Career Management

PC 102 Professional Skills | Gathering Agenda for Week 02

Gathering Purpose

To help students take a more active part in shaping their careers, no matter if they are at the beginning, middle or end of them, and no matter if they involve paid or unpaid work.

Preparation

Watch the BYU-Idaho Devotional and be prepared to lead a short discussion about it.
A guest speaker is encouraged at this gathering. People who are local and understand the regional economy can be especially effective. See the section titled “Career Exploration” below. Invite your missionary or a special guest to share their career experiences as it relates to the unexpected twists and turns that often accompany careers and how they were able to take advantage of these opportunities.
For face-to-face Gatherings, arrive early to setup the room, prepare any visual aids, bring blank pieces of paper and pens/pencils, and greet students as they arrive
For virtual Gatherings, start the meeting early, share your screen with a message welcoming them to the gathering and letting them know you’ll start soon.

When the Gathering Agenda asks that students meet in small groups, use Breakout Rooms
When the Gathering Agenda asks you to display things on “the board,” you can use the whiteboard .

Welcome and Devotional - 10 minutes

Welcome

Welcome, announcements, and housekeeping

Devotional

Please sing one or two verses of a hymn. If you meet with a virtual gathering, the lead student or another student should be invited to share a brief spiritual thought. A volunteer will then give an opening prayer.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide Devotional

Look up the questions in advance so you are ready.

Students were asked to watch the BYU-Pathway Worldwide devotional this week at http://byupathway.org/devotionals. They should have done this prior to the gathering. As a class, discuss the devotional according to the information provided on the website.

Academic Honesty - 10 minutes

Review and Discuss

Review the “Academic Honesty” section of this document before class.

This short discussion is repeated from PC 101 on purpose because it is so important. Remind the class of what “academic honesty” means. Discuss the answers to these questions:

What is academic honesty and why is it important?
If you are learning English, is it OK to use Google Translate to translate your writing assignments into English before you turn them in? Why not?
Why is it important to submit your own work and not the work of someone else?
In a “Western” university, it is important to give the source when you are using the words or ideas of someone else. Why do you think that is important?
What are the blessings of being honest in all things?

Career Exploration - 15 minutes

Introduction

Read the following statement:

"People often mistakenly believe that they will be able to define exactly what career will be the most fulfilling and that they will be able to plan every step along the way. While choice and hard work are key to shaping your future, your career will be shaped by many unexpected events. There will be twists and turns, disappointment, failure, and even some backtracking. This lesson is called Career Exploration because that’s what you’re doing – exploring your career. Just like any explorer, you don't know where all the twists and turns are or know exactly how to direct yourself."

Draw or display the following diagram on the board and explain how it represents careers and success.

Two arrows incline upward. One is straight, the other twists and turns in the middle.

Then show the second diagram from the course. This diagram explains that even though we may feel like we are wandering, when we take advantage of opportunities and act on promptings, we can see that over time there is direction as our career or calling becomes more obvious.

Two lines converge to a dot labeled "My Calling." An arrow within the two lines twists and turns on it's way to the dot.

Introduce your guest and explain that they will discuss how their career has developed. Everyone will be able to ask questions and discuss their thoughts afterwards.

Ask class members to be thinking of questions they have for your guest, and/or things they’d like to share during the class discussion.

Special Guest

Give your missionary or special guest time to share their career story.

Career Exploration - 15 minutes

Class Discussion

Everyone in the group is invited to answer any of these questions as they can. Include your guest in the discussion as well. Think of the guest as a member of the gathering group but someone with added experience and expertise.

Encourage class participation and help guide the discussion by asking follow-up questions or redirecting to keep class members on topic.

Be mindful of students who may not be participating and try to include them.

Consider the following questions. You may not have time to discuss them all.

What setbacks or changes have you experienced in your careers?
In what ways did those experiences provide new opportunities you would not have previously considered?
How do you look for and take advantage of career opportunities?
Did you ever miss an opportunity because you didn’t have the right skills or education?
How have you seen God shaping your career?
If you could have any job you wanted today what would it be? Why? What steps could you take now to make that happen?
What certificate did you choose to start next semester? Why?
Where do you see yourself 5, 10, 15 years from now?
If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would you say?

Optional: Scripture Activity about Joseph in Egypt - 20 minutes

Story Review

Do this activity if you have more time in your gathering. Otherwise, you can skip it.

Summarize the story of Joseph found in Genesis Chapters 39-41. Have the class break up into groups to discuss how Joseph was a good example of the principles from this week’s lesson.

Group 1: God Will Help Shape Your Career: How did God help shape Joseph’s career? How might Joseph have felt his career was going after being sold as a slave, or being thrown in prison? What scriptures did you find that prove this?
Group 2: Develop Resources and Contacts: How did Joseph develop resources and contacts? See Gen 40:1-8.
Group 3: Job Crafting: What skills did Joseph use to improve his employment? See Gen 39:1-6, 21-23; Gen 41: 25-36. How did Joseph use these skills to craft his career even though he started out as a slave and prisoner?
Group 4: Be a Good Employee: How did Joseph demonstrate that he was a good employee? What scriptures did you find that prove this?

Class Discussion

Bring the class back together and have each group share how Joseph was a good example of their principle.

Testimony and Prayer

Bear a 30-90 second testimony and end with a prayer by invitation.