Career Planning

Historically, many people have engaged in career planning using the "dart approach." The approach is like someone throwing a dart at the board, and whatever the dart hits is the one that is pursued. To engage in productive career planning, however, professional communicators must get in touch with their dreams. The process can begin by getting in touch with the right side of the brain, which is the intuitive, creative part of the brain. A technique that is extremely powerful is to imagine what an ideal career day would be like and to write it down on a piece of paper. Then the idea can be analyzed. After assessing personality and values, the focus needs to be on skills and interests, determining which are the most enjoyable, while increasing the knowledge of self.

Perhaps, to see and experience this process in action and in its entirety, one should consult the seven volume The Career Life Assessment Skills Series by Bernadette Curtin and Frank Hecklinger or one of the printed sources or websites listed in the bibliography that follows. High school or college students can also avail themselves of the professional services and/or specialized exams and other evaluation systems often offered by the career and counseling divisions of their schools. These personalized procedures will help them determine their own range of job and personal skills as well as certain personality traits that can then be compared to the different career fields.


Activity

Consult one of the career assessment sources cited below or one of the counseling and career offices that may be available, and try to determine your job and personal skills as well as your personality traits.


Types of Jobs

Once the job seeker has ascertained which occupational group is the most appropriate, they are ready to look into the types of jobs that exist in the career field. Those who select business administration, for example, may want to see how their skills abilities and character match up with those required by the various career fields. They may also want to learn more about the requirements, workings, responsibilities, work settings, locations, remuneration and possible job sources for the career field they have selected.

To help prospective employees become familiar with some of the job titles in international business, the most common are listed below. Each one may require a knowledge and command of a World language.


International Business Job Titles

1.  Human Resources Staff, Trainer, and Labor Relations Specialist, and Manager
2.  Employment Interviewer
3.  General Manager and Executive
4.  Administration Services and Facility manager
5.  Office and Administrative Support Supervisor and Manager
6.  Management Analyst
7.  Clerical Staff
8.  Clerk
9.  Accountant and Auditor
10. Bank Teller
11. Financial Manager
12. Loan Officer and Counselor
13. Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Representative
14. Real Estate Agent and Broker
15. Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager
16. Purchasing Manager, Buyer, and Purchasing Agent
17. Industrial Production Manager
18. Manufacturer and Wholesale Sales
19. Demonstrator and Product Promoter
20. Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations Manager
21. Import/Export Agent
22. Freight Forwarder
23. Travel Agent
24. Hotel Manager


Industry Selection

It may very well be the future employee wishes to become a market researcher but will probably be one who will work in one of the many industries that comprise the modern-day economy. Each of these industries has its own modus operandi and culture, and each one has its own expectations, growth potential, and environment. One industry may emphasize production while another may stress service. One industry may be somewhat conservative and traditional in the way they conduct business while another may be more inclined to innovation and risk taking. Moreover, one industry, may measure growth and promotion potential of its employees strictly on the basis of bottom-line profit while another may evaluate the same areas on the basis of creativity. Each career planner must discover which industry is most appropriate.


Bibliography

Electronic Sources:

Internet Public Library (www.ipl.org)
The Internet Public Library is a searchable annotated subject directory of more than 7,000 Internet resources selected and evaluated by librarians for their usefulness to users of public libraries. It's meant to be used by both librarians and non-librarians as a reliable and efficient guide to described and evaluated Internet resources.

Google (www.google.com)
Google is distinguished by its ranking algorithm based on how many sites link to other pages, along with other factors like the proximity of your search keywords or phrases in the documents.

Career Zone (www.nycareerzone.org)
This excellent site, created by the New York Department of Labor through Cornell University, provides up-to-date information on the jobs in which students and adults are most interested. In addition to detailed job descriptions of numerous career fields, such as business, finance, and information systems, the site focuses on career assessment, a personalized portfolio, job information resources, and much more.

Job Web-Catapult-Career Planning Information (www.jobweb.org)
This site provides copious information on career planning for those interested in the international business sector.

Job Bank USA (www.jobbankusa.com)
This site provides excellent tips and a full range of services regarding career assessment and planning. It also contains valuable links to job sites and resources.

Print Sources:

Arpan, Jeffrey S. Opportunities in International Business Careers. Lincolnwood: VGM,      Career Horizons, 1989.
An invaluable overview of international business with emphasis on job trends and sources as well as a description of career fields and job titles and suggestions for the job search and sources.

Berman, Susan. Your Career in the International Field. NY: Arco, 1983
An excellent resource of the different international career fields. This site offers information about the latter requirements and workings as well as what job possibilities that exist internationally.

Curtin, Helene and Fed J. Hecklinger. Your Unique Self: Career Assessment Skills      Series. Richmond: Virginia State Dept. of Education, 1981
This series of booklets covers the following topics and provides useful information and activities for career planning and development: Your Unique Self, Job Market Investigation, Job Campaign Strategies, Job keeping and Revitalization, the Federal Employment Process, Academic Survival Skills, Mid-Life and Career Transitions, and Pre-Retirement Planning.

Galán, Julie de and Stephen Lambert. Great Jobs for World Language Majors.
     Lincolnwood: VGM Career Horizons, 1995.
An outstanding compilation of job sources and information on careers and job searches. It emphasizes the importance of World language for the fields of business, industry, and commerce.