Career Development Process

Many people happen upon a career without doing the required research for a decision that will have a lifelong impact. Our careers last much longer than computers or most televisions yet we spend more time researching and comparing prices on these items than we spend time on selecting a career path. We owe it to ourselves to devote the time and effort to choosing a career or making a career change. One way to do this is through the career development process. The Career Development Process, which is active, lifelong and cyclical, consists of five steps.

STEP 1: SelfAssessment
Values, Interests, Personality, Skills, Leisure Interest

STEP 5: JobHunting
Researching Companies, Resumes, Interviewing

STEP 2: Exploring Careers

Nature of Work, Training/ Education Required, Salary Range, Job Outlook

STEP 4 : Education / Training

Acquire training & educaion needed, Develop skills

STEP 3: DecisionMaking
Incorporate information gathered in steps 1 and 2

STEP #1: Career Assessment STEP #2: Career Exploration STEP #3: Decision-Making STEP #4: Education/Training
After you assess yourself, explore career options, and decide on a career path, you will have a better understanding of the careers you would like to pursue. So the next step in the process is to seek the skills and training required for your selected occupation(s). Based on the information gathered in step #1 and step #2 you should know exactly what skills, training and education are required for occupations you're interested in.

Start by determining whether the City Colleges of Chicago (www.ccc.edu) offers the certificate or degree program you require. Certifications are a way to add to your skills and demonstrate qualifications to employers. Use the Certification Finder to find a variety of certifications. Licenses are a way to show employers enhanced skills and qualifications. Licenses typically apply to certain types of work and usually require more education and experience than certifications. Learn about licenses in the Licensed Occupations tool. Learn on-the-job in a registered apprenticeship. Take classes at a college at City Colleges of Chicago (www.ccc.edu). You can stop by the Student Services Department at your college to find out more about our WIA Program. WIA, or the Workforce Investment Act, is a federal program supporting employment and training programs for youth, adults, dislocated workers, individuals requiring rehabilitation services, and adults requiring literacy services. Find other WIA approved training at http://iwds.state.il.us/. Contact City Colleges of Chicago (www.ccc.edu) for information about adult education options. Get international work experience by studying abroad. City Colleges of Chicago also offers study abroad opportunities. Please contact a faculty member or college advisor for more information. Explore internships and work-based learning

STEP #5: Pre-Employment/Job-Hunting

Now that you have found an occupation(s) that match your vocational interests, skills, values, personality type, and leisure interests, you need to find specific job openings in those areas. The following is a flowchart of the job search process you may want to employ. However, the preemployment process does not always flow in the order described. Some of the job search techniques may occur in various orders. 1. Locating Employment Possibilities / Finding jobs A. Many people only use one source, like the Internet or classified ads, to search for jobs. But job openings can be found in a variety of different ways. a. Hidden Jobs i. Making direct contact with employers 1. Company web sites 2. Public library professional and trade journals, business directories Contact trade and professional associations to find opportunities through their career services. 3. Chamber of Commerce 4. Associations and local organizations 5. Yellow Pages - Search in the Yellow Pages or other phone directories to find
local employers including temporary or other employment agencies.

ii. Friends, relatives and acquaintances - Network with people you know and others in your profession to find new opportunities. b. Visible Jobs i. Online job banks - job banks listed in the Career Resource Library or the Job Bank and Portal Link page. ii. Want-ads - Use newspaper ads or find job listings or job fairs where employers gather to search for new employees. iii. Private and state employment agencies iv. College Placement Centers

v. Special Services agencies physical or medical limitations, economically disadvantaged, women c. Some of the City Colleges of Chicago have contracted with College Central Network http://www.collegecentral.com/olive-harvey/ , an online job posting and resume database system.

2. Researching companies with employment possibilities or where jobs are advertised A. It is always advisable to do your homework on the prospective employer. Researching as much information about the company as you can, such as its products, recent changes, competitors and clients, will boost your confidence. Also, mentioning some of the significant features of the company during the interview can create a good impression. For guidelines on how to research a company online before your job interview click on this link: www.quintcareers.com/researching_companies_guide.html i. Visit Company websites or public libraries

3. Contacting Prospective Employers A. Personal Referral B. Telephone Contact C. Informational Interview D. Use electronic options to apply for jobs. i. Email a resume, or cover letter to the employers you want to work for. Submit resumes and cover letters using job banks and boards. Keep in mind that it's easy to apply electronically; stay focused by only applying for jobs that match your goals. E. Resume Campaign/Letters of Applications i. Send your resumes, cover letters, and other information in the mail or by couriers. It's almost as fast as email and you can influence the impression it makes by the paper, formatting, and fonts you use. (or) F. Filling out Applications in person i. Complete a job application on the spot. Or start the conversation that will get you hired by asking to speak to the hiring manager or business owner to discuss opportunities.

4. Writing Resumes and Cover Letters

5. Interviewing