Seminar Agenda• Discussion Board • Tips, Tips and more tips!• Goals… what are they?• SMART Goals• Career Networking• Review of Unit 4 Project• Questions/Answers

Unit 4Goal Setting and Networking

Discussion Board Reminders

• Each Unit’s discussion board question has several parts to it. Please remember to answer each question that makes up the larger DB question.

• For example, Unit 4’s DB question actually has four questions:

1. What can you do to develop good career networking contacts?

2. List at least five strategies and/or sources that you can use and explain why you think they are effective for you and your profession.

3. What professional organizations in your field are active in your area?

4. What opportunities does one of them offer to your networking efforts?

What do you think?

• In seminar, we’re going to cover some tips on the cover letter. So, what do you think?

Tips, Tips and more Tips

The Cover Letter…• Dear… (what do I put?)

GOALS… what are they?

How do you define ‘GOALS?’

SMART! Goals

Why should we create SMART goals?

How do we create SMART goals?

Specific: are your goals particular, detailed, and your tasks clearly defined?

Measurable: can you identify a way to evaluate your progress to know when you have reached your goals?

Action-oriented: have you set steps, or actions, on a time line so you can measure your interim progress?

Realistic: can you reach these goals, but they are not too easy?

Timely: can you begin taking action on these goals immediately?

Smart Goals

Let’s create a SMART goal!

The job description calls for ‘extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite with specific focus on WORD and EXCEL.’

Currently we have a working knowledge of WORD from school and a little knowledge of EXCEL too… but, it’s not quite ‘extensive.’

How can we fill in the gaps? Let’s create a SMART goal.

Did you know???

• Networking can help you find more jobs effectively!

• Where can you network?

A majority of job vacancies are never advertised.

Where to Network…

• Current job• School• Professional Organizations• The Internet• Networking Events• Friends and family• Volunteer activities• Social activities• Religious activities

Internet Social Networking Sites

• LinkedIn• Facebook• MySpace• Twitter

Ways to Network…

What do you do to network????

Top 10 Networking Tips

1. Arrive early, dressed appropriately.

2. Bring business cards or your own card to hand out.

3. Your goal should be to meet 5 people per hour! Setting this goal will keep you from becoming a wallflower.

4. Remember; never start a conversation by talking about yourself!

5. If you discuss your present company, keep your comments short and positive.

6. Keep your conversation short and focused on gathering the information you need as well as providing your own contact information.

7. If you are with colleagues from your own company, don't sit together. It makes other people feel like outsiders to your group.

8 Never talk about religion, politics, sports, weather, or entertainment at a business event.

9. Send a follow-up letter to all those you met once you leave the event.

10. Make a "tickler-file" of your contacts and follow-up your first letter in a month or two.

Networking Cards – They Work!

What are “networking cards?”- Basically, networking cards are a version of business cards you

carry with you to hand-out at networking opportunities.

- After all, it’s not practical to carry a stack of resumes with you wherever you go.

- Networking cards are mini-resumes

Example 1 Example 2

Unit 4 Project ~ Gap Analysis

• KSAO’s ~ What are they again?• Importance of identify the ideal ‘job’ you want to go for

and what KSAO’s are required for the position• Figure out what KSAO’s you have… and which ones

you need to develop• Set SMART short term goals • Remember to use the career you want, not the one

you are currently doing unless they are the same!

Unit 4 Project ~ Gap Analysis

Part A: Gap Analysis• Using the information you gathered in Units 1, 2, and 3, compare at

least five KSAOs required for jobs in your profession to your KSAOs. A table is provided to help you list these.

Part B: Short-Term Goals• Using your Gap Analysis and what you have learned in the Seminar

in this unit, set five short term goals to fill the gaps you have in your KSAOs and qualifications. Remember to use the guidelines (SMART: specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and timely) in Key Concepts.

Networking Jeopardy

• If time permits, we will play some networking Jeopardy!

Questions/Answers

• Thank you for taking the time to join us tonight! Please feel free to contact me via email: mfitzpatrick@kaplan.edu if you have any questions.

• Have a great week!!.