Career Development in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism: A Positioning Approach outlines a step-by-step plan for career development based on the technique of positioning. In contrast to traditional job search methods, the positioning approach shows you how to increase your chances of securing your preferred job by placing yourself close to the person with whom you want to work, the place or organization where you want to work, or the position that fulfills your career goals. Using the positioning approach, author Robert B. Kauffman has guided students through internship into the profession and beyond. Based on contemporary research and literature, Career Development in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism: A Positioning Approach prepares students for the next step in their preprofessional and professional careers. This resource offers expert advice and tested techniques to help students do the following: Decide on the job they want and begin to proactively seek out opportunities in that area. Determine the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences (KSAEs) required to get the job they want and start developing those KSAEs. Use professional networking to meet people in the field and advance their career goals. Gather information on the field, the organizations they want to work for, and the positions they're interested in so they can better show where they fit in the organizations and why they should be hired. Engage in one-on-one interviews with the people in charge of hiring at the target organizations. Prepare for interviews and develop the tools they'll need during the job search, including resumes, cover letters, portfolios, and business cards. The book includes individual and group exercises to help students better understand each step in the positioning approach, as well as sample resumes, letters, and e-mails. It also features stories from students and professionals who describe how they used the positioning approach to reach their career goals. Throughout the text, the author provides examples, tools, and tips from his years of experience helping students use the positioning strategy. He also offers techniques for succeeding in more traditional job searches, including preparing for the formal job interview. Jump-start your current career or learn how your coursework and field experiences can open doors to your career goals. Whether you're just beginning a course of study or just entering the profession, Career Development in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism: A Positioning Approach will help you develop the skills and tools to get the job you want.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 The New Paradigm Discovering the Positioning Model Positioning and the Seven-Step Sales Model Positioning in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Nine Steps to Positioning Yourself Case Study: Sally Herr Paradigm Shift Putting It All Together References Exercise 1.1: Comparing Your Resume With Sally Herr's Exercise 1.2: Surveying Your Hidden Jobs Exercise 1.3: Determining Your Hidden Jobs Chapter 2 Proximity Is Everything . . . Well, Almost Everything Where do I want to work? Seeking Proximity in Your Job Search Determining Your Career Goal or Where You Want to Work Putting It All Together Exercise 2.1: Analyzing Sally Herr's Career Path Exercise 2.2: The Blank Resume Exercise 2.3: Which Student Example Is Closest to Your Story? Exercise 2.4: The Five Ws and Developing Your Career Goal Exercise 2.5: Finding a Job Announcement on the Internet Exercise 2.6: My Favorite Job Exercise 2.7: My Least Favorite Job Exercise 2.8: Analyzing Your Resume Exercise 2.9: The Blank Resume—Part II Chapter 3 Being Proactive, not Reactive Do I actively seek the job I want, or do I wait for it to come to me? Benefits of a Proactive Attitude Assessing How Proactive You Are Proactive Career Development Traits Putting It All Together References Exercise 3.1: Proactive Career Development Instrument Exercise 3.2: Proactive Job Search Exercise 3.3: Proactive Job Search Skills Chapter 4 Think Evaluation Why should they hire me? Starting With the Evaluation Instrument Determining Your KSAEs From Job Announcements Think Evaluation as Part of the Traditional Job Search Process Putting It All Together Exercise 4.1: Evaluating Sally Herr's Resume Exercise 4.2: The Hiring Unit Exercise 4.3: Determining Your KSAEs Chapter 5 Bridging Am I prepared for the job I seek? Understanding Bridging Academic Preparation Professional Development Continuing Education Volunteer Activities Acquiring Your KSAEs Putting It All Together Exercise 5.1: Your Plan to Obtain the KSAEs You Need Exercise 5.2: The Blank Resume Exercise 5.3: A Comparative Analysis of Your KSAEs Exercise 5.4: Now that You Know What to Do, What Should You Do? Chapter 6 Professional Networking How do I meet the person who will hire me? Professional Networking Avoiding Black Holes Developing Your Professional Family Professional Mentoring Putting It All Together References Exercise 6.1: Identifying People Exercise 6.2: Working the Room Exercise 6.3: Networking Costs and Benefits Exercise 6.4: Living Legends Chapter 7 Casing the Joint Do I know everything about the organization and the job I seek? Places to Look Casing the Field Casing the Organization Researching the Position Casing the People Positioning Yourself Putting It All Together Exercise 7.1: Casing the Joint Worksheet Exercise 7.2: Introductory E-Mail Chapter 8 The One-on-One Interview Who within the organization can hire me? The Seven-Step Sales Model and Positioning The Seven-Step Model and the One-on-One Interview The Individual Job Announcement Dressing for Success Seating Arrangements Starting the Conversation Putting It All Together Exercise 8.1: Seating Arrangements Exercise 8.2: The Good Listener Exercise 8.3: Perfecting Your Greeting and Introduction Exercise 8.4: Writing Your Individualized Job Announcement Chapter 9 The Formal Interview How should I prepare for a traditional interview? Strategies Typical Questions Questions for Recent Graduates Transition Questions Gotcha Questions Three-Doors Questions Inappropriate or Illegal Questions Phone Interviews Following Up Putting It All Together Exercise 9.1: Mock Interview Exercise 9.2: Mock Phone Interview Exercise 9.3: Talking to Your Talking Points Chapter 10 You and Your Resume Does my resume reflect who I am? Design Principles Reverse Chronological and Functional Approaches Parts of Your Resume Your Resume as an Art Form Putting It All Together References Exercise 10.1: Individual Resume Assessment Exercise 10.2: Group Resume Assessment Chapter 11 Portfolios and Business Cards Do I have the job search tools I need to obtain the job I seek? Types of Portfolios Layout Considerations Parts of Your Portfolio Business Cards Putting It All Together Exercise 11.1: Business Cards Chapter 12 Cover Letters and E-Mails Do I have the job search tools I need to obtain the job I seek? Cover Letters E-Mail and Other Electronic Communications Putting It All Together References Exercise 12.1: Writing a Cover Letter Chapter 13 Putting It All Together Exercise 13.1: Applying the Positioning Model