1. Section 2.1 Decision Making
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2. The seven steps of the decision-making process
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
The seven steps of the decision-making process
How to use the decision-making process to choose a suitable career

3. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Using a consistent and thorough decision-making process will enable you to make sound decisions throughout your life.

4. decision-making process
KEY TERM
decision-making process

5. A Seven-Step Process
A decision-making process is a logical series of steps used to identify and evaluate possibilities and arrive at a good choice.

6. Using the Decision-Making Process to Choose a Career
Step 1
Define your needs.
Step 2
Analyze your personal resources.
continued

7. Using the Decision-Making Process to Choose a Career
Step 3
Identify your career choices.
Step 4
Research your career choices.
continued

8. Using the Decision-Making Process to Choose a Career
Step 5
Evaluate your career choices.
Step 6
Make your decision.
continued

9. Using the Decision-Making Process to Choose a Career
Step 7
Plan how to reach your goal.

10. Step 1: Define Your Needs
Consider your hopes and dreams for the future.
Where do you want to live?
Do you want a job that allows you to travel?
Do you hope to marry and have children?

11. Step 2: Analyze Your Personal Resources
Your personal resources are who you are and what you have to offer.
continued

12. Step 2: Analyze Your Personal Resources
Your resources include your
values,
interests,
aptitudes and abilities, and
personality traits and styles of learning.

13. Step 3: Identify Your Career Choices
Select several possible careers that match your personal goals and resources.
Keep your eyes and ears open to discover “what’s out there.”

14. Step 4: Research Your Career Choices
Find out all you can about the careers you identified in Step 3.

15. Step 5: Evaluate Your Career Choices
Look at your career choices in detail to see if they match your personal goals and resources.

16. Step 6: Make Your Decision
It is important to make a decision and have a plan, even if you later change your career goal.
continued

17. Step 6: Make Your Decision
If you discover that your career goal is unrealistic or undesirable, you can repeat the decision-making process to arrive at a new goal.
continued

18. Step 7: Plan How to Reach Your Goal
Once you’ve reached your career decision, you can begin to plan how to reach your goal.

19. Using the Decision-Making Process to Choose a Career
Graphic Organizer
2.1
Using the Decision-Making Process to Choose a Career
Step 1: Define your needs.
Step 2: Analyze your personal resources.
Step 3: Identify your career choices.
Step 4: Research your career choices.
Step 5: Evaluate your career choices.
Step 6: Make your decision.
Step 7: Plan how to reach your goals.
Chapter 2 • Getting to Know Yourself
Succeeding in the World of Work

20. Key Concept Checkpoint
SECTION 2.1 REVIEW
Key Concept Checkpoint
Comprehension
Imagine that you’ve won a $1,000 gift certificate for audio/video equipment. Explain how you would use the seven steps in the decision-making process to decide what to buy.
continued

21. Key Concept Checkpoint
SECTION 2.1 REVIEW
Key Concept Checkpoint
Comprehension
Explain the importance of having a strategy for choosing a career.
continued

22. Key Concept Checkpoint
SECTION 2.1 REVIEW
Key Concept Checkpoint
Critical Thinking
Why might you use the decision-making process many times before finding the right career?

23. End of Section 2.1 Decision Making
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