Career Planning process consists of self-assessment, education, research, gain experience, job search, and professional development.

SELF-ASSESSMENT

Self-assessment is exploring and discovering your VIPS.  

VIPS stands for values, interests, personality, and skills. 

Values are things that are important to you.  Examples of values are creativity, growth, acceptance, etc.  

Interests are things you like doing.  Examples of interests are music, painting, writing, etc.

Personality traits are who you are.    Examples of personality traits are ENFJ- People Visionary, ISFP- Everyday Artist, ENTJ- Hardworking Visionary, etc.

Skills are things you are you good.  Some examples of skills are drawing, problem solving, analyze data, etc.

The way to find out what your VIPS are to take career assessment.

There are several career assessment tests available online.  For high school student-athletes check with your guidance counselor, college student-athletes talk with your academic advisor or someone in career services.  For professional athletes check with your Players association.  

There are no wrong or right answers with career assessment.

RESEARCH

Make a list of careers of interest.  Research each one.  Here is a list od career research resources: Occupational Outlook handbook, Glassdoor, How to become, Indeed, The Balance Careers, just to name a few.

Research information such as job responsibilities/description, work environment, education/training/certification, career path, examples of job positions, and salary.

EDUCATION

Learn as much as possible.  Don’t just get a degree, get an education,  

GAIN EXPERIENCE

TYPES OF GAIN EXPEREINCES:

1. Internship- allow students to apply classroom knowledge with a professional setting.
2. Micro-Internship- project-based positions that involve a much smaller time commitment.
3. Job Shadowing- offers you an opportunity to observe a professional currently working in a career field of your interest.
4. Research- participate in research in your academic department.
5. Externship- temporary job-shadowing programs that last anywhere from an afternoon to a few weeks.
6. Job Simulations- 6–7-hour virtual roles where students can explore what it’s like to work at some of the largest companies in the world.
7. LinkedIn Learning- can help develop all kinds of transferable skills.
8. Part-time jobs- can take place on or off campus.  
9. Volunteerism- giving of yourself within expecting anything in return.
10. Student organization- gain management and leadership while collaborating with peers to organize various projects.

Where to find internships Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed , Internships.com, professional organizations, or company websites

JOB SEARCH

Create a job criteria.  

An Example:

POSITION: Human Resources Specilaist

LOCATION: Houston area

TYPES OF ORGANIZATION: Medium size

CAREER AREA: Compensation

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Remote or Hyrid

TRAVEL: A little

TYPES OF BENEFITS: 401(k), Health, Life , Dental and Vision Insurance, Disability Insurance, Paid Vacation, 

Maximize your resources and your network.

CAREER MANAGEMENT

Personalize your plan.

One thing you can do is keeping learning.