Part 1: Industry & Job Market Demand – covering 2 different industries – INDUSTRY: the aggregate of productive enterprises in a particular field, often named after its principal product (e.g. the automobile industry; the steel industry.)

Describe each industry & is it projected for growth over next decade or so
Demand for talent in each industry – is general growth of industry accompanied by demand for talent, in what functional areas? Are the jobs you have interest in (e.g. marketing, finance, IT, HR, etc.) in higher demand in the industries you’ve selected to research?

Part 2: Career Path Research – CAREER PATH: the trajectory of job/occupations within a given field or function from entry-level to senior roles (individual contributor or leadership) that may be accessible to you over your career. FIELD or FUNCTION: types similar activities that support the “functioning” of an enterprise or other organization (e.g. finance, IT, human resources, marketing, sales, operations, etc.). OCCUPATIONS: jobs or roles within the various functions which perform the ‘work’ of a business (e.g. accountant, financial analyst, sales rep, HR rep, data analyst, recruiter, IT coordinator, project manager, lawyer, etc.)

Within the selected industries, what are the career path options for you in your functional field of interest? Start with entry level roles and describe the opportunities for growth/advancement. (If the research proves your career path is essentially the same in either industry you can state this and explain once.)
What additional credentials (advanced degrees, certifications, licenses, training, etc.) are required for you to advance / earn promotions?

Part 3: Career Goals & Fit

Based on your industry and career path research, what are the likely best entry points (specific job/occupation) for you to pursue based on the best career fit you've identified using your resources (e.g. knowledge about your own interests / preferences, insight from the personality quiz, education/experience you have been building to launch your career)? Given what you know today about the potential for industry growth and demand for talent, what are the next 2-3 roles you will pursue within your career path?

What gaps have you identified exist (experience, technical knowledge/skills, soft skills) that you will need to build/develop to reach these goals? How will you address the gaps (short/medium/long term goals) to bridge these gaps? (Remember the SMART goal setting approach.)

Which values and decision factors have you identified and prioritized as must-haves when evaluating employers you will consider in your search for employment? How do these align to your personality assessment / type?

Part 4: Target Company List & Action Plan to Pursue

Within each industry you have covered you will identify 10 target employers who hire for the entry level positions you are seeking and who fit your preferences for values, etc. based on your top priorities for making career decisions.

What is your action plan for proactively pursuing these opportunities? Clearly explain any actions you may have already taken (e.g. met at a career fair on campus, have connected with alumni at the employer, have interviewed with the company) and actions you intend to take within the next 3-6 months.

Your "Accountability" support list: Who (besides Prof. Roberts) will you share your goals with to help encourage you and keep you focused on achievement?

DON'T FORGET TO FOOTNOTE YOUR SOURCES! Submissions w/out footnotes will lose 10 points.