1 Making the Transition from School to Career

Section 1.1 Importance of Work

Objectives After completing this section, you will be able to: Describe the reasons most people work. Explain how the career clusters can help you prepare for college and career success.

Key Terms job occupation career associate degree bachelor degree occupational trend career clusters career pathway job shadowing

Why Do People Work? Chances are you will spend more time working than doing any other activity in your lifetime In addition to earning money, many people work for other reasons Work helps to define who we are and gives meaning to our lives

Why Do People Work? (continued) Work can help you Feel good about yourself Have a positive attitude about life Make life-long friends Continue to learn and grow Work can be either drudgery or a joy Taking time to explore your career options will help you find a job that you will like and that you do well

Exploring the World of Work A key concern of people entering the workforce is finding a job they enjoy It is rare for a person to stay at the same job for a lifetime Work that requires the use of related skills and experience is called an occupation A career is a progression of related occupations that results in employment and personal growth

Education and Training Requirements Having the education necessary to enter a profession of choice is very important Jobs that do not require a degree or technical training usually provide on-the-job training Many jobs require at least an associate degree About 20 percent of jobs may require at least a bachelor degree

Education and Training Requirements Goodheart-Willcox Publisher

Future Occupational Trends Occupational trends are research-based forecasts about which jobs will most likely be needed Advances in technology and changes in society shape occupational trends An aging population An increased concern for health and fitness A high interest in recreation and entertainment New ways of communicating based on new technologies

Career Clusters One of the best ways to learn about careers is by studying the career clusters Career clusters are groups of occupational and career specialties Each cluster shows a grouping of occupations and industries and the skills that are required for each Each cluster includes several career directions, called career pathways

Career Exploration When making career decisions, consider your interests and abilities Use as many different resources as you can Attend career events at school and listen to guest speakers Participate in field trips to different employers in your community Consider learning more about the world of work through job shadowing or volunteering

Preparing for Career Success Section 1.2 Preparing for Career Success

Objectives After completing this section, you will be able to: Describe the difference between possessing knowledge and having skills. Explain the importance of transferable skills as you consider college and career opportunities.

Key Terms skill transferable skill

Career Knowledge and Skills Different jobs require different skills and knowledge Many jobs also require certain similar abilities or skills in all workers Employers tend to prefer employees with skills that can transfer from one job to another Preparation for the world of work begins long before you actually have a job or career

Career Knowledge and Skills (continued) Knowledge and skills in these areas are essential for employees Academic foundations Communications Problem solving and critical thinking Information technology applications Systems Safety, health, and environment Leadership and teamwork Ethics and legal responsibilities Employability and career development Technical skills

Transferable Skills Transferable skills are skills used in one job that can also be used in another job These skills may be specialized skills or broader skills, such as problem solving Your future success will depend on developing skills that can be used now and applied to future work opportunities

What are two places in your community where you might volunteer your services? What job skills could you learn or improve by volunteering at these places? What is one transferable skill you have learned in school that could be applied on a job?