2. Chapter 15 Making Career Decisions
Part 3—Career Planning
Chapter 15 Making Career Decisions

3. Chapter Objectives Explain the decision-making process.
Apply the decision-making process to developing a career plan.
Identify other applications for the decision-making process.

4. Key Concepts
Using the seven steps of the decision-making process helps you make major decisions carefully and logically.
Developing a career plan will help you succeed in achieving your career goals.
A career ladder shows a sequence of related jobs that are available at different educational levels.
Using decision-making skills can positively affect your personal life, the decisions you make at work, and your purchasing decisions.

5. The Decision-Making Process
Decision-making process: A seven-step process for making important decisions carefully and logically.
You make decisions every day. Some decisions are routine and others are major.
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6. The Decision-Making Process
Routine decisions: Choices that you make automatically about everyday matters, such as what to eat and wear.
These decisions are generally very easy to make and do not affect your life to a great extent.
Major decisions: Tough choices requiring careful thought because they affect your career and personal life.
These decisions are significant because they take considerable resources and tend to have long-lasting effects.

7. Decision-Making Steps
When you make big decisions, follow the seven steps of the decision-making process.
Define the problem.
Establish goals.
Identify resources.
Consider the alternatives.
Make a decision.
Implement the decision.
Evaluate the results.

8. Career Decisions Your career choice will determine your entire future.
Career decisions need to be made carefully with thought and planning.
The way you live, people you meet, money you earn, and satisfaction you get from life will be determined by the work you choose.

9. Making a Career Plan
Career plan: A list of steps to take to reach your career goal.
Before you can make a career plan, it is important to know the following about yourself:
Interests, aptitudes, and abilities.
Strengths and weaknesses.
Significant personality traits.
Values.
Short- and long-term goals.
Resources.
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10. Making a Career Plan Within each step a career plan examines:
Extracurricular and volunteer activities.
Work or job experience.
Education and training requirements.
As you plan your career, keep in mind what will be most satisfying to you.

11. Creating a Career Ladder
Entry-level job: Work for beginners who lack experience or specialized training.
Advanced-level job: Work that requires special skills, knowledge, and experience.
Career ladder: A sequence of related jobs—from entry-level to advanced—available at different education levels.
There is no single route to achieving your career goal.

12. Using the Decision-Making Process
The decision-making process is a skill you can use throughout your life to make major decisions.
This skill can have a positive effect on your personal life, work decisions, and purchasing decisions.

13. Making Personal Decisions
Major decisions you will have to make in your personal life include choosing a college, dating, getting engaged, and choosing a marriage partner.
Other decisions may involve your lifestyle and health.

14. Making Work Decisions
Decisions you make at work can be simple, but sometimes you may have to gather facts and make a choice.
Decisions could include accepting a promotion, transferring to another department, asking for a raise, changing your schedule, and finding a new job.

15. Making Consumer Decisions
You will make consumer choices throughout your life about food, clothing, transportation, energy, and housing.
Financial decisions you make may include budgeting, saving, or investing.

16. Thinking Back
Give an example of when you have used the decision-making process.
What is your career plan?
How have you used the decision-making process to make personal, work, and consumer decisions?