Brought to you by Career and Employment Services
Schenectady County Community College
222 Elston Hall
(518)381-1365
ces@sunysccc.edu
Table of Contents
1) Career Development Theories and it’s Impact on
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Education and Career Choices
Getting to Know Yourself
Career Exploration
Getting to Your Destination
Becoming a “Professional”
Networking
Written Communication
Searching for Opportunities
The Interview
Keeping the Job
“The road to
success is always
under construction”
~Lily Tomlin
Career Development:
A lifelong process
Although there are many theories on Career Development and how
different factors impact our decisions regarding career and education,
most will agree that the overall goal of career counseling and planning
is to work toward a career goal that you will get some sort of satisfaction
from.
At this point in life, most of us have some idea of the things we are
good at, the things we enjoy, and the type of environment we like to be
in.
We seek these out and continue to develop not only our personal
identities, but our “work identities” as well. The work environments
that will suit us the best are those that intertwine the two and allow us
to develop personally and professionally. Therefore, it is important for
us to know how our identities will impact our reaction to our
environments.
“Knowing yourself
is the beginning of
all wisdom”
~Aristotle
It is important to gain a personal understanding of yourself
and how you respond to the world around you. Take time to
uncover your personal traits, strengths, motivators,
values, needs, skills and wants.
Click on topics below for worksheets and links to help you
get to know yourself.
 What do you like to do?
What are your skills?
How do they relate to one another?
 http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html
 A fun link to help you determine your personality and how it relates to
different careers.
Formal Assessment
If you are still unclear about which career path is for you, a
formal assessment may help. The following assessment tools
are available in Career and Employment Services:
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DISCOVER- A computerized program which will help you to
assess your interests, values and skills.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator- An assessment which will help
you to learn how your personality type relates to different careers.
StrengthsQuest-An assessment to help determine your strengths
and how they relate to building your career.
To make an appointment for Career Counseling
call(518) 381-1365
“If we are facing in
the right direction,
all we have to do is
keep on walking”
~Buddhist Proverb
Research
 Now that you have identified your core talents, values,
skills and motivations, you can begin to gather information
on career paths that fit with your qualities.
 Onet
 Occupational Outlook handbook
 Bureau of Labor Statistics
 SCCC Career Guides
 Network with professionals in the fields that interest you
 Identify Alumni and Professionals through Career Office
 Perform informational interviews and attend career related events
“You can’t cross the
sea merely by
standing and
staring at the
water”
~Rabindranath Tagore
 Do you need additional education or training?
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Talk to a Transfer Counselor
 Do you need additional experience?
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Internships and volunteer work can help to provide you with relevant experience
and training that many employers are looking for.
 Do you need access to additional resources for special circumstances and diverse
populations.
 Information for persons with disabilities
 Information on nontraditional careers
 Information for veterans
 Information for diverse populations
 Information for ex-offenders
Want to meet with a Career Professional? Stop by Elston Hall, Room 223 or Call
518.381-1365 for an appointment.
“Do not follow
where the path
may lead. Go,
instead, where
there is no path and
leave a trail.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Become Involved
The best way to begin establishing a professional
history is to become actively involved in activities that
connect you to other individuals who are working in or
interested in the field you wish to pursue.
 Join campus clubs, professional organizations, social
groups, charities, on-line groups, and attend regional
networking events.
 This includes becoming actively involved in your courses
by going to class, completing assignments on time,
being prepared, engaging in class discussions, and
following up with teachers when absent.
“Character is much
easier kept than
recovered. ”
~Thomas Paine
Your Digital Footprint:
What it Says About You
What is a digital footprint you ask?
Simply put, it is the information that you post on the internet and is stored by others in
databases that can be accessed by the public or selected authorities.
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Those pictures or comments from you or your friends on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Linkedin, etc.
Blogging, text messaging, emailing, downloads, videos and picture uploads
Your credit history
Your driving record
Previous convictions or public arrest notices
Letters to the editor, newsletters, any published work
Traffic and security cameras
Most employers are now conducting internet searches and/or background checks on
prospective employees before making a decision to hire.
 Consider making your pages private and leave the discussion about last night’s game of
beer pong for your private email.
 Develop a professional blog where you can discuss industry trends or comment on other’s
articles or blogs in the industry.
 Join online groups associated with your industry and participate in online discussions.
 Work toward improving your credit rating, driving record and public relations.
Background Checks
 In addition to informal background checks, many
employers conduct formal background checks or
require clearance to be employed by them such as
helping professions, professions in direct contact with
disabled, elderly or child populations, and many
government jobs.
 Be honest about anything that comes up. An arrest or
conviction does not necessarily exclude you from
employment in many jobs. Know your rights.
“Relationships of
trust depend on our
willingness to look
not only to our own
interests, but also the
interests of others.”
~ Peter Farquharson
Networking
Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for others.
Think of networking as more of an investment in others and less of who
you know and how they can help you get the job you want. Those
connections will come naturally as you develop relationships based on true
interest and willingness to be involved in meaningful ways.
Sources for Networking
 Family and Relatives and their
friends/family
 Reviewing business news to see who is
moving, expanding, or opening
 Professors/Teachers and their contacts
 Introduce yourself at establishments that
you visit frequently
 Friends and their friends/family
 Classmates and their friends/family
 Participate in Volunteer/Internship or
Apprenticeship programs
 Membership in community organizations,
churches, athletic teams, associations,
lodges, private clubs, adult education
classes and anything else that brings you
in contact with others
 Applying in person
 Mailing a targeted cover letter to a
company that you researched in advance
 Schedule informational interviews with
businesses you are interested in
 Visit public libraries and book stores and
view the literature in their career section
Click here for a networking worksheet
“A synonym is a
word you use when
you can't spell the
other one. ”
~Baltasar Gracián
Before you Begin
 Be sure the information you are including is honest and
accurate.
 You must be able to discuss the information you put on your
resume.
 Consequences for including false or misleading information
on your resume can be serious and if you are hired based on
that information you can lose your job even years down the
road.
 What you will need:
 Paper
 Pen or pencil
 Names of past employers and dates of employment.
Taking Inventory
 Start with 6 pieces of blank paper. Title each with the headings: education,
work, activities, honors and awards, interests and miscellaneous.
 Education: List colleges and universities attended, exchange programs, and
off-campus study.
 Work: List all jobs held-full or part time, paid or unpaid.
 Activities: List everything you have done now and in high school, in terms of
organized groups, teams, clubs, community involvements, etc.
 Honors and Awards: List scholarships, class standing, special recognitions
and academic achievements.
 Interests: List hobbies, travel experiences, special talents.
 Miscellaneous: List everything you have left out thus far.
 Now it’s time to start editing. Under each section ask yourself the
following questions:
 Are there things on this list that I feel a sense of pride about?
 Can I make these things relate to what a prospective employer
might be looking for? For example, being a member of a fraternity
may not be important to an employer, however, the fact that you
organized philanthropic functions to help the community may be.
And although your job flipping hamburgers may not seem relevant
to you, the fact that you were a conscientious worker during that job
may be very important to the employer.
 Which things on my list show my strengths and other aspects of my
personality.
 Which activities have been superseded by more recent
involvements.
Putting it all Together
 Contact Information or Heading
 Objective
 Education
 Honors and Awards
 Experience
 Skills/Certifications/Qualifications
 References
Things to Keep in Mind
 No matter what you include in your resume, the format should
remain the same throughout.
 Limit your resume to relevant information (adjust accordingly).
 Be sure to check spelling and grammar.
 Keep your descriptions crisp and clear.
 Make sure your resume is visually balanced.
 Avoid using templates, they are difficult to change later. If you
like the look of a template, format your document to look similar
by using the tools in your word processor.
 Use a good quality resume or bond paper, but avoid trendy
colors.
 Have others review your resume for you.
 Click here for a resume example.
The Cover Letter
 A cover letter is written specifically for each resume you send and if at all possible
addressed to a particular person. If you’re unsure of who it should go to, call the company
and ask. Be sure to get the correct spelling.
 If you have a connection in a company, ask for permission to use their name in your letter.
Include it in the first sentence. If you don’t have a connection, your first sentence should
include how you learned of the position.
 The purpose of a cover letter is to convince the recipient to read your resume and
hopefully request a personal interview with you. Highlight a few main points of your
resume but don’t rewrite your resume.
 Use a business style format with single spacing and no indentation on paragraphs. Be
sure that the text is centered and balanced and not jammed into the top or bottom of the
page.
 After the last paragraph, leave one line space and then type your closing followed by a
comma. Leave five additional line spaces and type your name, then sign your name in
blue or black ink between the closing and your printed name.
 Be sure to check for errors in spelling and grammar.
 Use the same stationary used for your resume.
 Always keep a copy of the letter you’ve written to a specific company for reference.
 Click here for examples.
“If opportunity
doesn't knock,
build a door.”
~ Milton Berle
Searching for Opportunities
 NETWORKING only 15-20% of jobs are actually advertised. Ask friends, family and
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associates for information about their companies or jobs. They’ll enjoy telling you
about them and will be more forthcoming with contacts and additional information.
REGISTER WITH EASE (SCCC Students and Alumnae only)
• Get access to Employer contact information and job opportunities posted
specifically for our students and alumnae.
• Upload your resume for review by professional staff
• Find information on employment related topics including career guides for each
of SCCC’s majors.
• Links to additional online employment websites including the civil service
website.
Visit company websites to see which jobs they are hiring for.
Apply in person to jobs. Many employers will meet with people at the time they
apply. Even if they don’t have a job at that time, you now have a new contact.
Internet job sites such as Indeed will list ads from most other job search sites as well
and you can have new results emailed to you daily.
Additional Resources
 Newspapers/Professional Journals (Times Union-
http://www.timesunion.com)
 New York State Dept of Labor (http://www.labor.state.ny.us)
 US Office of Personnel Management (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov)
 New York State Civil Service (http://www.cs.state.ny.us)
 New York Unified Court System (http://www.courts.state.ny.us/)
 County Civil Service Exams/Announcements (Albany, Sch'dy,
Saratoga)
 Federal Job Listings (http://usajobs.opm.gov/)
 Staffing Services (Adecco, Manpower, etc.)
 Re-employment Centers (SJTA, Capital District Reemployment
Center, VESID)
 College Career Centers (SCCC, UAlbany, Union College, HVCC, etc.)
 Local Job/Career Fair Events
“One secret of
success in life is for
a man to be ready
for his opportunity
when it comes.”
~Benjamin Disreali
The Interview
 Dress for Success
 Be Prepared
 Getting Off to a Good Start
 The Questions
 Wrapping it Up
Thank You Letter
No matter how well you feel you presented yourself
during an interview, it’s important to thank the
interviewer for their time. It’s also a good idea to
highlight positives from the interview or to reiterate why
you feel you would be a good fit for the company.
You can find some good examples of thank you letters
for everything from general interviews to damage
control.
”The best way to
appreciate your job is
to imagine yourself
without one.”
~Oscar Wilde
Keeping the Job
Now that you’ve landed the job and begun to settle in,
keep in mind that although you are responsible for
completing the necessary tasks, the job itself belongs to the
company or agency you work for and they can appoint
someone else to that position if they choose.
 Be present both physically and mentally and continually look for ways
to improve your skills.
 Be flexible and offer to complete additional assignments when needed.
 Complete tasks when they are assigned and avoid shortcuts that may
lead to bad habits and incomplete work that piles up.
 You never know who you may work with in the future, so it is always
best to complete your work to the best of your ability and maintain
positive working relationships.
Intellectual Property
Most businesses and agencies now have a policy
regarding intellectual property, which is in simple terms
any intangible asset that consists of human
knowledge and ideas.
It is generally accepted that if you develop materials or
ideas on work equipment (i.e. computers) and time,
Then it is owned by the employer.
Employers also reserve the right to monitor your usage of
such equipment including the internet, downloads
and computer files.