CNS 220 Final Project

Part 1: Personal Action Plan

If you have a dream, you can spend a lifetime studying, planning, and getting
ready for it. What you should be doing is getting started.
-Drew Houston, Founder/CEO of Dropbox
The purpose of this project is to integrate and mobilize your new skills, resources, experiences and knowledge
into a plan you can use to create meaningful action toward your personal and career-related goals. This final
project, your Action Plan, along with your Meta-Reflection, will allow you to consolidate your new competencies
and understanding of yourself, as well as options in the world of work that are relevant to you.
Checklist to complete this project:
Answer the following prompts and complete the action plan on the following pages. Please complete
this electronically by filling out this document.
Complete a career coaching appointment with a career coach in the OPCD to review your action plan for
feedback.
Write your meta-reflection based on the prompts provided after this action plan worksheet.
Please follow the prompts listed here and integrate 8-10 resources from our course as supporting material,
evidence for your plan, or new information that informs your future actions. You will start by reviewing your
progress and citing the experiences that have created impact and opportunity.
This project is a template you can use now and as your goals unfold, or shift in the future. Ive provided this
blank template for your Action Plan on Sakai and our ePortfolio website. Keep it and feel free to use it in the
future.
First, begin by answering these questions for yourself. Be as complete as you can, using a sentences or two for
each prompt:
I enrolled in this course for this primary purpose or because: I wanted to explore my interests to match
up with potential career options.
When I started this class, I was considering this/these options in the world of work:
At the beginning of our course, these were my initial assumptions/thoughts about myself and the world of
work as it related to me
1. I believed that the healthcare field was the only field that makes the most money.
2. I believed that occupational therapy was the only career that I was interested in
3. I believed that paths to careers were more direct than abstract.
Next, continue by considering the results of your self-assessment undertaken through our course. You may wish
to review the Self-Assessment section of your ePortfolio. Write a sentence or two to answer these prompts:
What are the key points you have learned about yourself as it relates to your current ideas related to career
goals? Which projects, experiences or readings provided this learning? List 3-5 key learnings and the
rationale/or sources for class that help clarify this self-assessment.
1. I learned that my strengths were centralized to just the healthcare field by looking at my strong interest
survey.
2. I learned that my family had varying career paths that I was not interested in by looking at my career
genogram.
3. I learned to not aim for success because the more that I aim for it the more that I will miss it, and I
leraned this by reading Mans Quest for Meaning.
4.
5.
What has been the most valuable piece of information you have learned about yourself as it relates to
opportunities of value to you? How did you learn this as part of our course?
I to be confident in my abilities and talents as a Wake Forest University student, because I tend to undermine
my potential as a top candidate in any job field. I learned this by conducting an informational interview with
Samantha James.
Now, think about the exploration and research you have conducted and write a sentence or two to answer the
following for yourself. Again, you may wish to look at your Career Research and Exploration section of your
ePortfolio.

 How did you explore and research career-related opportunities and options? How would you summarize the
resources/experiences that have been most helpful?
I explored research career-related opportunities and options by conducting informational interviews, and
completing projects such as the applied research project. The most helpful resource for me was the
informational interviews, because I was able to gain direct insight from people in my field of interest.
What do you need to be doing now based on your class year at Wake Forest and the options you are
currently exploring? hint: take a look at the OPCD site (it lists activities by year and the explore careers tab
here: http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/explore-careers gives a timeline for specific career fields)
I need to be seeking out internships to start building my experience, and also taking the required courses
that will enhance my application to medical school in addition to required courses, such as psychology and
medical terminology.
My list of key points and valuable personal learning is the following:
As a Wake Forest in a career exploration course, I already have an advantage of amongst the potential
applicant pool of my class, because I have already learned how to network with people that could
advance my career.

My plans for growth are:

To learn how to answer the dreaded question with confidence and with a vengeance due to the fact that
opportunities could be opened for me to pursue.

Options in the World of Work: Career Action Plan

April 29, 2015
Please type your action plan goals below and provide the rationale (the reason you plan to do this) and courserelated source for this goal. Excellent action plans will draw on 8-10 different sources from class (e.g. projects,
experiences, readings, lectures, resources). It is important to anticipate barriers to reaching your goals. This may
be as simple as time limitations during finals week. If we can identify barriers or obstacles, we can also
identify resources that will help us overcome these obstacles so out momentum on reaching the goals is not
diminished.
Step 1: Self-Assessment
Based on what you have learned about yourself, the world of work, values and career related interests, list your
most important information about yourself (column 1). I also expect you to describe the rationale and source of
this learning (e.g., Strong Interest Inventory, Career Genogram, Values Lecture, journal entry, etc.).
Self-Assessment/Career Related Knowledge
Entrepreneurship is one of my lowest interests
My passions are different from my familys
I need more confidence

Course Citation/Experiential Source

Strong Interest Inventory
Career Genogram
Journal Entry

Step 2: Short-Term Goals for the Next Thirty (30) Days

In Step 2, Im going to ask you to set some short-term goals based on what youve learned about yourself above.
These goals may be based on information you received in an informational interview, from your job shadow,
perspective gained at an OPCD workshop, data you explored on particular career-related web sites or from our
readings or experiences. Example short-term goals might look like:
Apply for 10 different marketing related internships before April 30th. Rationale: I need to build professional
experience on my resume before junior year (source: informational interview with alumni contacted through
LinkedIn as part of Informational Interview Projects).
Arrange 2 Job Shadows in hometown for June. Rationale: increasing my network gives me more access to
hidden job market (source: Job Shadow Preparation Presentation).
In this table, list two (2) short-term goals for next thirty (30) days and action steps to reach them. Include a date
to complete the goals and action steps (column 1). You should support your goal with an appropriate
rationale/source from the course or your exploration that explains your reason or motivation for the short-term
goals (column 2).
Short-Term Goals for the Next Thirty (30)
Rationale/Source from Course or Exploration
Days
1. Be flexible with your options that could lead to
Goal 1: Land an Internship by May 31st
great opportunities/ Roadtrip Nation
1a. Look for opportunities in both Winston and Atlanta
Action Step a. Perform a vigorous search
to expand possibilities/OPCD

Action Step b. Network with people in the

related field

Goal 2: Execute 3 Informational Interviews by July

Action Step a. Go to office, and introduce
yourself
Action Step b. Research the individual you wish
to speak with

1b. Building a strong network can make profile

reputable/LinkedIn
2. Showing interest in peoples career paths can
land you future connections/ Informational
Interview
2a. A good first impression makes for a lasting
professional relationship/ Job Shadow Prep
Presentation
2b. Showing insight means that you are serious/ Andy
Chan Lecture

Now that youve spent some time identifying your short-term goals for the next thirty (30) days, I want you to
think about any potential obstacles you may encounter in the process of reaching these goals and completing
your action steps. Additionally, please identify resources you may use to overcome these obstacles (e.g., identify
the tools, information, planning and/or people who can help you).
Potential Obstacles to Completing ShortTerm Goals
Resources to Overcome Potential Obstacles
1. Be persistent in expressing interest/ Attend job
1. Low Availability of Internships
workshops
2.
2.
3.
3.
Step 3: Long-Term Goals for the Next Three (3) Months
Now, in Step 3, I want you to set two (2) long-term goals and actions steps to help you reach them. Example
long-term goals might look like:
Join the Executive Committee of Wake and Shake. Rationale: recruiters like to see leadership on a resume
(source: Internship Presentation in Class & OPCD Job Search Workshop)
Conduct informational interview with attorneys in my county by end of August. Rationale: explore law
schools that may network or offer recruiting options within my home state/region to determine top choices
for law school applications (Source: Graduate/Professional School Panel information)
Take Computer Science course next semester. Rationale: basic programming important skill for one of my
industries of choice (Source: informational interview #2 with alumnus at Red Ventures)
Long-Term Goals for the Next Three (3)
Months
Goal 1: Register and take the GRE by August
Action Step a. Study for the Exam
Action Step b. Go to Prep Sessions

Goal 2: Take a HES prerequisite course in the fall

Action Step a. Express interest in the class to
professor
Action Step b. Register

Rationale/Source from Course or Exploration

1. More than likely to receive a higher score to
deter competition/ Grad School Panel
1a. Knowledge can be sharpened with sufficient
studying/ Grad Panel
1b. Taking advantage of free sessions are not found
everywhere/ Grad Panel
2. Testing the waters can bring light to my true
interests/ Quest for Meaning
2a. Research opportunities may arise which can give
me a leg up/ Grad Panel
2b. You will never know what might come out of the
action of faith you take/ Roadtrip Nation

Just as you did with your short-term goals, I want you to think about any potential obstacles you may encounter
in the process of reaching your long-term goals and completing your action steps. Additionally, please identify
resources you may use to overcome these obstacles (e.g., identify the tools, information, planning and/or people
who can help you).
Potential Obstacles to Completing LongTerm Goals
Resources to Overcome Potential Obstacles
1. Look for other opportunities to advance knowledge by
1. Class may fill up
using the course guide on the Allied Health page
2. GRE scores may not be what I expected
2. Talk with people that have taken it to help give you

3.

pointers on how to go about preparing for the test

3.

Accountability Partner (with whom will you share

this plan):
After you have completed the Action Plan and had it reviewed by a career coach in the OPCD, take some time to
write up your meta-reflection for the course using the prompts on the next page.

Part 2: Meta-Reflection
Now that you have a clear action plan developed for yourself, the second part of your final project
involves taking a step back and thinking about all that youve learned, in class, as well as through
your career research, exploration and experiences.
To begin your meta-reflection: Review your progress

First, take a few minutes to review the readings we used from the beginning of our
course (Path Finding, Road Trip Nation, Luck Is No Accident). Now, think about the career
beliefs and interests you had as you entered the course.
What did you believe about the world of work and specifically, your engagement with or
vision for yourself in it? You have explored a host of perspectives, had real experiences and
gained competencies that may have been new or refined though this course. You have
documented your progress and gained skills with the construction of your ePortfolio.
What do you notice about your ePortfolio and what it says about your growth and
preparation?

Then, look at your ePortfolio. Review your results from the Strong Interest Inventory, re-read
your first informational interview and compare it to your last. Review your job shadow or
activities summaries.
What do you notice in the difference between the way you conducted or synthesized
information early in the course and how your thinking has evolved?
What was the process you used to select your informational interview subjects or areas of
exploration?
What kinds of activities items might you now be considering?

Think about how youve changed. What changes do you notice in your thinking as a result of
creating your ePortfolio and your experiences in class? What do you notice in your ePortfolio?
How do these examples demonstrate that you have learned (made a measurable change) as a
result of this process?

Now, here are the questions to guide your written reflection:

BIG PICTURE
Describe how focusing your attention on exploring the world of work, has impacted your
thinking? How do you see your own growth and changes in your perspective? How is your
individual education preparing you for your professional aspirations as you currently
understand them? How will you use the rest of your time at Wake Forest as a result? In other
words, what is next for you in this process?
THE PROCESS
Look at your ePortfolio as a whole. How has the creation of the ePortfolio impacted your
thinking regarding yourself as a young professional, as a student engaged in preparing for a
career and the career development cycle?
GROWTH AND VALUE
What has surprised you in the process of completing informational interviews, networking,
exploring resources and evaluating your options? What has been most valuable in light of
your goals? How can this process be helpful to all undergraduates?

Youve done a lot of work this semester! This project gave you the opportunity to develop concrete
action plans for your future and also to think about what youve learned throughout the course. Post
both your Action Plan and Meta-Reflection (you can use this document as a template) in your ePortfolio under the Research and Career Exploration area AND bring a copy to class. Please
review the rubrics on the following pages to make sure youve met all the assignment
requirements. Please note, there are two (2) rubrics, one for each part of this project. Each
is worth 25 points.

Rubric
Personal Action Plan
25 points total

Sophisticated

Competent

Not Yet Competent

Action plan
demonstrates
short-term
career goals and
rationale
(7 points)

Action plan has two

both academic or
career-related goals
listed for next 1-3
months (short and long
term) and includes,
action steps,
rationale/source from
coursework

Action plan has both

academic and careerrelated goals listed for
next 1 or 3 months and
has rationale for some
but not all or rationale
unrelated to coursework

Action plan has only

academic or career
goals but not both;
rationale missing or
incomplete

Action plan
demonstrates
use of long-term
goals and
rationale
(7 points)

Action plan has 2

goals, time-bound
action steps created
and cites more than
three references from
projects, experiences or
information gained as
part of course
objectives

Action plan has 2-3

action steps that
created and citing 6-8
references from
projects, experiences or
information gained as
part of course
objectives

Action plan has 1-2

goals or action steps
but does not have both;
or, does not cite
learning from course as
rationale for action
steps

Action plan
includes name of
accountability
partner, potential
obstacles and
resources to
overcome
barriers/obstacle
s
(3.5 points)

Name of accountability
partner is listed,
obstacles/barriers and
resources to overcome
obstacles/barriers are
listed.

Action plan
answers prompts
demonstrating
growth or
perspective from
start of course
(3 points)

Action plan includes

answers to prompts to
questions listed for preplanning for document

Student
completes career
coaching

Student attends
coaching session with
career coach to review

Not located in ePortfolio

and/or does not have
accountability partner
listed

Action plan includes a

few but not all answers
to prompts/questions
listed for pre-planning
for document

Action plan does not

include answers to
prompts/questions
listed for pre-planning
for document

N/A

N/A

appointment to
review plan
(3 points)

action plan

Action plan
added to
ePortfolio and
printed copy
turned in on time
(1.5 points)

Action plan added to

ePortfolio and turned
into class on time

N/A

N/A

Rubric
Meta-Reflection
25 points total

Sophisticated

Competent

Not Yet Competent

Reflection on
overall
experience of
ePortfolio
creation
(5 points)

Reflection includes 4-6

specific references of,
and reflections on,
aspects of ePortfolio
creation

Reflection includes 3-4

references of, and
reflections on, aspects
of ePortfolio creation;
lacks specificity in
terms of examples or
experiences

Reflection includes 1-2

references of, and
reflections on, aspects
of ePortfolio creation;
lacks specificity in
terms of examples or
reflection

Reflection on
process
(5 points)

Reflection includes 3
references to actual
process of selecting
artifacts, creating
ePortfolio and editing
portfolio for a targeted
audience

Reflection includes 2
references to actual
process of selecting
artifacts, creating
ePortfolio and editing
portfolio for a targeted
audience

Reflection includes 1
reference to actual
process of selecting
artifacts, creating
ePortfolio and editing
portfolio for a targeted
audience

Reflection includes 3-5

examples of students
specific learning and
growth achieved during
class through specific
experiences and
activities

Reflection includes 2-3

examples of students
specific personal
learning and growth
achieved during class
through experiences
and activities, not
specific

Reflection includes 1-2

examples of students
specific personal
learning and growth
achieved during class
through experiences
and activities, not
specific or tied to
projects, experiences or
activities

Overall reflection
indicates consideration
of topic and planning

Reflection indicates
some consideration of
topic; feels rushed

Reflection indicates
inadequate
consideration of topic
and no planning;
rushed quality to
writing and thought

Reflection meets
writing conventions;
virtually zero
punctuation, grammar,
formatting errors

Reflection meets some

writing conventions;
contains 2-4
punctuation, grammar,
formatting errors

Reflection does not

meet writing
conventions; 5 or more
punctuation, grammar,
formatting errors

Meta-reflection added
to ePortfolio and turned
into class on time

N/A

N/A

Reflection on
growth and
progress
(5 points)

Quality of
reflection
(5 points)

Writing
conventions
(2.5 points)
Timeliness
(2.5 points)