Prentice Hall

Student Success & Career Development



Career Trek: The Journey Begins
Troy Nielson, Utah Valley State College

ISBN-10: 013119304X
ISBN-13: 9780131193048

Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2008
Format: Paper; 216 pp
Published: 05/02/2007

Suggested retail price: $30.00
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For courses in Career Exploration or Career Development.

 

Using an engaging adventurer theme, Career Trek emphasizes ways to transform one’s education investment into career success. This book covers essential career management topics such as self-awareness, networking, and resume writing, and goes beyond to discuss the importance of person-job fit and long-term career management strategies. Summaries and hands-on activities accompany each chapter and help readers uncover their own passions and skills. The book’s tone is practical and engaging and its points are amplified by the references to Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakauer.

Comprehensive coverage of career management concepts–emphasizes how to turn the investment of an education into a rewarding career.  (Ex. pg. v, vi-ix).

·        Covers essential career management topics such as: self-awareness, networking, resume and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, and mentoring activities.

 

Engaging adventurer theme–uses Jon Krakaurer’s account of the dangerous ascent up Mount Everest (Into Thin Air) as a metaphor throughout.  (Ex. pg. 97-98, 139).

·        Helps students understand the challenges and the potential thrills of their career journeys.

·        Adds continuity and uses a powerful story as a theme for career exploration in the 21st century.  

 

An emphasis on person-job fit–see Chapter 1 and throughout the text. (Ex. pg. 5-7, 153).

·        Explores how to find career paths that match one’s passions and skills.

·        Discusses why person-job fit is important and how it can impact one’s professional life.

 

A chapter on graduate programs and entrepreneurial career paths–see Chapter 8.  (Ex. pg. 90-95).

·        Provides more coverage of custom career routes and non-traditional career paths.

 

A section devoted to career management and long-term success–see Part IV, Reaching the Summit.  (Ex. pg. 143-145).

·        Offers important material not covered in other books such as: how to approach the first year on the job, how to handle challenging career issues, and how to develop professionally.

 

Trek tasks–accompany each chapter. Summary of tasks included.  (Ex. pg. x, 14, 146).

·        Provide hands-on exercises that help students learn more about themselves and what they want from their careers.

·        Give instructors material for class assignments or homework activities.

 

Trek Lists–summarize each chapter.  (Ex. pg. 108, 128).

·        Ensures that students focus on the essential principles of each chapter and understand key take-away points.

INTRODUCTION

SECTION I: TREK OVERVIEW

1.      Finding Your Fit, Passion, and Smile

2.      Destination: A Successful Career

 

SECTION II: BASE CAMP

3.      Who Are You? Career Aspirations and Preferences

4.      What is in Your Pack? Talents, Skills, and Traits

5.      Your Passport: Resume and Cover Letter

6.      Who Is In Your Traveling Party? Networking

7.      Researching the Corporate Terrain

8.      Custom Routes: Entrepreneurial Endeavors and Graduate Glory

 

SECTION III: ASCENDING THE MOUNTAIN

9.    Preparing for and Conducting an Effective Job Search

10.  Preparing for the Interview

11.  Shining in the Interview

12.  Following Up the Interview: Negotiating and Evaluating Job Offers

 

SECTION IV: REACHING THE SUMMIT

13.  Rules for Career Success

14.  Career Decisions

15.  Mentoring and Professional Development

 

Index.

“I like the Trek Tasks exercises because they force students to look at who they are.  Many times students are afraid to be themselves because of disappointing their parents or others.  They can fail to meet their own potential because they have not looked at who they are.  This exercise can be the beginning of that journey.” 

--Edison Wells, College of DuPage

 

Career Trek is a much more informal approach than many texts that I have seen, but the author brings it into a personal encounter—showing the reader that this is a real adventure with a successful ending. Although job changes come there is a progression and procedure to follow to make the next one even more successful and fulfilling.”

--Patricia Locks, Howard Payne University 

Troy Nielson (Ph.D., University of Utah) is the Department Chair of Business Management at Utah Valley State College (soon to be Utah Valley University). He has also been on the business faculties at both California State University San Marcos and Brigham Young University. Prior to his academic career, he worked with Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). He has done human resource and organizational development consulting for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, most recently for Proflowers.com. Troy has coached hundreds of students to more effectively manage their professional careers. His research interests include mentoring, career development, work-life balance, and leadership.

 

Troy R. Nielson, Ph.D.

School of Business

Utah Valley State College

800 West University Parkway, MS 119

Orem, Utah 84058-5999

nielsotr@uvsc.edu

801.863.8235 (office) n 801.863.7218 (fax)

Career Trek is a practically-oriented textbook that speaks to students about the importance of finding career paths that match student passion and skills.  The text takes students beyond their Bachelor’s degree showing them how to leverage that degree and achieve successful careers.  Unlike most career texts that address only landing a job, Career Trek offers three chapters that help students to shine in their first year of employment and deal with challenging career issues while developing professionally.  Also unique is the chapter on graduate programs and entrepreneurial career paths.

 

Nielson writes in an informal, engaging style that will capture students’ interest and maintain it as they pursue their career.  He employs Jon Krakauer’s account of ascending Mount Everest in Into Thin Air as the theme for Career Trek helping students to understand the challenges and thrills of their career journey.

 

Exciting features include:

  • Trek Tasks — hands-on exercises found in each chapter to help students along the journey
  • Treklists — chapter ending summaries provide essential take away points
  • Reaching the Summit — an entire section devoted to key issues after obtaining the job

For instructors and students alike, we encourage you to visit our Student Success Supersite.  This valuable resource is at www.prenhall.com/success.

View a Sample Chapter PDF: /samplechapter/013119304X.pdf

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