity to both prepare

for your career (or careers) and make yourself more attractive to organizations where you want to work.

Successfully learning the content of your classes and earning good grades are among the most important.

Beyond these priorities, you’ll learn the most about yourself and your potential career path if you engage in

activities that will help you make decisions. Simply sitting back and thinking about the decision doesn’t always

help you take action.

Take Advantage of Every Resource You Can While in School

Your college has a wealth of departments, programs, and people dedicated to your success. The more you

work to discover and engage with these groups, the more successfully you’ll establish networks of support and