Week 2: Research & Exploration - SujeethFoundation/sujeethfoundation.github.io GitHub Wiki

Week 2 Agenda

Group Reflection (10 minutes)
Video: How To Find Your Purpose (5 minutes)
Exercise: Brainstorm Career Path with ChatGPT (15 minutes)
Video: Connect with hiring managers (5 minutes)
Group Discussion (20 minutes)

Group Reflection

What did you learn last week about how your experiences can shape your future career goals?
How did the concept of vulnerability impact the way you think about job hunting or networking?
Has your understanding of your career path changed since we started these discussions? How so?
What do you want to get out of this week?

How to Find Your Purpose

Purpose

Introducing the concept of Ikigai helps students explore various opportunities by considering different aspects of their career choices. While the ideal situation is to find a job that aligns with what you love, what the world needs, what you're good at, and what you can get paid for, achieving this balance can be challenging. Starting with just two of these elements, such as what you are good at and what you can get paid for, is a practical first step. By articulating what you want to do, it becomes easier to seek help and build a compelling narrative about how your life experiences make you uniquely suited for specific roles. This approach not only clarifies your career goals but also enhances your ability to network effectively and present yourself confidently to potential employers.

Questions

After learning about Ikigai, what intersections do you see between what you love, what you're good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs?
What are some passions or interests you’ve been hesitant to pursue professionally? Why?
How does defining your purpose help you narrow down your career options or make more informed decisions?
How can you use the concept of Ikigai to evaluate job opportunities or internships?

Brainstorm Career Path with ChatGPT

Go to chatgpt.com and try the following prompts:

I have a passion for technology, sales, and finance. What kind of entry-level jobs are available to me after graduating college? Create a table that includes the job, a description, salary range, and career progression.
What are the top companies that sales engineers work for? Create a table with company name, mission statement, location, and company size.
What are the associations that sales engineers who work at Amazon Web Services work at? Create a table with the association name, association mission, and opportunities for recent graduates.

Purpose

One of the biggest challenges in career planning is the lack of information. Often, we only know about opportunities we've been exposed to, which can limit our career choices. While we might think we know what we will love, we often only truly understand our passions after experiencing them firsthand. Instead of using valuable networking time to explore different careers, leveraging AI like ChatGPT can be more effective. ChatGPT can provide insights into various career paths, helping you discover options you might not have considered. This exercise allows you to gather information quickly and efficiently, making it easier to make informed decisions about your career and articulate your goals to others. By using AI to explore career options, you can better prepare for networking and job hunting, ensuring you make the most of your opportunities.

Questions

What insights or ideas did the ChatGPT exercise give you about your career goals or the type of job you want?
Did the exercise help you identify any new skills, passions, or potential career paths you hadn’t considered before?
How did ChatGPT help you think differently about your job search or career exploration?
What is one new piece of information you gained from the exercise that you can apply to your job search or networking?

Connecting With Hiring Managers

Purpose

Connecting with hiring managers is crucial for landing a job, as it involves knowing what you want, understanding why you fit, and finding the right people who are looking for what you provide. The video introduces the idea of using LinkedIn as a resource to find hiring managers, emphasizing the often-overlooked "LinkedIn company pages." By utilizing these company pages, you can identify recruiters and alumni who work at your target companies. This allows you to validate your job hypothesis: "I'm a unique fit for this type of job because of my specific life experience. I want to do this job because it aligns with my passions." This approach not only helps you find the right contacts but also strengthens your narrative, making it easier to articulate your value proposition and build meaningful connections in your job search.

Questions

What key strategies resonate with you the most for connecting with hiring managers?
How do you approach or reach out to hiring managers effectively?
What did you learn that you hadn’t considered when thinking about networking or job searching?
How do you feel about applying these strategies when reaching out to potential employers or mentors?

What's Next

Week 3: Resume & Preparation - We explore how to use the Golden Circle to communicate to hiring managers via your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Complete the Digital Networking Strategies course on LinkedIn
Pulse Survey