Career Design Worksheets

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CAREER COMPASS In the 4 quadrants below, identify (e.g., circle or write in) some of the words that best describe your primary skills/abilities, passions/interests, work/life values, and societal needs that are important to you. Next, identify the top 2-3 words you identified with in each section and write them in the corresponding section of the blue circle. These 8 – 12 words form a “career compass” which can offer greater direction and confidence about some professional choices that would be a good fit for you.

Skills & Abilities

What are you good at doing?

Problem solving Attention to detail Building relationships Counseling or advising Training or coaching Raising awareness Resolving conflicts Motivating others Making decisions Event planning Customer service Communicating Building thing Data analysis Encouragement Public speaking Leadership

Creating Editing Teaching Design Organizing Fundraising Teamwork Languages Listening Research Supportive Athletics Writing Coding Music Art

Societal Needs

Who or how do you want to help?

Infants Pre-K/ Toddlers Poverty Young children (K-5) Veterans/military Middle school students Mental health Teens Literacy Youth in foster care LBGTQ+ Creating technology Disaster relief Rural or urban communities Animals Hunger & homelessness Performers Sustainability Substance use Faith-based orgs Civil rights Environment Immigrants/migrants Health care People with disabilities Athletes Clean water National parks Older adults Artists Creating science policy Education

Passions & Interests What do you enjoy?

Volunteering Chemistry Exercise Fitness Technology W eb development Software design Finance/money Astronomy Religion/faith Making videos History Forensics Social justice Psychology Animals Blog writing Photography Electronics

Travel Fashion Dance Nature Sports Theatre or Film Robotics Law/policy Science Reading Music Nutrition Trivia Puzzles Cooking Math Art

W ork/Life Values What guides your decisions?

Authenticity Achievement Adventure Beauty Challenge Compassion Community Creativity Curiosity Determination Education Fairness Faith Friendship Growth Happiness Health Honesty Humor Influence

Kindness Integrity Learning Meaningful work Optimism Respect Responsibility Security Service Social justice Spirituality Stability Success Trustworthiness Wealth W isdom

CAREER BRAINSTORM Now that you have identified core elements of your career compass, you can begin to brainstorm how these elements could be combined In different ways t make up a “dream job” you would love to have, or a “practical plan” that provides you with financial security and clear career options, or maybe even a “wild idea” that seems both fascinating and a little unrealistic at the same time….

STEP 1: Choose one of 3 themes described above (e.g., dream job, Practical plan, or wild idea) and write it inside of the head to the left.

Next, identify 5 words from your career compass which most reflect your Chosen theme and write them into the 5 blank sticky notes above.

STEP 2: Once you have written down 5 words in the sticky notes above, try to make each idea a little more specific: For example: Instead of just writing “music”, add in a few more specific details like: what genre of music? Are you playing a specific instrument? With/for whom are you making music?

STEP 3: Once you have completed steps 1 & 2, swap your brainstorm sheet with someone in class. Then, review the 5 words in their sticky notes, and write down all the majors/careers that you can think of which are connected to these ideas (Challenge: see if you can identify careers that connect with 2+ sticky notes). After 3 minutes, swap sheets with someone else in class and repeat this brainstorming process (x3).

ODYSSEY PLANNING Now that you have identified some of the core elements of your career compass and considered how they could be combined in different ways for different kinds of careers/majors, it is time to imagine some of the different adventures you might pursue during / after your time at Bentley. Use the “Odyssey Planning” sheet below to identify some of the different lives you might want to live over the next 5 years. See the sample plan on the front cover of this booklet.

What is the story You tell today?

1

What if the plan Above were no Longer an option?

2

What if money, status, or image weren’t an issue?

3