Planning a Career

Adult & Family LivingAdult & Family Living

Unit 1Unit 1

Any business in which you meet the public requires good communication skills and a

knowledge of human psychology, especially in sales.

• Enthusiasm Enthusiasm - excitement about the product/service.• Decisiveness Decisiveness - ability to make all decisions• Determination Determination - able to accomplish objectives• Ethical & Open Ethical & Open - be honest, dependable, trustworthy, truthful, and fair• Willingness to RiskWillingness to Risk – risk losing personal investment, time and other career opportunities

• Finance Finance - understand the income and outflow of money

• Management Management - manage time wisely• Marketing Marketing - develop a business plan,

prepare promotional materials, and sell self as well as product/service

• Accounting Accounting - keep business records• Business lawBusiness law - understand county, state,

and federal laws

Unless the business is large enough to Unless the business is large enough to employ specialists, the small-business employ specialists, the small-business person must be skilled in many areas, person must be skilled in many areas,

including:including:

• MONEYMONEY–Money is a key ingredient to starting-up

and growing a business. Studies show that most businesses earn no profit the first six months and two out of three are closed within three years. Sufficient capital and income are major concerns for the entrepreneur.

• HARD WORKHARD WORK

–Determination to succeed and a willingness to sacrifice will be needed if a new business is to thrive. Unless the entrepreneur has abundant capital, he or she will have long work hours, no vacations, and total responsibility for the success of the business.

Occupational ClustersOccupational Clusters• An occupational cluster is a group of

many jobs that have something in common and require similar skills and abilities. Each cluster is divided into smaller units, or categories. This arrangement helps you in choosing among more that 35,000 job titles in the USA.

• Several cluster arrangements exist. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics used the OOH (The Occupational Outlook Handbook), and the U.S. Department on Labor Employment and Training Administration used the DOT (The Dictionary of Occupational Titles)

The following are OOH clusters and a few jobs The following are OOH clusters and a few jobs within each…within each…

• Construction Trades/Related WorkConstruction Trades/Related Work: Brick/Stone Mason, Carpet Installer, Electrician.

• Farm, Fishing WorkFarm, Fishing Work: Agricultural Scientist, Fish & Game Warden, Fishing Boat Captain.

• Installation/Maintenance WorkInstallation/Maintenance Work: Diesel Mechanic, Heat/AC Mechanic.

• Management/Business/Financial OperationsManagement/Business/Financial Operations: City Manager, Court Clerk, Lawyer, Real Estate Manager.

• Officer & Administrative SupplyOfficer & Administrative Supply: Bank Teller, Bill Collector, Secretaries.

• ProductionProduction: Baker, Welder, Machinist• Sales/Related WorkSales/Related Work: Advertising Agent, Model,

Retail Salesperson.• Service OccupationsService Occupations: Fitness Trainer, Hair Stylist,

Waiter/Waitress.• TransportationTransportation: Air Traffic Controller, Pilot, Truck

Driver.

Planning a CareerPlanning a Career

• Personality Personality - What do you enjoy working with—people, ideas, animals? Where do you enjoy working– indoors or outside? How do you accept authority, and what kind of work schedule do you like?

• Interests Interests - One hint to your future interests is your past. What have you been interested in? Look at your achievements– in what areas have you succeeded?

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Planning a career has several steps, the first being self-assessment. You must know yourself in order to choose a job in which

you will be happy. This requires you to examine the following:

• Abilities/aptitudesAbilities/aptitudes: What can you do? What can you do easily?

• Skills Skills - What have you learned to do? Think of the things you can do, including skills associated with activities and sports.

• Education Education - What have you learned so far? In what ways do you learn most efficiently? What training are you willing to get in order to achieve your career goal?

• Values Values - What lifestyle do you want for yourself? What do you consider honorable work? What do you want your work to stand for? What family pressures are/can influence your career choice?

These factors influence your job These factors influence your job satisfaction and career success:satisfaction and career success:

• Good Work Ethics - Good Work Ethics - giving 100% of your effort everyday.

• Positive attitude - Positive attitude - being cheerful and cooperative and getting along with co-workers.

• Professionalism Professionalism - staying up-to-date in your skills and appearing your best as you represent your company.

• Personal job Personal job satisfaction - satisfaction - feeling challenged and rewarded.

• Physical & mental Physical & mental health - health - feeling good physically and mentally.

• Literate Literate - having strong communication skills.

• Technical knowledge - Technical knowledge - being able to solve problems related to job.

• Flexibility Flexibility - having variety and freedom.

• Employee benefits - Employee benefits - having vacations, insurance, and retirement plans.

• Must be typed• Must be in a binder, notebook, folder, or carrying

case• Must have divider pages for sections• Must be written with correct spelling & grammar• Must contain information about the applicant• Must contain work that typifies applicant’s ability

& skill

WORDS YOU SHOULD KNOWWORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW

PortfolioPortfolio: Collection of materials used to represent your accomplishments

ResumeResume: Personal data sheet

Portfolios should meet standard Portfolios should meet standard requirements:requirements:

• Cover sheet with name and address• Job Specification Sheet with the name of the

applicant, the job title, and a short job description• Business Communication– Cover letter– Resume– Two letters of recommendation

• One from school official, counselor, or instructor• One from former employer or community representative

• Understanding of Job– School-based learning– summary of school activities– Work-based learning– summary employment, job

shadowing, internships, apprenticeship, community service

– Examples of special skills, talents, and/or abilities related to the job

Portfolios should have no more than 25 pagesPortfolios should have no more than 25 pages:

INTERVIEWING

• The intent of the interview is to share information. In order to make the most favorable impression, both the interviewer and the interviewee have to be prepared. The employer, most likely, is experienced in evaluating people on appearance, nonverbal language, and paper credentials. But, this is the interviewee’s first time to apply for this job, so preparation must be done.

Before The InterviewBefore The Interview• Research the company to learn as much as you can about the

job, the salary range, the company expectations.• Brainstorm questions that might be asked and write out

answers. Avoid answering Yes or No; add a comment that will clarify you or reveal information.

• Prepare a few questions to ask. Avoid asking about benefits, vacations or breaks.

• Visit the interview site before the interview so you’ll know how much travel time you need, where to park and how to enter interview office.

• Have your portfolio ready to present if one is requested. Your portfolio should be neat, legible and complete, like all other paperwork. Flawed paperwork is a sign that you are careless and sloppy.

• Be well groomed. Avoid wearing trendy clothing, clanking jewelry, and too much make-up. Remember that people form their opinion of you in the first ten seconds, and you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

• Go alone and arrive 10 minutes early.

During The During The InterviewInterview

• Do not chew gum, smoke, or fidget.Do not chew gum, smoke, or fidget.• Relax; be yourself; be confident, cheerful, and Relax; be yourself; be confident, cheerful, and

cooperative.cooperative.• Use open body language—eye contact, Use open body language—eye contact,

uncrossed arms, and pleasant facial uncrossed arms, and pleasant facial expressions.expressions.

• Be courteous. Use your best manners, including Be courteous. Use your best manners, including saying, “Thank you,” when you are asked to sit.saying, “Thank you,” when you are asked to sit.

• Do not say unkind things about anyone, Do not say unkind things about anyone, including former employers.including former employers.

• Stress your abilities and accomplishments.Stress your abilities and accomplishments.• Answer questions as openly and honestly as you Answer questions as openly and honestly as you

can. You can question salary after the job has can. You can question salary after the job has been offered to youbeen offered to you.

• Thank the interviewer for his or her time, smile, and shake hands.

• Thank the secretary and ask for a business card if you do not have the company’s mailing address.

• Send a thank-you letter within 24 hours of the interview.

Sometimes people lose jobs before Sometimes people lose jobs before they get them; some who do get they get them; some who do get

hired lose their jobs quickly; hired lose their jobs quickly; others lose their jobs for nothing others lose their jobs for nothing

they did or did not do. The they did or did not do. The reasons people lost jobs vary reasons people lost jobs vary

from things they can control, such from things they can control, such as work habits, to things they as work habits, to things they

cannot, such as budget cutbacks.cannot, such as budget cutbacks.

Reasons People Lose Reasons People Lose JobsJobs

Personal ReasonsPersonal Reasons• Drug and alcohol use• Poor attitude• Lack of technical skills• Lack of human

relation skills

Economic ReasonsEconomic Reasons• Downturn in supply and

demand for product or service

• Decision to change profit structure, such as outsourcing jobs and restructuring management

• Technological advances, such as increased automation or increased longevity of consumable product

Actions to take after losing Actions to take after losing a joba job

• Relax, regain your composure, and develop a positive attitude. This may be an opportunity to do something you always dreamed of doing but felt to restricted to try.

• Be open to the possibility of retraining.• Review and update your resume and portfolio. • Begin a job search. Use all resources you have.• File a claim for unemployment insurance. This gives you

some income for a few months if you have been fired from your job, but not if you have voluntarily quit.

• Maintain a positive relationship with former employer when possible.

• Maintain work skills and abilities through continuing education, practicing skills, or volunteering.

• Rethink job possibilities.

Words You Should Words You Should KnowKnow

• GrantGrant: Financial aid that is not paid back

• LoanLoan: Borrowed money that must be repaid with interest

•Work-StudyWork-Study: Work in return for money to help pay for school

Once a career has been identified, the Once a career has been identified, the next step is to develop a plan to next step is to develop a plan to

become qualified for it!become qualified for it!1.1. Determine the costs. Determine the costs. School and training institutions

have estimates of cost which include tuition, fees, books and supplies, living expenses, transportation, and personal expenses.

2.2. Determine your assets.Determine your assets. Add the savings you have, the income from assets you can sell, and any help you will have from family. Subtract this from the cost to calculate how much you will need.

3.3. Find additional funding. Find additional funding. Apply early for financial assistance, meet all paperwork requirement, and make yourself known to loan offices and job-placement personnel at your school. Be certain to seek out other sources. Does your school PTA or clubs give scholarships? Do companies have college-work agreements?

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4.4. Live on a budgetLive on a budget. Once you get the loan, you need to make it last. Don’t blow it on consumables that do not contribute to your education. Regardless of how carefully you figured the costs, inflation and incidentals will increase the cost. So, put yourself on a budget and live on it.

5.5. Repay as promisedRepay as promised. Failing to repay a student loan as promised will jeopardize your credit rating. To remain creditworthy, it is imperative that you fulfill your part of the contract.

Because so much of our life is spent working, a rewarding job is

one of the most important factors in our happiness. Have a career that

fulfills you personally and financially does not happen automatically. It requires planning and preparation.

This unit will help you establish career goals as you prepare for the

future.

Developed by: Haley McLeran

Tishomingo High School