Implementation Plan
STEPS
Assess myself
Explore occupations
Narrow down my list
Make my career choice
TARGET
COMPLETION DATES
5/25/2017
Evaluate my soft skills
5/22/2017
Understand my interests
5/25/2017
6/18/2017
Conduct information interviews
6/2/2017
Explore the internet
6/5/2017
Explore my mentors
6/8/2017
Enquire from family and friends
6/10/2017
Attend a career talk
6/18/2017
6/20/2017
Make a list of options
6/15/2017
Explore options
6/19/2017
Narrow down the list
6/20/2017
6/25/2017
Set my goals
6/22/2017
Make a career choice
6/23/2017
Create a career action plan
6/25/2017
TIME ESTIMATES (In
hours)
5
8
8
12
7
10
8
12
24
10
10
5
12
131
Costs Chart
Item
Transport
Phone calls
Internet access
Foods and drinks
Stationery
Career talk fees
Total
Average
Lowest
Highest
Cost
$20
$7.50
$15
$30
$3
$30
$106
$18
$3
$30
Costs Chart
Comments
I will be travelling to see some of my mentors
This is for enquiries (and interviews)
I require a lot of data for my research
I will need food during while away from home
These include pen, pencil, and a notebook
These are attendance fees for the career talk
Cost
$20 , 19%
$30 , 28%
$7.50
$3 , 3%
$15 , 14%
$30 , 29%
Transport
Phone calls
Internet access
Foods and drinks
19%
$7.50 , 7%
$15 , 14%
Foods and drinks
Stationery
Career talk fees
Great Tips on How to Choose the Right Career for College Students
Overview
The process of choosing the right field of study may be a difficult decision to make, and so the
current college students are encouraged to look into many factors before they finally settle in an
area that they want to study for their degree programs. Some of the most important areas to
consider are the cost of the program, the salary expectations from the specific program, the rate
of employment in the field of study and the advanced degree opportunities available for the
specific program. In the end, students will have to come up with the right field offer that will give
them the best returns on their investment. This area is important to me since I was faced with the
same problem a while ago before I finally settled on studying Civil Engineering. My parents
wanted me to go for an Agriculture related course since they saw it as a potential route to being
self-employed. However, I had to use my instinct and rely on research before I finally settled on
my degree choice.
1.
You need to know what your talents are
Each person has those things that they are good at and those that they are less good at. It is
crucial for every student to recognize what their talents are since this will make it easier for them
to choose a career that they will be successful at while pursuing. For instance, if a student likes
meeting new people then they may want to pursue a career in public relations or hairdressing.
Further, if they are good at mediating arguments between people who are fighting and they can
bring calm to a difficult situation then they may want to consider a career in the police force.
Therefore, a student should make a list of those things they are good at and those they are not
good at so that it helps them in making the right choice.
1
2.
Take a consideration of the things you want from a job
It is important to consider what you want from the specific career. This includes asking oneself
whether you want that is emotionally rewarding where you can go home feeling that you have
indeed made a major difference in someone’s life or you choose a career where you have job
security. One may also choose a career where they are constantly in a move or one where they
are stationary at a given place. To do this, you should sit down and make a list of the things that
you consider important especially with your job prospects. You should then use this information
to come up with a list of possible career areas.
3.
You may want to consider a career as a starting point in life
It may be important that you consider a career as a starting point in life because you may end up
moving from one career to the next. Much as our parents may have been in one career for the
whole of their lifetime, this may not be the real picture in today’s age. The career that you will
start off with at 16 years of age or even after obtaining your degree may not be the thing you will
be doing in 5 or 10 years to come. You may start working in hotel management and later on
move to recruitment with some hospitality company. Therefore, it is important that you be
flexible enough while choosing a career to allow for the flexibility while shifting from one career
to the next.
4.
Separate the goals that people have for you with the ones you have for yourself
As a student, you should have a strategy for quieting the suggestions for a possible career choice
from your friends, family and the larger society. Parents will always suggest that you be a policy
maker, a lawyer and things like that since they decide success in relation to the possible
paychecks that you will earn at the end of the day. However, you may have an inside voice
2
within you telling you that you may not do well in such courses. It is important to listen to your
conscience and shun the numerous advice that people offer to you.
5.
Sometimes it is helpful to forget your passion and settle for your interest
Many people would advise a student to follow their passion. However, it is my point that passion
is something that one may discover with time by them finding their interest. However, interest is
a collection of the small things that gives you the urge to do something step by step. You should
develop interest first in a career before you make a decision to follow it as your long-term career
choice.
6.
Put your decisions and expectations in a real-world context
You may be interested in a specific career, however, when you gauge the finances and possible
ways of funding that you have at your disposal you may see that you cannot finance the course.
It is, therefore, important that as a student you clearly match your strengths with the goals that
you have. It is all about being realistic so that you don’t end up building castles in the air.
7.
Don’t believe all the myths available about a given career
There are many myths that have been fronted in line with some careers. For example, there are
myths that Engineering is a tough course and that one will not make it to graduate when they
enroll into it. It is important that you dispel such myths and consult widely so that your decision
is not founded on lies.
Top recommended solution
The best solution would be to separate the goals that people have for you with your own goals. I
consider this the best because people, including your family members, will always advise you on
3
the career choice they feel is right for you. However, looking at things broadly, you are the one
who will be doing the course. Therefore, it is important that your goals supersedes all the
individual goals that people have for you.
Benefits of choosing your own career
Risks of a career being chosen for you
1.You stand the chance of excelling in a career
you have chosen on your own
1. You may drop out since you feel that you
were misadvised.
2. You will always be proud of the career
2. You may not be as proud with your career
3. You will strive to work hard to disapprove
your advisors in case things are hard.
3. You may decide to be lazy do disapprove
you parents as you may feel disappointed in
them for choosing for you a career.
Additional resources
Best Colleges. (2017). A View of Mjaor Trends. Retrieved from www.bestcolleges.com:
http://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/choosing-a-major/
Burnsed, B. (2011). 5 Ways to Pick the Right College Major. Retrieved from www.usnews.com:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/19/5-ways-to-pick-theright-college-major
Gebhard, N. (2015). Four Steps to Choosing a College Major. Retrieved from
www.nytimes.com: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/education/edlife/four-steps-tochoosing-a-career-path.html?_r=0
The Student Room. (2017). Choosing a career. Retrieved from www.thestudentroom.co.uk:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/jobs/advice/choosing-a-career
Tobin, L. (2013). Students' 20 top tips for picking a course. Retrieved from
www.theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/jun/03/top-tips-forchoosing-university
4
Running Head: CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
Choosing a Career Path
Student’s Name
University Affiliation
1
CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
2
Definition of the Problem
The process of choosing a career path is becoming significant for young students today.
Students have to take into consideration a number of things before they are sure they have
chosen the right career or college major (Borchert, 2002). Many factors are taken into
consideration before a student can make a decision on the career they want to pursue. Some of
the factors are the choices of the student’s parents, the coaches in school, religious figures or any
other role model in the student’s life. The wide variety of available choices in the types of
courses to pursue does not help things either (Franklin, 1997). This makes the choice of a career
to pursue in the later stages of schooling a major problem that students have to face and deal
with.
Why I chose the problem and its relevance to me
There are many reasons that inform the decision of college students to choose their career
fields. The common factors that influence the decisions that students make include passion,
family, past experiences and salary available. Apart from these factors gender and race may also
affect the field that a student may choose to study in. Certain professions do have greater
percentages of some given gender or race (Alberta Government, 2014). The other factor that
plays a major role in the decision that a student makes is the role models that the student has in
their life. This is the major hurdle for me currently because I have an interest in studying
Engineering yet my parents advise me otherwise. My parents want me to choose a career in
Agriculture as they say that it will be possible for me to be self-employed after I shall have
completed my studies (Career Services Center, n.d). This is the main reason why this topic is
very relevant to me in particular. However, I will need to do my homework well before I finally
CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
3
settle on some given career to do. Further, I will need to consider the advice of my parents as
they will be responsible for paying my school fees.
Online Resources that helped in getting information about the topic
Alberta Government. (2014). Career Planner: Choosing an Occupation Planning Series.
Retrieved from alberta.ca: https://alis.alberta.ca/pdf/cshop/careerplanner.pdf
This is a state government’s website, and therefore its credibility is not in question. It
offers information on the ways that every student should go about selecting their occupation. In
this regard, it was helpful in getting a full understanding of the issue of choosing a career for
every student.
Borchert, M. (2002). Career Choice Factors of Hgh School Students. Retrieved from
uwstout.edu: http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2002/2002borchertm.pdf
This resource is very instrumental for high school students in their course of choosing
their career of choice. The resource depicts the current situation that I am going through and
helps me understand the issue from the perspective of other students. It is, therefore, helpful in
handling the current problem.
Career Services Center. (n.d). Introduction: Choosing an Alternative Career Path. Retrieved from
career.ucsd.edu:
https://career.ucsd.edu/_files/Beyond%20Academia%20Job%20Search%20Handbook.pdf
This resource provides options for students to go through with regards to choosing a
career. It offers insightful information concerning whether a given career path is right for a
student. Based on the information it contains, the material is useful for this research study.
CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
4
Fizer, D. (2013). Factors Affecting Career Choices of College Students Enrolled in Agriculture.
Retrieved from www.utm.edu:
https://www.utm.edu/departments/msanr/_pdfs/fizer_research_project_final.pdf
This resource provides detailed information on the factors that affect the choices that a
student has before they can choose their preferred career. It approaches the subject from the
perspective of students and the options available to them. In this regard, the resource is quite
helpful in informing the decisions that students make with regards to their career choices. It
offers information on what the other students also think with regards to career choice.
Franklin, J. (1997). A Study of Career Choice Factors and Student's Academic Success at an
Aviation School. Retrieved from shareok.org:
https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/7534/School%20of%20Teaching%20and%20Curricu
lum%20Leadership_246.pdf?sequence=1
This book offers the choice of a career at an aviation institution which is closely knit
with Engineering. Since Engineering is my preferred career choice, it offers useful information
that will help me with the subject. It also provides information that aligns on what the other
students may think.
Non-credible sources that were never used
Oskarsson, G. (2001). The Choice of Career after Graduation: The case of business
administration graduates from a small university. Retrieved from skemman.is:
http://skemman.is/stream/get/1946/8523/22741/1/3.The_choice_of_Career_IngiRunar_Gudmund
ur.pdf
CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
5
This resource was not used as it was specific to students who have graduated from
bachelor’s study. However, the point of interest for my problem is career choice before joining
college. This makes the site non-credible.
Farren, C. (2008). Career Paths: Mapping, Ladders and Lattices. Retrieved from
www.masteryworks.com:
http://www.masteryworks.com/newsite/downloads/ArticleNov08_CareerPaths.pdf
This resource seems to be general and is not tackling the problem of interest. Since it
does not have useful information to support my research, I consider that the resource was not
helpful in answering the questions of the research. This makes the resource non-credible.
What might be causing the problem
This problem is caused by the fact that there are many avenues through which students
get advice on their career options to pursue. It could either be from their parents, their teachers or
some other role models in the society.
How it impacts me
The problem is impacting me because I am at a crossroads now to choose between
Engineering and Agriculture (Fizer, 2013). Agriculture is the preferred career choice by my
parents while Engineering is my preferred career choice.
How it impacts others
The same problem impacts other students since similar factors are responsible for making
other students make career choices (Franklin, 1997). The same way that I am confused in
choosing a career choice is the same way that other students are confused when it comes to
choosing their preferred career choice.
CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
6
References
Alberta Government. (2014). Career Planner: Choosing an Occupation Planning Series.
Retrieved from alberta.ca: https://alis.alberta.ca/pdf/cshop/careerplanner.pdf
Borchert, M. (2002). Career Choice Factors of Hgh School Students. Retrieved from
uwstout.edu: http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2002/2002borchertm.pdf
Career Services Center. (n.d). Introduction: Choosing an Alternative Career Path. Retrieved
from career.ucsd.edu:
https://career.ucsd.edu/_files/Beyond%20Academia%20Job%20Search%20Handbook.pd
f
Farren, C. (2008). Career Paths: Mapping, Ladders and Lattices. Retrieved from
www.masteryworks.com:
http://www.masteryworks.com/newsite/downloads/ArticleNov08_CareerPaths.pdf
Fizer, D. (2013). Factors Affecting Career Choices of College Students Enrolled in Agriculture.
Retrieved from www.utm.edu:
https://www.utm.edu/departments/msanr/_pdfs/fizer_research_project_final.pdf
Franklin, J. (1997). A Study of Career Choice Factors and Student's Academic Success at an
Aviation School. Retrieved from shareok.org:
https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/7534/School%20of%20Teaching%20and%20
Curriculum%20Leadership_246.pdf?sequence=1
Oskarsson, G. (2001). The Choice of Career after graduation: The case of business
administration graduates from a small university. Retrieved from skemman.is:
CHOOSING A CAREER PATH
7
http://skemman.is/stream/get/1946/8523/22741/1/3.The_choice_of_Career_IngiRunar_G
udmundur.pdf
Costs
Item
Major Cost #1
Major Cost #2
Major Cost #3
Major Cost #4
Major Cost #5
Major Cost #6
Major Cost #7
Major Cost #8
Major Cost #9
Major Cost #10
Major Cost #11
Major Cost #12
Major Cost #13
Total
Average
Lowest
Highest
Cost
$1.00
$2.00
$3.00
$4.00
$5.00
$6.00
$7.00
$8.00
$9.00
$10.00
$11.00
$12.00
$13.00
Cost
1% 2% 3%
14%
4%
6%
7%
13%
8%
12%
$91.00
$90.00
$179.00
$266.00
9%
11%
10%
Major Cost #1
Major Cost #2
Major Cost #3
Major Cost #4
Major Cost #5
Major Cost #6
Major Cost #7
Major Cost #8
Major Cost #9
Major Cost #10
Major Cost #11
Major Cost #12
Major Cost #13
Implementation Plan
TARGET
COMPLETION
DATES
Steps
Step 1
Action 1
Action 2
Step 2
Action 1
Action 2
Action 3
Step 3
Action 1
Action 2
Additional steps as needed
6/5/2017
6/1/2017
6/5/2017
6/28/2017
6/10/2017
6/15/2017
6/28/2017
7/22/2017
7/15/2017
7/1/1977
TIME
ESTIMATES
(In Hours)
5
3
5
2
7
8
4
34
Total Number of Hours Required
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