Chapter 5 CAREERS AND EDUCATION

Learning Objectives  Explain the process for choosing a career path  Identify different sources of information for researching careers  Discuss how one can gain the skills needed for a career choice  Describe the process of applying for a job

Objective 1: Explain the process for choosing a career path

Determining a Career Path  Best way to start the process = identify your areas of interest  Make a list of things you enjoy doing  Then, try to identify various careers that involve those activities/interests  You can also take a personality test (Mrs. Willeford)  Then you screen your choices:  Level of education  Skills needed  Job availability

Where jobs are being created at the fastest rate for 2010 – 2020***

Education and Skill Requirements Education is a good investment Requires more cost now, but will pay off in years to come Higher levels of education means lower rates of unemployment

More info  Know for test: Restaurant and food services, lodging, travel, recreation and amusement careers are all part of the HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM career cluster  Compensation = what a job will pay you  You will need a minimum level of income to cover expenses  You need to build your net worth  A job that doesn’t pay well may not allow you to cover expenses and increase net worth  Test: Office and administrative support is predicted to have the greatest growth in jobs between 2010 and 2020

Objective 2: Identify the sources of information for researching careers

Sources  The internet (best source of up-to-date information)     Provide you with career options, compensation, skill set needed  (good for salary data)  List most frequently available jobs and number of applicants

Other Sources  Books – can give you overview of careers  Field trips and speakers – can provide information on different jobs  Job experience – you’ll learn what you do/do not enjoy in a job  Internship (unpaid position) – temporary, short-term position designed to provided exposure to training in a particular job – make copies, delivering documents  Contacts – visit with someone you know to learn first-hand what they do for a living

Objective 3: Discuss how one can gain the skills needed for a career choice

Skills You Need  Once you know what careers interest you, investigate the training and education you’ll need  For some careers, you’ll need specific, specialized training  Requirements vary widely by profession  You may need a certificate or a license  Certification – official document stating a person has met a standard for training or knowledge (Ex. Licensed Practical Nursing –LPN- work directly under Registered Nurses –RNs-  *Be cautious about any job training Web site that offers you certification for a price  Some give formal training while working  On the job training or APPRENTICESHIPS (common for skilled trades like plumbing and electrical contracting)

Apprenticeship v. Internship Apprenticeship  Longer term  Formalized program  Provides on the job training in a certain occupation/skill ***For test: Architecture and engineering had the highest median annual wages in 2006 Internship  Temporary position  Provides a person with exposure to a job  Gives limited experience for a job

Education  Colleges/universities provide training in the form of education leading to a degree  Many companies hire successful college graduates of any major since graduating shows ability to stick to a task  Some jobs require that your degree is from an accredited or certified program  Accreditation is an official recognition that a school program meets a certain standard  Example: nursing, automotive or mechanical

Expanding Your Education  Graduate degrees (master’s, law, doctoral) provide you with additional specialized knowledge and skills that should qualify you for a better job  Costs more money (tuition, fees, books)  Look at your opportunity cost  What are you giving up in order to go back to school full time?  Doctoral degree – if you hope to teach at the college level

Objective 4: Describe the Process of Applying for a Job

Applying for a Job  Most jobs require you to fill out a job application  Has your work history  That employer may contact a previous employer  You’ll have to turn in a resume  Provides a snapshot of your qualifications  Personal background information  Education, previous work history  Skills (computer training, language ability)  If you have limited work history, emphasize your skills rather than experience

Cover Letter  The more education and training required for a job, the more information required during a job application  Professional jobs require: cover letter, resume, and multiple interviews  Interviews can be several days and require you to travel out of state  Start off, “Dear Mr./Mrs. So-and-so” and not with “Hello!” or “Hey!”