Objective: To help you stay focused on those issues, skills, and locations of interest to you.
Directions: Launching or navigating a career move consists of a variety of targets. Like any target or dartboard, however, there is one bull’s-eye surrounded by other rings of opportunity to score points. Hence, when you are looking for a job, it is important to remind yourself that multiple opportunities exist, but only if you are looking for them.
For this assessment, you are going to answer seven questions:
1. Where do you want to live?
2. What specific company/organization or type of do you want to work for?
3. What local/global issues are of great interest to you?
4. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
5. What are some dream job/s you currently have?
6. What do you like to do?
7. What are you good at?
Once you have answered each of the seven questions, match them with one of the letters on the target. Doing so allows you to prioritize your career targets. It is difficult to accomplish a goal if you do not clearly identify what it is you are trying to accomplish. Match each of your answers with one of the letters on the target.
For example:
a. Where do you want to live?
i. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
b. What specific company/organization or type of do you want to work for?
i. Any college or university
c. What local/global issues are of great interest to you?
i. Helping young professionals launch and navigate their career
d. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?
i. Write non-fiction books
e. What are some dream job/s you currently have?
i. President of a college or university
ii. Vice President at a private company
f. What do you like to do?
i. Public speaking
g. What are you good at?
i. Public speaking
In this example, the person has chosen where they want to live as the target. Such a decision is critically important as they can then focus on the other rings of opportunity. All too often, however, young professionals have no idea of their target. This assessment allows you to create the rings of opportunity important to you as you launch your career. Remember, you can change your targets anytime.