At the start of this class, some came in with a clear vision while others may have been fuzzy. We hope this class has helped clarify your vision in some respect after completing the four phases of career exploration and life planning. Let's take a moment and review the different phases you have completed thus far.
Phase 1: Who am I?
Phase 1 involved getting to know who you are. You completed many different career assessments that allowed you to learn more about your values, character strengths, personality preferences, interests, skills, and abilities. Each assessment helped you gain a better understanding of who you are and where you may fit best in the world of work.
Phase 2: What’s out there?
Phase 2 consisted of career research. You took time to research the world of work through different online career sites such as: the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*NET, California Career Cafe, California Career Zone and the State of California Employment Development Department. This phase also involves talking to professionals in the field and gaining hands-on exposure through volunteer work or internship experience. The more information you gather about yourself and the world of work, the easier it will be for you to make decisions about your future career path.
Phase 3: What factors affect my choices?
In Phase 3, you took time to explore factors that may affect your career choice and you were asked to make some decisions in regards to timing, finances, location and family and personal responsibilities.
Timing
How much time are you willing to invest in schooling and training towards your educational and career goals? Are you looking for short term training to provide you with the necessary skills for employment? Or is your time more flexible and you may pursue a career that requires 6 or more years of educational training?
Finances
Will the career path you choose allow you to financially support yourself and/or family and provide you with the financial security you desire?
Location
Are you interested in staying local or are you open to moving if necessary to get your career started?
Family and personal responsibilities
How will your career choice affect your personal and family life? Will the career you pursue allow you to balance your family and personal responsibilities?
These are just a few of the many important questions you will need to ask yourself as you start focusing on your future career path.
Phase 4: Where do I go from here?
It is important to stay open minded and be flexible on your journey! Remember, it is ok to revisit the different phases as you see fit. The more time and effort you put into each phase, the more likely you are to make well-informed decisions that contribute to your academic and career goals.
Now that you have completed all four phases, it is time to solidify your career vision statement!
As discussed earlier, career vision statements are very powerful and meaningful when paired with career exploration. Creating a vision statement may take several attempts and rewrites until you identify with your career vision statement. Reflect on your experiences in class and all the knowledge you have gained through the career assessments you have completed and the career information you gathered. While refining your career vision statement be sure to include the following points:
Below are a few examples to get you started:
Career Vision Statement Sample #1:
To make a positive impact in the lives of those I work with, empowering them to believe in themselves and achieve academic, personal and career happiness and success.
Career Vision Statement Sample #2:
To earn my doctorate degree and become the kind of teacher that changes the lives of students for the better, educating them not only about English but about the joys and meaning of life.
Career Vision Statement Sample #3:
I will become a leader in my organization helping transform it into an organization that respects all its stakeholders — while at the same time being the best husband and father I can be.
Visit LiveCareer and read more about “Creating a Career Vision for Your Life: Envisioning Your Ideal Career.”
Once you have crafted a career vision statement you identify with, write it on a 3x5 card and post it where you can see it every day. Recite it to yourself and visualize it. You have the power to make it your reality!
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Activity 6.1: My Career Vision Statement
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You have engaged in the Career Exploration process throughout this course. Back in unit 2, you engaged in different self-exploration activities and completed different career assessments. You spent time exploring your interests, values, skills, personality preferences, interests, and character strengths and you created a mission statement at the start of the semester. Now it is time to put everything together and craft your career vision statement. Consider…
• What's your vision for your future?
• Where do you see yourself in 10, 15, 20, plus years?
• What career path do you want to pursue?
• What kind of work will be meaningful to you?
• What work environments will energize you?
• What level of responsibility will you carry out?
My Career Vision Statement:
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