11.1: Revisiting Your Vision Statement

At the beginning of this text, you were asked five questions as part of the Career Exploration Process. To answer those questions, you explored your mindset, motivation, values, personality and interest preferences and strengths. Then you conducted research about potential occupations and the world of work. You considered your goals and decisions along with planning resources available at HACC. In the Job Search chapter, you considered your vision as part of your personal mission statement.

Part 1: Who Am I?

You completed many different career assessments that allowed you to learn more about your motivation, values, personality preferences (psychological and interest-based), skills and strengths. Each assessment helped you gain a better understanding of who you are and where you may fit best in the world of work.

Part 2: What’s Out There?

You researched the world of work through online career sites including the Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*NET, CareerOneStop, Career Coach, and MY NEXT MOVE. This phase also involved 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 making decisions about your future career path will be.

Part 3: What Factors Affect My Choices?

You explored factors that may affect your career choice including how you make decisions, your goal and what HACC resources might assist with your decision-making. You might remember seeing the questions below in the beginning of this OER. Have your answers remained the same or have you discovered some new thinking that might lead to different answers now as you finish this course?

• 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? Is your timeframe more flexible so that you can pursue a career requiring several 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 where you currently live, or are you open to moving for your career?
• 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 have asked and will need to continue asking as you focus on your future career path.

Part 4: Where Do I Go From Here?

You started developing a plan. You investigated the different educational programs offered at HACC such as certificates, associate degrees and transfer programs. You developed your educational plan and gained an understanding of the necessary steps you must take to achieve your academic and career goals.

Staying open-minded and being flexible on your journey is important! Remember that revisiting the different phases of career exploration will be necessary as you continue in your professional journey. 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 answered the first four questions in the Career Exploration Process, the time is right to solidify your career vision statement and complete the process.

Part 5: What Have I Learned Through This Process?

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 upon your experiences in this class and the knowledge you gained through taking career assessments and by researching careers.

When refining your career vision statement, please be sure to include the following points:

• Address your core values and the impact you wish to make on society.
• Address your purpose and goals you wish to achieve in your future career.
• Craft your vision statement to be inspiring, motivating and energizing.
• Avoid vision “killers” such as fearful thinking, fixed mindset thinking and negativity.

Below are a few examples of career vision statements 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 who 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 helping to transform my organization into one that respects all constituencies — while at the same time being the best husband and father I can be.”

Visit LiveCareer at Live Career [www.livecareer.com] and read more about “Creating a Career Vision for Your Life: Envisioning Your Ideal Career.”

Once you have crafted a career vision statement with which you identify, write your statement on a 3x5 card or Post-It note and post the card/note where you can see the statement every day. Recite your statement to yourself and visualize your statement. You have the power to make your reality!

Activity 11.1

My Career Vision Statement

You have engaged in the Career Exploration Process throughout this course. You engaged in self-exploration activities and career assessments. You spent time exploring your interests, values, skills, personality preferences, interests and strengths, and you created a mission statement at the start of the semester. Now is the time to put everything together and craft your career vision statement. Consider…

What’s your vision for the future?

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, 20+ years?

What career path do you want to pursue?

What kind of work will be meaningful to you?

What level of responsibility will you carry out?

What type of work environment will energize you and give you a sense of purpose?

My Career Vision Statement:

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Thumbprint: Scrabble tiles spelling out vision. (Pixabay License via Pixabay)