CAREER EXPLORATION Sophomore Class May 2015

WHY INVESTIGATE CAREERS?  You spend more than a ¼ of your life at work.  This choice should be made considering MANY things. A few are:  Your Personality  Your Interests  Your Skills  Your Values

CAREER VOCABULARY  Job Outlook means the prospect of a future job. It may refer to an individual’s chance of getting a job for the future of a certain career.  Employment Growth refers to the number of jobs available in the future.  Benefits refer to “perks” you receive beyond your salary. Benefits may include health, vision, dental and/or life insurance as well as paid vacation and sick leave, gym memberships, company discounts, etc.  Retirement/Pension Fund is money you and/or your employer contribute to on a regular basis for your retirement years. You will be able to access this money once you reach retirement age. These funds replace your paychecks.

CALIFORNIA: ECONOMY BY THE NUMBERS  California is a national leader in job creation with 273,100 new jobs created in the last year and 756,900 new jobs created since the recovery began in February  California’s job growth rate of 1.9% is outpacing the national average which means we are adding more jobs at a faster rate. And the state’s unemployment rate is at 9.0 percent – the lowest rate in four years.  California has the highest number of ‘green jobs’ in the US with over 318,000 people employed in high paying green and clean-tech positions.  3.5 million California small businesses account for 99% of the state’s employers and employs 52% of the workforce.  California has more Fortune 500 companies than any other state, 53 total.

DOES EDUCATION PAY?

WHAT ARE THE DEGREES? SHOULD BE A REMINDER  College Certificate: Six months to two –years of study at a post secondary college/technical school in an occupation/trade area.  Associate Degree: Usually a two year course of studies which include general education classes as well as one of they types of majors: 1) vocational, occupation or trade studies or 2) academic transfer studies (that prepares students for transfer directly to four year colleges.)  Bachelors Degree: Usually a four-year course of studies which includes general education classes as well as specialization in a subject area (major).  Masters Degree: Normally, two additional years of studies beyond the bachelor degree specializing in a subject area (or major)  Professional Degree: One to three years of studies beyond the bachelor or master degree depending upon the subject area.  Doctorate degree: Normally, two additional years beyond Masters.

QUICK CHECK  How much more per week did a high school graduate earn than someone who didn’t finish?  How much is this per year?  How much more per week did a person who has a college certificate earn than a high school graduate?  How much is this per year?  What would you do with this extra money?  Do you think it is worth your time and effort to go to college?  Give a reason for your answer.

MOST JOB OPENINGS TO 2020  For High School Dropouts:  Retail Sales  Cashiers  Waiters & waitresses  Janitors  Stock Clerks  Cooks, Restaurants  Hosts & Hostesses, Restaurants  Food Prep Workers  Dishwashers  Agricultural Workers

MOST JOB OPENINGS TO 2020  For High School Graduates:  Office Clerks  Childcare Workers  Carpenters  Electricians  Medical Assistances  Plumbers  Truck Drivers  Customer Service Reps  Sales Reps (not technical or scientific)

MOST JOB OPENINGS TO 2020  College Certificate or Associate Degree:  Registered Nurses  General Managers  Dental Assistants  Firefighters  Medical Records  Cosmetology & Skin Care  Actors  Commercial Pilots  Private Detectives

MOST JOB OPENINGS TO 2020  Bachelor Degree:  Teachers  Accountants & Auditors  Computer Systems Analysts  Human Resource Specialists  Network & Computer Systems Administrators  Financial Managers  Graphic Designers  Engineers  Chemists  Interior Designers

MOST JOB OPENINGS TO 2020  Master, Doctorate or Professional:  College Professors  Lawyers  Pharmacists  Physicians & Surgeons  Physical Therapists  Education Administrators  Mental Health Counselors  Dentists  Veterinarians  Statisticians

What’s Next?  Over the next few weeks we will be looking at careers that are of interest you.  This will help you consider paths for after high school.  Stay tuned……………