PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

The main reason most of us go to college is to prepare ourselves for the job market. People once attended college…or as better stated in those early years as ‘Institutions of Higher Learning’…to become ‘enlightened.’ Either way the result becomes the same. Those who once attended ‘Institutions of Higher Learning’ to become ‘enlightened’ most often returned to society to lead others in opportunities within the job market. Now we have individuals who purposely attend college to become competitive in the job market, and in the process become ‘enlightened.’ Or, do they?

In a technical sense individuals who attend college certainly become enlightened about the nature of things specific to their academic major; but an argument exists as to whether, or not, they truly become as enlightened as they should related to a full development of the ‘self.’ Too many of today’s generation, it is often argued, come away from college without the deep awareness of human relations and leadership dynamics. For this reason I am laying out a plan in this chapter to help readers get a head start on those areas critical to forging a strong human relations and leadership foundation.

Brian Tracy, international leadership expert, and author of GOALS! emphasizes the importance of always thinking in terms of, “How will what I am doing today impact what I will be doing ten or twenty years from now.” He refers to it as having a ‘longer-time perspective.’ Here are three (3) of his basic tenets:


 Think long-term. Sit down today and write out a
description of your ideal life ten and twenty years into the
future. This crystallizes longer-time perspective.

‚ Look at everything you do in terms of its long-term
potential impact on your life. Do more of the things that
have greater long-term value to you.

ƒ Develop the habit of delaying gratification in small things,
small expenditures, small pleasures, so that you can
enjoy greater satisfaction in the future.



What better time to begin this ‘longer-time perspective’ thinking than while in college? Although it will seem as you could never be any busier than you are while in college, the truth of the matter is you will never again have that amount of leisure time available to you…until the day of your retirement. Take some of this extra time and begin to develop your ‘leadership self.’ The plan that follows is a strong suggestion of some of the things you can begin doing to move yourself forward. Over the years I have trained and coached thousands of professionals to become ‘Strategic Partners.’ To a person they would tell you that if they had it to do over again, they would have initiated the process of personal development much earlier in their lives.

THE PLAN


Research specific career opportunities within the accounting major.



Research performance expectations related to an entry-level position within accounting.



Research cities/regions where opportunities exist.



Locate employers who offer opportunities in the accounting field.



Research those employers:
· Primary recruiting contact.
· Reputation of firm / company.
· Financial health of firm / company.
· Request informational brochure/recruiting literature.
· Internship opportunities at some point?

Focus on a 3.5 GPA – 3.25 minimum.


Elective classes you should consider:
· Psychology of human behavior or organizational psychology
· American History
· English Comp
· American Literature
· Ethics
· Oral presentation
· Marketing
· Philosophy (great thinkers)



Design a Contact List (electronic ‘Rolodex’) of your personal network.

Update your Contact List each week.


Look into whether your campus offers a “Toastmasters” chapter. If not, organize one.

Be a regular participant in “Toastmasters.”



Begin to think about extra-curricular involvement.

Become involved in extra-curricular activities:
· Greek Organization
· Student Government
· Academic Fraternities
· Community Involvement
· Intramural Sports
· Debate Team
· Academic Clubs
· Drama Club
· Band
· Choir
· Etc.

Begin reading one book per month (48 by graduation). *Suggested reading list provided.


Focus on Executive Presence and how to enhance image.

Meet with academic advisor/career counselor to discuss areas in which you might strengthen yourself.

Review “Impact Interviewing” manual to prepare for part-time campus jobs, summer jobs, internships. (Available via my e-mail address.)

Begin to learn one new word per week (various sources available for this purpose). Fully learn the word, and use it during the week in some way (200 by graduation).

Begin/Continue a fitness program – 2 days per week minimum.


Apply for a part-time job, internship, or line up a summer job.

Assume responsibility for a portion of your college costs – scholarships or work-supported.

Read current events – 20 minutes per day – or watch national news each evening.


Enroll in a music appreciation class.


Enroll in an art appreciation class.


Play golf (if you are not a golfer, take lessons).




Suggested Reading/Listening List (1 Per Month)


Lead The Field
Nightingale


7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Covey

True Professionalism
Maister

The New Professional Image
Bixler

How To Win Friends/Influence People
Carnegie

101 Ways To Conduct Business With Charm And Savvy
Sabath

How To Work A Room
Roane

The Exceptional Presenter
Koegel

Elements Of Style
Strunk & White

Integrity
Carter

Civility
Carter

Emotional Intelligence
Goleman

Care Of The Soul
Moore

Leading Change
Kotter

Living The Platinum Rule
Alessandra

Swim With The Sharks
Mackay

Winning
Welch

First Things First
Merrill, Merrill, Covey

Managing The Professional Service Firm
Maister

First, Break All the Rules
Buckingham

The Purpose Driven Life
Warren

The Servant
Hunter

Good To Great
Collins

The 21 Irrefutable Laws Of Leadership
Maxwell

Principle-Centered Leadership
Covey

Impact Interviewing
Bagley

The Audacity of Hope
Obama

Biographies:

Franklin Roosevelt

Eleanor Roosevelt

Helen Keller

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Billy Graham

Mahatma Gandhi

Winston Churchill

Robert Kennedy

Harry Truman

Dwight Eisenhower

Theodore Roosevelt

Abraham Lincoln

Great Works:

One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich
Solzhenitsyn

To Kill A Mockingbird
Lee

Crime And Punishment
Dostoevsky

SELECTING A CAREER

There exist over 35,000 job titles in this world. To just glance at a list of this magnitude can be overwhelming, and in some cases, defeating. We don’t want to deal with ‘defeat’ in this process. We want to deal with ‘succeed.’ In light of that, we have taken the liberty of narrowing the scope of these 35,000 job titles to 234 mainstream careers under 18 major career groupings. Reviewing this more abbreviated ‘career options’ listing seems a bit more manageable, and a bit less confusing, than trying to sort through 35,000-plus job titles.

Again, the purpose of this guidebook is to simplify the career focus process, not make it more difficult. Just understand as you go forward in the process, hundreds of peripheral jobs stem from these major career areas. No doubt you will be exposed to a number of these jobs in the future. Armed with the information and advice from this publication you will be able to easily relate these ‘peripheral’ jobs back to a major career area that either links to you – or does not link to you.

In the case you might be curious to investigate all job titles, or at least several more than what we have listed here, the link below will connect you to a website which opens all job titles to you.

www.bls.gov (The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook)

Career Options:

A Narrowed Scope for Ease of Review & Selection


ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE

· CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
· AUDITING
· TAX CONSULTING
· FINANCIAL ADVISOR
· INTERNAL AUDITOR
· INVESTMENT BANKING
· INTERNATIONAL TAX CONSULTING
· BANKING (VARIETY OF AREAS)
· COMMERCIAL LENDING
· MORTGAGE LENDING
· STOCKBROKER
· FBI
· IRS


BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

· HUMAN RESOURCES
· RECRUITING
CONSULTING
· DIVERSITY MANAGER
· PURCHASING
· PRODUCTION
· SALES
· MARKETING
· PUBLIC RELATIONS
· HOTEL AND RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
· ECONOMICS FORECASTING
· CORPORATE TRAINING
· PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
· LABOR RELATIONS
· ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
· ADVERTISING


COMMUNICATION

· ADVERTISING
· PUBLIC RELATIONS
· FREE-LANCE WRITING
· EDITING
· BROADCAST/TELECAST PRODUCTION
· NEWSCASTING
· MARKETING
· GRAPHICS DESIGN
· FUND RAISING
· RECRUITING
· RECREATION DIRECTOR
· MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION
· AD COPY WRITING
· SPEECH WRITING
· NEWS REPORTING
· POLITICS


COUNSELING

· GUIDANCE COUNSELING
· ACADEMIC ADVISING
· VOCATIONAL REHAB
· SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING
· CHILD WELFARE COUNSELING
· CAREER SERVICES (COLLEGE AND PRIVATE)
· CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
· COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGIST
· PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNSELING
· CLERGY/MINISTRY
· HUMAN RESOURCES
· INTERPRETING/TRANSLATING
· EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
· CRISIS INTERVENTION
· OUTPLACEMENT COUNSELING


EDUCATION

· EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
· ELEMENTARY TEACHING
· SECONDARY TEACHING (VARIETY OF COURSES)
· COLLEGE PROFESSOR (VARIETY OF COURSES)
· PRINCIPAL
· COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
· COLLEGE DEAN
· COUNSELING/ADVISING
· ATHLETIC COACH
· PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COACH
· LIBRARIAN
· MUSIC DIRECTOR
· PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION
· PHYSICAL FITNESS TRAINER
· ADULT DAY CARE
· CHILD DAY CARE


ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

· AEROSPACE
· CHEMICAL
· CIVIL
· COMPUTER
· ELECTRICAL
· INDUSTRIAL
· MECHANICAL
· METALLURGICAL, CERAMICS, AND MATERIALS
· MINING
· NUCLEAR
· PETROLEUM
· ARCHITECT
· SURVEYOR


ENTERTAINMENT

· ACTING
· SCREEN WRITING
· PLAYWRIGHT
· COMPOSER
· DIRECTING
· PRODUCING
· DANCING
· CHOREOGRAPHY
· MUSICIAN
· RADIO AND TV ANNOUNCING
· COMEDY


FINE ARTS/CREATIVE SERVICES

· ARTIST
· POET
· NOVELIST
· PLAYWRIGHT
· INTERIOR DESIGN
· GRAPHICS DESIGN
· DESIGN ARCHITECT
· LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
· DESKTOP PUBLISHING
· SOFTWARE DESIGN
· MERCHANDISE DESIGN
· COSTUME AND WARDROBE DESIGN
· EXHIBIT DESIGN
· PHOTOGRAPHER
· CAMERAMAN
· SET DESIGN
· FILMMAKER
· WEBSITE DESIGN
· MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION
· CARTOONIST/ANIMATOR

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS

· GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
· URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING
· POLITICAL OFFICE
· MILITARY
· POLITICAL ADVISOR
· POLITICAL ANALYST
· CIA
· FBI
· IRS
· POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION
· PARAMEDIC
· CORRECTIONS OFFICER

HEALTH CARE / MEDICAL

· PHYSICIAN
· MEDICAL RESEARCH
· CLINICAL RESEARCH
· DENTIST
· ORTHODONTIST
· OPTOMETRIST
· PLASTIC SURGEON
· BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER
· MICROBIOLOGIST
· GENETICIST
· NEUROLOGIST
· PSYCHIATRIST
· VETERINARIAN
· CHIROPRACTOR
· PODIATRIST
· PHARMACIST
· RADIOLOGIST
· REGISTERED NURSE
· DIETICIAN/NUTRITIONIST
· OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
· SPEECH PATHOLOGIST/AUDIOLOGIST
· RECREATIONAL THERAPIST
· PHYSICAL THERAPIST
· MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
· LAB TECHNICIAN
· HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATOR
· MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR

JOURNALISM

· NEWSPAPER REPORTER
· NEWPAPER EDITING
· INTERNATIONAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT
· BROADCAST JOURNALISM
· TV NEWS REPORTER
· FREE-LANCE WRITER
· TV/RADIO PRODUCER
· MAGAZINE EDITOR
· WEBSITE CONTENT EDITOR


LAW

· ATTORNEY
· LABOR RELATIONS
· ARBITRATOR
· LEGAL ADVISOR
· OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
· POLITICS
· SPORTS AGENT
· BUSINESS AGENT


MARKETING AND SALES

· MARKETING STRATEGIES FORECASTING
· VARIETY OF SALES POSITIONS
· SCOPING
· BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
· CONSULTING
· SALES AGENT: SECURITIES AND COMMODITIES
· BUSINESS MANAGER
· MANUFACTURER'S REP
· SPORTS MARKETING


RECREATIONAL SERVICES

· RECREATION DIRECTOR
· RECREATION THERAPY
· PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER
· TRAVEL AGENT
· RECREATION AGENT
· CAMP SUPERVISOR
· PARK SERVICES
· PARK RANGER

RELIGION

· MINISTRY
· RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR
· MISSIONARY
· PASTORAL COUNSELING
· PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION

SCIENCES

· ASTRONOMY
· BOTANIST
· GEOLOGIST
· ZOOLOGIST
· MARINE BIOLOGY
· FORESTRY
· ARCHAELOGIST
· PHYSICIST
· MATHEMATICIAN
· RESEARCH SCIENTIST

SOCIAL SERVICES

· WELFARE COUNSELING
· REHAB COUNSELING
· CRISIS INTERVENTION
· MENTAL AND PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT ASSISTANCE
· FUND RAISING ASSISTANCE
· SOCIAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION
· CASE WORKER
· ABUSE SHELTER COUNSELING
· HOMELESS INTERVENTION
· TUTORING AND MENTORING THOSE IN NEED

TECHNICAL

· INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
· INTERNET ARCHITECT
· WEB DEVELOPMENT
· SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
· COMPUTER SECURITY SPECIALIST
· ANALYST
· COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
· ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
· SCIENCE TECHNICIAN
· ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN
· ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS
· AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
· BROADCAST TECHNICIAN
· NETWORK INTEGRATION SPECIALIST

ACCOUNTING AS A CAREER CHOICE

The Best Places to Launch a Career


Why? Enormous demand. Tremendous opportunities. Exciting appeal. Excellent pay. More flexible work culture. Bringing value.

In a capitalistic society there is no more valuable college academic major than accounting…that is if you have the aptitude and attitude suited to pursue it. It is not a major for those who just want to ‘get by’ in college. It does require a commitment to hard work and focus. But for those who pursue this major, and succeed in meeting its challenges, the career rewards are significant. It allows you to be considered in the group of the ‘Premier Professions’ à medicine, engineering, law, scientific research, computer technology, and higher education. It also provides substantial earning potential with salaries ever on the increase.

No matter if your long-term goals are to be a Partner in a Public Accounting Firm, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), Treasurer, Tax Director, Financial Planner, Wealth Manager, HR Leader, Attorney, FBI Agent, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Professor…or a host of other career possibilities…accounting is the foundation of everything that goes on in a free-enterprise system. If the CEO does not have an academic background in accounting, it is a good bet the person closest to him / her in the organization does have. Those who lead organizations always need to know where the money comes from…and where the money is going. When a leader loses sight of this, their future, or their organization’s future is short lived. (Reference ENRON; TYCO; WORLD COM.)

One of the real beauties of entering the field of public accounting is that it grants you an opportunity to do ‘extended career exploration’ while you gain valuable experience and, at the same time, get paid! When you enter the field of public accounting not many people will expect you to stay in that career field for your entire career. (It is in your personal / professional best interests to remain for 5 to 6 years or until you have been a ‘manager’ for one full year. Only then will you truly have experienced public accounting. Leaving the profession after only 2 to 3 years is not fair to you, or to the respective firm. The world is full of ‘two-year’ public accountants. Being a ‘manager’ in a public accounting environment is a different story, however. Managers can command some pretty significant roles in the corporate sector). During this 5- to 6-year timeframe you will be exposed to the best in technical and leadership training, invaluable on-the-job coaching, a variety of industries and clients, a diverse field of personalities and leadership styles, some of the brightest professionals in the field of business, and an ‘up-close and personal’ perspective of the inner-workings of capitalism. This profession provides you with ample time and opportunities to find the perfect long-term career for you. That career might turn out to be ‘public accounting’…or one of a multitude of attractive ‘off-shoots.’

From a hiring perspective the recruiting professionals from all the public accounting firms in this country scour the earth each year searching for the best and the brightest accounting grads. The real story is that there are not enough of these professionals to go around.

Several reasons for this:

Lack of career information related to the profession. For the most part high school and college students know little about the profession of accounting. Unless they are fortunate enough to know someone who is in the field, students are totally unaware of the challenges and rewards associated with accounting. College students who I have recruited over the years many times are introduced to accounting by having taken a ‘bookkeeping’ class in high school. Bookkeeping is not accounting. It is only a peek into the profession. Something more substantive needs to be offered to those high school students curious about the accounting profession.

Public accounting firms, by their nature, do not spend much time promoting themselves. There was a time many years ago when they shied away from any type of advertising…and were very careful about taking other firms’ clients. Recruiting was even a war fought with ‘gloves on,’ for the most part. To self-promote seemed distasteful, and many accounting professors worked hard to discourage any of the firms from trying to get a ‘leg up’ on another firm when it came to recruiting their students. Those days have vanished. The accounting profession now uses a number of forums to advertise their wares. However, their attempts to reach deeply into the talent stream are not necessarily bringing the results desired.

The rumor is the ‘Public Accounting’ image may be tarnished. Although the image of the accounting profession took a direct hit immediately following the ENRON debacle and the government-directed shutdown of public accounting giant Arthur Andersen, the longer-term impact has been a significant enhancement of how individuals perceive the profession, and those who inhabit it. The impact of those unfortunate events of the early 2000s have made very clear the critically important role accountants play in protecting the financial well-being of American citizens, whether they be investors or everyday employees counting on a fair retirement return for their years of dedicated work.

Accountants are too often painted as ‘techies.’ Although accountants are by definition technicians, their ‘modus operandi,’ or, mode of operation, extends far beyond the technician role. No longer can accountants only be ‘number crunchers’ or ‘bean counters.’ The day of the pure accounting technician is over. Now accountants must offer not only technical expertise, but they must bring forward superior client service satisfaction; they must be seen as true business advisors; they must embody servant leadership qualities; and, they must excel in the areas of relationship building and marketplace eminence. I have been an HR leader in the public accounting arena for 25+ years. I have recruited, trained, and coached thousands of accounting professionals over this period of time. They are the ‘best of the best.’ Bright, self-motivated, respectful, and ambitious to succeed.

Most high schools do not have an academic ‘introduction’ program, or ‘prep’ program, for students who might, if only they were exposed to it, have a genuine interest in the accounting profession. For this reason many students feel as long as they are good in math they will be good in, or like, accounting. This does not always hold true. There is much more to accounting than ‘numbers.’ A total business understanding is crucial to success in the field. The ability to ‘reason,’ to bring various parts together in forming a whole, to see the black and white and gray areas of a situation, to gain perspective through research and consulting, to work well with people, to lead, to market…these all are important components to the well-educated professional accountant. A curriculum in high school that emphasizes math, logic, philosophy, ethics, human behavior, sociology, psychology, history, economics, and marketing…and structured to center on effective accounting principles…would be a better precursor to majoring in accounting in college than, let’s say, bookkeeping. Accounting is not bookkeeping. Bookkeeping is a minor element of accounting. Many high-performing students will not take bookkeeping because it is seen as a ‘general’ class, as opposed to an ‘academic’ or ‘college preparatory’ class. Therefore, in many instances, those high school students who would make excellent professional accountants will never get an opportunity to ‘test’ accounting before they get to college. (It is fair to say that an increasing number of high schools are beginning to offer ‘accounting’ courses.)

In contrast, most bright or academically successful high school students are indirectly or directly exposed to the higher professions of medicine, engineering, computer technology, and the research sciences through mainstream curriculums designed with these ends in mind. As well, parents, teachers, academic advisors, and college and career counselors have these professions firmly in mind as they advise students.

The ever-decreasing population. Demographics play a major role here. Simply stated, as the ‘Baby-Boomer’ generation moves into retirement mode, there are fewer people alive to take their places. Critical career fields such as accounting are the first to feel this pinch.


There has never been a better time for someone to pursue a career in accounting. By all measures majoring in accounting is one of the very best ways you can assure yourself of a challenging, personally satisfying, prestigious, secure, and financially-rewarding career. Of special note are the modifications the profession has made to make what was once considered a ‘sweatshop’ and ‘up-or-out’ working mentality into one of balance and support. Some of these modifications:

o Flexible Work Schedules: Allowing people to work schedules in line with their work and their personal demands.
o Mentoring: More senior professionals proactively coaching more junior professionals toward success.
o Women Leadership: Women are increasingly moving into key leadership roles.
o Leadership Training and Coaching: Professionals are receiving intense training and coaching in the areas critical to leadership effectiveness à ‘Strategic Partner’ value proposition.
o Diversity Initiatives: A more diverse population is moving into the professional ranks of accounting firms.
o More Flexible Partner Career Tracks: Those aspiring toward partner are given more latitude related to a ‘flexible’ work schedule.
o Having Input Into Decisions That Directly Impact You: Professionals have more of a say related to selection of function (audit / tax / consulting), travel, industry specialization, hours worked, and relocation.

It has become, to a certain degree, a ‘sellers’ market. This is not to say there will not be demands placed on those who enter this profession; there will be for certain. But the atmosphere is much more democratic than in generations before.

The biggest ‘secret’ in the business world today is the dynamic and exciting world of accounting. Before you dismiss accounting as a career ‘not for you,’ please take some time to read through this book. I have designed it specifically to dispel the ‘myths’ around the profession, and to open up the terrific opportunities that rest within.

Some ‘highlights’:

· Professional Profile: Seen as ‘Protectors of the Public Trust and of Shareholders’ Primary Interests.’
· 10%-20% growth rate in job opportunities.
· 50,000 accounting graduates each year.
· Annual salary range for those in the field, generally speaking à $45,000 to $1,000,000.
· 110,000 professionals sit for the CPA Exam annually.
· Leads to numerous and various career opportunities:
o In Chapter 2 you can read about a number of professionals who majored in accounting…and where they are currently in their careers.
· Variety of personalities attracted to the field:
o Phil Knight…CEO and founder of NIKE
o Arthur Blank…CEO and founder of Home Depot
o John Grisham…author (The Firm; Shoot to Kill; The Pelican Brief)
o Tiger Woods…#1 golfer in the world
o Jack Greenberg…former CEO of McDonald’s
o Bob Newhart…comedian
o Nearly 1,400 of the FBI’s special agents are accountants (#3 man at the FBI, Assistant FBI Director Thomas Pickard, is a CPA)

PERSONAL INVENTORY PRIOR TO INTERVIEWING

One of the things that so many of us do poorly is to candidly focus on ourselves. A favorite interview request used by recruiters when interviewing candidates for positions within their respective firms is, "Tell me about yourself." Now the candidate has lying before them a tremendous opportunity in which to fully and effectively sell themselves; a span of time that should adequately allow a person to highlight their interests, talents, background, activities, achievements, credentials, values, strengths, and goals -- in essence, a chance to secure a job or, at least, to receive a follow-up interview opportunity. What many times follows this request, however, is a lengthy terror-stricken glare that gradually fades into a vacant stare. Sometimes a paling of the complexion, hints of perspiration on the forehead, or nervous laughter will accompany this empty response.

Why is this?

After all, who could possibly know us any better than us? If the typical age of a traditional campus recruit is 20+ years, surely most everyone should be able to find 20+ minutes (the average time spent in a campus interview actually focused on the candidate) of interesting commentary about themselves to pass on to a person who may be presenting them with a significant career opportunity. Unfortunately for a number of recruits, this period of time seems interminable, and the professional probing of a competent recruiter is required to deftly extract the necessary information from the candidate.

Another example of people wrestling with the idea of promoting themselves comes in the form of the employment resume or personal vita. Here, again, an individual has an excellent opportunity to market themselves, but for some reason tends to soft-pedal their assets. (Granted, one of the reasons for the inability to effectively market oneself on a resume is the lack of space created by the popular fallacy that employers require one-page resumes. I say, if it takes two pages, or more, to promote yourself, use them.) Aside from the aforementioned reasoning as to why many resumes lack scope and intensity, and recognizing that tension and stress related to the interview process may inhibit more proactive responses from a number of people, I am convinced that a more profound rationale exists for why individuals are unable to self-promote. I think, more often than not, the reason individuals are not able to more openly discuss their interests, backgrounds, values, strengths, and achievements, is that they have never taken the time to adequately focus on themselves. This is why people end up majoring in subjects for which they have little or no interest, and why they pursue career areas that bring them little satisfaction, or why they associate with individuals or projects that bring conflict into their lives.

For these reasons, and other more important related reasons, it is essential that we center down on ourselves.

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CENTERING DOWN ON YOURSELF

Skills:

(Educational) __________________________________________________________________
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(Vocational) _________________________________________________________________­__
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Personal Strengths:
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Personal Weaknesses:
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Values:
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Achievements To Date:
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Personal Interests:
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Favorite Academic Subjects - And Why:

­­___________________________________ Why? ___________________________________
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Least Favorite Academic Subjects - And Why:

­­___________________________________ Why? ___________________________________
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Personal Opinion Regarding Education and Its Importance (or lack of) to You:
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Role Models:

Keep in mind that in order to experience success, it is imperative that we, early on, fashion ourselves after positive role models. Following the wrong role models can be a devastating mistake in the worst case scenario, and, at best, will slow the professional growth and development process. For this reason, we must carefully select those whom we aspire to emulate.

People You Most Admire - And Why? Who are these people? What are their values, occupations, roles in life? They are who you most likely fashion yourself after - why?

­­___________________________________ Why? ___________________________________
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Primary Motivators Of Working People:

A number of motivators exist in our world. If money is your primary motivator, some career areas will not be appropriate. Some jobs offer security, comfort, and professional satisfaction -- but not money, prestige, or upward mobility -- what is important to you?

• Rank these motivators as to their relative importance to you:

(1) Money (1) ____________________________
(2) Prestige (2) ____________________________
(3) Challenge (3) ____________________________
(4) Comfort (4) ____________________________
(5) Benefits (5) ____________________________
(6) Job Security (6) ____________________________
(7) Professional Atmosphere (7) ____________________________
(8) Personal Satisfaction (8) ____________________________
(9) Upward Mobility (9) ____________________________

DEFINING SUCCESS

Somewhere in our psyche we embrace a definition of success and we have a perception as to what successful individuals might be like. By completing the following exercise you begin to develop in your mind's eye a profile of the type of individual you truly wish to be -- or certainly a profile of an individual whom you admire, or would readily follow.

Please provide in this space your definition of the term success: ___________________________
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When you visualize in your mind's eye what you perceive to be a successful individual, what do you see (think in terms of appearance, style, mannerisms, attitude, etc.)?

___________________________________________________________________________
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How would this person's biographical sketch read?

• Age:

• Occupation:
• Educational Background:
• Socio-Economic Status:
• Social Activities:
• Values:
• Interests:
• Skills:
• Strengths:
• Weaknesses:
• Achievements:
• Goals:

ESTABLISHING GOALS

In the space provided below please list ten goals you would like to reach in the near future. Review these goals closely and then select the three goals that are the most important to you. After you have done this, explain what you are doing at the present time to reach these three goals.

Goals:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Goal #1:

Efforts being expended to reach this goal:



Goal #2:

Efforts being expended to reach this goal:



Goal #3:

Efforts being expended to reach this goal:



SUMMARY

Once you have concluded the preceding personal inventory take time to review your responses. If you are satisfied with the thoughts that you have crystallized on paper, begin to internalize them. Think about them and understand the background, experiences, and influences that led you to these responses. You need to reach a point where you can fully discuss yourself without hesitation. This is the only way that you can effectively sell yourself to a recruiter — or anyone else for that matter.

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PLEASE GO TO MY WEBSITE www.bagleyconsulting.com TO PURCHASE ANY OF 3 GUIDEBOOKS THAT PROVIDE SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE TO CRITICAL COLLEGE / CAREER AREAS:

· NAVIGATING TOWARD ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS (Preparing for and selecting a college just right for you)
· WHY ACCOUNTING? (Why ‘Accounting’ is an excellent academic major)
· IMPACT INTERVIEWING (Interview skills that win you that scholarship / internship / job offer)

GETTING A JOB IN TODAY'S ECONOMY 2

The following is an excerpt from my Impact Interviewing book:

There exist two stages in the research portion of an interview. Stage one deals with locating an opportunity. Stage two is concerned with gathering information on a firm once the interview is scheduled.

STAGE ONE

Prior to doing anything in the way of interviewing it is, of course, necessary to locate an opportunity for which to interview. There exist a number of ways in which someone can locate an opportunity. Here are a few of the most popular:

College Placement Office
College Placement Bulletins
Networking
Websites
Newspaper Help Wanted Ads
Professional Search Firms
Professional Publications
Chamber of Commerce

We will spend a moment briefly exploring each one.

COLLEGE PLACEMENT OFFICES AND BULLETINS

If you are currently a college student, then utilizing the services of your college placement office is the most obvious option. As many of you know, college placement offices arrange for employers to visit during certain times of the year in order to facilitate the first stages of the formal interview process. As well, placement offices provide a number of tools and programs in assisting students and alumni with career development. One of these tools would be a college placement bulletin which lists various current job opportunities.

For college students and alumni alike, a college placement office is a valuable resource and should be utilized early in the job search process. Do not wait until you are a senior to become familiar with the location of, and services extended by, the placement office. At least by your sophomore year you should introduce yourself to this important student services operation.

NETWORKING

Networking may be the most valuable and most effective means of locating job opportunities. Networking is simply the process of tapping into friends, family, acquaintances, acquaintances of friends and family, and even those individuals who you may not currently know but who you should get to know. The key here is in making contact with individuals who may be in a position that could be helpful to you. Keep in mind that many employing organizations maintain an active networking system to assist with friends of the organization, as well as for those in the community who take the time and effort to make contact.

Some people refuse to network because they perceive it as doing something outside the normal system. Many feel uncomfortable with the idea that they may be leveraging off of someone else. Please do not see networking as something that is less than proper and appropriate. You are not taking advantage of others by networking through them, you are only taking advantage of those things that others are able and willing to offer you.

Networking is a tremendous way in which to find outstanding opportunities. It is a "feel good" thing for all involved.

NEWSPAPER HELP WANTED ADS

Help wanted ads are probably the most universally recognized form of looking for a job. All major newspapers incorporate a section in their dailies which highlight various job opportunities available in a respective community. Several major newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Chicago Tribune run advertisements of a national scope. These ads are more job opportunity-related as opposed to geographic-specific.

If someone is attending college in Florida but wishes to relocate to Milwaukee upon graduation, it would be to their advantage to subscribe to a Milwaukee newspaper (normally the Sunday edition of any major newspaper is the best for covering job openings) early in their job search process. As well, a number of newspapers are carried in college libraries and public libraries, and in college placement offices.

PROFESSIONAL SEARCH FIRMS

Professional search firms can be a valuable source for locating an interview opportunity. You may view this advice with some skepticism depending upon what you have heard about search firms. A certain amount of negative thought exists about these operations, but as with everything there are a number of very professional ones and some very questionable ones. Our suggestion is that prior to using a professional search firm/agency, ask for references and then call the references to see how they were treated. Also, you can tell a lot about the organization from the initial face-to-face meeting you have with their representative(s).

You may hear agents from search firms referred to as "head hunters" or "flesh peddlers." Don't let this disturb you. For the most part, these are friendly references to the vocation. Remember this, regardless of how you refer to them, never enter into the following with a search firm:

an exclusive agreement where you are only allowed to use that search firm to locate
an opportunity

an agreement where you pay them money for their services

Truly reputable firms understand that you are on an open market and that other forms of job hunting will be used by a candidate. They will work harder to locate an opportunity for you if they know other search firms are serving you as well. In the same light, reputable operations are paid a fee by the employer to find candidates. You should never as a candidate pay a fee to a search agency.

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS

Just as there are help wanted ads in newspapers, job openings can be located in a number of professional publications. Professional publications are those periodicals that are related directly to an industry or profession. If you are interested in a career, or at least an entry-level job in marketing, finance, accounting, engineering, production, sales, human resources (and the list goes on) you can generally find a publication related directly to that field. Again, the college placement office and college and public libraries can help you target the appropriate publication(s).

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Your local chamber of commerce is a storehouse of information which can be invaluable in your search for interview opportunities. Most C of C's offer published data on the major businesses in their respective area. Usually there is a small cost for this information. Although the advertisement of job openings is not the thrust of a chamber of commerce, the material you purchase from them will allow you to begin focusing on what industries are available to you, the size of the operations, contacts within, growth, etc. This is a solid springboard into your networking process.



STAGE TWO

Once you have located the opportunities that exist out there and you have pinned down an interview or two, the next step is to gather information on the organization(s) with which you are going to interview.

Again your college placement office is a valuable resource in locating background information on a number of organizations hiring entry-level personnel. College-based and public libraries also offer literature which can prove helpful in gaining some insight into an organization and their operations. As well, the respective local chamber of commerce has a number of directories that can assist in familiarizing you with an interviewing firm.

If you have access to a Dun & Bradstreet data base, this can also be useful. Professional publications, as mentioned earlier in locating opportunities, many times provide reference information on various organizations related to a specific industry. But in the final analysis, the most obvious, most valuable, and yet the most overlooked source for gathering background information on a firm is the targeted organization itself.

It just makes sense that if you are going to interview with a specific organization, you should call someone internally and ask for material related to their operation. Most people fail to do this because they are afraid that by calling directly for information indicates that they do not know about the organization and this will reflect negatively on them. This is not true. Quite the contrary is true. Direct research demonstrates interest and initiative. Furthermore, if the truth were known, the person you interview with probably will never know you directly requested information on their respective organization. They will just assume that it is your responsibility to do so, and if you don't — that is when the negative begins to show through.

Several sources can be tapped in an organization to gather relevant material for interview purposes:

Human Resources Department
Marketing Department
Public Relations Department
Receptionist

Various pieces of information are normally available for this purpose:

Recruiting Brochures
Internal Newsletters
Annual Report

Regardless of how you gather the information, the key is that you check the sources and make certain it contains accurate information; then go about reviewing it carefully and forcing essential elements to memory. This information is invaluable to you in preparing for the interview session itself.

Contact me at bill@bagleyconsulting.com with any questions.

Best Regards,

Bill

________________________________

PLEASE GO TO MY WEBSITE www.bagleyconsulting.com TO PURCHASE ANY OF 3 GUIDEBOOKS THAT PROVIDE SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE TO CRITICAL COLLEGE / CAREER AREAS:

· NAVIGATING TOWARD ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS (Preparing for and selecting a college just right for you)
· WHY ACCOUNTING? (Why ‘Accounting’ is an excellent academic major)
· IMPACT INTERVIEWING (Interview skills that win you that scholarship / internship / job offer)

GETTING A JOB IN TODAY'S ECONOMY

To All

The most significant concern of current college students / graduates is, "How will I find a job in the current economy?" Here are several thoughts to consider (Contact me at bill@bagleyconsulting with any questions / concerns):

• Unless you have a specialized academic major that is aligned with a current critical career field (accounting; engineering; nursing; medical research; military, etc.) the chances of finding job opportunities in the immediate term are going to be challenging.
• Do research on which cities have the lowest unemployment rate and might offer the best chance of locating a job. Apply / interview in these locations.
• Don't necessarily worry about finding a job specific to your academic preparation...just find a JOB.
• Prospective employers will respect the fact that you WORKED during a difficult economic time, regardless of the type of job.
• Some of the most successful people toiled at hard-labor jobs or monotonous jobs at some point in their lives.
• No matter the type of job you work, you will always learn something that will aid in your personal development.
• I see 'Help Wanted' signs every place I travel. There are needs out there.
• Think about 'Community Service' opportunities...paid or voluntary. Just get the experience.
• If you have a unique academic major that limits your ability to locate a job even in the best of times, you might want to consider post-graduate work...or attending college long enough to acquire another more 'demand' academic major. For instance, Finance is a somewhat limiting major right at the moment. Taking a few additional classes to get an Accounting major might make you a bit more marketable.
• Brush up on your Interviewing Skills. You can purchase a copy of my 'Impact Interviewing' book by going to my website http://www.bagleyconsulting.com/ . This is no time to be an average 'interviewee.'
• The best way to locate job opportunities is through a 'network.' Contact people you know, who your folks know, and who others in your network know to try to find opportunities.
• Getting a Masters Degree is not always the answer. You might incur additional debt, yet not become any more martketable than you are now. Explore this option carefully before you commit to more debt.
• Nursing, the Military, and Teaching are career fields that are in great need of assistance. See if you have an interest or qualify.
• Having Military experience is always a great 'attractor' for corporate recruiters.
• Being someone who contributes to the 'Community' is a great plus when you are being considered for employment.
• Work is honorable, no matter the type.
• Men: Put on a suit, white shirt, and tie...polish your shoes...make copies of your resume...and 'hit the pavement.' Women: Put on a suit, conservative blouse, scarf (if you choose to do so...or not), dress shoes...make copies of your resume...and 'hit the pavement.' Go to employers and ask to see HR. Shake hands, leave your resume, and let them know you are happy to assist in any way.

More on this subject tomorrow. Please send me questions / concerns you might have at( bill@bagleyconsulting.com ).

Thanks,

Bill

___________________________________________

PLEASE GO TO MY WEBSITE www.bagleyconsulting.com TO PURCHASE ANY OF 3 GUIDEBOOKS THAT PROVIDE SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE TO CRITICAL COLLEGE / CAREER AREAS:

· NAVIGATING TOWARD ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS (Preparing for and selecting a college just right for you)
· WHY ACCOUNTING? (Why ‘Accounting’ is an excellent academic major)
· IMPACT INTERVIEWING (Interview skills that win you that scholarship / internship / job offer)