Guidebook

Introduction

Dear Young Professionals,

Whether you are exploring your career options or have settled on your career path, connecting with experienced professionals can help jumpstart a successful professional career. We have been counseled to “prepare every needful thing.” Do you have a desire to build a career that is goal-oriented, financially rewarding, and engaging? If so, then the Young Professionals Career Engagement Program may be just what you are looking for.

To assist you in preparing for your career and finding suitable employment, we have prepared this Career Coaching Guidebook. This guidebook will serve as a resource to help you identify an interesting and rewarding profession, secure a position within the applicable industry, and maximize your career potential. Start by reviewing those sections of the guidebook most applicable to you.

The objective of the Young Professionals Career Engagement Program is to provide you with an opportunity to connect with and learn from professionals in your chosen career field of choice. These professionals will share their career experiences and knowledge with you in order to help prepare you to enter the workforce as a confident, committed, and ethical professional.

The Issue: The changing economic environment is clearly challenging. Young professionals often struggle with the transition from their formal education years to a substantive career. Young professionals may do well in school but, oftentimes, have difficulty connecting with professionals in their chosen career field of interest. This disconnect can lead the young professional to not realize his or her full career goals and earning potential. He or she may also put off critical life decisions, such as serious dating or marriage because of concerns about supporting a family.

Unemployment and underemployment rates among young graduates are improving but remain substantially higher than before the recession began.*

Designed With You in Mind: The Young Professionals Career Engagement Program has been designed for young professionals who are members or friends of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Application: To register for the Young Professionals Career Engagement Program, please visit this page.

The Young Professionals Career Engagement Program is divided into two sub-programs. Please consider which of these programs you would like to participate in:

Introduction to a Professional Program – open to all individuals ages 16-35 that have an interest in pursuing an education or a career in a chosen field or vocation. This program utilizes a network of successful professionals organized into the Young Professionals Career Coaching Network. These professionals are willing to provide the young adult with an introduction to that profession and summarize the education and skills required for him or her to be successful in that profession.

Young Professionals Career Coaching Program – a formal coaching relationship utilizing the assistance of volunteer Career Coaches who are experienced professionals working in a variety of professional and vocational occupations. The young adult is paired with a Career Coach who are members of our coaching network and are leaders in their career field of interest. The purpose of this program is to (1) teach young adults job search skills in group and one-on-one settings (2) prepare them for job or informational interviews and (3) connect them with professionals in their career field of interest.

We thank all those that have been instrumental in developing this program and our volunteer career coaches. Your commitment to “giving back” to your profession and to assisting young professionals in maximizing their career potential is sincerely appreciated.