PLAnning YOuR CAREER
Plan for
Success
The firsT sTeP
toward success is
making smart decisions
about your education
and career options.
W
hen I was in high school,” says
Sheryl Kovach, a senior human
resources generalist with IKON
Office Solutions in Houston, “the only job
that I even knew about was receptionist
work. I didn’t aspire to be a manager or AchieveTexas.org). This edition is all determine your interests and abilities.
entrepreneur because I really didn’t know about Science, Technology, Engineering Common assessments include the Kuder
about those disciplines. I was just looking and Mathematics. (www.kuder.com), Bridges (www.bridges.
forward to graduating. That was it. I really Let’s start with some basic steps you com), Career Cruising (www.careercruising.
didn’t know what it was I wanted to do.” should take to get organized, plan for the com), COIN (www.coinedu.com), and
Sound familiar? You, too, may future, and start on the road to success. Myers-Briggs (www.myersbriggs.org)
not have a clue about what to do tests. Terry Brock, director of the Texas
with your life. Assess Your Talents and Abilities Counselors’ Network, a group that helps
Don’t worry, though. Help First, you need to figure out some things counselors statewide advise their students
is right here in your hands. about yourself. This step can be as simple on career planning, says, “These tools
This issue of AchieveTexas as writing down a list of your interests give most of our students some career
in Action is your guide (like video games or rock climbing), your exploration awareness by the time they
to education and career hopes and dreams (like helping others), enter eighth or ninth grade.”
choices that can shape your your talents (like writing or math ability), Ask your principal or counselor about
future. It’s one of 16 career and your weaknesses (if you’re squeamish career assessments available at your school.
cluster guides published by at the sight of blood, for example, you
AchieveTexas, Texas’s might not want to be a doctor). Research Your Career Options
college and career Follow up on this informal exercise Once you’ve learned about yourself, learn
initiative (www. by taking some formal assessments to more about your career options. There
THe graduaTe engIneerIng
programs aT THe unIversITY of Texas aT ausTIn and
Texas a&m unIversITY-college sTaTIon ranked In
THe Top 15 of THe U.S. NewS & world report
2007 lIsT of Top engIneerIng scHools.
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