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UNIV 104 Homework MT Aplia Choosing Your Major and Planning Your Career Assignment solutions answers
UNIV 104 Homework MT Aplia Choosing Your Major and Planning Your Career Assignment solutions complete answers
1. Transferable skills
DISCOVER THE CONCEPT
How will you make the transition from your college to the professional workplace? Many students approach graduation with a sense of trepidation; they are worried they haven’t properly prepared for a career. This is a natural and common concern. Try not to let it overwhelm you, and remember that you’ve been acquiring valuable skills your entire life. It’s just a matter of identifying them and then learning how to present a more comprehensive picture of yourself during the hiring process.
Use Transferable Skills
Transferable Skills
A transferable skill is basically a skill that you can reuse at another job or in another context. As an example, if you developed writing skills at one job, you might be able to use your ability to write well in a new situation. The trick is to clearly state what you’ve done previously and then match these activities to the duties and responsibilities of the job you are seeking.
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
The following person is hoping to apply previous experiences and transferable skills to earn his or her next job. Read about the person and the open position, then select the transferable skills to highlight in this candidate’s application.
Although Randy has always loved athletics, now that he’s in college, he’s no longer strong or fast enough to compete for a spot on the team. He’s been working part-time for the marketing office of the university’s Sports Information and Marketing Office. He’s enjoyed helping to produce game programs and organizing fund-raising events for boosters. Recently graduated, Randy hasn’t been able to find work in athletics. He did, however, notice a position in the public relations office of a local concert hall. He loves music, so he’s going to apply.
Which transferable skills could this person highlight to increase his or her chances of earning this job? Check all that apply.
Operating and moving
Maintaining and cleaning
Contacting and selling
Marketing and publicizing
Analyzing and researching
Growing up, Jim worked at the town’s local gas station. As the youngest person working there, he was often assigned to simple tasks. He worked hard cleaning the equipment and making sure the mechanics had all the parts they needed. Now Jim wants to apply for a job as a machinist in a factory near his college. He’s studying mechanical engineering, so the experience would look good on his résumé.
Which transferable skills could this person highlight to increase his or her chances of earning this job? Check all that apply.
Repairing
Writing
Editing
Maintaining
Operating
Laura is an English major who aspires to be an author someday. However, she is realistic about her chances of making it as a professional writer. While working on her first book, she hopes to find work in the publishing industry. A major publisher in the city is offering an internship for the position of editorial assistant, and she wants to apply. She’s worked for free on the staff of her school newspaper. She also recently worked on the school’s literary magazine.
Which transferable skills could this person highlight to increase his or her chances of earning this job? Check all that apply.
Writing
Editing
Repairing
Maintaining
Researching
2. Applying classroom and life experience in the workplace
DISCOVER THE CONCEPT
Approaching your education with a sense of academic professionalism will help you develop the skills and instincts that all employers value. Consider what employers are looking for, and then draw connections between your college experience and the professional world.
What Employers Want
Strong Work Ethic
If you are project oriented and willing to work harder because you take pride in a job well done, employers will value your contributions. Use college assignments to practice staying motivated, focused, and reliable as the deadline approaches. Identify the extra credit opportunities on your syllabus. Raise your grade by demonstrating a work ethic and a desire to go the extra mile.
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
There were five members on the presentation team, and they all had radically different schedules. The instructor had asked them to meet at least three times to work on and plan their in-class presentations. No one seemed to know how to proceed because each member’s ideas were rejected the moment another member had a scheduling conflict. Then Bill decided that the best thing to do would be to create a Google document; that way, each member could work on the presentation from home, whenever it was convenient.
Which of the following skills would be most important in this situation?
Collaboration skills and cultural awareness
Language and number skills
Problem-solving skills
Jackson had been creative his entire life. He started drawing as a young boy and the thrill of artistic production never went away. He’d heard that artists shouldn’t worry about business, but all of the really successful painters seemed incredibly savvy. He wanted to get better at marketing and promoting his own work. He needed a business plan to help him reach the many art dealers and enthusiasts who had never heard of him. There would be costs associated with this venture. He needed to raise some capital, and he needed some kind of budget to prove that an initial investment would lead to greater returns.
This is an example of a professional using one of the five traits that employers want. How could you develop this skill or instinct while in college?
Visit with an expert in the field of graphic design
Visit computer lab or business instructors on campus
Visit the campus bookstore and shop for clothing
Thomas had a gut feeling that voter turnout was low because of the bad weather. But if he was going to write a convincing paper, he needed proof that bad weather influenced voter turnout. He also needed to figure out if there was a way to prove that lower voter turnout would cause enough of a change in this election to alter the final results. He did a search for the key terms “weather” and “election results” and found several papers on the topic. He combined this information with quotes from a book by an authority on the topic of voter turnout.
Which of the following skills would be most important in this situation?
Language and number skills
Collaboration skills and cultural awareness
Research and analysis skills
It had been a strange time at the office. They had gone through a round of layoffs and nobody knew what the future held. Jan wanted to talk to Peter about it, but she could tell that he was upset because many of his friends had just lost their jobs. She decided to wait and let some time pass before discussing the new positions that were being advertised.
This is an example of a professional using one of the five traits that employers want. How could you develop this skill or instinct while in college?
Interview a human resource professional or psychology instructor
Interview other students about your class
Interview the president of the college
Jennifer had to read five chapters and study for a major exam on Tuesday. She only had about three hours before class, and then she would spend the evening in a quiet part of the library where she could focus all of her energy. Some of her classmates were already giving up. There was a big game on television, and the weather was really nice.
Which of the following skills would be most important in this situation?
Strong work ethic
Problem-solving skills
Collaboration skills and cultural awareness
Ben had always been a “math guy,” and he’d avoided writing in college at all costs. But now, after working in aerospace as an engineer for the last three years, Ben was convinced they could produce more in less time and with less effort. He just needed to convince the boss of this. He wrote a four-page report on his ideas and then sent a quick e-mail to Mr. Kendall’s assistant. Later that week, he spent five minutes reviewing his proposal with Mr. Kendall, and by the end of the month he was promoted to manager.
This is an example of a professional using one of the five traits that employers want. How could you develop this skill or instinct while in college?
Give yourself a break and don’t work too hard
Give yourself writing assignments based on future career interests
Give yourself a new book each week
3. Choosing a major
DISCOVER THE CONCEPT
Follow Your Bliss: When declaring a major, it’s important to consider what you want to do after college. Think about people you admire. What do they do for a living? Take stock of your personal interests. Explore the course offerings at your school, and speak with your academic advisor. Most of all, remember to follow your bliss, and do what you are passionate about. Look for ways to combine what you study at school with the dreams and goals that you hope to reach someday.
Consider the following diagram. Each of the three circles contains a fictitious student’s personal interest.
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Use the dropdown menu to select the major that is the best fit for the personal interests in the outer circles.
A
Conduct Preliminary Research: Thinking about your personal interests and long-term goals can be helpful. But to really know if a major is the right choice, you’ll want to take the next step and do some preliminary research. Select the actions that will help you learn more about whether a certain major is the right choice for you. Check all that apply.
Seek out help-wanted ads for the job you would like, and see what kind of training and educational requirements are listed in the advertisement
Visit departmental social events and related group events
Visit one of the instructors during office hours
Write in a journal about the possible major
Pick the major that promises the highest possible income after college
A
Conduct Preliminary Research: Thinking about your personal interests and long-term goals can be helpful. But to really know if a major is the right choice, you’ll want to take the next step and do some preliminary research. Select the actions that will help you learn more about whether a certain major is the right choice for you. Check all that apply.
Read magazines, academic journals, and websites covering the industry in which you are interested
Interview a student who has taken classes in the major
Register for classes in three different majors, and then drop the hard classes
Paint a picture that represents your feelings about the major
Visit with the department secretary or coordinator
A
Conduct Preliminary Research: Thinking about your personal interests and long-term goals can be helpful. But to really know if a major is the right choice, you’ll want to take the next step and do some preliminary research. Select the actions that will help you learn more about whether a certain major is the right choice for you. Check all that apply.
Write in a journal about the possible major
Interview a successful professional
Register for classes in three different majors, and then drop what you don’t like
Go to the bookstore or library, and look at the course texts
List the courses you would take to earn the degree
4. Building an irresistible resume
DISCOVER THE CONCEPT
When you write your résumé, remember to approach it as a piece of persuasive writing. You are creating a document that you hope will inspire others to offer you an interview. Be sure that your objective demonstrates that you are a good fit for the company you wish to join. When you know your goals, you can look for internships and jobs that will help you build a stronger résumé.
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
The following is a résumé in progress. Consider it, and help Crystal earn an interview. Choose the options that will develop a quality résumé for the position of executive assistant.
Crystal hopes to become an executive assistant for a financial services firm after graduation. After some on-the-job training and hard work, she might eventually become an investment advisor. First she needs to earn an entry-level position so she can get her foot in the door. Use the dropdown menus, and choose the objective and experience that would be most appealing to Crystal’s future employer.
Crystal Tailor
1305 Green Court
Memphis, TN 38105
Directions: What would be the best objective for Crystal’s résumé?
Objective:
Directions: What previous job title would help demonstrate that Crystal is qualified?
Work Experience:
Directions: Improve these weak descriptions by selecting more active language to describe the work experience.
Part-Time Office Assistant, Fraus Bank—9/10/07–8/7/09
While working for Fraus Bank, I helped many of the senior bankers with whatever they needed, like booking travel. I also worked as a teller sometimes and helped customers with transactions, like making deposits and performing money transfers. I was asked to photocopy and organize the bank’s records so that the accountants could make sure that all of the financial statements were accurate.
helped many of the senior bankers with whatever they needed, like booking travel
worked as a teller sometimes and helped customers with transactions, like making deposits and performing money transfers
was asked to photocopy and organize the bank’s records so that the accountants could make sure that all of the financial statements were accurate
The following is a résumé in progress. Consider it, and help Matt earn an interview. Choose the options that will develop a quality résumé for the position of health care clinician.
Matt hopes to become a health care clinician in a community health center after graduation. Use the dropdown menus, and choose the objective and experience that would be most appealing to Matt’s future employer.
Matt Diaz
2403 Scottsboro Lane
Key West, FL 33040
Directions: What would be the best objective for Matt’s résumé?
Objective:
Directions: What previous job title would help demonstrate that Matt is qualified?
Work Experience:
Directions: Improve these weak descriptions by selecting more active language to describe the work experience.
Part-Time Office Assistant, Aplia University Health Center—9/20/09–7/4/11
While working as a part-time office assistant for the Aplia University Health Center office, I was the front office receptionist and assisted patients in filling out forms before seeing a doctor. I also answered the phones and helped students make appointments. At the end of each day, I helped file the cases that were created by the many visitors.
was the front office receptionist and assisted patients in filling out forms before seeing a doctor
answered the phones and helped students make appointments
helped file the cases that were created by the many visitors
The following is a résumé in progress. Consider it, and help Frances earn an interview. Choose the options that will develop a quality résumé for the position of sales representative.
Frances hopes to become a sales representative for a cable network provider after graduation. Use the dropdown menus, and choose the objective and experience that would be most appealing to Frances’s future employer.
Frances McConnell
2431 Glen Street
Natick, MA 01760
Directions: What would be the best objective for Frances’s résumé?
Objective:
Directions: What previous job title would help demonstrate that Frances is qualified?
Work Experience:
Directions: Improve these weak descriptions by selecting more active language to describe the work experience.
Part-Time Telephone Operator, Aplia University—9/20/09–7/4/11
While working as a telephone operator for Aplia University, I answered phones and connected customers to the appropriate offices. I also provided advice to other operators as they assisted callers who were visiting the university and needed help finding food and necessary services. I also worked one night shift per week on the suicide prevention line, where I listened to troubled students and encouraged them to seek counseling.
answered phones and connected customers to the appropriate offices
provided advice to other operators as they assisted callers who were visiting the university and needed help finding food and necessary services
worked one night shift per week on the suicide prevention line, where I listened to troubled students and encouraged them to seek counseling
5. Make the most of the interview process
DISCOVER THE CONCEPT
The choices you make before, during, and after an interview can be just as influential as the years you spend developing skills and earning credentials. Explore the interview process and then apply your skills by answering the questions that follow.
The Interview Process
Before the Interview
Research the company and review the position description. Try to predict what they will ask you. Expect questions about your skills and previous work experience. Practice talking about yourself and your background. An interviewer might ask something like, “What do you wish you could change about yourself?” These questions are tough. Answer honestly but remain positive: “I wish I could enjoy a job well done before moving onto the next thing.” See how this keeps the conversation more positive? Write down a few questions for the interviewer and plan your transportation so you can arrive a little early and be mentally prepared.
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Imagine that you are about to interview for a new position with a prominent company. Select the actions that would help you prepare for the interview. Check all that apply.
Call the interviewer and ask what the interview will be about
Bring a gift for the interviewer to show that you appreciate the opportunity
Practice answering questions you think they might ask
Search online for information about the company
Write down one or two questions you have about the position
Read the following summary of a job interview.
You met several very impressive, and somewhat intimidating, professionals. But after hearing your interviewer, Frank Gerard, describe your daily duties, your mind was set at ease. You now know it’s a good fit for you. He also said that most of the people who work in the office are “passionate about the law.”
Based on the interview summary you just read, select the three best sentences to include in a thank-you note for that interview. Check all that apply.
When you mentioned most of the people in the office are passionate about the law, I just knew that I had found the perfect challenge.
I am happy to work long hours so long as you understand that I need to be able to leave the office occasionally to attend to other business.
I don’t know if you realize how intimidating your office can be.
I was so impressed by your colleagues and the work you do.
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me.
Imagine that you are about to interview for a new position with a prominent company. Select the actions that would help you prepare for the interview. Check all that apply.
Plan transportation and how much time it will take to get to the interview
Greet the interviewer and then ask about salary, benefits, and vacation time
Rehearse a response to a question that compliments the company and illustrates your value
Send a follow-up e-mail or call to add information to one of the answers you gave during the interview
Research the industry to learn about the company and its competitors
Read the following summary of a job interview.
You were surprised to learn that you had not one interview with the manager, Joanne Dutton, but several interviews with numerous people with whom you will be expected to collaborate. You enjoyed speaking with all of them and still feel like the job is a good match. Joanne Dutton mentioned that “we work in small, close-knit teams, so it’s important that we get along.”
Based on the interview summary you just read, select the three best sentences to include in a thank-you note for that interview. Check all that apply.
I place a high value on my relationships, and when you mentioned that you work in small, close-knit teams, I knew I’d found the right place.
No matter who I work with, it’s important that they recognize my value and my ideas.
The job seems like a great match for my skills and experience.
It would’ve been nice to know in advance that I was interviewing with more than one person.
Please share my gratitude with the rest of the team.
Imagine that you are about to interview for a new position with a prominent company. Select the actions that would help you prepare for the interview. Check all that apply.
Make plans to do something else immediately before the interview
Perform a key word search for the job title to learn more about it
Practice discussing the shortcomings of previous coworkers so you can explain why you left your last job
Write down brief answers to predictable questions
Interview someone who knows about the industry
Read the following summary of a job interview.
You discussed the specifics of the role with Melinda Warren. She mentioned that she was a little worried the role wasn’t challenging enough for you. She also mentioned that the company’s third quarter earnings were quite good. You are not totally sure what “third quarter earnings” means, but it sounds good.
Based on the interview summary you just read, select the three best sentences to include in a thank-you note for that interview. Check all that apply.
When you mentioned third quarter earnings were good, it caused me to research the company further, and like you, I am very excited about what the future may hold.
Like you, I also worry that the job won’t challenge me enough.
I was confused when you mentioned “third quarter earnings,” but I now agree that this is very encouraging.
Thanks for speaking with me, and I look forward to hearing from you regarding the position.
After hearing you discuss the specifics of the position, I believe I’m the right match for the position.
