Career
Pathways
Employment Tools
TOOLS TO GET A JOB
Pathway to Employment
An enjoyable career that creates a meaningful life takes time, effort, and planning. Begin today by setting goals that can help you achieve success throughout your career. The following resources are provided to help you set goals for your career - starting now - to provide you with direction, save you time, and help you to achieve success.
You can change your direction and adjust the details as you go. There is no doubt that the specific details will change as you move forward throughout your life. However, if you have an idea of where you are headed, you will have a better chance of getting there faster and more effectively than if you leave it to chance.
Consider the following resources as tools to help you build your profile and prepare you for your career. If you need help, just ask.
Create a Career Plan
For your long-term goals, you will want to spend time considering what you want and how to get there. That is a process that may take a while.
Consider some of the resources we provide on the Career Goals page. They can help you identify your overall plan and create a path to get you from where you are to where you want to go.
Employment Tool Kit
The best thing to do right now is to get a job. You may be seeking your first job or may be trying to understand how to make yourself employable after graduation. Either way, the same principles apply.
If you are still in high school, getting a job is one of the best ways to gain experience that will help you stand out from other candidates. It's not just what you know or what your potential is - it's what you can demonstrate that you can do. Nothing speaks louder than demonstrated experience.
Programs such as Work Based Learning, Internships, or just a part-time job (summer jobs or year-round) can provide you that experience.
If you are about to graduate (or already graduated), and are looking for your first career job, you need to understand the process to find work. The world is filled with advice that you should get a job - but not as full of advice on the best way to get one. Let's take care of that.
Your Personal Brand
Your first step? Define your "Personal Brand."
Just like a product you would buy, you must define who you are. You must ask and answer the following question:
WHY SHOULD ANYONE HIRE YOU?
Take out a piece of paper and start listing the reasons why someone should hire you in the position you are seeking. Consider the following questions:
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What do you know that sets you apart?
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What can you do that makes you stand out or talented in this job?
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Is there something you can do that others cannot?
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Do you do something exceptionally skilled or unique within this type of job?
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Are you skilled in an area or have a certain expertise?
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Are you known for a skill set or have a demonstrated reputation for being good at a job?
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Do you have a work history for other employers with a solid record of high performance?
List out as many things as you can. Identify what you think are the top items that are most important to the employer. These are what we will call your "unique value proposition" - you are going to propose to your employer the unique value that you bring. That way, you can align (a) what they need with (b) what you bring (c) as it compares to what the competition has.
Networking
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
Your Resume
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
Cover Letter
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of w
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
The Application
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
The Interviews
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
Job Offer
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
Success In Your Job
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
Long Term Success
What do you want?
If you are starting from "scratch" and have no idea of what you want to do, you can begin with a career interest assessment. This asks you a few questions about what you like, what interests you, and the way you like to work. You'll have a few recommendations to work with.
Career Goals
You may know the type of work that interests you but may want to learn more about specific job groups (clusters), industries, or specific careers. We can help you learn more about these careers and what it takes to follow one of these paths.
Other Tools
The Workforce Development Council offers several resources through its Career Coach website.
Tap into several resources to help you get employed.