PLAnning YOuR CAREER
THe fIRsT sTeP toward success is making smart
decisions about your education and career options.
Plan for
Success
W
hen I was in high school,” says Sheryl Assess Your Talents and Abilities
Kovach, a senior human resources First, you need to figure out some things about
generalist with IKON Office Solutions in yourself. This step can be as simple as writing
Houston, “the only job that I even knew about down a list of your interests (like video games
was receptionist work. I didn’t aspire to be a or rock climbing), your hopes and dreams (like
manager or entrepreneur because I really didn’t helping others), your talents (like writing or math
know about those disciplines. I was just looking ability), and your weaknesses (if you’re squeamish
forward to graduating. That was it. I really didn’t at the sight of blood, for example, you might not
know what it was I wanted to do.” want to be a doctor).
Sound familiar? You, too, may not have a clue Follow up on this informal exercise by taking
about what to do with your life. some formal assessments to determine your
Don’t worry, though. Help is interests and abilities. Common assessments
right here in your hands. This include the Kuder (www.kuder.com), Bridges
issue of AchieveTexas in Action (www.bridges.com), Career Cruising (www.
is your guide to education and careercruising.com), COIN (www.coinedu.com),
career choices that can shape and Myers-Briggs (www.myersbriggs.org) tests.
your future. It’s one of 16 career Terry Brock, director of the Texas Counselors’
cluster guides published Network, a group that helps counselors statewide
by AchieveTexas, Texas’s advise their students on career planning, says,
college and career “These tools give most of our students some
initiative (www. career exploration awareness by the time they
AchieveTexas.org). enter eighth or ninth grade.”
This edition is all about Ask your principal or counselor about the
Human Services. career assessments available at your school.
Let’s start with some
basic steps you should take Research Your Career Options
to get organized, plan for Once you’ve learned about yourself, learn more
the future, and start on the road about your career options. There are thousands
to success. of occupations out there of which you may
THe Texas cHapTer of
THe naTIonal assocIaTIon of
socIal workers
Has abouT 5,700 members.
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