Turning Points

Information Step 3: Analyze Your Findings Step 4: Plan Your Next Actions Activities 4.1: Do an Informational Interview on a Career Field 4.2: Comparing Career Options Chapter 5: Gathering Information about Four-Year Colleges and Graduate Schools Making Sense of the World of Higher Education Step 1: Ask the Right Questions Step 2: Search for Information Step 3: Analyze Your Findings Step 4: Plan Your Next Actions Make Sacrifices Now to Gain Benefits Later When You Have More Education than Your Family Should You Consider an Online Degree? Activities 5.1: Do an Informational Interview on a College 5.2: Comparing Colleges Part II: Setting a Direction: Choosing a Field, Preparing for It, and Showing You Are Qualified Chapter 6: Making Career Decisions Setting a Career Direction Is a Process What's at Stake: The Significance of Career Decisions Complicating Factors: Your Identity, Your Commitments, and the Job Market Listen to Your Heart and Use Your Head The Decision-Style Window Resolving Career Decision-Making Conflicts: Making Trade-Offs Setting Your Career Direction Takes Time Make a Plan to Implement Your Decision Think of Your Quest for a Career as a Hero's Journey Activities 6.1: Mid-point Personal Assessment and Reflection 6.2: Making a Plan Chapter 7: Selecting a Major Understanding Majors and Degree Requirements Two Types of Majors: Career-Oriented and Multipotential Your College Major and Your Career: Is There a Connection? Will Your Major Affect Your Earnings? Students Have a Variety of Life Goals Two Key Actions in Choosing a Major Make a Balanced Decision: Listen to Your Heart and Use Your Head Activities 7.1: College Majors: True or False? 7.2: Looking at Majors: Preliminary Research 7.3:Do an Informational Interview on a College Major Chapter 8: Conducting a Job Search Deciding on a Work Setting Job Leads: More Is Better Networking: The Key to the Hidden Job Market Using College Services and Internship Programs Mining for Gold on the Internet Trying Other Sources: Direct Contact with Employers, Ads, Job Fairs, Agencies Always Remember: Active Methods Are Best Before You Launch Your Own Business: Get Information and Experience Activities 8.1: Do an Informational Interview on Starting a Business 8.2: Choosing Career, Education, and Job Search Links Chapter 9: Presenting Yourself: Resumes, Cover Letters, and References Building an All-Important Tool: Your Resume Writing an Effective Cover Letter Compiling a Solid Reference List How to Deal with Online Resumes Taking Advantage of the Possibilities in Other Media Activity 9.1: Analyze Your Job and Life Accomplishments Skills 9.2: Checklists for a Winning Resume: What to Include and How Chapter 10: Presenting Yourself: Interviewing Key Steps as You Prepare for Your Interview Get Ready for What They'll Ask: Anticipating Standard Interview Questions The Interview: Creating the Best Possible Impression Following up on a Positive Note In Salary Negotiations, Rely on the Three R's Nontraditional Interviewing: Mastering Other Kinds of Presentations Dealing with Circumstances out of Your Control When Your Best Isn't Enough: Coping with Rejection Activities 10.1: Creating Profiles of Companies, Government Agencies, and Nonprofits 10.2: Composing a Professional Pitch 10.3: Use the S-A-R Format to Explore One of Your Valuable Qualities 10.4: A Checklist for Mock Interview Practice Feedback Part III: Making Your Experience Count: Practical Advice for Reaching Your Career Goals Chapter 11: How to Advance Your Career before You Graduate: Learning from Internships, Jobs, and Extracurricular Activities Seek a Variety of Experiences beyond Your Course Work, Especially Internships Three Sources of Career-Building Lessons: Taking Challenging Assignments, Observing Key People, Dealing with Mistakes Challenging Assignments Expand Your Comfort Zone Learn by Observing Others Mistakes and Hardship: It's How You Respond That Counts Use the Power of Reflection and Feedback to Increase the Value of Your Experience Celebrate Your Success Activities 11.1: Understanding and Learning from Your Boss's Style 11.2: Reflecting on Your Experience Chapter 12: How to Set and Reach Your Goals Beginning the Process of Setting Your Goals Five Goal-Setting Principles: Get SMART Successful Goal-Setters Develop a Learning Mind-set How to Stay Committed and Motivated Create a Career Development Plan Mid-Range Goals: If What You Want Is Five Years Away Long-Range Goals: Giving Your Life Meaning and Direction Activity 12.1: Make a Career Development Plan Chapter 13: How to Develop a Strong Career Network The Importance of Career Networks Seven Ways Your Career Network Works for You Overcoming a Resistance to Networking Build Your Career Networking Skills Social Networking Sites Can Help You Build a Career Network Join a Professional Association Related to Your Career Field Activities 13.1: Create Your Career Network Chart 13.2: Do an Informational Interview with a Successful Person Chapter 14: Reflections Feeling Confident about Your Career Activity 14.1 Summary Essay: Your Personal Assessment and Reflections Endnotes Index