Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

How Do You Choose a Career?

If you work 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for 25 years, how many hours will you spend at work?

50,000 hours – You need to enjoy what you do


Career – A series of progressively more responsible jobs in one field or in related fields

People pursue careers based on: Interests Abilities Education


Job - Basically work for pay

Part of Career Path – a job with a future you want

Dead End Job – Way to earn money for short period of time

Personal Strengths

The first step in determining your career is looking closely at yourself

Your career choice will be influenced by: Your interests and abilities Your personality Your learning style Your personal values The kind of lifestyle you want to lead

Personal Strengths

Your Interests and Abilities

Interests are things you enjoy doing Abilities are thing you are good at

If you have no interests, try new things

Identifying your interests and abilities will get you started on a great career path.

Create a list of 10 things you enjoy doing. May include doing by yourself or in a group, at home, at

school, outdoors, on computer, etc…

Personal Strengths

Your personality The combination of all the unique qualities that make

you who you are Will determine if you want to:

Work with people or things In a group By yourself

What type of personality do you have? Do you read, enjoy school activities, are you funny,

sympathetic, strong willed, hard-headed? Be honest about yourself

Personal Strengths

Your learning style The way you interact with the world around you to

gather information and turn it into knowledge

Most people do well in a career that uses their strongest learn style

What is your learning style?

Personal Strengths

Verbal/Linguistic Likes to read, write, and tell stories; good at memorizing names and

dates Learns best by saying, hearing, and seeing words

Logical/Mathematical Likes to do experiments, work with numbers, explore patterns and

relationships; good at math, logic, and problem solving Learns best by making categories, classifying, and working with patterns

Visual/Spatial Likes to draw, build, design, and create things; good at imagining,

doing puzzles and mazes, and reading maps and charts Learns best by using the mind’s eye and working with colors and pictures

Personal Strengths

Musical/Rhythmic Likes to sing, hum, play an instrument, and listen to music; good at

remembering melodies, noticing pitches and rhythms, and keeping time Learns best through rhythm and melody

Bodily/Kinesthetic Likes to touch and move around; good at hands-on activities and charts

Learns best by interacting with people and objects in a real space

Interpersonal Likes having lots of friends, talking to people, and joining groups; good

at understanding people, leading, organizing, communicating, and mediating conflicts Learns best by sharing, comparing, and cooperating

Personal Strengths

Intrapersonal Likes to work alone and pursue interests at own pace; good

at self-awareness, focusing on personal feelings, and following instincts to learn what needs to be known Learns best through independent study

Naturalistic Likes spending time outdoors and working with plants,

animals, and other parts of the natural environment; good at identifying plants and animals and at hearing and seeing connections to nature Learns best by observing, collecting, identifying, and

organizing patterns

Personal Strengths

Your values The beliefs that guide the way people live Do you value:

Responsibility – do what you say you will do Achievement – willing to give extra effort to succeed Recognition – want your work to be acknowledged Relationships – interacting with friends and family Compassion – want to help others Courage – exude bravery in two ways:

when confronted with physical danger When standing up for your beliefs

What are your values?

Personal Strengths

Careers choices if you value: Achievement – Presents challenges like medicine, law,

or aviation Recognition – writing, acting, or politics Relationships – Psychology or education Compassion – Nurse, social worker, veterinarian,

counselor Courage –

Danger – Armed Services, firefighter, rescue worker Beliefs – Politics or Public Service

What field fits you best?

Personal Strengths

Your Lifestyle The way you spend your time, energy, and money

What type of lifestyle do you want in the future?

Describe the lifestyle you want in the future. Do you want to work hard and be at the top of your

field Do you want plenty of free time for friends and family? Is becoming wealthy the most important thing?

Career Options

What is the ideal future career in 20 years? How much time do you spend at work? How happy are you at your career? How happy have you been along the journey?

Career Options

The more information you have, the easier it will be to decide which one is right for you.

Research can provide info on: Salaries Working conditions Prospects in your field

Career Options

How to gather info on career options Occupational Outlook Handbook

Published by the U.S. Department of Labor Describes thousands of jobs across the U.S. Lists job responsibilities, working conditions, and salaries Show changes in job trends in the U.S.

Trends – increase or decrease in the # of jobs in a field

Access at www.bls.gov/oco

http://www.bls.gov/oco

Career Options

Magazines Occupational Outlook Quarterly Monthly Labor Review Business Week

Books What Color is Your Parachute

Give insight into personal qualities and how to find the best companies to fit you

Career Options

Professional Associations Made up of people in the same field Allows members to exchange ideas and information,

provide a positive image for the profession, give information to the public

Networking Talking to people who may offer you job leads,

contacts in your field, or other useful information Start with the school guidance counselor Can include family, friends, or business people

Developing a Plan

With personal strengths in mind, decide which career interests you the most

Ask family, friends, neighbors, teachers, and school counselor if they know people in that career.

Ask to meet them and talk.

Reaching your Career Goal will take time and effort.

Developing a Plan

Important things to do along the way:

Educate yourself Get experience Consider an Internship

Developing a Plan

Educate yourself

Almost every job requires some special training An advanced education mean more job opportunities How will you pay for this training?

Some companies pay all or part of their employees tuition for job related courses or training sessions

Developing a Plan

Get Experience

There is no substitute for experience A part-time job is a great way to see the job from the

inside You gain valuable work experience You form personal contacts in the field And get some money

If no part-time work is available, volunteering is an option

Any work experience is valuable work experience

Developing a Plan

Consider an Internship Usually not paid, but results in valuable job skills Looks good on a resume While in school, look for Internships in the Summer Successful interns may be invited back for a paying

job

How to find internships Internet Guidance Counselor Contact business you are interested in

Types of Careers

What type of careers are out there?

Types of Careers

For-Profit Businesses Operate to earn money for their owners

Nonprofit Organizations Operate to promote a special interest or cause

Types of Careers

Job Search Websiteswww.monster.com

www.hotjobs.com

www.careerbuilder.com

www.job-hunt.org

http://www.monster.com/

http://www.hotjobs.com/

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

Career Assignment

Go to ahs.business.wikispaces.com

Complete assignment using job searches

Turn in at end of class with Personal Strengths page


INDUSTRY THOUSANDS OF JOBS

Mgt, business, and financial jobs 17,635

Professional and related jobs 33,709 Service jobs 31,163 Sales and related jobs 17,365 Office and administrative support jobs 26,053 Farming, fishing, and forestry jobs 1,480 Construction and extraction jobs 8,439 Installation, maintenance, and repair jobs 6,482 Production jobs 13,811 Transportation and material moving jobs 11,618

TOTAL of all jobs 167,754


167,754 x 1000 = 167,754,000

There are 167 million 754 thousand jobs in the U.S.

Unemployment rate is 7.9%

There are 2.9 million job openings


Most jobs – Professional and Related jobs Management jobs

Computer and mathematical jobs Architects, surveyors, and cartographers Engineers and Drafters Life, Physical, and Social Scientists Community Jobs Legal Education related jobs Entertainment Jobs

The government tracks the percentage increase of job fields.

Estimated Growth in Managerial Occupations

Occupation 2005 Employment Projected 2015 in thousands Growths

Administrative Mgrs 362 20.4 % Advertising, marketing, promotions 707 32.4 %

public relations, and sales mgrs Agriculture mgrs 1,462 -21.7 % Chief executives 547 17.2 % Computer and Information 313 47.9 %

Systems Mgrs Engineering Mgrs 282 8.0 % Human Resources Mgrs 219 12.7 % Industrial Production Mgrs 255 6.2 % Purchasing Mgrs 132 -5.5 % Social and Community service Mgrs 128 24.8 % Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Mgrs 149 20.2 % Medical and Health Services Mgrs 250 32.3 %

Estimated Growth Analysis

Which field will managerial positions grow the most by 2015? Computer and Information Systems – 47.9%

Which fields are jobs at a lower level in 2015 than in 2005? Agricultural Mgrs Purchasing Mgrs

Applying for a Job

How do you sell yourself to potential employers?

Applying for a job The process of convincing a potential employer to

invest in a great new product – YOU Every step of the way, you want to make the best

impression

Applying for a Job

Information required to apply for a job.

Job Application Cover Letter Job Application Form Resume

The purpose of this info is not to convince them to hire you, but convince them that you are worth meeting for the interview process.

Job Application Cover Letter

A brief introduction before a resume.

Your chance to introduce yourself to potential employers and convince them they want to meet you.


Letter Formatting Margins – 1 inch on all sides

Line spacing Double space after each new section Single space inside of sections

Block Format – Begin everything at the left hand margin


Sections Return Address – 3 lines

Street Address City, State, Zip Date – Current

Letter Mailing Address – 4 lines Receivers Name Receivers Job Title Street Address City, State, Zip

Greeting Dear, To Whom it May Concern


Sections Body

Follow the 1-2-3 approach Salutation

Sincerely, Quadruple space after the salutation

You will place your signature in ink here Type you name Type Enclosure

This states that your resume is attached.


Cover Letter should be ONE PAGE ONLY!!!

Tailor the information in the letter by fitting it with the requirements for the job.

Use the “You Approach” Emphasize what you can offer the organization


Use the 1-2-3 approach1. Tell the company why you are writing. In the first paragraph, give the

full job title and say where you found out about the position(personal reference, newspaper, website) Give the name of the person that referred you. You can also mention that you have enclosed your resume.

2. Explain to the company why they should hire you. In the second and possibly the third paragraphs, state why you are right for the job. Point out details of your experiences that relate directly to the job, such as special projects. Summarize your experiences in a few sentences.

3. Ask for an interview in the closing paragraph. Give your phone number and email again so the reader doesn’t have to search for them.


Your cover letter highlights your best assets for employers

The time and effort put into preparing your document will draw attention to your good organization skills and eye for detail Traits that every employer look for

Job Application Forms

Forms should be filled out COMPLETELY!!! If answer is not known or not applicable. TYPE N/A

TAB will help you move from form box to box.

Include all available detailed information

Resumes

A short document that provides potential employers with info about your specific qualifications for a job.

Describes: Work Experience Education Honors and Activities Skills and Abilities

Resumes

2 basic types of resumes: Chronological Resume

Lists your work experience and education in reverse order Work experience then education Better for advanced job skills and experience

Skills Resume Highlights your abilities and accomplishments rather

than experience Use when recently completed education

Resumes

Use standard, white 8.5 x 11 paper

Use simple font and format Avoid italics, underlining, and fancy fonts Bold only when appropriate. Use line spacing to separate sections clearly

Resumes

The care with which you prepare your resume suggests how carefully you would work if hired.

Give special attention to: Content Accuracy Formatting Neatness

Resumes

Think positively. Make yourself look good on paper

Showcase what you have to offer

Be honest

Keep it brief

Leave out any reference to age, race, sex, or marital status, height, weight, and health

Resume formatting

Margins 1 inch on all sides

Line spacing Double space after each new section Single space inside of sections

Resume Guidelines

Personal Information Should begin at top margin Centered Single Spaced until last line, then DS after Form a heading of 5 different lines. Type all as

Sentence Case Line 1 – Name Line 2 – Street Address Line 3 – City, State ZIP Line 4 – Phone Number Line 5 – Email Address

Resume Guidelines

Objective/Summary Clear definition of position desired

Formatting Heading – SUMMARY

All Caps Aligned Left 12-pt font

All Heading will be done this way

Resume Guidelines

EDUCATION – Heading format. DS after Aligned Left - Give a description of current

educational status GPA Graduation Date Courses or Programs Taken

Tab to 1 inch - DS between each new entry but SS inside of Skills acquired Grades earned in courses directly related to job

competence School and/or community activities or accomplishments Organizations Leadership positions Honors and Awards

Resume Guidelines

WORK EXPERIENCE – HeadingAligned left

Position Name Name and location of employer Time spent working at, in parenthesis Brief description of responsibilities

DS between new entries but SS inside of

Resume Guidelines

REFERENCES - Heading Names of people familiar with your character,

personality, and work habits May be furnished upon request If included at bottom of resume, have 3-6 people (not

relatives) who know you well and include this information about each: Name of Person Professional Job Title and

Organization Phone Number Email Teachers, community leaders, and current or previous

employers work well Ask each person in advance if ok to include them as

reference

Resume Guidelines

Reference Page – only if needed, not required Margin – 2 inches at top, 1 inch at left, right, and

bottom REFERENCE – Heading

Bold Centered 14-pt font DS after the heading

Entries SS inside of references DS between references

3-6 references is appropriate

Resume Guidelines

The most important information is presented first Recent graduates will place education before work

experience The reference section is usually last on the page

Resume should be 1 page ONLY!!!!

Resumes

View the resume on Pg 301.

This resume can serve as a guide for your own.

What skills are the same and which are different

Career Opportunities

Documents