Launching Your Business Career

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Launching Your Business Career

• Prologue to Contemporary Business, 11 ed.

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Purpose of Class and Lesson

• Class introduction to areas of business
• Importance better understanding of business and
  how it impacts your future career
• Lesson overview of career development
• Importance better understanding of how your
  values, skills, and preferences fit into your
  career choice helpful with developing business
  plan

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To Begin . . .

• Set yourself apart
• Classes/Degree everyone will have them
• Job
• Student organization
• Volunteer
• Internship
• Study abroad
• Network

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Reasons for Education
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Keep in mind . . .

• You start with an entry-level position

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Top 2008 Entry-Level Employers
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Career Development Stages

• Self-Assessment
• Research
• Decision-Making
• Networks and Contacts
• Employment

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Stage 1 Self-Assessment

• Understand yourself
• Career goals
• Interests career and hobbies
• Skills and talents
• What you like and dont like
• Personality
• Values
• Self-employment

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Activity

• Complete the Career Clusters Inventory Survey
• Discuss the results

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Stage 2 Research

• Career trends
• Information search
• Information interviews
• Job shadowing
• Gaining experience
• Work
• Volunteer
• Internships

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Stage 3 Decision-Making

• Career objectives
• Personal objectives
• Lifelong learning
• Goal setting

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Activity

• Write career goals using SMART goals
• Specific
• Measurable
• Action oriented
• Realistic
• Time framed

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Stage 4 Networks Contacts

• Work search
• Resumes and letters
• Interviews

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Job Search Guidelines

• Job credentials
• References
• Coursework
• Finding employment
• Internet
• Employment agencies and offices
• Newspapers, journals

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Resume

• Purpose
• Organization
• Chronological
• Functional
• Targeted
• Electronic p. xlvii

What are the parts of a resume?
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Activity

• Compose a group resume
• Educational background
• Job experience
• Skills
• Accomplishments
• Hobbies, talents, travel
• Will need your resume and information of key
  players for your business plan

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Cover Letter

• Introduction
• Explain why you are applying
• Traditional business format

What do you include in a cover letter?
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Job Interview

• Be prepared practice answers
• Successful interviewing
• Self-confident
• Communicate clearly
• Ask questions
• Never discuss salary in initial interview
• Employment decisions
• Evaluate entire package not just salary

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Activity

• Work in pairs
• List dos and donts for an interview
• Turn to page xlvi and write ideal answers to the
  six questions found at the bottom of the page
• Be prepared to share your answers with the class

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Stage 5 Employment

• Offers and acceptance
• Success at work

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Salaries

• Difference between salaries and wages
• Salary plus commission

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Long-Range View

• Stay flexible
• Continue learning
• Remain open to changes and opportunities
• Average change careers seven times

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Questions?