2026 Personal Branding and Identity

MY DREAM JOB: Family and Marriage Counselor or Child and Adolescent Therapist/Counselor.

Required Values and Vision and Missions Statements

1. Instructions

Please refer to chapter 4 and write out your values, vision statement, and mission statement.

2. Instructions

CID 356 Personal Branding and Identity

Semester

Chels Lilly

MyFuture My Future of Work Assignment

Final Project and Presentation

Overview

At the 2005 Stanford Commencement, Steve Jobs said in his speech, You cant connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. Whether you agree with this quote or not, connecting the dots (who you are + what you believe + what you do) is critical to moving forward toward a well-designed life by reflecting back. Connecting the dots will lead to coherence and meaning making as you design your personal brand. Right now, your greater purpose may not be clear, but the research, analysis, discussion, and interactive activities youve completed this semester have prepared you to reflect, be present, and look forward…toward the future of work.

From Chapter 3 in the text, Chritton writes, Finding a career based on your passions was a central theme of the speech. Jobs urged the Stanford graduates to find out what they love and not to settle for anything less because they were going to spend such a large part of their lives focused on work. He said that, the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do (Chritton, 48).

Preparing for the future of work and understanding the value of your network will be critical to the success of your personal brand. It will be imperative for you to build your team of contacts, collaborators, and colleagues. Additionally, with your rsum, cover letter, and grasp of career-related tools like Handshake, the future of work will be easier to navigate and improve your results for a positive career outcome and a superior personal brand.

Assignment:

This assignment helps you reflect on what you’ve learned about yourself, your values, and your goals, and use that insight to plan for your future career. It includes a written paper, resume materials, and a short recorded presentation.

PART 1: Written Paper (100 points 15% of your final grade)

Format Requirements

Length: 35 pages (double-spaced)

Font: 11-point

Citation style: Use proper quoting, paraphrasing, and footnoting

Graded on:

o Meeting all assignment components

o Critical thinking and depth of analysis

o Clear structure and organization

o Use of terminology from class

o Grammar, spelling, and punctuation

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PAPER

Component #1: Career Exploration

1. Go to

Take the career assessment and review your results. Focus on:

o Work Interests

o Personality

o Values (connect these to your worldview)

o Skills

The site will suggest occupations and show education/skills required.

Component #2: Deep Dive into a Career Path

2. Pick one occupation from your results that interests you most.

If you already work in a job that interests you, compare it to another option suggested. Ifyoure retired or not working, reflect on what you did (or wanted to do) versus the suggested options.

3. Answer these questions in your analysis:

o What interests you about this job?

o How does this job connect to your worldview, workview, and course themes?

o What tasks, skills, values, education, and work conditions does this job involve?

o How is the job changing due to technology or disruption in the field?

o What new skills or competencies will you need to be successful?

4. Now plan your next steps:

o Whats your target occupation?

o What education do you need? How and when will you get it?

o How will you build connections while getting that education?

o Who might mentor you once youre in the field?

o What networks will you need to join to succeed?

o How will you keep your skills current as the job evolves?

o Where do you want to be in 10 years? What else do you need to reach that goal?

o How will your career fit your personal/family life?

o How will you find a job and work environment that match your values?

o Once employed, how will you improve the workplace for yourself and others?

Component #3: Job Search & Professional Materials

5. Job Descriptions

o a) Find and include your current job/internship description (from , , , , , etc.)

o b) Find and include a job description that matches the career you chose in Component #2

o If theyre the same, note that in your paper.

6. Include the following documents (as separate pages or files):

o Resume (updated)

o Cover Letter (tailored to the career in Component #2)

o Elevator Pitch (short and clearbased on what we practiced in class)

PART 2: 5-Minute Presentation (100 points 5% of your final grade)

Presentation Format

Create a 5-minute recorded presentation using video, audio, or PowerPoint with narration.

Your presentation should include:

Your chosen career and why it interests you

Key insights from your career assessment

How the job fits with your worldview, workview, and future of work concepts

A summary of your 10-year plan

Any unique thoughts, reflections, or takeaways from the course

Presentation will be graded on:

Clear structure and time management

Connections to course themes

Jargon-free, conversational delivery

Use of research and course concepts

Proper attribution of sources (spoken or visually noted)

Recording Tips:

You can record using D2L tools, your phone, Zoom, Loom, or any other method allowed by the university. Make sure the audio is clear.