CAREER CHOICE: WORKBOOK - nied.edu.na · the Career Choice Workbook. This instrument will only be helpful if you were well prepared in previous examinations and are honest with yourself.

CAREER CHOICE: WORKBOOK a self exploration process

compiled by

National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) and Division: Diagnostic, Advisory and Training Services of the

Directorate Educational Programme Implementation

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Education

National Institute for Educational Development (NIED)

Private Bag 2034

Okahandja

Namibia

Copyright NIED, Ministry of Education, 2005

Career Choice Workbook ISBN 99916-69-00-0 Publication date: December 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTORY NOTES ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2

2. SCHOOL BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3

3. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOURSELF .................................................................................................................................................... 12

3.1 Interests............................................................................................................................................................................................ 12

3.2 Competencies .................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

3.3 Personality ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 14

3.4 Values .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 15

4. MY STORY .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16

5. FINAL CAREER RESEARCH .............................................................................................................................................................. 17

6. ACTION PLANS/USEFUL HINTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 18

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 19

1 1

NAME: ___________________________ GRADE: _________

INTRODUCTORY NOTES

TO MAKE AN EFFECTIVE DECISION ABOUT YOUR FUTURE CAREER

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF.

This workbook is designed to get you thinking about YOURSELF about areas such as:

Educational background - my school history

Interests - what I like

Skills or abilities - what I can do

Personality - who I am

STEP 1: Read the information in paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 in the Career Choice Manual to

evaluate yourself.

STEP 2: The rest of the information in the Career Choice Manual should be completed in

the Career Choice Workbook.

This instrument will only be helpful if you were well prepared in previous

examinations and are honest with yourself.

This Career Choice Workbook is linked to the Life Skills syllabus of the Ministry of Education,

(NIED) This Career Choice Workbook becomes the property of the learner, when leaving school

2 2

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The co-operation and help of a large variety of people and organisations with regard to information are acknowledged with thanks. Special acknowledgement is given to all the secondary schools that participated in the testing of the content for this particular Career Choice document. The valuable input of many teachers and learners is acknowledged with appreciation. Although the content has been compiled with the greatest care possible, the publishers do not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.

3 3

2. SCHOOL BACKGROUND

2.1 When you are considering future careers it is important that you have the right subjects for particular career areas.

In the column below write your recent subjects and marks. Draw a circle around the numbers of your three favourite subjects.

SUBJECTS GRADE 8 - 10 MARKS SUBJECTS GRADE 11-12 MARKS

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

6. 6.

7. 7.

8.

9.

10.

4 4

In the box below write the jobs that you have thought about doing, while at school.

1.

2.

3.

5 5

Look through the list of school subjects below and complete 2.2

Home Economics / Fashion and Fabrics:

Clothing designer Food service manager Matron

Milliner Tailor Teacher

Hotel and catering industry

Typing and Shorthand/word processing/office organisation:

Data typist Executive secretary Private secretary

Receptionist Teacher Typist

Business Economics/Business studies:

Chartered accountant Economist Financial manager

Management accountant Private secretary Teacher

Value r and appraiser Clothing designer/industry Hotel and catering industry

Accountancy:

Accountant Attorney Auditor

Bookkeeper Chartered accountant Economist

Chartered secretary Credit controller Teacher

6 6

Biology:

Agricultural engineer Agriculturist Biochemist

Biologist Botanist Careers in conservation

Chiropractor Dentist Dental assistant

EEG-technician Entomologist Fire fighter

Environmentalist Food Scientist Health inspector

Homeopath Horticulturist Marine biologist Medical doctor

Microbiologist Nursing Occupational therapist Optometrist

Oral hygienist Pharmacist Physiotherapist Teacher

Speech-language therapist and audiologist Veterinary nurse

Veterinary surgeon Zoologist Nature Conservation

Physical Science:

Agriculturist Architect Astronomer

Biokineticist Biologist Chemist

Dentist Diesel Fitter Draughtsman

EEG-technician Electrician Fire fighter

Food scientist Engineer (all fields) Health inspector

Horticulturist Marine Biologist Medical doctor Metallurgist Mine surveyor

Navigating officer Nuclear scientist Oceanographer

Optometrist Occupational therapist Oral hygienist Pharmacist

Photographer Physician Physiotherapist

Pilot Podiatrist (feet) Quantity surveyor

Radiographer Radiologist Surveyor

Speech-language therapist and audiologist Teacher

Veterinary nurse Veterinary Surgeon Zoologist

Geological careers Radio careers (technical)

7 7

Languages:

Advocate Archivist Art editor and critic

Attorney Cabin attendant Clerk

Copy writer Interpreter Journalist

Magistrate Private secretary Radio announcer

Teacher Terminologist Translator

Tourist guide Public relations officer Advertising careers

Arts and Music:

Actor Art editor and critic Goldsmith and jeweller

Clothing designer Dancer Decor designer

Graphic designer Industrial designer Interior designer

Make-up artist Music producer Musician

Performing artist Photographer Teacher

Radio announcer Textile designer

Computer Studies:

Actuary Civil engineer Computer programmer

Computer operator Data typist Industrial designer

Navigator Statistician Systems analyst

Teacher Travel agent

8 8

History:

Archivist Diplomat Geographer

Journalist Lecturer Political scientist

Radio announcer Teacher

Economics:

Accountant Business economist Chartered accountant

Financial manager Market researcher Private secretary

Public administration officer Sales representative Teacher

Valuer and appraiser Advertising

Technical and Mechanical Subjects:

Automotive electrician Automotive mechanic Boilermaker

Diesel fitter Draughtsman Electrical technician

Electronic technician Fitter and turner Engineering surveyor

Furniture industry Hairdresser Locksmith

Metallurgical engineer Mechanical engineering Optical technician

Projectionist Radio careers (technical) Sheet metal worker

Spray painter Teacher Technician

Trade tester

Geography:

Air traffic controller Architect Cartographer

Civil engineer Geographer Geotechnologist

Environmentalist Navigator Pilot

Teacher Tourist guide Topographical surveyor

Topographical surveyor Hydrometry Nature conservation

9 9

Mathematics:

Actuary Air traffic controller Architect

Auditor Banking careers Bookkeeper/accountant

Business economist Cashier Chemist

Chartered accountant Computer programmer Dentist

Computer science careers Dietician Draughtsman

Electrical technician Engineer (All fields) Extractive metallurgy

Land surveyor Mathematician Medical doctor

Mine surveyor Nurse Occupational therapist

Optometrist Pharmacist Physiotherapist

Pilot Quantity surveyor Radiographer

Radiologist Speech-language therapist and audiologist

Teacher Technician Veterinary surgeon

Electronics Geological careers Technical careers

Agriculture:

Agricultural economist Agricultural engineer Agricultural inspector

Agriculturist Agricultural technician Agronomist

Farmer Farm manager Forester

Teacher

Child Development:

Assistant teacher Child care officer Hostel matron Nurse

Pre-school teacher Psychologist Social worker

Teacher Worker in day care centre

10 10

11 11

2.2 Write down the careers that interest you and which are related to the subjects you currently like best.

(Favourite subjects)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Consult your Life Skills teacher or the book CAREERS IN NAMIBIA, Ministry of Labour or other relevant documents to get information about unfamiliar careers.

12 12

3. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOURSELF

3.1 Interests

Study the categories of interest in the Career Choice Manual on pp. 11 and 12 Score each field by making a tick in the block of your choice.

Yes No Uncertain

Preference for working with people as individuals or small groups of people

Preference for public appearance and working with groups of people

Preference for business activities

Preference for working with figures

Preference for writing/language activities

Preference for reading and literature

Preference for art and art appreciation

Preference for handwork

Preference for machines and working with machines

Preference for working in connection with science

Preference for working with animals and biological science (Biology)

Preference for working and studying with plants (Botanical)

13 13

3.2 Competencies

Determine your competencies according to the following scale by making a (√) in the appropriate box:

COMPETIENCIES (The meanings of these competencies are on p. 12 in your Career Choice Manual)

Good Fair Poor Good with figures Verbal ability Artistic ability Physical ability Social ability Practical ability Being systematic

14 14

3.3 Personality

Underline all the personality characteristics that describe you best

sincere competent determined effective initiative

eager serious introvert quiet proud

shy critical uncertain confident leader

mature independent ambitious active friendly

cheerful positive observant patient gentle

responsible decisive accurate verbal convincing

well-spoken creative adventurous sensitive imaginative

reliable trustworthy loyal extrovert principled

thorough organised intellectual kind logical

analytical calm controlled outgoing good-natured

ready to co-operate sociable sensitive to people assertive adaptable to a

soft hearted dependent hard working

15 15

3.4 Values

Give each value a number from 1 to 16 – with 1 being the most important to you and 16 the least important to you.

FEATURE NUMBER FEATURE NUMBER

Having convenient working hours

Getting a company car and a mobile phone

Taking responsibility for other people

Having the freedom to organize own time

Getting training

Being well paid

Working with like- minded people

Gaining status in the community

FEATURE NUMBER Meeting different People

Being your own boss

Meeting a challenge Enjoying the social side of work

Getting good holidays

Earning a pension Getting the opportunity to travel

Having job security

16 16

4. MY STORY

(The following information represents a picture of yourself)

Complete the following by using the information from your workbook

2.1 My school subjects with their recent marks are (p. 3) ________________________, __________________________, _________________________________, _________________________________, ___________________________________, _____________________________, _________________________, __________________________, ____________________ (Underline your favourite subjects) Jobs I have thought about doing are (p. 4) ____________________, _____________________ and ______________________ 2.2 Careers that I am interested in and which correlate with my subjects are (p. 10) _______________________________ ___________________________, _________________________, _________________________, _________________________ 3.1 All my “Yes interests” are (p. 11) _______________, ________________, __________________, _________________ _____________________, ____________________, _____________________, ___________________, __________________ 3.2 My “Competencies” are (p. 12) _____________, ______________, ______________, _____________, _____________

3.3 My “Personality” is (p. 13) _____________________, __________________, ___________________, _______________ __________________, ___________________, ___________________, _____________________, ______________________ 3.4 My number 1 to 5 Values are (p. 14) 1.________________, 2._________________, 3._________________ 4.__________________, 5.___________________,

17 17

5. FINAL CAREER RESEARCH

Complete the following table using CAREERS IN NAMIBIA and other relevant documents

Career Job characteristics Qualification/Institute Entry requirements Fringe benefits

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

18 18

6. ACTION PLANS/USEFUL HINTS

● Nobody can choose a career for you

- It is your own choice!

- However, other people can assist you

● Use all the information in the summary you have made to help with your career choice

● Do research on careers! You need to know as much as possible ● Read the information in paragraphs 5.1 to 5.4 in your Career Choice Manual and make your

own notes where appropriate

● Prepare your own CV according to the guidelines and the example in the Career Choice

Manual (p. 16-20)

● Look at the example of an application letter (p. 21-22). Study advertisements in

newspapers and select a job that will interest you and write your own application letter

● Read the information in paragraphs 5.7 to 5.9 in your Career Choice Manual and make your

own notes where appropriate

Good luck with your future career

19 19

REFERENCES

Department of Labour. 1998. My Career. Pretoria

Hitchin Penny, Groundwork group development. 1993. Jobsearch for the 90’s. Moorfoot, Sheffield S1 4TW

Patrick R.C. 1996. Career Planning. St. Paul’s College

Preliminary Manual For The Kodus Interest Questionnaire. 1978. Provincial Administration of the Cape of Good Hope, Department of

Education

Redelinghuys Johann. 1991. Choose the Right Career. Cape Town Struik Timmins, Foreshore