THE CAREER PLANNING PROCESS
An occupation is a task or series of tasks that is performed to provide a good or service. People are hired to fill occupations, and they are paid for the work they perform.
A career is a goal for work that is fulfilled through an occupation or series of occupations. You actually have a kind of career goal now: “to complete your schooling and get ready for your future.”
Career planning is the process of studying careers, assessing yourself in terms of careers, and making decisions about a future career. As shown in Figure 9-1 on the next page, this process begins by carrying out a personal assessment. Your interests, values, talents, and abilities provide the basis for a career choice as you develop new interests and abilities.
Your search for the right career could continue for a long time. In the years ahead, some of your values and goals will change. You will develop new interests and abilities.
Your Study of CareersThe study of careers is a continuous process. New career opportunities occur all the time. You do not just decide to study careers for one day or one week. It is important to view learning about careers as a lifelong activity. This process is something that continues even after you begin your career.
Your first decision will likely be a tentative career decision —a decision that is subject to change as new information is received. A tentative decision is much better than no decision at all. Your career decision will give you a direction that is needed.
Making initial career decisions while you are in school has many advantages. One is that, in school, you have a lot of information readily on hand. More importantly, early career planning will help you choose the right courses. An early career decision can also encourage you to become involved with organizations such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), DECA, and Business Professionals of America (BPA). These organizations teach you about business and careers.
Career TrainingMany careers require education and training beyond high school. These educational alternatives include:
Some financial aid programs are based on your academic record. Others are based on financial need. You should assess these methods for financing an education as you continue your career planning and decision-making.
How can you be sure that you are making the best career decision? There is no way to guarantee a perfect decision. Those who follow the right steps generally make good decisions.
An occupation is a task or series of tasks that is performed to provide a good or service. People are hired to fill occupations, and they are paid for the work they perform.
A career is a goal for work that is fulfilled through an occupation or series of occupations. You actually have a kind of career goal now: “to complete your schooling and get ready for your future.”
Career planning is the process of studying careers, assessing yourself in terms of careers, and making decisions about a future career. As shown in Figure 9-1 on the next page, this process begins by carrying out a personal assessment. Your interests, values, talents, and abilities provide the basis for a career choice as you develop new interests and abilities.
Your search for the right career could continue for a long time. In the years ahead, some of your values and goals will change. You will develop new interests and abilities.
Your Study of CareersThe study of careers is a continuous process. New career opportunities occur all the time. You do not just decide to study careers for one day or one week. It is important to view learning about careers as a lifelong activity. This process is something that continues even after you begin your career.
Your first decision will likely be a tentative career decision —a decision that is subject to change as new information is received. A tentative decision is much better than no decision at all. Your career decision will give you a direction that is needed.
Making initial career decisions while you are in school has many advantages. One is that, in school, you have a lot of information readily on hand. More importantly, early career planning will help you choose the right courses. An early career decision can also encourage you to become involved with organizations such as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), DECA, and Business Professionals of America (BPA). These organizations teach you about business and careers.
Career TrainingMany careers require education and training beyond high school. These educational alternatives include:
- Two-year schools, often called community colleges or junior colleges, offer training in many areas.
- Four-year colleges and universities, both public and private, provide education for many careers and professions.
- Private business schools and other institutions specialize in training students for specific occupations such as court reporter, computer technician, barber, or medical assistant.
Some financial aid programs are based on your academic record. Others are based on financial need. You should assess these methods for financing an education as you continue your career planning and decision-making.
How can you be sure that you are making the best career decision? There is no way to guarantee a perfect decision. Those who follow the right steps generally make good decisions.
CAREER INFORMATION SOURCES
Many information sources for career planning are easily available. Your school may have a career resource center with magazines, books, videos, and other material related to careers. Some information covers careers in general. Other sources provide specific coverage about occupations and careers in your area.
Print and Media SourcesThe Occupational Outlook Quarterly or other print publications from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can be helpful. The Occupational Outlook Handbook gives in-depth information on hundreds of occupations including job duties, working conditions, education and training requirements, advancement possibilities, employment outlook, and earnings. These resources are also available online.
Career World magazine publishes information about a variety of careers. It often looks at careers of the future. The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance can give you basic information about many occupations.
Newspapers, including online versions, are valuable sources of career information. Articles about business trends, local companies, and career topics are published in the career and business sections. Help-wanted ads, which appear in the classified advertising section and online, provide insight into the kinds of career opportunities available. These ads also tell you what training and skills are in demand in the current job market.
Online SourcesMany websites are available to help you with career planning. These sites offer information about career opportunities, resumes, effective interviewing, and creating a career portfolio.
Informational InterviewsA very useful method to get career information is with an informational interview. An informational interview is a planned discussion with a worker who is willing to help you find out about the work that a person does, the preparation needed for that career, and the person's feelings about the career. Informational interviews will help you gain insight into what actually happens in a specific career area.
You will find that most workers like to talk about their career experiences. Be sure to plan your questions for a career information interview. Some suggested questions might include:
If a specific career interests you, ask your teacher or guidance counselor about the possibility of becoming a job shadow at a company employing workers that reflect your career interest. Job shadowing allows you to spend time with a worker for a day or a week to learn about a certain occupation.
Many information sources for career planning are easily available. Your school may have a career resource center with magazines, books, videos, and other material related to careers. Some information covers careers in general. Other sources provide specific coverage about occupations and careers in your area.
Print and Media SourcesThe Occupational Outlook Quarterly or other print publications from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can be helpful. The Occupational Outlook Handbook gives in-depth information on hundreds of occupations including job duties, working conditions, education and training requirements, advancement possibilities, employment outlook, and earnings. These resources are also available online.
Career World magazine publishes information about a variety of careers. It often looks at careers of the future. The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance can give you basic information about many occupations.
Newspapers, including online versions, are valuable sources of career information. Articles about business trends, local companies, and career topics are published in the career and business sections. Help-wanted ads, which appear in the classified advertising section and online, provide insight into the kinds of career opportunities available. These ads also tell you what training and skills are in demand in the current job market.
Online SourcesMany websites are available to help you with career planning. These sites offer information about career opportunities, resumes, effective interviewing, and creating a career portfolio.
Informational InterviewsA very useful method to get career information is with an informational interview. An informational interview is a planned discussion with a worker who is willing to help you find out about the work that a person does, the preparation needed for that career, and the person's feelings about the career. Informational interviews will help you gain insight into what actually happens in a specific career area.
You will find that most workers like to talk about their career experiences. Be sure to plan your questions for a career information interview. Some suggested questions might include:
- How did you get your current job?
- In what ways do you find your work most satisfying? What are your main frustrations?
- What tasks and activities are required in your work?
- What are the most important qualifications for working in this field?
- What advice would you give a young person who is thinking about this type of work?
If a specific career interests you, ask your teacher or guidance counselor about the possibility of becoming a job shadow at a company employing workers that reflect your career interest. Job shadowing allows you to spend time with a worker for a day or a week to learn about a certain occupation.
Business ContactsThe process of talking to other people about their jobs is called networking . The advantage of networking is that your contacts are not limited to the people you know personally. Every person you meet is a potential contact for career information. The contacts in your network can provide support when you start work as well as later in life.
GROWTH CAREER AREAS
The life work you choose could be affected by the careers available in a field. Future employment opportunities are influenced by geography and business trends.
Geographic InfluencesYou may have to decide whether you want to work in the geographic area in which you now live or whether you are willing to move to where the job you really want is located. There may be reasons why you would prefer to live and work near your home. People who successfully pursue the careers of their choice often have mobility. Mobility is the willingness and ability of a person to move to where jobs are located.
The lack of mobility can lead to locational unemployment . This occurs when jobs are available in one place but go unfilled because those who are qualified to fill those jobs live elsewhere and are not willing to relocate.
Economic and Industry TrendsCareer areas with the most potential are influenced by economic trends and current business activities. Consumer demand, changing demographic trends, and new technology are factors that often affect career opportunities. As shown in Figure 9-2 on the previous page, service industries are expected to have the greatest employment potential.
While these are fields with strong future demand, do not limit yourself. Every career area will need new employees. Think about your personal interests and abilities in addition to economic and business trends.
The life work you choose could be affected by the careers available in a field. Future employment opportunities are influenced by geography and business trends.
Geographic InfluencesYou may have to decide whether you want to work in the geographic area in which you now live or whether you are willing to move to where the job you really want is located. There may be reasons why you would prefer to live and work near your home. People who successfully pursue the careers of their choice often have mobility. Mobility is the willingness and ability of a person to move to where jobs are located.
The lack of mobility can lead to locational unemployment . This occurs when jobs are available in one place but go unfilled because those who are qualified to fill those jobs live elsewhere and are not willing to relocate.
Economic and Industry TrendsCareer areas with the most potential are influenced by economic trends and current business activities. Consumer demand, changing demographic trends, and new technology are factors that often affect career opportunities. As shown in Figure 9-2 on the previous page, service industries are expected to have the greatest employment potential.
While these are fields with strong future demand, do not limit yourself. Every career area will need new employees. Think about your personal interests and abilities in addition to economic and business trends.