Career Management

Session 02
Chapter Objectives;
• Define what career and career management are
• Define the terms associated with career management
• Understand the importance of career management
• Ascertain the six steps of the process of getting a job
• Write your curriculum vitae that is accepted by employers
more likely
• Understand individual approach to managing career
• Prepare a good personal career plan
 Definitions of related concepts
• Job :
A work you do regularly to achieve a certain objective or objectives.

• Profession :
Is a special type of employment that requires a formal education
and a specialized training for a definite period of time that bring a
high status.
• Occupation/ vocation :
An alternative term for job or profession

• Career :
Is a series of jobs that a person had in his or her life, generally in
the same period of work.

• Career Management :
Is a systematic attempt of career planning and career
development. It is a function of self management that plans and
develops your career for your benefits.
• Career path:
Is the sequential pattern of jobs that forms one’s career.

• Career goals:
Career goals are the future positions one strives to reach as part
of a career.

• Career planning:
Is the process by which one selects career goals and the path of
those goals.

• Career development:
Is the process by which one undertakes personal improvements
to achieve a personal career plan.
Some points about the definition of careers (Arnold
et al 2010)
• The notion of sequence “means more than one” – don't look at the
current job or job decision in isolation
• The inclusion of “experience” emphasises that careers are
subjective as well as objective
• Careers are not restricted to managerial or professional roles or
upward career paths
• “Employment-related” includes education, training, self
employment, unemployment, and “precarious employment”

Arnold J et al (2010) Work Psychology 4th edition Financial Times/Prentice Hall 6

 Edgar Schein’s “Career Anchors”

‘an area of the self-concept that is so

central to the individual that (s)he would
not give it up, even if forced to make a
difficult choice’
Being able to identify one’s career
anchor is an
important step in successful career
management

7
Schein’s Career Anchors (1993)
1. Managerial Competence :
Generalists. To manage others.
Value advancement, leadership, responsibility,
income
2. Technical/Functional Competence :
Develop specialist skills/knowledge.
Build identity around the work content
3. Security :
Reliable, predictable work environment
4. Autonomy :
To be free of restrictions in work activities
(clothing, hours/times worked, etc)
8
Schein’s Career Anchors (1993)
5. Entrepreneurial Creativity :
To create their own products, services and/or
organisations
6. Challenge :
Winning against strong competition
7. Service/Dedication :
work expressing social, political, religious or other
personal values
8. Lifestyle Integration :
want a work-life balance

9
 Careers are becoming more varied and more
difficult to manage for both individuals and
organisations (Arnold et al 2010)
Individual’s need to:
• Keep up to date and Organisations need to:
employable • Develop the core
• Take more lateral moves capabilities and
and prepare for fewer but competencies they need
“steeper” promotions in the near future
• Be prepared for
• Compete in the “war for
redundancy or demotion
• Maintain a network of talent”
contacts
• Manage their personal
finances and pension But, of course there is less time
and fewer resources to do this
provision
10
Importance of career management

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6yW9IsQ00A
Career Plan Definition
A comprehensive, formalized written plan (that learners use alone and with
the help of others) that relates learning to career goals. The plan is based on
both formal and informal assessments and should include areas in which a
learner needs to increase knowledge and skills in order to reach documented
goals.
 An Individual Approach to Career Planning
and Development
Obtain specific
Develop appropriate
careertraits
Develop right
Plan
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determination,
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policies, procedures and rules)
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Career Planning
Personal activity

Must decide for yourself!

Career Stages and planning issues
Establishment What are alternative occupations, firms, and jobs?
What are my interests and capabilities?
How do I get the work accomplished?
Am I performing as expected?
Advancement Am I advancing as expected?
What long-term options are available?
How do I become more effective and efficient?
Maintenance How do I help others?
Should I reassess and redirect my career?
Withdrawal What are my interests outside of work?
Will I be financially secure?
What retirement options are available to me?

Cummings & Worley, 7e (c) 2001 South-Western College

18-15
Publishing
Career planning

• You need to think about your career goals

– Long terms career goal
– Medium term career goal
– Short term career goals
Activity 1 – career planning
Age Year Career goal Major Non work life event
What is a CV?

What is the purpose of a CV?

• To inform the employer about
your education, work
experience, skills and interests
• To ‘sell’ these qualities and to
persuade the employer to invite
you to interview
When should a CV be used?

 When an employer asks for an application in

that format
 When an employer states ‘apply to…’ without
specifying the format
 When making speculative applications
Matching up your CV with the position/company

• It is not ‘one size fits all’, you

need to tailor your CV to each
position you apply for.

• Research the company. Do they have a

mission statement or core values? What
will they be looking for in you? Who
works there at the moment? What are
they passionate about?
Proving your ability
There are four main things employers will look at in CVs:

• Education - ability to think clearly, analyse and assess information,

draw conclusions, work independently, research

• Work experience - ability to get on with people, work under

pressure, meet deadlines

• Leisure interests - ability to plan and organise, co-operate with

others, compete, lead, work hard to achieve results

• Specific skills – e.g. driving licence, computer skills, foreign

languages, artistic skills
CV types
Chronological
In date order (starting with the most recent first) e.g.
EMPLOYMENT
April – December 2011: Venture – Editing Assistant
Working with Photoshop, I have learnt various editing styles. I have gained customer service
experience and understand the importance of listening to what customers want in order to
achieve high sales.

February 2009 – March 2010: Topshop – Retail Assistant

My interest in fashion enabled me to help customers and to suggest styles that might suit
them. I helped to design the layout of the stock in the store, with an aim to increase our
revenue by positioning various items in ‘eye-catching’ places.
CV types
Skills based
Focusing on skills e.g.
SKILLS

• Attention to detail – as an Editing Assistant at Venture, I needed to prove that I

could spot any mistakes or flaws in the photographs, as well as being attentive to
the requests of the customers

• Computer skills – I regularly used Photoshop during my time at Venture. I am

also a competent user of Microsoft Office, which I proved throughout my time as a
Retail Assistant at Topshop, where I was often required to produce reports on our
sales

• Customer service – in all of my roles, customer service has been of key

importance. I have experience of dealing with difficult customers, and try to ensure
that every customer is satisfied with the service they have received.
Personal Details
• Name (as a heading rather than ‘CV’)
• Website/online portfolio/CV
• Address (term-time and home)
• Telephone number
• Email address
– Make sure this is a professional email address
• The following are not requirements, but if you wish, you can include:
– Nationality
– Sex
– Date of birth
Education and Qualifications
• Start with the most recent
• Don’t forget your current study
– Mention relevant modules
– You might like to mention top marks
• You don’t have to put your grades on if you
weren’t happy with them
• Include the years of study
• Primary school not needed
Education and Qualifications

2011 – Present University of Kent

BA (Hons) Fine Art
Modules include: Contextual Studies, Creative
Investigations
Project: Communication and Critique

2009 – 2011 Maidstone Grammar School

A-levels: Media Studies (A), Art (B),
Information Technology (C)

2005 – 2009 Wrotham School

GCSEs: 8 GCSEs including English and Maths
Work Experience

• There is no need to list every job you’ve ever had – detail

the most relevant
• Don’t just list your duties – sell your skills. Which skills are
relevant to the position/company you are applying to?

• Dates, name of company, position and skills:

April 2010 – Present Museum of Kent Life

As a shop assistant, I have learnt the importance of providing great customer service to
gain maximum sales. I am responsible for organising stock and ensuring that costs are
controlled. Carrying out weekly risk assessments has increased my awareness of health
and safety issues.
Activity 2
• Prepare a curriculum vitae for you.
• Ask one of your friends to read it and give a one paragraph summary.
• Is that paragraph matched with your perception about you?
• Does your CV present yourself really?
• Did you see guidelines given in the lesson?
• Can you improve your CV?
• How?