As another semester comes to a close, we reflect on the Year of the Monkey and our little mascot, Chico. It has been a great year with 155 free MBTI's given to SLCC students who needed in-depth guidance on choosing a major and career path. It was also the year we brought Elle Luna, our inspiration for the "100 Days of Career Exploration" campaign. Elle kicked off our spring semester and spoke about our crossroads between Should and Must. Do we follow the societal path of finding a job/career, pay our bills, live our lives or do we follow our passion? What if our passion does not pay the bills? That was my favorite piece of the conversation. If your Must doesn't pay the bills, then choose a Should that you would still enjoy but also allows time for your Must. Great advice!
Chris Redgrave from Zions Bank started our fall semester with a great discussion on generational differences in the workforce and how we can work together. There's diversity in the current workforce that involves four generations, the most in history, all working under one roof. How do we combine the work ethics of the baby boomers and Gen Xers versus the need for flexibility and movement with the Millenials and Gen Z's?
Chico has traveled all over campuses and taken part in several events including Resource Fairs, Job Fairs, art displays, and helped start the Humans of SLCC series. Now Chico must take a break while his successor, the Rooster, takes his place in 2017. But Houston, we have a problem. We don't have a name for the Rooster. So... if you have some ideas on a name for the rooster, please send those to me at michelle.tuitupou@slcc.edu. Who knows? Maybe you'll win a really great prize!
If this is your introduction to the blog or the 100 Days of Career Exploration Campaign, the best news is you can still catch up on activities and prior posts. And if you still need help deciding on a major and career path, take a peek at the resources we offer at the college: http://www.slcc.edu/academicadvising/career-advising/index.aspx
My second daughter and I started coaching Jr. Jazz basketball this year. My youngest is on a 5th/6th grade girls team and the Rec Center needed coaches. The last few years I've always hesitated to volunteer for coaching for one reason or another but this year I decided to go for it. I'm not a basketball player. I played with neighborhood kids growing up but there were no rules and it was more like football/basketball. My daughter that's coaching played one year with the Jr. Jazz league and learned a lot. But neither one of us have coached basketball before. Our six-girl team is made up of very new girls where the majority of them have never played or have very little experience. We were able to have one practice before the first game last Saturday. We failed miserably. The other team, like a well oiled machine, were running us back and forth across the court and it was a sad, sad game. But we were able to list the improvements that needed to be made and started addressing those issues at the next practice.
If any of you have been to these Rec league games, you'll notice the parents. More specifically, the parents who think they know all there is to know about sports and think their child is the next Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. In actuality, their child needs just as much work as the brand new person on the team. These parents are barking orders and side coaching during the game. And you see the stress it has on the child. We had one such person at our game last week and in the fourth quarter, that one girl with the wanna-be coach parent was pouting on the bench. She had had enough and she had given up. Not something a coach wants to see.
The first practice we held after that sad game, I gathered the girls around for their pep talk. And this is what I said: "This is the only time I will EVER tell you to do something like this. When we are playing our game on Saturdays, you are NOT to listen to your parents or whoever is there supporting you. You are to sit with the team at all times and ignore all voices except the coaches. Is that understood?" The girls smiled and nodded affirmation. This same training was shown in the movie, Race, about track and field star Jesse Owens. The football team at the college strolls into the locker room and while they are yelling for the coach and track stars to leave, the coach is yelling over their voices to teach Jesse that no matter what the crowd says or how loud they get, he should only listen for his coaches voice. Nothing and no one else should get through his concentration. Let's see if the girls follow these instructions in our next game on Saturday.
How many of us are like those parents in the stands trying to coach from the sidelines? Let me tell you, it's not easy being in the coach's seat. Anyone can coach from the stands. Heck, I've done that in the past. I do that now when I watch football. But how many of us can see what other people should be doing in their lives yet we can't see what our own future should be like? How many of us shy away from being in that hot seat when it comes to major and career exploration yet we can call out from the sidelines all kinds of advice and suggestions to everyone else? What would it take to get you from being the "sideline coach" to the actual coach and start taking control of the game (ie. your life)? What tools do you need to become a better coach in your own life so you can tune out the other voices around you and focus on what would make the best YOU?
Salt Lake Community College is a great team. It's an awesome team. And we work together to teach you how to play, how to learn, how to grow. We also teach you skills that will help you throughout your life. One of those skills is taking the initiative to start researching your major and career path. We have our #100daysSLCC campaign that uses social media and guides you through the major and career exploration process. We have career assessments that can help you discover your personality and your interests so you can narrow down your scope of career paths. We have a free online course that can help you work through the exploration process because it takes time.
The time to sit in that coach's seat is NOW. Tune out the people in the stands. Listen to your fellow coaches (ie. advisors). Take advantage of the tools that will guide you to the winners circle. It's not too late.
During my daughter's freshmen year in college, she decided she wanted to be a Sociology major. All from taking the Sociology 1010 class from an amazing professor. Before registering for her next semester, she met with the Sociology advisor, planned out classes, and declared her major. Loud and clear. She was extremely proud of Sociology, the idea of social justice, and obtaining a few certificates along the way such as Criminology and a Writing certificate. Guess what people ask her when she tells them she's a Sociology major? Guess what reactions (facial, body language, or otherwise) she receives when she says she's a Sociology major? Can you see where I'm going with this? The big question that eventually comes out:
What can you do with a major in Sociology?
As I see the smoke coming out of her head and her fists balled up at her sides, I can feel her pain. Her father, who has a Biology degree with a minor in Chemistry, tells her Sociology is not a real science. My stepmom treats her differently from my niece who is an Elementary Education major. One of her high school science teachers looked disappointed as she proudly declared she was studying Sociology. The question always comes up, "What kind of job can you get with Sociology? What are you doing with your life? Have you really thought about this?" The following article is a wonderful look at parents and the ideas they put into their students' heads by asking a simple (yet loaded) question:
I keep telling my daughter, "As long as you love the subject area and you are successful with your coursework and grades, you'll find your path." This has already been proven with scholarships. During her second semester, she applied and was awarded a large scholarship through the Sociology department for her second year. And, she's been talking a lot about Social Justice. Her younger sister told her, "Why don't you go to Law School already? Since you want to make a change?" Guess what is on my oldest daughter's mind now? Yup. And her uncle, who was a state prosecutor for many years and is now a circuit court judge, is very excited about the prospect. She's happy. She's content. She's thriving. And did I mention she's happy? Read the article. Find what you love. Take some career assessments. Speak with a career advisor. In the end, with research and dedication, you'll find your path in life. And you'll be successful.
I haven’t really had that easy of a life. My mom only had
her high school diploma but she encouraged us to do good at school. She had a
hard time holding down a job due to being a single mom of 3 children who
weren’t always in the best of health. When I was about 9 my mom had me and my
two younger siblings move in with my aunt. I lost faith in my religion and had
a hard time coping with the loss of my mother, but I knew I had to be strong
for my brother (age 4) and sister (age 6).
My aunt never had children of her own so she was thrilled
and terrified at the same time. Like my mom she encouraged us to excel in
school. She even put me into an advanced class called ELP at my elementary
school. I was a really bright kid and was getting more excited about growing
up. I breezed through the rest of elementary and did pretty well in 7th
and 8th grade. It wasn’t until 9th grade that I lost my
motivation. I struggled through high school and after a traumatic experience I
went through at the age of 16 I decided to move back in with my mom in
Washington.
My motivation came back ever so slightly and I started to
plan for college. I was planning on enrolling into Seattle Community College
when some unexpected events happened and my mom, sister, and I moved back to
Utah. I dropped my plans for college and focused on work and providing for my
family.
After I lost my job I had a choice…. Work another crap job
for some crap money and get nowhere in life or just take a huge leap and enroll
in college. The choice was pretty obvious to me, but unfortunately some people
didn’t agree. I admit it’s been a struggle to get back into the swing of
things, but I’ve created a plan thanks to some of our lovely Academic Advisors,
shout out to Michelle and LuAnn!!!!
I’m excited for life again and can’t wait to see what is in
store for me!
Introducing our new work study student, Anastasia! She will be helping with our #100daysSLCC campaign so when you see her with the Button Bar, stop by and say hello. Anastasia was originally planning on becoming an elementary school teacher but has changed her mind. She's taken the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Strong Interest Inventory (SII) along with completing the interpretations and is working through her own major and career exploration process. She is also training in our career resources so she can answer your questions. Welcome, Anastasia, to SLCC!
I'm reading a book right now called The Speed of Trust by Stephen M R Covey. (His dad wrote the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.) In the very first chapter, Covey writes about working on the merger that created FranklinCovey and the most important element of that merger: Trust. He applies this concept to the business world. If trust is high, speed is up and cost is low. But if trust is low, speed is slow and cost is high. How does this apply to major and career exploration? What tools have you used, and trusted, to assist with making your decision on a major? What resources were untrustworthy? Possibly the personality test on which celebrity you are most like? Or which animal do you take after? Of course those are fun but not necessarily something you would use to make a significant decision towards a career path. So what tools and resources does SLCC provide to steer you on the right path towards completing a program and finding a fulfilling career?
Myers Briggs Type Indicator: Created over 60 years ago and continually tested for validity. Used not only in major and career decision making but also used for team building in companies and couples relationship building. Low, low cost of $25 which comes with a one-hour advisor session, a couple of informative packets, and follow up tasks to help with researching careers. http://bit.ly/careerassess-slcc
Strong Interest Inventory: Created almost 90 years ago to assist exiting military personnel find suitable jobs. Colleges and universities still use this tool for current students to discover strengths and how that applies to career fields. http://bit.ly/careerassess-slcc
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Real time information regarding jobs, up and coming fields, future outlook on job trends, basically everything you want to know about the workforce. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Career Coach: Take an interests assessment and look for job information including salary ranges, job outlook in the next 10 years, list of tasks, education required, and current job openings. This is real time information and covers the Salt Lake valley. https://slcc.emsicareercoach.com/
Onet: This gives the same information as Career Coach but on a national level. If you plan on moving out of the Salt Lake valley for your career, Onet can help. www.onetonline.org
This story is sponsored by KSL Jobs. Look forward to Monday. Find your dream job.
No one wants a laid-back bridge builder or an overly sensitive psychologist. You can’t make progress in therapy if your counselor just keeps apologizing for his choice of sweater. You don’t want to walk over a bridge and wonder if the engineer who designed it looked at her calculations and said, “Well, it’s close enough.”
On the flip side, it’s refreshing when someone’s personality lines up perfectly with the work they’re doing.
The fact is we’re not all cut out for every job on the planet, but we all have signature strengths that make us unique. That might seem obvious, but it’s something to consider when you’re entering the job market or thinking about a career change. And a good place to start is to look at what makes you, you.
So what exactly is it that makes one person a good fit for certain careers and not so well equipped for others? The question is at the heart of an entire field of study called “personality theory.” And though more specialized methods have been developed in recent years (Gallup’s “StrengthsFinder” for example), the MBTI assessment (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) stands as one of the most long-standing, popular tests for understanding our personalities and the careers for which we’re best suited. The MBTI claims there are four aspects to personality (each split into two parts) that dominate to different degrees in each of us.
You’ve probably heard people refer to themselves as extroverts or introverts. Well, that distinction is only one-fourth of the assessment. It refers to our “energy style,” or what it is that fuels us. According to Truity.com, extroverts, who are roughly 49 percent of the population, tend to get their energy from being around others. These types are outgoing and don’t mind being rushed. Introverts, however — the other 51 percent — can be outgoing in short spurts, but they need to be alone in quiet spaces to recharge.
THINKING STYLE: Sensors/Intuitives
“Thinking style” is the second portion of personality, made up of “sensors” and “intuitives.” Sensors like working with numbers, machines and objects. About 73 percent of us are sensors. Intuitives are less common. These are the bigger-picture people who like thinking about thinking. They like ideas and possibilities and considering concepts.
VALUES STYLE: Feelers/Thinkers
Up next is “values style,“ where we split into “thinkers” and “feelers.” Thinkers (40 percent) gravitate toward deduction and logic, toward the mathematical and analytical. Feelers (60 percent) prioritize empathy, harmony and consensus. Their work needs to reflect their personal values and they need to know they’re truly helping others. Think chemist (thinker) vs. mayor (feeler).
LIFESTYLE: Judgers/Perceivers
“Lifestyle” is the last quadrant of the MBTI. Here we have the “judgers” and the “perceivers.” Judgers (54 percent) are the people at the office who really can’t function unless they know at all times who’s in charge of whom and who’s doing what. They need organization and structure. Perceivers (46 percent) are the people who really gravitate toward flexibility and autonomy. They don’t mind a little bit of pandemonium in the workplace.
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Keep in mind that these four categories have two variables apiece allowing for 16 possible combinations: [Introvert/Extravert] + [Sensor/Intuitive] + [Feeler/Thinker] + [Judger/Perceiver] = ISTJ/ESTP/etc. Myers-Briggs then divides these 16 results into four career groups: pragmatists, caretakers, theorists and empaths.
Below we’ve listed possible career options that match with each personality category. Which one makes the most sense for you?
Pragmatists — ESTJ, ISTJ, ESTP, ISTP
An overall pragmatist is the type of person who needs to be able to use logic to produce concrete results. A pragmatist might do well as a school administrator, insurance agent, developer, engineer, sales manager, or mechanic.
Caretakers — ESFJ, ISFJ, ESFP, ISFP
A caretaker is someone who needs to help in some practical way in order to feel that they are being useful. A caretaker type might find satisfaction as a nurse, teacher, nutritionist, social worker, executive assistant, receptionist, dental assistant, recreation director, surveyor, vet tech, or customer service rep.
Theorists — ENJT, INTJ, ENTP, INTP
Theorists, the third group, tend towards jobs such as physician, attorney, architect, software developer, judge, urban planner, real estate agent, psychiatrist, or mathematician.
Empaths — ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFP
Lastly, empaths are the ones who have a need to function in the world by making it more beautiful. They’re most engaged when they’re improving people’s lives in less concrete ways. These are the writers, counselors, teachers, health educators, psychologists, librarians, and nonprofit directors.
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Of course, none of this is set in stone, but the MBTI is a good place to start for getting a little career self-knowledge. If you want to know more about your personality and where you land in all of this, go check out a personality assessment and see what you learn about yourself.
Once you’ve narrowed down the fields suited to your personality type, go to KSL Jobsand start searching. Even if you aren’t changing jobs, understanding the various types of personalities out there can help you understand your coworkers a little bit better. Like that one guy who seems like he spends all day checking who is in charge of donut club this month (ENFJ).
If you've been following the blog and social media sites, you'll notice you're getting bits and pieces of information. If you're like me, you're thinking, "That's great but how do I put this all together?" I feel your struggles. If you click on the link above, you'll find a comprehensive guide, an answer to your questions, a step-by-step sequence of figuring out a major and career path. As my good friend in TRIO says, "You're welcome."
What's your job in this process? And yes, it falls back on YOU. Don't just click on the link and browse through the information thinking, "Aw, isn't this cute." Print it out. Save it to your desktop. Start filling it out and doing the suggested activities as it applies to you. Just because we're out of free MBTI's doesn't mean you can't take the assessment and pay the $25 for the interpretation and results. TypeFocus is still available to you for free. The MCDS course (free and no grades) is quietly waiting for your invite (michelle.tuitupou@slcc.edu Subject Line: I Want My MCDS!), Career Coach is sitting, lonely, waiting for someone to start plugging in careers. You are not alone in this process. Take some time to do your research. Talk to someone and take charge of your major and career path. Take advantage of the resources SLCC offers. In the end, you'll make an educated, conscious decision. Go, young Padawan, and may the force be with you.
What is big on my mind right now?Me being a gay Mormon.On National Coming Out Day [2016] I posted
this thing on Facebook about my coming out and the process.So that’s been on my mind.Also, I’m an activist.What is my story?I don’t know.I love the college community.I
love the vibes of the school.That
students are learning, they’re growing, they’re challenging their thoughts, their
way of life, and they are being vulnerable and especially in the Student Life
and Leadership office, people are looking for opportunities to improve
themselves.And just to think that I can
have a part or be a part of this monumental moment in people’s lives is fun and
it’s cool.So that’s the biggest reason
why I came back.I’ve been here and I’ve
left and I’ve come back and I’ve left
and now I’m back again.Yeah, I think
that that’s the biggest thing is that college life is a time of change.Being an activist I’m all about moving
forward and progressive change, whether it’s policy or individual lives, it’s
awesome to be a part of that.
Peter began his college studies at SLCC then transferred to Weber State University to complete his Bachelor's degree. We met a few months ago to discuss some ideas for a Masters program that would incorporate activism, gender studies, and staying employed in higher education. Although SLCC does not offer anything above an Associate's degree and does not normally advise for graduate programs, it's always great to see our students move beyond the college into higher level programs. If you are still wondering what program of study you should be focusing on, please meet with an Academic & Career Advisor today! http://www.slcc.edu/academicadvising/index.aspx
I was born in South Korea and emigrated to the United States at the age of six. My sister came here first to learn English. She came here when she was eight or nine and she came by herself. Me, my brother, and my mom came to follow my sister. My dad stayed in Korea to work and he was going back and forth. He had his own business, he was an optician in South Korea so he had his own eye glass shop in my home town. He gave that up, sold everything, and came here for the American dream, you know? South Korea is a motherland, it's your roots, you know, like a tree. You have your base then you have all these leaves that represent who you are but in order to be at the core of it, sometimes people don't see that, but the root keeps everything grounded, you know, stable. All my family members and relatives are in South Korea, my grandma and we have a house there. Whenever we want to go to South Korea we can just go. All my mother's side is there, my dad's side is all there. We try to keep close ties but it's hard, you know, especially when the economy goes bad, plane tickets are expensive so trying to go back and forth is hard. We try to keep true to our roots. I feel like you should keep the good in the culture and throw away the bad. I try to keep the good aspects, the positive aspects.
He is currently undecided on a major but has the resources that can assist him with his major and career exploration journey.
With the fall semester comes a whole new troop of students, especially fresh out of high school graduates, anxious to begin the next phase in their lives. When I first introduced Chico, it was in January near the time the new Lunar New Year was beginning. But I forgot to reintroduce him in August since many students have not had the privilege of getting to know this amazing little monkey. So here he is:
This is Chico. The cheeky monkey. He is our current mascot for the 100 Days of Career Exploration Campaign. At least until December. In January we switch over to the Rooster as next year is the Year of the Rooster. By the way, the Rooster doesn't have a name, yet, so if you have some ideas, please post them here! Back to Chico, he's been highlighting different programs and resources we offer at Salt Lake Community College. Which is what the #100daysSLCC Campaign is all about. Follow along with our social media sites and you'll see some great information regarding major and career exploration (we still have a few free MBTI's left), programs offered at SLCC (last semester Chico hung out with the Coding Club), and resources that can help you be a successful student (Chico loves the excitement of the Boosters Workshop series). Whether you're undecided on a major or you know what you want to do with your life, it's always fun to find out what Chico is up to and read about your personality and careers that match. Browse through our tabs and see what's happening on campus this week. We have some heavy hitting speakers during the week of October 17th so stay tuned. Spring registration will be here before you know it. What can you do to choose a major and career path as well as stay informed with important information? Read this blog. Visit our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. You don't even have to have those pages to see the content. We look forward to seeing you on social media!
