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THE THIRD
KEY TO UNLOCKING
YOUR DREAMS

THE RIGHT PLAN

Once you have finally chosen a career that you would like to enter, and you have a clear idea of what type of education will qualify you for that career, you then must do everything you possibly can to get yourself into a position where you will be able to successfully get started in the career when you are ready.

A lot of people do a good job with the first two steps and then take for granted that they will automatically be given the final key to success. This is a FATAL mistake!

The world as we know it today, and the world into which you are about to enter, will only reward people who have a definite strategic plan and who also have one or more back-up plans just in case things go wrong in the first place.

To put things into perspective, you wouldn't dream of going on a winter vacation to Florida without reserving a hotel room ahead of time so that you have a place to stay while you are on vacation. You plan for the vacation and then you purchase the airplane tickets so that you can travel to Florida. This is similar to deciding on a career and then attending a college or university to get qualified. In the case of a trip to Florida, the final step to ensuring you will have an enjoyable vacation is to reserve a room so that you have a place to stay while you are there.

So why would you do anything different with something as important as a career?

You choose a career, and then you decide on an education path to get you qualified for the career. It is critically important for you to make sure you have a position ready and waiting for you when you graduate. And yet this is something that so many people take for granted. Most people seem to think that the employers will be waiting with open arms when you graduate. Nothing could be further from the truth!

This section of the Your Career Planner is dedicated to helping you develop a personal strategic plan which should help you get started in that career when you complete your training.

"Once you have selected the career you want to pursue, you can almost guarantee that you will have a position waiting for you when you graduate if you follow the Master Plan described below."

Robert Kirwan
Independent Personal Career Planner
Publisher of Your Career Planner

YOUR
PERSONAL MASTER
PLAN

STEP #1

	As you are doing research into various career options that appear to be of interest to you and which fall within your career cluster choices, you will come across names of certain companies that are leaders in their field.
	These are the companies that will offer you the most opportunity once you decide to pursue a particular career.
	Select five (5) different companies with which you would like to begin your career. It is better if those companies are close to your home town, but that is not necessary.

STEP #2

	Prepare a file folder for each of the companies on your list and also begin to store a folder of information and links on your computer for each of the companies.
	Find out everything you can about each company. Store information in the appropriate file folder.
	When you are gathering information, use the internet; send for brochures by mail; visit the company in person to speak to secretarial staff and get a visual perspective about the company. In other words, leave no stone unturned and be complete in your research.

STEP #3

	Carefully follow the progress of each company and make note of any accomplishments and achievements. You can track the company by reading newspapers, industry periodicals, company reports on their web site, etc.
	It is always a good idea to keep track of how these companies are performing and be aware of the directions they seem to be heading with respect to expansion and development.
	By keeping an on-going diary of the progress of each company, you will also be able to demonstrate that you have been keeping up with the trends of that industry.
	When you are ready to apply for a job with some of these companies, the ability to discuss events and accomplishments that took place over the previous several years will definitely be something that will impress your prospective employers.

STEP #4

	Send regular correspondence to key people in management positions within the company. The higher the better.
	It is a good idea to send this correspondence in the form of written letters. People tend to keep letters in files whereas they will often delete emails.
	Always find a purpose for each letter. I cannot stress this enough. Always find a purpose for each letter. For example, you can ask specific questions about the company or the industry; offer congratulations on achievements and accomplishments; demonstrate your interest in a career with their company in the future; ask for advice; etc. Look for reasons to send a letter and make sure that you keep this correspondence up regularly (at least once every three or four months).

STEP #5

	Once you have developed a relationship with one of the key people in the company, arrange to visit and meet with this person for the express purpose of finding out more about the company. Often people in positions of responsibility will be extremely busy, but if you allow them to select the day and time of the visit, most will agree to meet with you, or will designate someone else to meet with you instead. Always graciously accept to meet the subordinate if that is the best you can do.
	Be very open with the person and indicate that you are interested in a career with the company and would like to get some advice on what to do in order to prepare for such a career.
	Show genuine interest and your contact person will usually bend over backwards to help you out.

STEP #6

	Find out what charitable organizations and/or causes are supported by the company. Every company has one or more major charities that they support, so this should not be difficult.
	Ask if you could volunteer to help out with one of their charitable events. Make every attempt to become involved in activities which will include representatives of the company.
	Try to become directly involved in a similar volunteer manner at least once or twice a year with each of your target companies.
	Make sure the people in the company get to know you and get to know that you are interested in working for them when you graduate. Take every opportunity to shake hands and introduce yourself to people from the company when you are volunteering. Keep personal business cards with you so that you can give one to people you meet.
	Always send some kind of follow-up letter to your key contact person and perhaps to the Chief Executive Officer. Thank them for allowing you to become involved and make sure you tell them how much you enjoyed the experience. Indicate your willingness to help out in the future in any way the person deems useful.

STEP #7

	After a couple of years, ask your contact person(s) if they might be able to help you get a summer or part-time job with the company.
	Make sure they understand that you want to gain some experience which will help you make the transition into a career once you have finished with your schooling.

STEP #8

	Make sure you let your contact people know when you will be available for work.
	Begin sending them letters to this regard a full year and a half ahead of your graduation.
	Let them know the kind of position in the company in which you would like to start out, even if there are no vacancies when you send the letter.
	Send your application letter to the highest ranking person in the company that you know and ask them if they would mind forwarding your application to the proper person.
	Make sure you find a way to mention something in the cover letter that would help your contact person remember you from previous contacts.

STEP #9

	Every two or three months, try to find some reason to update your resume. This can be a new experience that you have gained through a volunteer initiative; final marks in school programs; new work experience; change of address; etc.
	Send a new cover letter outlining the addition to the same contact person you have been dealing with and attach an updated resume.
	Always include some personal information or initiate a personal exchange with the person to whom you are contacting. This person should look forward to receiving your letters and may even respond.

When you graduate, one of the companies you have been dealing with will be more than happy to give you a job.

The investment of time to keep up with the research may sound a bit like schoolwork, but rest assured that the pay-off will be worth the effort if your knowledge helps you land that sought-after position.

The key to this plan is to nurture a long-term relationship with one or more high ranking officials in the company for at least a year or two prior to the time you will be in a position to begin your new career.

Follow this plan with all five companies on your original list and you may find yourself with the pleasant dilemma of having to choose from two or more offers.

If you think this may be too much work, just think of how disappointed you will be if after spending four years in university or college, you graduate with no job prospects. It will be just like landing in Florida with no place to stay.

Your Career Planner Is A Free Public Education Service Provided by
Robert Kirwan, B.A. (Math), M.A. (Education)
Independent Education & Career Planning Coach
Member of the Ontario College of Teachers
His office is located at 4456 Noel Crescent, Val Therese, Ontario P3P 1S8
Phone: (705) 969-7215