Posted by
Susan Kohm
on
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
in
Resources |
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If you want to be one of the 30% of graduates who are happy in their careers, a great starting point is the book, NOW WHAT: The Young Persons Guide To Choosing The Perfect Career, by career coaching pioneer Nicholas Lore and colleague Anthony Spadafore.
Part workbook, part library and part Yoda on the mountaintop dispatching wisdom, Now What outlines the Rockport Career Design process in a way suitable for college students, twenty-somethings experiencing a quarter life crisis or high school students just starting to think about the working world.
The book begins with the description of the career design process and the essential elements in designing a career that is a great fit, such as figuring out your natural gifts and talents, understanding your personal values and a workplace environment that makes sense for you.
As a career coach myself, I know that one of the challenges for younger people is the lack of work and life experiences they have to help them discern their preferences. Now What tackles this with “The Career Design Toolkit” that takes the reader through a wide variety of exercises, quizzes and opportunities for self-reflection to help them better understand themselves and their needs.
Finally, section 3, the “Career Finder,” gives students a tremendous starting point toward different careers they might want to consider based on what they’ve learned thus far. For instance, an introverted thinker with high spatial ability might want to consider virtual-reality engineering, whereas an extroverted, highly structured feeling type might explore an interest in veterinary medicine. This is a treasure trove of information for young people who have no idea where to begin.
I use Now What in my career coaching practice on a daily basis and am extremely thankful for the right balance of sparking possibilities and narrowing options it provides. A must read for the young career seeker!