Internal Barriers In Career Planning


Phone: 561.596.3656		Email: toby@tobycareer.com

Career Coaches are trained to assist you through the career stumbling blocks that can keep you from moving forward successfully. If you recognize that one or more of the following is stopping you, try to determine why by giving an example or explanation. Then, using the techniques, suggestions from your coach, you will be able to work out an action plan to get past your individual barriers.

Check those that apply now.

1. Lack of confidence; self-doubt

2. Fear of failure and perfectionism

3. Procrastination

4. Low anxiety tolerance

5. Indecision vs. indecisiveness

6. Depression

7. Immobilization

8. Values conflicts

9. Rigidity: unwillingness to compromise or to be flexible

10. Risk-taking difficulties

11. Impatience

12. Motivational difficulties

13. Fear masquerading as laziness and/or resistance

14. Difficulty getting organized and feeling overwhelmed

Define your ideal career in an ideal world...one in which you are spending time doing things which gives you satisfaction, not what somebody else feels will make you happy. Include What does the work place look like, what time do you work, what kind of car are your driving, what kind of people are your co-workers, etc.

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* SKILLS

The process of self-assessment, which is an important part of career planning and development, includes identifying skills. Skills can be divided into many categories, but for this exercise, we will use the following designations:

PERSONAL * TRANSFERABLE / MARKETABLE * WORK CONTENT SKILLS

* PERSONAL SKILLS are personal characteristics...the way we relate to other people, how we manage space, time, or materials. They deal with our temperaments.

Examples include realistic, honest, self-confident, enterprising, flexible, enthusiastic, assertive, tenacious.

* TRANSFERABLE/FUNCTIONAL SKILLS involve action verbs describing how we act upon information, people, and/or things. These skills are transferable to many occupational fields, positions, and industries.

Examples include: persuading/influencing, recruiting, planning, teaching/instructing, writing, editing, selling, coordinating, interviewing, operating, and problem solving.

* WORK CONTENT SKILLS are very specialized skills relating to specific jobs. We acquire them in life experiences and specialized training.

Examples include: foreign language, computer programming, computer-aided design, typing, bookkeeping, auto mechanics.

Examples Of Three Basic Skills In A Job Title Or Role

Vice President of Finance
Efficient	(Personal skill)
Supervised	(Functional skill)
Cost accounting	(Work content skill)

Payroll Clerk
Organized	(Personal skill)
Communicated	(Functional skill)
Employee Benefits	(Work Content skill)

* SKILLS LIST First Step: Circle the skills in each area that you can do competently. Second Step: Place an asterisk next to those skills you enjoy doing.
MANAGEMENT SKILLS	COMMUNICATION SKILLS	RESEARCH SKILLS

Planning Organizing Scheduling Assigning/Delegating Directing Hiring Measuring production Setting Standards Work under stress Work with people Travel frequently Work as a team member Personnel Rehearses Time Management Negotiating Strategies	Reasoning Organizing Defining Writing Listening Explaining Interpreting ideas Reading Handle precision work Work with committees Public speaking Correct English usage Operate communication systems Good sense of timing	Recognizing problems Interviewing Developing questions Synthesizing Writing Diagnosing Collecting data Extrapolating Reviewing Work without direction Work very long hours Work on long term projects Statistics Algebra Research design
FINANCIAL SKILLS	MANUAL SKILLS	SERVICE SKILLS

Calculating Projecting Budgeting Recognize problems Solve problems Finger dexterity Ability to concentrate Handle detail work Work under stress Orderly thinking Accounting procedures Data processing Operate business machines Financial concepts Investment principles	Operating Monitoring Controlling Setting-up Driving Cutting Do precise machine work Do heavy work Work on assembly line Work independently Knowledge of tools Safety rules Basic mechanics Basic plumbing Electronic principles	Counseling Guiding Leading Listening Coordinating Work under stress Respond to emergencies Work under hazardous conditions Work on weekends Work night shifts Knowledge of a subject Human behavior principles Community resources Agencies’ policies

ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS	TECHNICAL SKILLS	PUBLIC RELATIONS SKILLS

Examining Evaluating Filing Developing methods Improving Recording Computing Recommending Work as a team member Work in an office Follow directions Do routine office work Basic clerical skills Bookkeeping Data-entry operations	Financing Evaluating data Calculating Adjusting controls Aligning fixtures Following specifications Observing indicators Verifying Drafting Designing Work in an office/outdoors Work in small studios Odd hours Economics Investigating principles Balancing principles	Planning Conducting Maintaining a favorable image Informing the public Consulting Write news releases Researching Representing Work with people Work under stress Work very long hours Work odd hours Negotiating principles Media process Human relations
HANDS-ON SKILLS	SALES SKILLS	MAINTENANCE SKILLS

Diagnosing malfunctions Repairing engines Maintaining machinery Packing Replacing defective parts Wood working Constructing buildings Hitching Work outdoors Work in varied climate Manual work Do heavy work Operating basic machinery Safety rules Welding Horticultural procedures	Contracting Persuading Reviewing products Inspecting products Determining value Informing buyers Promoting sales Work outdoors/indoors Work with people Work under stress Work long hours Knowledge of products Human relations Financing Budgeting	Repairing equipment Maintaining equipment Operating tools Dismantling Removing parts Adjusting functional parts Lubricating/cleaning parts Purchasing/ordering parts Climbing Work indoors/outdoors Lift heavy equipment Work as a team member Basic mechanics Electrical principles Plumbing principles

* SKILLS CHECKLIST (Continued)

In what areas are most of your skills located?

Tally the number of asterisks that you have in each box. List your skill areas in order of preference.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Do you have any reactions to this list of preferences?

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their mind to be.

Abraham Lincoln

* WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO OFFER?
	What kind of employee will you become? You can take stock of yourself right now and get some ideas. Here are some questions to ask yourself. Answer them honestly and see how you rate.
		YES	NO
1.	Do you have a real willingness and desire to learn new skills and new ways of doing things?
2.	Are you neat in your personal appearance and work habits?
3.	Are you usually on time when you go somewhere?
4.	Can you apply yourself to an interesting job without being easily bored or distracted?
5.	Can you adapt to new and unexpected situations easily?
6.	Can you work under pressure without becoming overly nervous and upset?
7.	Are you aware of your strengths and your weaknesses?
8.	Are you emotionally stable, capable of taking things in your stride?
9.	Have you enough initiative to be able to work on your own?
10.	Are your job plans in keeping with your own capabilities and the opportunities employers have to offer?
11.	Do you have a sense of duty and responsibility?
12.	Are you reliable? Can you be depended on to do a satisfactory job?
13.	Can you gain the friendship and respect of fellow workers?
14.	Can you cooperate with fellow workers?
15.	Can you cooperate with supervisors and managers?
16.	Can you follow directions willingly, asking questions when necessary?
17.	Can you understand instructions and carry them out accurately or ask questions when instructions are unclear?
18.	Can you accept criticism without feeling hurt?

* ACHIEVEMENTS

Develop an extensive list (15 or more) of your achievements that begin with your most recent position and include earlier positions as well.

To create achievement statements, keep the following in mind.

Statements should:

· Be stated briefly and to the point.

· Use action words (i.e., managed, improved, controlled, directed, unified, etc.)

· Include what you did and the result and benefit of that action.

Action Taken

Reorganized accounting system

Result

that reduced manpower by 16%

· Where possible, quantify or measure, i.e.,

Action Taken

Implemented territory account program

Result

Increased sales 12.7% in one year

* ACHIEVEMENT QUESTIONS

The following questions can serve as stimuli in identifying and writing your career achievements.

1. Did you help increase sales?

2. Did you save the company money?

3. Did you implement a new procedure or system?

4. Did you suggest or “roll out” any new products or programs for your company?

5. Did you receive any awards or special recognition?

6. Did you solve a major or recurring problem for your area, section or division?

7. Did you do anything for the first time at your company?

8. Did you make a job easier or more efficient?

9. Did you train anyone?

10. Were you asked to do a special project?

11. Did you do a job with fewer people or in less time?

12. Did you exceed your goals or objectives?

Every great achievement was once considered impossible.