What have you done today?
January 26th, 2009
What have you done today to move you closer to your career goal? Our current economic challenges leave no room for procrastination. Begin with research. What do you know about your current career field?
As a student you are familiar with research methods. Use the same process to analyze the economics of your career path. First, do a literature review. In this case, use major media resources to provide the broad context (New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post). You may also want to investigate the journals and websites of your profession. There are also a number of sites that take on the broad, intellectual challenges of the economy and professions. This past week, the New York Times Sunday Magazine highlighted TED.com, a site where you can view the speeches given at the annual invitation only TED conference. (TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design) After viewing these presentations, you may see a new direction for you career.
All the desktop research in the world cannot replace the one to one conversations you will have with practitioners. You next step in the research process is to identify people you can talk to about your career. In this economy, you need honest feedback. What are the opportunities out there? What are the skills that give a job candidate the edge? What is the long term viability of the field? Where might you be looking for alternatives?
Here is an example. Yesterday there was a profile of the Tennessee womens basketball coach, Pat Summitt in the New York Times. Let’s say you are interested in being a coach after graduation. Forty-five of coach Summitt’s players are coaching at all levels of womens basketball today. My guess is she would be the ‘go to’ person for advice if you wanted to be a coach.
lAs reported in the NYT article:”to players who express an interest in becoming a basketball coach, Tennessee’s Pat Summitt offers a simple piece of advice: major in psychology. “I wish I had,” she said last week. “Because you’re always trying to figure out the best way to motivate each individual.” Great advice if you are trying to figure out what major you should choose in preparation for coaching.
The Trojan Network is the place to source USC alumni contacts for information interviews. Spend about an hour each day on your research and information interviews. Not only will you futher develop your research and interview skills, you will be on your way to your next job or internship.