Getting Started with MI!
MI offers media professionals support in identifying career goals, as well as building and marketing portfolios (CVs, Bios, positioning, packaging) in support of personal values and professional goals. We further assist media professionals by identifying and developing market channels (job searches in candidate speak), developing positioning statements and business cases for potential candidacies; and finally by lending intelligence to strategic approaches to job searches, job applications, interviews, negotiations, etc.
Career Pathing Exercise
The following career pathing exercise should precede any job search, and is critical to determine the one or two professional themes/roles, and professional development efforts you want to pursue.
We suggest you make a list of no less than 12 things you'd like to do professionally and personally: i.e., I, XX, am seeking a senior XX role, with an XX type of company. The sentences should reflect your dream job, your wishes, things you'd really like to do in life, and each example should have a subject, a verb/role and an object/market, i.e.:
- I, XX, would like to be the executive director of a small or medium production house, creating X content for X audience.
- I, XX, would like to play a senior consultative role in professional development as it relates to the cultural and broadcast/broadband sectors.
- I, XX, would like to executive produce a Canadian television series showcasing responsible and humane animal caregiving.
- I, XX, would like to coach media professionals and help them build successful careers.
- I, XX, would like to be Governor General of Canada by the time I'm 45.
- I, XX, would like to run a funky specialty shop in rural (or urban) X, providing a casual atmosphere in which community members can get to know each other.
Out of above 12, you will end up with 1-3 related areas of interest/themes you want to pursue (usually your core expertise e.g., short term skills to take to market, and surrounding knowledge/interest areas e.g. longer term pursuits to build towards). The themes don't all have to be media-related, but please, let us know your dreams as well as your reality! The more we know, the better we can help you!
Once you have completed the career pathing exercise, include it in the notes section of this form and submit it to Patricia Scarlett at MI, along with your current CV/Résumé and she'll follow up to address any questions and schedule a career coaching session to help you choose priorities and build your paper and experiential portfolios in support of your goals.
* Please send your CV in word.doc or PDF format, with a maximum file size of 2MB, to ensure easy administration of your portfolio materials.
Sessions book two weeks in advance. It usually takes 1-2 sessions to get an individual on their feet.