Write a 5-6 page assessment in which you reflect on the results of self-assessment and self-inventory exercises, articulate your professional goals and career plans, and write an action plan for implementing those goals and plans.
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Introduction
This undergraduate psychology program offered you instruction throughout the broad spectrum of the science of psychology. Its content covered approaches to understanding the complexities of human behavior and thought through a framework of knowledge, skills, and values identified by the APA as fundamental in the undergraduate study of psychology.
Overview
Note: The assessments in this course build upon one another, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.
Preparation
Each of the following interactive media activities will assist you with this assessment. They provide opportunities to evaluate your skills or values to gain a better understanding of your personal and professional identity. Complete the following media presentations:
Careers in Psychology.
Career Skills Inventory.
Work Values Card Sort.
Instructions
Write a 5–6 page assessment in which you complete the following:
Create a title page: Give your paper a title that reflects the purpose of your work. It is suggested that you use the APA Paper Template [DOCX] Download APA Paper Template [DOCX]to format your paper according to the APA manual (current edition).
Write an introduction: For the introduction section of your paper, include the title at the top of the first page. (In APA format, the word Introduction is not used as a heading.) Briefly summarize the key components of your paper.
Create a heading titled Assessment and Inventory Results: Summarize the results of the required self-assessment and self-inventory exercises. Use critical thinking and your knowledge of psychological theories and concepts to analyze the meaning and significance of the results. This summary can help guide your career direction.
Create a heading titled Goals and Career Plans:
Describe your professional philosophy, including your goals and career plans.
Describe how your professional goals and career choices align with your values and life interests.
Explain how your values relate to professional behaviors and practices.
Create a heading titled Motivation: Analyze how psychological principles can be used to motivate you to overcome obstacles to reach your professional goals.
Create a heading titled Action Plan: Develop a SMART action plan for implementing your career goals. This will serve as a road map to help you take concrete steps to fulfill your goals. For example, describe the steps you are planning to take to apply for a job or apply to graduate school. Discuss realistic ideas about how to implement psychological knowledge and skills in occupational pursuits that meet personal and professional goals. You may wish to review the document SMART Action Plan [PDF] Download SMART Action Plan [PDF], conduct an Internet search to learn what should be included in an action plan or refer to the Capella Career Center resources.
Create a heading titled Conclusion: Briefly summarize the key points of your assessment and make a statement about your future career aspirations.
Keep in mind throughout this assessment that while your writing must conform to APA standards, you must explain all information in a manner that can be understood easily by a nonacademic or nonscientific audience.
Refer to the Individual Career Plan Scoring Guide to ensure you meet the grading criteria for this assessment.
Additional Requirements
Your assessment should meet the following requirements:
Written communication: Written communication is well organized and free from errors that detract from the overall message.
APA format: Comply with current APA style and formatting.
Number of resources: A minimum of three academic resources.
Length: 5–6 typed, double-spaced pages, excluding the cover page and references.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Portfolio Prompt: You are encouraged to save this learning activity to your ePortfolio.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Apply psychological theory and concepts to individual, organizational, and social issues.
Analyze career inventory results based on psychological theories and concepts.
Competency 4: Solve problems in the field of psychology through critical and scientific analysis, and innovative thinking.
Analyze how psychological principles can motivate progress toward professional goals.
Competency 6: Integrate knowledge of psychology with personal values and goals to guide personal, collaborative, and professional behavior.
Describe how professional goals and plans align with values and life interests.
Develop an action plan to implement psychological knowledge and skills to pursue professional goals.
Competency 7: Communicate effectively with diverse recipients in a manner that is consistent with expectations for psychology professionals.
Communicate clearly, supporting a central idea with good organization of thought, and correct grammar and sentence structure.
Apply APA style and formatting to written work.
Use the following resources to explore career specializations and opportunities in areas of psychology:
Social Psychology Network. (n.d.). Online psychology career center. http://www.socialpsychology.org/career.htm
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Careers in psychology. http://www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/careers.aspx
Kuther, T. L. (2019). The psychology major’s handbook (5th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 3, “What Can I Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?” pages 49–66.
Chapter 4, “Take an Active Role in Your Education,” pages 67–95.
Chapter 6, “Study Tips: Tools for Academic Success,” pages 113–131.
Career Goals
The following resources from the Capella Career Center and other sources will help with the definition of career goals. The SMART Action Plan material can guide you as you set your immediate and future goals and prepare your targeted plan for your assessment.
So, You Want to Help People?
This resource provides answers to some important questions about pursuing a career in what has been traditionally known as the helping professions.
Creating SMART Career Goals.
SMART Action Plan [PDF] Download SMART Action Plan [PDF].
Kuther, T. L. (2019).& The psychology major’s handbook (5th ed.). Sage. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
Chapter 9, “Finding a Job With Your Bachelor’s Degree,” pages 185–210.
Chapter 10, “What Can I Do With a Graduate Degree in Psychology?” pages 211–225.
Chapter 11, “Applying to Graduate School in Psychology,” pages 227–266.
The following Capella multimedia presentations relate to creating SMART goals.
SMART Goals.
Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals.
Career Planning
The following resources can provide additional guidance for your job search and for creating professional work samples.
Portfolio and Work Samples.
This resource explains why a well-organized portfolio is an effective way to showcase your work in a job interview.
Career Nourishers and Depleters Worksheet.
Career Development and Management
Nauta, M. M. (2010). The development, evolution, and status of Holland’s theory of vocational personalities: Reflections and future directions for counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 57(1), 11–22.
Seibert, S. E., Kraimer, M. L., Holtom, B. C., & Pierotti, A. J. (2013). Even the best laid plans sometimes go askew: Career self-management processes, career shocks, and the decision to pursue graduate education. Journal of Applied Psychology, 98(1), 169–182.
Wang, M., & Wanberg, C. R. (2017). 100 years of applied psychology research on individual careers: From career management to retirement. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 546–563.
Parks-Yancy, R., & Cooley, D. (2018). Who gets the job? First-generation college students’ perceptions of employer screening methods. Journal of Education for Business, 93(1), 1–10.
Motivation, Goal-Setting, and Persistence
The following resources address motivation in relation to work. These resources can provide guidance for addressing the assessment scoring guide criterion related to motivational concepts.
Huang, Y., Lv, W., & Wu, J. (2016). Relationship between intrinsic motivation and undergraduate students’ depression and stress: The moderating effect of interpersonal conflict. Psychological Reports, 119(2), 527–538.
Kanfer, R., Frese, M., & Johnson, R. E. (2017). Motivation related to work: A century of progress. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(3), 338–355.
Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2019). The development of goal setting theory: A half century retrospective. Motivation Science, 5(2), 93–105.
Rasheem, S., & Brunson, J. (2018). She persisted: The pursuit, persistence, & power of African American women in social work graduate programs at Historically Black Institutions (HBI). Social Work Education, 37(3), 378–395.
