When I was in college, my best friend always had ideas of what she would do after graduation. They seemed to change weekly.
How did she come up with ideas so effortlessly, and with excitement? My mind went blank thinking about potential jobs and careers. I was focused academically because I was a good student, but I was rudderless in terms of my post-college life.
My Career Story
I knew I wanted to help people. But which people and how? I didn't have a good framework to lean on to answer these two questions and get me pointed in any particular direction.
How I Found My First Job
I looked at different organizations and programs to apply to, but nothing felt compelling. My dad’s friend got me a job at a high school he was connected with, and this felt aligned with the tutoring I had done, even though I didn’t major in education. It was a job!
When I look back, I see that there were many signs during high school and college that were pointing me in this general direction!
I wish I had seen these signs, or at least knew what to look for. I would have felt less stress and a lot more confidence.
I wish I had seen these signs, or at least knew what to look for. I would have felt less stress and a lot more confidence.
In this post, we’ll break down the Career Design Process I use to guide my college clients.
How I Approach Career Planning for College Students
When career planning for college students, I use my Career Design Process. In this process, there are new questions to explore, plus an exciting new career assessment tool, the Sparketype Assessment, which leads to 2-3 career path ideas that feel exciting, meaningful, and will make money.
A year ago, I became a Certified Sparketype Advisor and I love using this easy and effective tool with college students! I help my clients discover their Sparketype, or inner impulse to do work in a certain way, that lights them up, and guides career exploration.
No more wondering, “Will I actually like this job?”)
No more wondering, “Will I actually like this job?”
What Is a Sparketype?
Your Sparketype is your inner impulse to do work in a certain way, that sparks you up or feels natural to you. My Sparketype (and yours) is shining through in various ways in our lives, but I didn’t realize it until I had the framework to connect the dots.
My Sparketype (and yours) is shining through in various ways in our lives, but I didn’t realize it until I had the framework to connect the dots.
Turning My Sparketype Into Action
Once I had this framework, I applied my Sparketype to the problem that I became very passionate about helping to solve: college persistence.
The first problem I became passionate about was college access, and once I was in that field for a while, it shifted to helping college students stay in college and overcome the challenges that prevent many from reaching their degrees.
When I realized my Sparketype, advising and coaching students, could be done on my own, and make money, BOOM! My coaching business was born! At least in my head, but then I started on the hard road of making my dreams into a reality. Well worth it!
Your Future Using the Career Design Process
No longer thinking about career planning as “picking the right one” is the first step to the Career Design Process. Then, thinking about “designing” a career that is unique to you is the next step. We explore together how meaning, money, and motivation can come together. Now you're ready to take some action!
Taking action, not thinking or "picking," is how a student starts to develop a career. If you have a rudderless college student who might be interested in coaching through the career design process, schedule a call with me.
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