I can remember how confident I was after I graduated college. I had a lot going for me at the time. I was young, a male, and experienced (working with children). Brown listed three steps that take place during a typical job search: establish career goals, identify and investigate the job market, and develop employability skills (Brown 2012, page 237). To be honest, I did not even think a job would be that difficult to land! Looking back on it now, not considering these steps crushed my opportunity to attain a job that I truly wanted. Since I wasn’t getting any interviews, I decided to take a summer landscaping job. I basically waited, waited, and waited! I never took the job hunt seriously. I just assumed someone will want me because of the reasons I listed above.
I would have been more prepared if I had begun planning for post graduation. Brown’s steps are the preparation I could have used during that time in my life. Instead of waiting, I should have been more proactive. I feel that I was confident, but I had no direction. I never considered that the education field was limited in PA at the time. I never considered that hundreds of applicants were being interviewed for one position. I never considered that I would have to relocate to attain a job. I feel that I am not the only one who felt like this after graduation and a few months afterwards. It all goes back to what we have been saying in class, career awareness is vital to high school and college graduates.
I addition to career awareness in schools, I think it is also important that students are made aware of job placement services. I have been fortunate because I have had a job since I graduated college. However, I have worked with my mom to help her find a job. I looked for opportunities for her by posting her resume online and searching for ads in the local newspaper. She has found more success in working with the local job placement service. My mother likes the one-on-one assistance that she gets from the people, and recently, she has been on several interviews.
In chapter 16, Brown shares information about different methods to evaluate career programs. Well-designed programs rely on evidence-based practices (Brown 2012, page 350). This may seem like common sense, but it is significant because an influential program (not simply career programs) can be proven by evidence. This chapter had me wondering about the curriculum I teach today. Often times, administrators claim that a curriculum is evidenced based, but what does that mean? How was it tested? Who was it tested on? What did the results actually show? If it worked for one group of students, does that mean it is guaranteed to work for another? All of these questions I have make me curious to see if my administrators know the answer to them. It seems that many external factors can affect the validity of a program.
Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development (10th ed.). New York , NY
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