Five pages paper.

Based upon your assignments and research you have conducted, what new things have you learned, either about yourself or about the occupations you are considering? What surprised you the most? (Approximately 2 pages, double-spaced)

The Personal Career Action Plan is intended to get you to reflect on next steps needed to achieve your career goals. For this final paper, please answer all of the questions below.

 

 

1. What is the job/industry(s) you are currently considering?

 

2. Based upon your assignments and research you have conducted, what new things have you learned, either about yourself or about the occupations you are considering? What surprised you the most? (Approximately 2 pages, double-spaced)

 

3. What gaps in your skills, knowledge, and experiences do you need to develop to successfully secure a position after graduation? Are there specific things you need to work on? (Approximately 2 pages, double-spaced)

 

4. Meeting your career goals requires ongoing planning and effort. List at least 5 “next steps” that you would like to take in the coming year, and how meeting each of them will help you with your career goals.  Be sure that each of the steps are S.M.A.R.T. [Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Specific (with a deadline)].  Select next steps that address some of the gaps listed above, and discuss how they will help you in your career.

Example:

1)      Join the Accounting Association by November 1, 2013

Joining the Accounting Association will help me in my career plan in a variety of ways. I will be able to take advantage of the programming to continue to educate myself on accounting and its potential career paths. My involvement with the organization will add involvement and leadership to my resume, which will make it more attractive to employers, and I will be able to discuss my participation in the Association in interviews. Finally, it will be an additional method of networking for me, since I will be exposed to and work with professionals in the accounting field.

CareerProfile

Assignment: This assignment will give you practice researching potential positions and industries of interest, a large part of which involves learning where to find information that already exists.

A list of resources to help you complete this assignment is available in the Library Resources tab. You will have to use multiple resources to complete the assignment and all information from these resources must be cited. Some of the answers can be cut and pasted from existing resources, but all text must be properly formatted (Arial / black / 10-12pt font size) for readability or points will be deducted.

You must cite your sources where requested. This is a research assignment designed for you to discover new information, so utilizing your own prior knowledge of the subject is not sufficient.

1) Select an Occupation (preferably one of your Top Ten Strong Occupations) That You Are Interested In Researching Further

Response: Restaurant Manager

2) Job Description / Nature of the Work

Response: Restaurant managers ensure that restaurants operate efficiently and profitably while maintaining their reputation and ethos. They must coordinate a variety of activities, whatever the size or type of the outlet. Managers are responsible for the business performance of their restaurant, as well as maintaining high standards of food, service, and health and safety.

Source(s) used: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/restaurant_manager_job_description.htm

3)

Education, Training, and Skills which are needed and/or beneficial

Response: The sector is very open to candidates with a combination of practical experience, strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of business. However, a degree or HND is increasingly required for entry to a formal recruitment scheme. Although your degree/HND subject can certainly help towards gaining a position, relevant practical work experience in a customer service environment is often viewed as being more important than formal qualifications. On the other hand, some employers may prefer to recruit graduates with little or no experience so that they can train and develop them in their own systems and procedures. This job need excellent interpersonal skills, strong written and oral communication skill and team working skills.

Source(s) used: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/restaurant_manager_entry_requirements.htm

4) Working Conditions

Describe the job’s hours, travel, pressure, deadlines, team or individual work, work from home or office, community involvement, etc.

Response: Many restaurant managers work evenings that run into the night. Weekend and public holiday work is common. Shift work, including split shifts, is also common. Overtime may be essential in some positions and it is important to be willing to work until the job is completed, whatever time that may be. Responding to customer complaints, overseeing many activities at once, and the fast pace of work make this varied and possibly stressful role.

Source(s) used: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/restaurant_manager_salary.htm

5) Location of Jobs

Are there particular cities or areas of the country where jobs are more prevalent? Is there an industry hub?

Response: The work is generally indoors in a warm, but sometimes cramped, environment. Many restaurant managers divide their time between the front-of-house area, the office and the kitchen. Managers may be requested to cover at other restaurants. This demands mobility, flexibility and a willingness to travel.

Source(s) used: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/restaurant_manager_salary.htm

6)

Salary Range

Please identify both the national average and the range for the city or cities where you are interested in working.

National Average:
$48,047

Location Specific (city / salary range): Chicago/$50.401

Source(s) used: http://swz.salary.com/SalaryWizard/Restaurant-Manager-Salary-Details-60660.aspx

7)

Number of Jobs Available

How many individuals are employed in this or similar positions?

Response: 60,700 in Nov 2011

Source(s) used: http://joboutlook.gov.au/pages/occupation.aspx?code=1411&search=alpha&Tab=prospects

8) Job Outlook / Projected Future Growth of the Job

Response: Employment for Cafe and Restaurant Managers to 2016-17 is expected to grow moderately. Employment in this very large occupation (60 700 in November 2011) rose moderately in the past five years and rose slightly in the long-term (ten years). Cafe and Restaurant Managers have an above average proportion of full-time jobs (78.6 per cent). For Cafe and Restaurant Managers working full-time, average weekly hours are 48.1 (compared to 41.3 for all occupations) and earnings are below average – in the fourth decile. Unemployment for Cafe and Restaurant Managers is average. The industries employing Cafe and Restaurant Managers have below average employment growth prospects.

Source(s) used: http://joboutlook.gov.au/pages/occupation.aspx?code=1411&search=alpha&Tab=prospects

9)

Identify 5 Potential Employers

Use the following format – company name / website / location / industry

Responses:

1) Joe’s Seafood/ http://www.joes.net/location/chicago/?loc=chicago/ Downtown Chicago/ Restaurant

2) Alinea/ https://content.alinearestaurant.com/html/index.html/ Lincoln Park area of Chicago/ Restaurant

3) The Capital Grille/ https://www.thecapitalgrille.com/About/main.asp / Downtown Chicago/ Restaurant
4) Grace/ http://www.grace-restaurant.com/ The loop, Chicago/ Restaurant
5) La Scarola / http://www.lascarola.com/ Downtown Chicago/ Restaurant

Source(s) used: http://www.tripadvisor.com

10)

Identify 3 Related Professional Organizations

Use the following format – organization name / website (if available)

Responses:

1) National Restaurant Association

2) State Restaurant Associations/http://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/

3) NCCR / http://www.nccr.net/content/about

11) Reflection Questions-

Respond to each of the questions that follow. Answers must be written in complete sentences (no bullet points).

a) How does the occupation that you researched fit (or not!) with your self-assessment?

b) Discuss the pros and cons of pursuing a career in this field.

c) What new information did you learn about the occupation? Were you surprised by any of the information that you found? Why or why not?

d) Does the occupation appeal to you, and is it one that you would consider pursuing? Why or why not?

A)

This occupation 100% fit my self-assessment.

B) But this occupation is not particularly satisfactory to me in terms of salary because it has no room for growth. And this occupation requires long working hours, sometimes manager may meet a great pressure. The most important point is this occupation required the people have a good ability to communicate, but English is not my first language, for me the Restaurant Manager is a challenging occupation.

C) The only new information I found in this research is I misjudged the competitiveness of this occupation, I cannot believe that in this occupation yet there are so many people. Almost people can be qualified this occupation even if you have no experience before.

D) Honestly, I would consider this occupation. Because I like food and beverage industry, I am very happy to see the kind of customer satisfaction for food. Even if this occupation is not so decent, maybe sometimes I feel tired, but I am willing to through own efforts to bring all of our customers happy.