Page 162 - digitalliteracy

Introduction: Steps to Embarking on a Great Career

In Module 7, Joe, the Ashford student, began the career development process by assess-
ing his personal strengths, personality, and skill sets. He also performed some career self-
assessments and examined his work preferences. As Joe advanced through his business
degree program, he also found that he enjoyed and excelled at his accounting courses.
Accounting seems to be a good fit for Joe due to his personality, interests, and talents, and
therefore he has decided to pursue a career in that field. Now Joe wants to display his edu-
cational accomplishments, skills, and past work experience in an effective professional
résumé and cover letter and embark on a successful job search.

Perhaps you are looking for a job now or thinking about making a career change in the future.
You completed the personal assessments in Module 7, so it is now time to take what you have
learned, build your résumé and cover letter, and research career opportunities. The guide-
lines and digital resources in Module 8 will help you get started. It often takes time to learn
about career fields, research companies you might like to work for, conduct your job search,
and undergo a sometimes lengthy hiring process. So the sooner you start preparing or updat-
ing your résumé and narrowing your job search, the better!

This module will help you complete additional steps in the career development process. We
will discuss guidelines, tips, and suggestions for constructing an effective résumé and cover
letter, launching a successful job search, and taking advantage of the vast array of online digi-
tal resources available to you. Let’s get started!

CarmenMurillo/iStock/Thinkstock
Performing career self-assessments, getting the appropriate education, and creating a résumé
are a few of the steps to take before applying for a job.

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