This past semester I took Principles of Marketing and the key takeaways for me were the concepts of market segmentation and targeting. Segmentation refers to observing a population of people then breaking it into smaller groups based on differing characteristics. Once the marketers have divided the group into segments, their next step is to choose a segment to serve based on a company’s resources and strengths, i.e. targeting. We could all learn a great lesson from the marketers. The aforementioned concepts provide a great strategy for approaching career explorations: assess the options then choose the one that is most aligned with your skill set and personality.
The following diagram is one way to segment the different types of jobs activities:
The following diagram is one way to segment the different types of jobs activities:
After dividing future career options into different categories the real work begins. Here is a sample action plan to get you on your way; modify it as necessary to fit you:
Choose a category or two and figure out which industries employ people with your skill set and offer the types of activities you like (hands on, analytical, creative, etc.).
Researched the selected industries. Some great places to do your research include
o Your school’s career advising office
o Your parents’ friends who work in the prospective industries
o Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Guide to Industries: http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/home.htm
o Vault Career Intelligence: http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/usa
o Your school alumni network
In sum, segmentation and targeting focus your career search. So be like a marketer and starting targeting your future career. Transforming from clueless to capable is a step by step process; the important thing is to take the first step and then to have the courage to take the next step even if you fail.
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