CAPS 495



Searching for the FutureAnthony JohnsonCAPS 495- Senior CapstoneMay 4, 2014Susane GruningSouthwestern College Professional Studies AbstractApplying a skillset learned in a college program to the workforce requires a complex understanding of both the specifications of the degree, and the applicability of the degree to the current job market. This paper will explore in general career paths that are in line with a degree in Strategic Leadership, and specifically the pros and cons of a career in School Administration. Understanding the requirements of the profession will allow for a better understanding of how to approach it as a possible career path.Searching for the FutureThe main purpose that drove me to go back to school and finish my degree was to improve my chances of surviving in the job market. To be successful in today’s turbulent economy, you need a marketable skill that will translate well, and improve the odds of being hired. I currently work in Information Technology and could have easily completed a degree that would of improved on my knowledge of that field. But what happens if the IT job market dries up? What do I have to fall back on? This is why I chose to major in Strategic Leadership, as the skillsets are applicable in a wide variety of jobs. Thus, improving my prospects in the job market. However, how do I figure out what job is the best fit for me? Finding the right career path for the degree that I have completed is important for the aforementioned reasons, but it is not as easy as one might imagine. Strategic Leadership is applicable in a wide variety of fields, but, as I work in IT, it would be easy for me to just assume that IT is where I should remain after completing my career path. However, this could limit my prospects. To ensure that I was aware of all possible applications of my degree, I fully researched what jobs are available for someone with my qualifications, I analyzed and assessed where I would like to go and what I could bring to the job market, and I decided on one career and researched how I can enter and thrive in it. The career that I chose, School Administration, is far from where I thought I would end up, but it is the best possible place for me. This paper will go through the entire process of selecting this career and demonstrate that becoming a Principal is the best way that I can utilize my Strategic Leadership degree and serve my passions.Seeking the PathFinding the right career path for someone with a degree in Strategic Leadership is not the easiest task. As opposed to a degree within a specific discipline (e.g. Accounting), Strategic Leadership is a discipline that teaches and transfers a large set of overriding skills in managing people, projects, and organizations CITATION Alb06 \l 1033 (Albrecht, 2006). This large amount of soft skills is useful for a purposeful application in a day-to-day setting, but they are hard to immediately quantify in a job search. So, my initial foray into research for careers was fraught with a lack of results. However, realizing that a degree in Leadership has many similarities with a Management degree, I was able to search for jobs that are in line with what I have learned over my time at Southwestern.Keeping bias out of my research was also a problem, as mentioned before. The IT market is large, and pays well, but it does not take full advantage of my talents and education in the Leadership discipline. Researching Management and Leadership positions allowed me to see roles that would make better use of what I have spent the last two years working on: leadership.Debating the OptionsResearching possible careers was easy after narrowing down the overall parameters, narrowing the focus. I looked at everything from a career in the Ministry to furthering my Military career. Leadership has a wide applicability to many things. But I determined that my passion lies in leading people, and I need to be exposed to an environment where I can do that as soon as possible from landing on the ground of the job. School Administration is the career path that stood out as the most acceptable fit for my education, experience, and passion. While there were several good contenders for possible career paths, this was not one that would have originally appealed to me, but it is the one that is most in line with my overall goals.Leading from InsideChoosing a job as a school administrator took me by surprise, as this is not a path that I would of considered in any medium. My initial impressions were that the career field would be filled with bureaucracy, low pay, and few opportunities for advancement. However, I have learned that there is an appetite for qualified applicants in the school system, with clear lines of advancement that pay competitively CITATION Dep14 \l 1033 (Department of Labor, 2014).The main hurdle for me to joining the field of school administration is that I do not posses a degree in Education. Many school administrators join the field straight out of the classroom, promoting from within CITATION Dep14 \l 1033 (Department of Labor, 2014). However, my degree teaches many of the same skills that are looked at in a successful administrator, and would directly transfer over into the career field. Critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills are all things that are valued as an administrator and are things that I can immediately provide to the career field CITATION Mor11 \l 1033 (Moran, Harris, & Moran, 2011). My degree plan has provided me with a wide range of skills that are directly tied into the outcomes that are expected as an administrator. Understanding how to motivate people CITATION Kei98 \l 1033 (Keirsey, 1998) is a critical component of what is expected in school leadership positions.There are clear paths of advancement in the world of school administration that would provide me a clear career path and ability to move up in the ranks. Due to my experience in front line leadership in the military; coupled with my degree, I would be qualified for a position as an Assistant Principal or comparable mid tier management position CITATION Dep14 \l 1033 (Department of Labor, 2014). There are certification requirements that vary by state. Understanding the individual requirements of the position that I am applying for will help me be in the best possible position for that job. However, I will be cognizant of the fact that more education will undoubtedly be required.If hired in a mid-tier position, appropriate experience will prepare me to move into the role of Principal, or eventually, Superintendent. While pay is dependent on the individual position and area, it is normally higher than that of a teacher of comparable small-government mid-tier management position (Alexson). It will also be higher if the employer is a private school, as they typically pay more than their public school counterparts. However, these positions are often more competitive CITATION Dep14 \l 1033 (Department of Labor, 2014). The higher the position, the more responsibility that comes with it. The increase in standardized testing is important to note, as the results of the testing are often used to determine the overall performance of the leadership team of the school CITATION Pfe09 \l 1033 (Pfeffer, 2009). Poor performance can lead to the firing of all those that are in the chain of command for that particular school (Lynch, 2012). As a leader in the school, the ultimate responsibility for what happens in it would lie with me. This is a responsibility that my time at Southwestern, and my military experience have prepared me for.ConclusionStrategic Leadership is a degree plan that offers a wide arrange of skills, instead of a specific discipline. While this may seem to be limiting at first, being able to have a more general skillset to pull from is a vital attribute that helps when the job market is at low ebb. Different industries will come and go, so having knowledge that makes it easier to assimilate in a wide swath of career fields is a vital skill that has been provided to me from Southwestern. I have the luxury of choice, which is not something that all degrees afford. I researched several different options in my selection of an appropriate career field. But the only one that appealed to me and made the best use of my education and skillset is School Administration. I want to be able to influence and lead from my first day at the job, and this position would provide the opportunity CITATION Dav13 \l 1033 (David, 2013). There are clear lines of advancement that will allow me the opportunity to advance as high as I can reach. While the pay for this career may not be as high as other options I have available, money is not my end all, be all. Properly utilizing the knowledge that Southwestern College has imparted on me requires a commitment on my end to seek out positions that will let me lead. Becoming a leader in the school is the place for me to do that.References BIBLIOGRAPHY Albrecht, K. (2006). Social intelligence. San Fransico, CA: Jossey-Bass.Alexson, A. (n.d). Leadership and school success: The behaviors and practices of a principal inan effective urban high school. (2008), p. n/aDavid, F. R. (2013). Strategic management: A competitive advantage approach (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Department of Labor. (2014). Elementary, Middle, and High School Principals. Occupational Outlook Handbook .Keirsey, D. (1998). Please Understand Me II. Del Mar, CA: Prometheus Nemesis Book Company.Lynch, J. M. (2012). Responsibilities of Today's Principal: Implications for Principal PreparationPrograms and Principal certification policies. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 31(2),40-47.Moran, R. T., Harris, P. R., & Moran, S. V. (2011). Managing cultural differences (8th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.Pfeffer, J. (2009, 07 23). Low grades for performance reviews. Retrieved from Bloomberg Buisnessweek: ................
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