netn.net/PROJECT TRANSITION

National Education Telecommunications Network

COMMENTS FOR CAREERS (2) & GUIDANCE COUNSELING

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PROJECT TRANSITION - A program directed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the Department of Defense: "To provide to the maximum extent possible, education, training, guidance & counseling, and job assistance to those departing the service and returning to civilian life." This program, magnified in President Johnson's Manpower Message to the Congress, established a Pilot Program, and was implemented throughout the Armed Forces in 1967. The basics of the long-standing program indicates possible current usage of many of its concepts at all levels of society, to include an equal target in the Civilian Sector, regardless of age, sex, or ethnic background. A few of the basics are listed in brief here:

Take Stock of Yourself: Follow your natural bent. Do not gloss over shortcomings. Your attitudes are revealed by actions. Is your goal attainable? Base your objectives on facts. Play up your assets. Awareness leads to confidence. Enthusiasm pays off. Put your interests into focus. Sort out your interests. Examine all your skills. Handle your letters and resumes with precision. -- Provided to PROJECT TRANSITION by the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, 1966.

Understand what effective problem solving is and get some practice using its principles. What is it? A name for a systematic process of coping with matters of concern to you. Following the process offers the greatest chance for resolving many problems -- that is, producing results that you will find most satisfying and successful. The process is quite straightforward, and it can be applied to many kinds of problems which you encounter.

Steps in Problem Solving. We can describe a number of steps involved in the process. By understanding these, you can apply them yourself to the task at hand now and to problems which confront you in the future. The steps are:

1. Define the problem. You have to know what the problem is in order to be able to solve it. You must begin by defining the problem or task in a very clear fashion. The clearer it is the easier it will be to solve and the better it will provide a solution. A common error is to believe symptoms are the problem. Symptoms are usually only signs of some problem. For example, an inability to study is really a symptom or sign of a problem. The problem may be a lack of ability or weak study methods, difficulty in giving up immediate satisfactions for the sake of long range goals, distractions over relationships with other people, etc. To solve a problem, you must attack it, and not surface symptoms. Here are some self-asking questions revealing problems: What kind of vocation am I best suited? What kind of alternative vocations am I best suited? What kind of education or training am I best suited? What kind of alternative education or training am I best suited? How important is vocational and educational planning? You will spend more of your adult life in your career than in any other single activity. You will be living with your solutions for years to come. Effective solutions are satisfying to live with. Ineffective solutions are hard to live with and hard to overcome.

2. Gather relevant information. First you need to identify what kinds of information are relevant. For the educational-vocational problems concerning you, here are some of the most important areas to consider:

          a. Study - the amount of time and efficiency of your studying.
          b. Academic ability.
          c. Academic achievement.
          d. Work experiences.
          e. Leisure experiences.
          f. Interests.
          g. Others' expectations of you.
          h. Occupational and educational facts (information about occupations, requirements of
               different kinds of education, etc.).

Second, you need to gather these kinds of information about yourself, that is, find out the facts regarding yourself in each of these areas.

3. Weigh the evidence gathered. This step refers to considering each bit of information you have gathered about yourself. Where do you stand on each of the areas listed above? How do you evaluate yourself in terms of each?

4. Choose among alternative plans or goals. This is the step where you combine your evaluations covering all the information you have gathered and weighed. Keep in mind that some of this information is more important and should be weighted more heavily than other information. What first plan and what alternative plans best fit all of the information you have gathered and weighed? A good check on the soundness of your plans is to determine whether your plans follow consistently from the definition of the problem and the information you have gathered and weighed. If they do, fine. If they don't, revise your work and try to make them do so.

5. Take action on your plans. What can you do now to further these plans? What can you do subsequently to further them?

6. Review your plan periodically. Your plan or goal should be the best one possible at this time. As you gather additional experience, these plans should be reviewed in light of your accumulating experience. If you find you need to alter your plans or shift to an alternate plan - fine. If not - fine. In general, if you have been thorough and careful in the first five steps. the modifications will be minor ones, but any plan should be reviewed periodically and updated as needed. There is considerable comfort for anyone in having a plan for his/her educational and vocational future. Most importantly, by following this process of problem solving, you not only have sound plans, but you can feel assured you have some sound reasons as to why you are pursuing them.

Try evaluating yourself on a scale of A,B,C,D,F in each of these areas:

     1. Effective Problem Solving.
     2. Ability & Achievement (English, Math, Social Science, Natural Science, etc).
     3. Work Experience.
     4. Leisure Experiences.
     5. Taking Stock of your Interests.
     6. Taking Stock of the Opinions of Others.
     7. Occupational Facts.

A COMPARISON TO THINK ABOUT (Compare #1 to #2)

#1 OCCUPATIONS

      Mechanics & Repairman Occupations
      Clerical & Sales Occupations
      Food Occupations
      Medical Occupations
      Construction & Structural Occupations
      Machine Trades Occupations
      Electronics & Computer Occupations
      Drafting Occupations
      Law & Law Enforcement Occupations
      Printing Occupations
      Telecommunication Occupations

#2 MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY(1967) (Univ. of Maryland)

      Agriculture
      Education
      Arts & Sciences
      Engineering
      Physical Education, Recreation, & Health
      Business & Public Administration
      Home Economics
      Medical (Incl. Pharmacy & Nursing)

Note that whatever Occupation you choose, nearly each Major Field of Study could have some influence considering job success, promotion success, job expansion, etc.

Take a quick, short, inventory of yourself now:

My Name:
My Address:
My Phone Number:
City or Town size:
Marital Status:
Children:
Current Level of Education:
Social Security Number:
I have I ever changed jobs? For what reason?
Where have I worked? Doing what?
What work experience do I already have?
Do the hours worked make any difference? (Number)(Time)?
Where do I want to live?
Would I be willing to move?
Income Requirements:
What Major Career Area would I like to go into? (1)
What Specific Vocation within this Major Career Area?
What is the Second Major Career Area would I like to go into? (2)
What Specific Vocation within this Major Career Area?
Have I Researched these areas in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT)?
Do I know what Education and/or Training is required for "entry level"?
Do I know what Education and/or Training would be "nice" for rapid advancement?
Once I have the required amount of Education, do I know where to look for a job?
          Through:
                         Present Employer
                              Friends & Family
                                   Help Wanted Ads
                                        Civil Service Office
                                             Direct Contact with Industry
                                                  "Situation Wanted" Ads
                                                       School Employment Office
                                                            U.S. Employment Office
                                                                 State Employment Office
                                                                      Trade Union Employment Offices
                                                                            Commercial Employment Offices

Have I prepared a "first class" Resume? Hopefully one page, two at most.

Have I thought about how I'm going to look at the Job Interview?

Hair         ..........     (Well-groomed)     (Well-trimmed)     (Shaggy-dog)
Face         ..........     (Well-shaved)     (Clean)     (No chewing gum)
Hands      ..........     (Scrubbed)     (Fingernails)     (Location)
Shirt         ..........     (Well-selected)     (Threadbare)     (Clean)     (Color)
Tie           ..........      (Well-knotted)     (Stained)     (Wrinkled)     (Clean)     (Color)
Suit          ..........      (Occasion)     (Fit)     (Wrinkled)     (Clean)     (Color)
Blouse/Skirt/Dress (Occasion)     (Fit)     (Wrinkled)     (Clean)     (Color)
Shoes       ..........      (Well-shined)     (Well-Shod)     (Heels)     (Condition)     (Color)
Hygiene   ..........      (Shower)     (Bath)     Mouthwash)     (Deodorant)     (Posture)
(There are probably other considerations)

Did you know that very few jobs are acquired on the first visit? Most of them are acquired on more than one visit.

Have you consulted with Parents, Grand Parents, a School Counselor, a Professional Counselor, an expert from the career you are seeking, a Mentor, a Retired Person from the career you are seeking, or a friend?

If things don't work out the way you planned or you come to a conclusion that you have suddenly found out that you would like something else better, don't be afraid to go back to "square-one" and start the process all over again.

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