Humans of SLCC #3

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 7^th and 8^th grade. It wasn’t until 9^th 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!

Trust

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

KSL Article on the MBTI (Excellent Read)

An excellent article on ksl.com regarding the MBTI and personality types.  Have you taken the MBTI?  You should!

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=42141765

Find the best career for your personality

By KSL Jobs   |  Posted Nov 9th, 2016 @ 12:03pm

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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.

ENERGY STYLE: Introverts/Extroverts

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).

Step by Step

http://admissions.fsu.edu/freshman/academics/Choosing_a_Major_guide_2015.pdf

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.

Humans of SLCC (#2)

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

 

Humans of SLCC (#1)

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.

(Re)Introducing Chico the Cheeky Monkey

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!

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