Hard Questions and How to Answer Them Tools and Strategies

for the College Career Coach

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

About Matt Vice President

CSO Research, Inc.

20+ Years in Career Services & Workforce Development

University of Texas at Austin

University of Southern California

St. Edward’s University

Alternative Resources Corp

Randstad Corp

NACE Board

SoACE/SWACE Boards

EACE PR Committee

MWACE Conference Committee

Career Services Evangelist

Life is unscripted!

Our job is to help students develop the ability to “write their own

scripts” as they go, so they can thrive in an unscripted world!

Matt Berndt

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

The Inspiration

http://thecampuscareercoach.com

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Three Theories of Career Development • Chaos Theory of Careers

• The Chaos Theory of Career: A New Perspective on Working in the 21st Century – Robert Pryor & Jim Bright. Rutledge (www.rutledge.com), 2011

• Life Design Theory of Careers

• Life Design: A Paradigm for Career Intervention in the 21st Century – Mark Savickas. Journal of Counseling & Development, January 2012, Volume 90, pp. 13-19

• Protean Careers

• The Proteus Solution: How to Successfully Navigate Today’s Protean Workplace – Sharon Calvin & Jay Block, 2011

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Chaos Theory • Simplicity to Complexity

• Certainty to Uncertainty

• Reductionism to Emergence

• Segmentation to Interconnection

• Linearity to Nonlinearity

• Causality to Contingency

• Determinism to Agentism

• Analysis to Synchrony

• Order to Turbulence

• Predictability to Chance

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Life Design Theory • Constructs career through small stories

• Reconstructs the stories into a life portrait, and

• Co-constructs intentions that advance the career story into a new episode • Contextual Possibilities

• Dynamic Processes

• Nonlinear Progression

• Multiple Perspectives

• Personal Patterns

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Be

rnd

t, C

SO

Res

earc

h, I

nc.

Protean Career Theory • Personal Responsibility

• Anticipation of Change

• Embracing Curiosity

• Adaptability/Diversification

• Positive Influencers

• Reciprocal Relationships

• Managing Market Value

• Financial Sustainability

• Wellness

• Time Management

• Achievement Plans

• Act – React – Adapt

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

We need to recognize that

the most fundamental challenge that career counselors confront is to assist their clients to develop the skills of adaptation and resilience required to negotiate and use productively the fluctuating fortunes of their careers.

Pryor & Bright, 2011

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Our Goal

• To learn how to more effectively assist clients in navigating their personal career exploration and decision-making journeys

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

• Make no assumptions

• There is rarely one right answer

• The question asked is often not the root question

• There are usually sub-questions to every question

• Don’t make decisions for of advisees (rather present options and pathways)

• Offer actionable advice

• Manage your expectations

• Empower and follow up

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Strategy

• Understand the Context of the Question

• Identify the Questions within the Question

• Explore Options with Client

• Assess Clients “Risk Tolerance”

• Prioritize Exploration Options

• Immediate-Term, Short-Term, Long-Term

• Identify Resources

• Assign Homework & Set Follow-up

• Define Success

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Practice • What more do you need to know?

• Find three alumni (on LinkedIn) that might be good resources for this student

• Find three online resources that might help this student.

• Identify three immediate terms goals for this student

• Identify at least one obstacle this student is likely to face and your recommendations for getting past it.

• What is the next step?

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Case Study #1

I will finish my undergraduate degree in May and plan to move from Atlanta to

Minneapolis to start my career. I will have a Bachelor’s degree in English – Creative

Writing.

What type of jobs am I qualified for with this degree, especially in the area of

writing?

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Case Study #2

I am 31 years old,

and I just started in community college. I want to complete a Bachelor’s degree in engineering. By

the time I graduate, I will be 35.

Will I be able to find job at this age, since I don't have any experience in engineering ?

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Case Study #3

I am completing a Master’s in Industrial Engineering. I have no work experience and very few projects related to my degree. My GPA is not great (3.0/4.0), and I am an international student.

How can I secure a supply chain analyst position with a company? I have a year to go before I

graduate, and I am really worried I might not end up with a full-time position.

What can I do ?

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Case Study #4

What's the best way to brand myself for both short and long-term career goals? I'm a recent grad who wants to be a screenwriter for television, a specific

and unusual field that doesn't exist in my city.

I'm currently looking for any sort of local creative work I can do for a few years until I'm financially

ready to move.

Without hiding my career aspirations, how can I "sell" myself to employers for an unrelated job?

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Case Study #5

I’ve been told to always be networking for where I want to be in the future, but I'm concerned that an online presence that constantly discusses cartoons will lead local businesses to view me as unfocused,

duplicitous, or immature -- and if I don't discuss what I love, I could be missing out on a connection

who could help me down the road.

How do I balance such disparate objectives?

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.

Remember . . . . • Make no assumptions

• There is rarely one right answer

• The question asked is often not the root question

• There are usually sub-questions to every question

• Don’t make decisions for of advisees (rather present options and pathways)

• Offer actionable advice

• Manage your expectations

• Empower and follow up

8/7

/20

15

©

Mat

thew

Ber

nd

t, C

SO R

esea

rch

, In

c.