Turning Points

Diane Ducat is a psychologist who has worked with college students for more than 30 years. Dr. Ducat is a professor at LaGuardia Community College, where she was a counselor before joining the faculty that directs LaGuardia's intership program.   Dr. Ducat has taught graduate courses in career counseling and has investigated managerial careers as a member of several interdisciplinary research teams. Her counseling activities center in executive coaching. She holds a master's degree in counselor education from the University of Florida and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Columbis University.

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

 

Part I: Preparing for Success: Understanding Who You Are and What You Need to Know

Chapter 1: Exploring Your Career Options, Step by Step

What Is Your Career Dilemma?

An Important First Step: Be Clear and Specific as You Describe Your Dilemma

Avoid the Errors Some Students Make in Describing Their Dilemmas

Consider Your Life Situation

What Internal and External Obstacles Do You Face? What Kinds of Information Will Help You Solve Your Career Dilemma?

ASAP: A Systematic Approach to Searching for Information Your Career Will Unfold in a Rapidly Changing, Interconnected World

Activity:

1.1: Define Your Career Dilemma and Take Stock of Your Need for Information

 

Chapter 2: Identifying Your Values and Personality Type

Three Routes to Happiness

Identifying Your Work Values

The Holland Personality Types: Help in Shaping Your Career Goals

The Myers—Briggs Type Indicator®: Consider Your Preferences for Various Work Environments

Activities 

2.1: Who Are You? Analyze Your Career Dreams

2.2: Take a Work Values Survey

2.3: Put the Holland Personality Types to Work

 

Chapter 3: Identifying Your Interests and Skills

Your Interests and the Campbell Work Orientations

Your Skills and the Campbell Work Orientations

Portable Skills: Key Assets in the Global Workplace

Don't Overlook Career Stallers

Character Strengths: A Solid Foundation for Career Success

The Impact of Rapid Technological Change

Making Sense of the Information in Your Personal Profile Database

Activities

3.1: Assess Your Interests Using the Campbell Work Orientations

3.2: Understand the Skills Associated with Your Career Interests

3.3: Explore One of Your Top Five Character Strengths

3.4: Find Out How Others See Your Strengths and Skills

3.5: Complete Your Portable Skills Profile

 

Chapter 4: Gathering Information about Careers

The Value of Having Information about Careers

Putting the Career Database and the ASAP Method to Work for You

Step 1: Ask the Right Questions

Step 2: Search for Information

Step 3: Analyze Your Findings

Step 4: Plan Your Next Actions

Activities

4.1: Do an Informational Interview on a Career Field

4.2: Comparing Career Options