T R I N I T Y W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y

LDRS 432 Building Leaders II: Vocation and Career Planning

Possible Paths (adapted from the Odyssey Plan in Designing your Life)

1. Name 3 possible career paths that you can take in life. The 3rd path must be something that you

would do if time, money, talent was not an issue.

2. List 3-5 things that you would like about each career.

3. List 3-5 things that you would dislike about each career

4. What education or training or experience is required for this career path? Use the following

websites:

a. www.workbc.ca

b. www.onetonline.org

5. What skills are required?

6. List three things you would need to do to reach each path. (Action steps)

7. Who are 2-3 people in your network who can help you reach this path and HOW can they help

you?

Path 1 School counselor

Path 2 Business Owner (coffee shop)

Path 3 (must be “outrageous”) Writer/Speaker

What might you like about the path?

-Help students -Every day is different -Great schedule (weekends/summers off) -Rewarding job -Work in education which influences young peple

-serving customers -making coffee and preparing food is something that I like -using my business to serve my community -potential to make money

-Flexibility -Potential to make money -Share my thoughts and ideas with the world -be inspirational

What might you dislike about the path?

-the pay is not great -it can be hard helping troubled kids -stressful working with teachers and parents

-When you own a business, you always are working -risk of losing money -finding good employees

-run out of ideas to write about -pressure to write/speak -time away from family -potential to not make any money

Education/Training/ Experience

-Masters degree in School Counseling -experience working in education system

-experience working in food service

-Might need a degree in Creative Writing, but mostly just need a lot of experience and practice writing ideas

T R I N I T Y W E S T E R N U N I V E R S I T Y

-knowledge of bookkeeping (or hire someone to do it) -need money for initial investment

Required Skills -Active Listening -Written and Oral communication -Knowledge of psychology and education

-Multitasking -Service Orientation -basic knowledge of business…purchasing, payroll, government requirements

-Written and Oral communication -time management -ability to sell my skills (promoting)

Action steps -Volunteer in a high school -Find a university that has a Masters’ in School Counseling -Complete MA degree and internship -Look for job openings

-Find investor or save money or take out loan -Acquire supplies -Hire employees -Promote and Market

-Get an agent -try to write a book -Promote my writing or ability to speak on social media -offer to speak at churches or other local settings

Network (People who can help and HOW they can help you)

-Aaron – is a school counselor and can tell me about the job -Lisa – is a teacher and can tell me about the school system and let me know if she knows of any opportunities -Kim – is a therapist who used to be a school counselor. She can tell me more about the job

-Vince – own a local bakery. Can give suggestions on what works well for a business -Lionel – accountant I can hire to help with bookkeeping and paperwork -Matt – my friend who owns a building and could rent a space to me

-Sue – my friend is a writer and speaker for churches. Talk to her to see how she got started and get tips on how I should start. -My dad – has some connections and could maybe help me find some opportunities -my husband – is a pastor and maybe I could speak at church or write something for church