SAMPLE REFLECTIONS: CAREER RESEARCH

Sample 1

NAME

Graduation Project

DATE

Career Research Reflection

For years I have had the goal of being a veterinarian. In order to achieve that goal, I have

been researching the qualities of the job. One way that I have researched this job is through

electronic research. I used the site called Bureau of Labor Statistic (www.bls.gov) to research

my career. By learning more about the job, I will be more informed and more prepared to enter

the work field.

The veterinary field is one that is expected to grow in the next decade. Although this

field is expanding, veterinary science is very competitive as many people will enter the field. The

veterinarian field is expected to grow 33% from 2008-2018, according the US government’s

official statistics on the website www.bls.gov. In addition, demand for farm animal vets will be

exceptionally high because rural areas which require vet assistance don’t have enough

veterinarians in close proximity. For this job, I will need more than six years of education. The

very long schooling is due to the fact that students have to learn every animal’s body, unlike a

doctor who learns just the human body. Choosing the right college is important to get a

veterinarian job upon college graduation. My plan is to attend either Cornell or Ohio State which

are two schools that are extremely selective in their admissions. To get into a good college

program and then to advance in this career, students should have a lot of prior experience with

animals and veterinary medicine. Students also have to work really hard to keep a high GPA

during all levels of college. As a veterinarian, the average income is $79,050. This is a very

substantial wage that could provide me with the essentials that I need to live. As long as I plan

ahead and stay on track, I should achieve my goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Completing this research was extremely useful to me. Reading about the different

qualities included in the job showed me what parts of the job would challenge me. In contrast I

also learned the facets of the job in which I would excel. The Bureau of Labor Statistic

(www.bls.gov) site helped me learn even more about my career and what it will take to get there.

The more informed I am, the easier it will be to succeed in my job.

Sample 2

NAME

Graduation Project

DATE

Career Research Reflection

Thinking you will enjoy a career field is one thing; knowing you can make a living from

that field is another. To help confirm my career choice as a registered nurse, I did extra research

about nursing in general. The website that I found very helpful was an official government site

called the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). From this website, I learned all about a

registered nurses job in general, the education needed, average wage, and much more

information that was important to know about Registered Nurses.

There are numerous facts to know about RNs. I learned that registered nurses have

several different responsibilities. They treat patients, educate their patients of their medical

condition, provide emotional support to patient’s family, record patient’s medical history, assist

in diagnostic testing, and teach their patients how to deal/cope with their illness. The education

that is needed to become a RN includes a bachelor’s of science degree in nursing (BSN), an

associate degree in nursing (AND), and a diploma. The average wage for a RN is 64,690 dollars

per year. Registered nurses' jobs are expected to increase twenty-two percent by 2018, which is

an advantage. There are also ways for advancement. Most RNs begin as a staff nurse. The site

explains that you can advance through experience and good performance, which often means you

will move to another setting or are promoted to higher positions with more responsibilities. Some

areas that have the best demand, both job and money wise, include Alaska, California, and

Nevada. Some related fields that I might consider include dental hygienists, diagnostic medical

sonographs, and physician assistants. A professional organization that I might be interested in

joining some day is the ANA (American Nurse Association).

In conclusion, I learned several new facts from the official government website called the

Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), about registered nurses. From my research, I now feel

confident that I have reliable information that confirmed my career choice. My next step is to

research more and to do a project related to nursing. I am at last sure that the nursing field is

ideal for me.