Career Adventure, The

Description

Three part organization:

• Self-Assessment (Part I)—Guides students through the steps to self-knowledge and discovery. Helps students explore career dreams, motivations, values, life stages, abilities and skills, personality, and interests.
• Career Exploration (Part II)—Guides students the career market and trends and investigates government resources and other publications and resources (both on the internet and in the library). Includes important discussions of networking and decision making. Helps students set goals and then formulate plans and develop skills to achieve those goals.
• The Job Campaign (Part III)—Looks at all aspects of the job search, examining the details of resume writing, interviewing and marketing skills, and how to gain hands-on experience through internships and volunteer work. Gives students the opportunity to apply new skills when working through the exercises.

Interactive format engages students in the process of “doing” career planning through brief, interesting exercises related to each subject area. Allows students to immediately translate new information into experiences that add to their self-awareness, their career information base, and their ability to make decisions, set goals, and produce high-quality job search tools. Encourages students to act autonomously, allowing instructors to act as guides rather than as an “authority.”

Emphasis on the use of information technology for evaluating Internet resources, and web site references throughout. Expands students’ information base, familiarizes them with using and critically evaluating electronic resources–necessary skills in today’s career/job marketplace.

Innovative marketing techniques with trends in resume design, the development of career portfolios, and approaches in cover letter writing, as well as specific guidelines on handling telephone interviews. Builds students’ confidence by covering all the bases, allowing them to learn the decision-making process.

Career development is approached as a systematic, manageable process that breaks the process down into small, but progressively more demanding, steps that compel students’ immediate involvement. Takes the fear out of tackling an often overwhelming and intimidating task, helping students develop competence and confidence in their career planning efforts.

Electronic and information technology resources lists and discusses Internet sites in the text, at the end of each chapter, and in an annotated appendix at the end of the text. Encourages students to become informed consumers of Internet information.

Suggestions for group discussions with the addition of the Career Adventure Cafe throughout gives students the opportunity for real-world exchanges with peers, the instructor, administrators, and the community. The creation of a digital space for continuing engagement fosters the collective support found in a community of seekers encouraging each others growth and success.

Dr. Susan Johnston has worked in the field of career planning for over 30 years as a career advisor, consultant, scholar and a professional shaping her own experience of career. As such she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the increasingly volatile process of professional growth and development. Her span of experience in this field includes working at community college, four-year University, in private practice with clients and as a consultant with public school districts. Currently she is working with faculty at a professional military education institution directing the Office of Institutional Research, Analysis and Planning. Her scholarly interests include continuing professional development through communities of practice and resilience in high stress, high stakes settings.

Offers strong foundational information with opportunities to use tools that accomplish career goals, so students are encouraged to implement knowledge and methods available to see immediate results. (Ex. – Every chapter; exercises embedded throughout the text).

Builds on students’ experiences as a base for development and decision-makingby referring to their own context as a frame of reference for processing new career perspectives. The internal dialogue sets the stage for social communication which informs and validates the career planning experience. (Ex. – Every chapter, specifically, Part I: Self-Assessment).

Shows how to set up social media outlets that connect students to the larger real world in which their actual career goals will be achieved. They are guided through using powerful tools of communication to frame career accomplishments. (Ex. – Every chapter; most specifically, Chapter 5, Networking).

The Career Adventure Café is a unique social networking tool that leverages the power of peer interaction and engagement to inform and encourage career development and enables students to work collaboratively to move toward individual goals. The CA Caféis an option created through Facebook that invites students into a shared adventure in which they pool their experiences and pace each others’ progress. It allows students to support each other through the difficulties and celebrate the successes. (Ex. – Every chapter; Exercises throughout connect users through the CA Café.).

The modular format allows access students to focus on the aspect of career development most important to their immediate growth. (Ex. – Every chapter).

PEARSON CHOICES

PearsonChoices – CourseSmart and Custom Publishing. Having choices for how to deliver course content is important.

• CourseSmart Textbooks Online is an exciting new choice for students looking to save money. As an alternative to purchasing the print textbook, students can subscribe to the same content online and save up to 50% off the suggested list price of the print text. With a CourseSmart e-textbook, students can search the text, make notes online, print out reading assignments that incorporate lecture notes, and bookmark important passages for later review. For more information, or to subscribe, visit www.coursesmart.com.
• Pearson Custom Publishing allows professors to create their own professionally produced customized textbooks and media products to best complement their course. We offer high-quality content, professional design, quick production, and reliable on-time delivery. The result is a valuable textbook that students will use, cover to cover, tailored to meet exactly the needs of the professor, students, and course. Visit www.pearsoncustom.com.

I. SELF-ASSESSMENT: LEARNING ABOUT YOURSELF.

1. Creating Your Dream.

2. Discovering Yourself: Motivations, Life Stages, and Values.

3. Continuing Your Self-Discovery: Skills, Personality, and Interests.

II. CAREER EXPLORATION: LEARNING ABOUT THE WORLD OF WORK.

4. Exploring the World of Work.

5. Networking: Establishing Contacts and Support.

6. Decision Making and Goal Setting.

III. THE JOB CAMPAIGN: ORGANIZING YOUR SEARCH.

7. Designing Your Resume and Cover Letters.

8. Interviewing with Confidence.

9. Developing Job Leads.

10. Continuing Your Adventure.

Appendix A: Sample Resumes and Cover Letters.

References.

Index.

This book leverages the power of peer and mentor support guiding students through a flexible, yet comprehensive, approach to career planning in a world in which change continues to influence the career landscape.

The Career Adventure is a full-range approach for adult students who are seeking engagement in a systematic process to career decision-making. Whether students are new to career planning and trying to determine how their experiences prepare them for future careers or seasoned pros who are moving on to a new career opportunity, a series of steps helps them build on the growth and learning that has informed their prior work lives. Students will use their experiences as part of a process that contextualizes skills, knowledge, and background to inform future success. Grounded in ‘doing’ rather than ‘explaining,’ students are encouraged to move aggressively through these steps for life-long career development. The revision focuses on setting and achieving career goals that offer long-term growth, and uses social networking media to create a vibrant exchange that supports mutual value and meaning. The opportunity to capitalize on the knowledge of fellow career seekers maximizes information sharing and reflection for better, more illuminated goal-setting and decision-making.

For courses in Career Development and Career Planning.

The Career Adventure leverages the power of peer and mentor support guiding students through a flexible, yet comprehensive, approach to career planning in a world in which change continues to influence the career landscape.

This book is a full-range approach for adult students who are seeking engagement in a systematic process to career decision-making. Whether students are new to career planning and trying to determine how their experiences prepare them for future careers or seasoned pros who are moving on to a new career opportunity, a series of steps helps them build on the growth and learning that has informed their prior work lives. Students will use their experiences as part of a process that contextualizes skills, knowledge, and background to inform future success. Grounded in ‘doing’ rather than ‘explaining,’ students are encouraged to move aggressively through these steps for life-long career development. The revision focuses on setting and achieving career goals that offer long-term growth, and uses social networking media to create a vibrant exchange that supports mutual value and meaning. The opportunity to capitalize on the knowledge of fellow career seekers maximizes information sharing and reflection for better, more illuminated goal-setting and decision-making.

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