Let's talk a little about flexible learning paths and why they are important to you. As the chart below illustrates,
job hunters have different backgrounds, and in particular, varied levels of job search experience and knowledge.
It's probably obvious that no single approach will meet the needs of all three job hunters represented in the graph.
This is where flexible learning paths come in. Each learning path incorporates various components of the eight-step job
search process and provides a general framework for the learning process.
To keep things simple, the graph covers only five factors that can influence job search learning and strategy. In reality,
there are many more factors one could consider. This raises a logical question about which learning path a person should
pursue.
Choosing a learning path isn't complicated. It's mostly a matter of knowing your own background and understanding what
aspects of the job search process you are most comfortable with. A good place to start is to look at descriptions of the
learning paths and decide which one best describes your needs. For convenience, we've summarized the learning paths in the
following table:
|
Learning Path I
Specific Topics and Tools
|
Learning Path II
Jump Start or Review
|
Learning Path III
Full and Detailed
|
|
WHO: Job hunters who have good familiarity and experience in the world of job search.
WHAT: "As-needed" review of specific job search topics.
FOCUS: Highlighted sources of job search information worth exploring.
|
WHO: Those with some job search experience or wanting a quick review.
WHAT: Abbreviated coverage of the job search process.
FOCUS: High-level overview of the end-to-end job search process.
|
WHO: Those looking for an in-depth review of the end-to-end job search process.
WHAT: A comprehensive look at best practices and some little-known tips.
FOCUS: In-depth coverage and optimal use of job search tools.
|
Once you've identified a learning path that best meets your needs, you can dig a little deeper and
examine the suggested learning resources for each of its eight steps. Each step includes suggested areas of the transition
services portal to review. It also suggests additional resources you can access if you want more information about any of
the topics.
As you review the details of each learning path, you may find that Path I meets your needs for some of the eight steps,
Path II for other steps, and Path III for others. As mentioned above, it depends upon your particular background, needs
and learning preferences. Don't hesitate to mix and match as you see fit.
Searching for a job is a dynamic process. As you progress through various phases of your job search, you'll likely realize
you know more than you thought you did about some steps, and less about others. For this reason, you should feel free to
adjust your learning along lines that make sense to you.