My Career Research Plan

Plan of Analysis
Step 1: Gather Information
1. What jobs, careers, and industries did you identify as targets for your career exploration?
The targets for my career exploration are:
Medical Secretary
Social and Human Service Assistants
Law Clerk
2. What skills, preferences, and values are important for these targets?
The skills, preferences, and values that are important for my targets are:

Work that involves logical order

Application of standards
Concern for the welfare of others
Active Listening

Pay careful attention to details

Social perceptiveness
Time management
Customer needs assessment

3. Describe major trends and key issues concerning the economic, geographic, and other concerns
for your target jobs, careers, and industries.
The biggest concern I have regarding my target jobs and careers is a geographic concern. I
live in a rural area, which doesnt necessarily mean a lack of jobs, but could mean a lack of
jobs relevant to my training and education. Another concern I have is that even for someone
with an Associate Degree, the unemployment rate is 7% (Source: Current Population Survey.
Bureau of Labor Statistics).
4. Who are the industry leaders?
The industry leaders for my targets are:

American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management

The Association of Legal Assistants

Step 2: Evaluate the Information

5. How reliable and accurate is the information you gathered? How many sources confirmed your
findings?
The sources I used were provided by my school and they were dated 2013, which indicates
that it would be considered reliable and accurate.
6. What further information do you want to obtain about jobs, career fields, industries, or
organizations in order to assess their compatibility with your self-assessment?

Ultimately, I would like to know what careers use skills and preferences that are most
similar to mine.

Step 3: Make Conclusions

7. In the next chapter, you will begin action steps. The first plan of action will involve building
connections. Based on your self-assessment and research, list five targets, such as jobs, careers,
industries, and/or organizations, in which you want to meet people and build relationships.
Five areas in which I would like to meet people and build relationships are:

Possible internships
LinkedIn
Professional organizations, such as American Association of Healthcare Administrative
Management
Explore volunteer options
School clubs
8. What would you like to learn more about before choosing a direction or applying for jobs? This
might include information about diversity in your field of interest, typical career paths, the need
for advanced degrees or further training, types of activities that are common for an entry level
employee, or an overview of a typical day. List three topics for further exploration.
Three topics I would like to further explore are:

Major recent trends

How skills, responsibilities, and educational requirements change as one moves
from entry-level to mid-career and beyond
The direction in which a position could lead to within (or outside) the organization