Tools you can use.
Career Report
A career is a sequence of jobs or positions. The Career Report is designed to help a person manage this sequence in a way that improves the level of success that they will enjoy.
The Career Report focuses on the character of the job rather than a particular title or functional area.
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Report Details
Job titles and functional areas are no longer reliable indexes of either content or of opportunity. The Career Report guides by focusing on the character of the position being sought and the organizational context in which it is placed.
The Career Report offers a unique strategy for career success. It uses "I Opt" to identify strengths and vulnerabilities. The report then guides the person to focus on positions that place high value on their natural strengths. These are the kind of jobs that will reward the person most generously as well as being a natural source of personal satisfaction.
The Career Report also alerts the person to their vulnerabilities. What to avoid can be as important to career success as what to seek. The report offers advice on the kind of positions likely to make a vulnerability an actual exposure.
Finally, the report recognizes that no job will be perfect. It offers advise on how to navigate a position to maximize the opportunity for success. In combination with the strength and vulnerability components the Career Report provides a comprehensive system for both short and long-term career success.
How "I Opt" Works
The Career Report works by matching the information-processing preferences revealed by the "I Opt" Survey to the character of a position and the organizational context within which it is placed.
Every "I Opt" Strategic Style has strengths. The basic idea is to seek positions that place high value on these strengths. Every Strategic Style also has vulnerabilities. Desirable positions are ones that do not involve these areas and thus do not give rise to actual exposures. Maximizing the value of strengths and minimizing exposures is the basic formula for career success.
The report also uses information-processing preferences to identify likely "bumps in the road" and offers suggestions on how to handle them. It also considers the likely outcomes of working in groups within the chosen field. It concludes with an "elevator pitch" that summarizes the person's career posture in a few sentences.
The Career Report is written at an 8th grade reading level. But it is mature, to-the-point and matter-of-fact in tone. It can be used at any organizational level without concern. It will neither embrass or patronize the reciepient.
Since the report does not reference particular jobs, positions or industries it can be used within a firm as a career development aid. There is no danger that the recipient will be directed to search for another position in areas outside of the firm's scope.
People just entering the workforce can use the Career Report in conjuction with other career tools such as the US Department of Labor's occupational information site. This site will provide them with both industry and occupation information in as much detail as desired.
The Career Report is structured so that it can also be used as an interview guide. The report is completely transparent and without any hidden agenda. Used in this way the report is given to both the interviewee and interviewer. The candidate can affirm, contest, elaborate or modify the observations made. The interviewer can focus on those observations that appear to be most relevant to the job at hand but is not limited to the items covered.
Obtaining a Report
People with an internet account can access the report directly from their Internet. Turnaround time is currently under 5 minutes.
Individual instance users can obtain the report from Professional Communications Inc. (the owner of "I Opt" technology) in any manner preferred by the client (e.g., email, fax, surface mail, private courier, telephone, etc.). Turnaround time is usually less than 24 hours. Contact us for more information.
Report Contents
Report Contents
The Career Report is written at an 8th grade reading level in a mature, respectful tone. It offers a strategy for career development rather than narrowly focusing on the next job. The report is based on the fully validated and highly accurate "I Opt" technology.
- The Career Report cover offers a graphic of the recipients actual "I Opt" profile.
- The introduction helps frame the content. The person is advised that the items cited are the result of who they "choose" to be rather than who the "are." This helps the report to be seen as a tool rather than as an rigid shell.
- Probable strengths and the kinds of positions that are likely to value them most highly are identified. This is the core component of the strategy. Aligning personal strengths with job requirements maximizes the likelihood of success.
- Components of a Favorable Career Position center on the organizational context within which the strengths are to be displayed. These can facilitate or frustrate career development. The Career Report insures that they are considered.
- Likely vulnerabilities are identified. These are items that might be avoided or minimized. Vulnerabilities that evolve into actual exposures can offset the advantages offered by the strengths a person brings to a job.
- Career Navigation involves self-management within the context of a position. No job is perfect and this section attempts to smooth out the likely "bumps in the road."
- Group Fit estimates the person's likely "fit" with the average group with whom they might work. Peer groups can be an important career influence and this section offers advice on how they might be best managed.
- The Career Report concludes with an "elevator pitch" that the person might build upon. It is a way of summarizing their career posture in a few sentences. This can serve as a thumbnail introduction or as a means of solidifying a career oriented self-image.
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The Career Report focuses on the character of jobs or positions that are aligned with a person's natural strengths.
The underlying strategy is that people should look for positions that place high value on their natural skills, abilities and orientations. These are the kinds of positions where they are likely to be rewarded most generously and in which they maximize personal satisfaction.
The graphic on the cover is the person's actual "I Opt" profile. If used in a class setting, the uniqueness of each individual is highlighted.
The introductory page briefly explains how "I Opt" identified the individual strengths and vulnerabilities.
This section also frames expectations so that the person can interpret the content accurately. It stresses that they can "be" anything that they want to be. It explains that the report assumes that they are happy with their current stance and want to maximize their career potential using it.
A listing of probable strengths are provided. Along with an explanation, the report cites the kind of positions that will value these attributes.
This is the most important section. The items cited are the ones that should be sought in a new position.
Favorable Career Positions highlights the organizational settings that are likely to be most favorable. This section outlines the organizational context which will allow the strengths to be maximized.
The bottom of the page focuses on exposures. These are conditions which a person should be especially aware of in a position. Sometimes what to avoid is as important as what to seek in considering a position.
Career Navigation offers ideas on how a person might best deploy their strengths and skills in an organizational setting. These career management items should be kept in mind in any position that the person occupies.
The bottom of the page offers observations on the likely "fit" with groups within which the person may work. The peer environment can be an important component of career success.
The Career Report concludes with a summary of the person in terms of their career interests and potential contribution. It is set as an "elevator pitch" which can help a person solidify his/her self-image in career relevant terms.
The Career Report is based on the same "I Opt" Survey as used for all of the "I Opt" reports. This means that the report can be used in conjunction with any of the other reports with the expectation that they will mesh seamlessly.