CAREER RESEARCH & ACTION PLAN ASSIGNMENT

Due Date: Week 5, Friday, February 6, 9:10am

Submission Location: DC Connect Dropbox
5% per day will be deducted from late submissions
Emailed assignments will not be graded
Assignment Instructions:
1. Write a 5 page report in which you:
A. set a long-term (5 year) career goal
B. research that career goal and summarize your findings
C. compare your career goal research to assessments of yourself
D. create an action plan to achieve your goal
2. Complete the activities on the Strategies and Techniques page
References: A minimum of 3 sources must be used in your career research. Sources must be
cited in-text and in an attached reference sheet using APA format. See Library resource http://
guides.library.durhamcollege.ca/citation

CAREER RESEARCH & ACTION PLAN ASSIGNMENT

REPORT OUTLINE
Use headings within the report to guide the reader.
Introduction
In two or three sentences to introduce the report. State the purpose of the report and preview
the content.
Career Goal
Explain your long-term (5 year) career goal
Career Research
Research your career goal and summarize your findings
Use at least 3 credible sources (can include information interview)
Comparative Analysis: Self and Career Goal
Compare yourself to what you learned from your career research
Include an assessment of the fit between yourself and your career goal
Action Plan
Outline at least 3 short-term/intermediate goals necessary in achieving your career goal
Describe how you will achieve these goals
Conclusion
In 3-4 sentences, conclude the report. Briefly sum up the report and describe what you have
learned.

CAREER RESEARCH & ACTION PLAN ASSIGNMENT

STRATEGIES & TECHNIQUES

PURSUING EMPLOYERS STRATEGICALLY
1. Create a list of 5 employers you would want to work for. Include on your list:
company name
address
name and contact info of key people
TELEMARKETING & COLD CALLS
2. Select an employer from your list and create a rough outline or script you would use
when contacting them
3. Answer 1 question from the meeting objections practice script
NETWORKING
4. Who in your network will you reach out to and how? How will you expand your
network?
Conversation Agenda:
5. What do you have to give to people in your network?
6. What do you want to get from your network?
Answering Common Conversational Questions:
Who are you?
7. How will you get people to remember your name?
What do you do?
8. Answer this question using the Best/Test Method to tell your conversation partner
the one thing that you want them to know about you?
Whats new?
9. Answer this question with a short story about a recent personal success.
Online Networking:
10. Write a LinkedIn Summary

CAREER RESEARCH & ACTION PLAN ASSIGNMENT

GRADE RUBRIC: REPORT
Student: _____________________

FORMATTING

INTRODUCTION

Sub-total: ____/ 35

TOTAL: ___/ 75

/2

/3

Uses appropriate headings

throughout report

APA style Reference List and proper in-text

citations are present

/1

/2

States purpose of report

Content of report is previewed

/2
CAREER GOAL

CAREER RESEARCH

COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS

ACTION PLAN

Career goal is clearly

stated

/3

/5

Uses at least 3 credible

sources

Summary gives a comprehensive picture of

the career goal researched

/6

/2

At least 3 comparisons are

made

A statement assessing the fit between

yourself and your career goal is made

/3

/3

Outlines 3 shorter term

goals necessary to reach
long-term goal

A description of how you will achieve these

goals is given

/3
CONCLUSION

Concluding paragraph
describes what you have
learned by doing the
assignment

CAREER RESEARCH & ACTION PLAN ASSIGNMENT

GRADE RUBRIC: STRATEGIES & TECHNIQUES
Student: _____________________

Sub-total: ____/ 40

QUESTIONS

/5

/5

List of 5 employers

Contact info of employers/key

people

/1

/5

State who you are calling

Outline/script includes: who you

are; why you are calling; what you
can do for them

Answer uses 3 step method for

handling rejection

/2

/2

Statement about how you will use

your existing network in your job
search

Ideas about how you will expand

your network

At least 3 things you have to give

your network

/3

/3

/3
6

At least 3 things you want to get

from your network

Describes a way to get people to

remember your name

/2

/1

States what you do best in a

creative way

Gives a short description of you

succeeding at what you do best

Tells a story of a recent personal

success

/1

/3

/4
10

Summary uses keywords related

to career goal; uses both technical
and laymans terms; uses
adjectives for impact