Launch Your Career

Launch Your Career

by Sean O'Keefe
Released May 2021
Publisher(s): Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ISBN: 9781523092703

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Book description

This book shows how ANY student can get a job, internship or research position they want using the Career Launch Method—a detailed framework based on a key insight: the clearest path to landing a position you want is through creating relationships with professionals in the industries you desire.

It's tough to find an internship or job that you really want during the best of times, and these are not the best of times.

Did you know only 20% of jobs and internships are posted online? This means 80% of positions are filled in what Sean O'Keefe and others calls the hidden job market. And while the success rate of applying to online job postings is less than 2%, if you develop an internal advocate at the organizations you're interested in, you are 12 times more likely to land a position.

O'Keefe, in partnership with The Career Leadership Collective, is now sharing his proven, 8-step, Career Launch Method™ that will help ANY student explore career options and land the internships and jobs they want by creating professional relationships from scratch. This book demystifies the concept of intentional, proactive relationship-building by teaching all the practical micro-steps needed to succeed. O'Keefe teaches you how to "play the student card" to turn your student status into a powerful advantage.

Launch Your Career features first-person stories of students from all backgrounds and programs of study who have used the Career Launch Method™ to earn jobs or internships at all types of companies, non-profits, government agencies, social enterprises, and institutions across the country and around the world.

Thousands of students have reported that the Career Launch Method™ increased their self-
confidence and helped them become more courageous, not only in their job search, but in all areas of life.

The book includes the Career Launch Readiness Assessment™ which helps students evaluate their competency in five key areas: career exploration, personal brand, networking, job searching, and personal growth. This book will become a go-to resource for students looking to find internships and jobs, as well as a needed resource for colleges looking to increase retention rates and student's ROI.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. A Message from The Career Leadership Collective
  6. Foreword by La’Tonya Rease Miles, PhD
  7. Foreword by Barry Posner, PhD
  8. Introduction From College to a Job You Want and a Career You’ll Love
  9. Part 1. How to Access the Hidden Job Market
    1. Chapter 1. The Origin of the Career Launch Method
      1. How to Zig When Others Zag
      2. Moving Past Rejection
      3. Leveraging One Internship to Land Another
      4. Graduating without a Job
    2. Chapter 2. Habits and Mindsets for Career Success
      1. The Power of Being Proactive
      2. The Jungle Gym Approach to Career Satisfaction
    3. Chapter 3. Don’t Believe These Common Misconceptions
      1. Misconception #1: Your internship or job needs to be related to your major
      2. Misconception #2: Applying to jobs online and through career fairs are the only/ best ways to land internships or jobs
      3. Misconception #3: GPA is everything
      4. Misconception #4: Your first job determines your long-term career success
      5. Misconception #5: Asking for help is a sign of weakness
      6. Misconception #6: You don’t have enough experience to land an internship or job
      7. Misconception #7: You need to plan your future career before you get started
      8. Misconception #8: You’re not good enough, or you’re not worthy
      9. Review and Reflect
    4. Chapter 4. Professionals Will Want to Meet with You
      1. Six Reasons Why Professionals Meet with Students
      2. Review and Reflect
  10. Part 2. The Career Launch Method
    1. Step 1. Discernment—Prioritize the Organizations You Want to Work For
      1. Key Takeaway #1: Discover Your Ikigai
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Evaluate the Ten Factors That Matter in a Job
    2. Step 2. Strategic Research—Discover Professionals Who Can Be Helpful to You
      1. Key Takeaway #1: How to Level the Playing Field
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Identify Potential Internal Advocates
    3. Step 3. Personal Brand—Enhance Your Online Reputation
      1. Key Takeaway #1: Know Your Values, Goals, and Audience
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Create Your Email Signature, LinkedIn Profile, and Portfolio
    4. Step 4. Outreach—How to Play the Student Card to Set Up Career Conversations
      1. Key Takeaway #1: Play the Student Card
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Use Proven Outreach Strategies and Templates
    5. Step 5. Preparation—Strategies and Best Practices for Career Conversations
      1. Key Takeaway #1: Ask the Right Questions
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Understand Proper Etiquette
    6. Step 6. Advanced Preparation—Turning Career Conversations into Interviews, Recommendations, and Referrals
      1. Key Takeaway #1: Know Your Desired Result for Each Conversation
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Expect the Unexpected
    7. Step 7. Effective Follow-Up—Differentiate Yourself and Build Long-Term Relationships
      1. Key Takeaway #1: Separate Yourself from the Competition
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Keep the Relationship Alive
    8. Step 8. Ace the Job Interview—Convey Your Value and Land the Position
      1. Key Takeaway #1: The Importance of Using Stories
      2. Key Takeaway #2: Don’t Beat Yourself Up If You Don’t Get the Job
  11. Final Thoughts Implementing the Career Launch Method
  12. Conclusion Your Career Will Be a Journey
    1. Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
    2. The $200,000 Pay Cut
    3. The Seven Pillars of Life and Setting Goals
  13. Resources
    1. The Career Launch Readiness Assessment
    2. The Five Keys to Entry-Level Compensation Negotiation
    3. Motivational Quote Library
    4. Career Launch Certifications: Career Counselors, Coaches, Student Affairs Professionals, and Faculty
  14. Notes
  15. Special Thanks
  16. Acknowledgments
  17. Index
  18. About the Author
  19. About Career Launch
  20. About The Career Leadership Collective

Product information

  • Title: Launch Your Career
  • Author(s): Sean O'Keefe
  • Release date: May 2021
  • Publisher(s): Berrett-Koehler Publishers
  • ISBN: 9781523092703