1. In this section:
People who work full time spend 2,000 hours a year working. In order to spend that time doing something you enjoy, you need to know about the jobs and careers available to you. This section discusses:
How Do You Choose a Career?
Achieving Your Career Goals

2. What You’ll Learn
Why your personal characteristics and strengths are important in deciding on a career.
How to assess your abilities, personality, learning style, values, and lifestyle goals.
How to match your personal strengths and characteristics with career options.
How to research career fields and develop a plan to achieve your career goals.

3. Why It’s Important
Understanding yourself is the first step to finding a career you’ll enjoy.

4. Key Terms career • personality learning styles • values
lifestyle • trend
professional association • networking

5. Planning for a Successful Career
Choosing a career is one of the important decisions you’ll ever make. Following these steps will help you get started
1. Assess your interests and abilities.
2. Consider personality, learning style, values, and lifestyle.
3. Research.

6. Eight Styles of Learning
Verbal/Linguistic
Logical/Mathematical
Visual/Spatial
Musical/Rhythmic
Bodily/Kinesthetic
Interpersonal
Naturalistic

7. Values Values guide the way people live. Some examples are:
Achievement
Recognition
Relationships
Compassion
Courage

8. Researching Career Options
There are many places to find career information.
Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Magazines and books
Professional associations
Networking

9. Develop a plan to achieve your career goals.
Educate yourself
Get experience
Consider an internship
Fig 2-1

10. Fact and Idea Review
1. What is the difference between a career and a job?
2. Name three of the personal characteristics you need to consider before deciding on a career.
3. Which learning styles might be best suited to the following professions: accounting, architecture, teaching?
Cont.

11. Fact and Idea Review cont.
4. List three sources of information about careers, and describe the kind of information each provides.
5. True or false: Before you make a plan of action, you should research the career fields you’re interested in. Explain your answer.