Manufacturing Engineering Career Exploration and Employer Expectations - Part 2 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 1.

Bell Work Activity Directions: Please take out a sheet of paper and answer the following questions. 1. Looking forward, what type of work would you like to be doing 5 years from now? 2. On a scale of (not comfortable) 1 – 10 (very comfortable) how comfortable are you at talking to people you don’t know? 3. Do you find it easy or difficult to complete your school work on time? Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 2

a. There are several important terms and definitions students need to know. b. Students will now complete the Matching Definitions handout on Career Exploration. Students may work in groups. Warm-up Activity Career Exploration Terms Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 3

Exploring Postsecondary Education  Postsecondary Education involves additional coursework after high school graduation.  Coursework normally results in specialized certificates, diplomas or academic degrees. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 4

Exploring Postsecondary Education (con’t.) During the process students will gain knowledge and skills needed to become experts in their field. For example: Supply Chain Managers  Knowledge:  Customer and Personal Service  Economics and Accounting  Skills:  Critical Thinking  Systems Analysis Sales Representatives  Knowledge:  Sales and Marketing  Customer and Personal Service  Skills:  Persuasion  Social Perceptiveness  Negotiation Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 5

Career Development  Today’s job market is extremely competitive. You must intentionally do things to set yourself apart and show that you are a good fit for an organization.  To get your career off to a good start, it is important to develop and demonstrate:  A positive attitude and strong skill set  Integrity and self discipline  Problem solving skills and flexibility  Strong communication skills Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 6

Personal Career Goals  Why do you want to work? How will the job and financial rewards benefit you? What kind of lifestyle and job would you like to have 1, 3, or 5 years from now?  It’s important to maintain an understanding of how your career is progressing.  What is one of the best ways to track how well you are doing in your career? by creating and accomplishing your goals. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 7

Personal Career Goals (con’t.)  Goals must be meaningful to you; as an individual, you must want the outcome of your efforts. It may be a raise, a promotion, recognition or the competition of the process.  Use the “SMART” formula when creating goals:  Specific Measurable Achievable Results-focused Time-bound Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 8

Communicate to Clarify Objectives  Establishing positive relationships in the workplace should be one of our primary goals as we enter the workforce.  By developing strong communications skills, we will be able to communicate more effectively and gain the support of our co-workers. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 9

Effective Time Management Skills  Success in your career will depend on how well you manage your time. Everyone has 24 hours in their day, but not everyone manages their hours effectively.  It is important to learn to prioritize your work by how important it is. You must also set goals for the day, week, month, quarter, etc. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 10

Rewarding Team Performance  Individuals and teams will often perform at their best when morale and motivation levels are high.  Every organization strives to create exceptional employee performance. It is important for managers to find ways to connect with employees and make them feel a part of the process. Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. 11