Read to Learn How to use formal and informal methods to research careers How to evaluate sources of career information How to identify work experience that can help you explore careers

Main Idea Exploring careers will help you find the employment possibilities that best match your interests, values, and personal needs.

Key Concepts Researching Career Options Learning from Experience

Key Terms career clusters exploratory interview temp work cooperative program job shadowing internship service learning

Researching Career Options The U.S. Department of Education has organized careers into 16 different career clusters. career clusters groups of related occupations

The U.S. Department of Education Career Clusters Figure 3.1 The U.S. Department of Education Career Clusters

The U.S. Department of Education Career Clusters Figure 3.1 The U.S. Department of Education Career Clusters

Researching Career Options To research career options, you need to know how to find sources of information. Primary Source Secondary Source Information that other people have gathered Original information

Informal Search You can discover some of what the world has to offer simply by keeping your eyes and ears open.

Informal Search Interview people you know about their career experiences and ask the following questions: What was your favorite job? What was your least favorite job? What was your most unusual job? How do you like your current job?

Finding Career Inspiration You can find inspiration by observing and interacting with individuals. You can also find inspiration through characters portrayed in visual, print, and digital media.

Formal Research Formal research is fully developed, formally presented, and gives you enough information to act on your ideas.

Formal Research As you research, keep a log of what you find. When you find a source, write the author or name of the organization that put the information together.

Formal Research As you find information, you will need to determine how credible the sources are. Check the information against other sources you have found.

Formal Research Sources in Libraries Reference books Magazines CDs DVDs Librarians

Formal Research Sources in Books The Occupational Outlook Handbook The Guide for Occupational Exploration

Formal Research Additional Resources The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature Business magazines such as Wired and Business Week The Occupational Outlook Quarterly Labor organizations Industry service groups

Formal Research Internet Career Resources Employment or job skill Web sites Online bulletin boards Local, national, and international job posting sites Specific company or organization Web sites Government sites such as O*NET

Formal Research Most career Web sites list job opportunities according to industry title, key duties, location, and other criteria. When searching online, choose specific search terms.

Formal Research Since anyone can post information on the Internet, you need to make sure the information you use is from a credible source.

Exploratory Interviews Build a list of people who work in careers that you find interesting. Call someone on the list and set up an exploratory interview. exploratory interview a short, informal talk with someone who works in a career that appeals to you

Exploratory Interviews Exploratory Interview Questions How did you start your career? What education and training did it require? What do you like about your job? What do you do during a typical workday?

Exploratory Interviews After an exploratory interview, write your reflections down in a folder labeled Career Resource File. You can place this file in your Personal Academic and Career Portfolio.

Learning from Experience By working part-time, you will gain experience, make personal contacts, and put some money in your pocket at the same time.

Learning from Experience Temp work gives an opportunity to develop job skills, learn about different work environments, and develop contacts. temp work temporary work

Work Experience Programs A cooperative program can give you a chance to learn job skills while you are still in high school. cooperative program an arrangement in which local businesses team up with schools, hiring students to perform jobs that use knowledge and skills taught in their school classes

Job Shadowing Job shadowing can help you learn firsthand what it would be like to work in a particular field. job shadowing following a worker on the job for a few days

Volunteering, Internships, and Community Work Volunteer work is work you do without receiving pay. Volunteers gain valuable experience that can help them make career decisions.

Volunteering, Internships, and Community Work An internship can sometimes lead to full-time, paying positions. internship a short-term job or work project that usually requires formal commitment

Volunteering, Internships, and Community Work Many communities and schools offer service learning programs as a way to explore careers. service learning connecting academic work with community service, allowing students to explore issues discussed in the classroom through personal experiences and community work

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Describe one informal method of researching careers. Section 3.1 After You Read Describe one informal method of researching careers. Talking to people and using media resources can be seen as informal methods of research when they are used simply to generate ideas rather than gather specific information for a report.

Section 3.1 After You Read Distinguish between types of information you would find using the O*NET and the Guide for Occupational Exploration. Though they are both government resources, the O*Net provides worker attributes and job characteristics, while the Guide for Occupational Exploration groups careers by category and describes occupations within each category.

Explain how unpaid volunteer work might help you choose a career. Section 3.1 After You Read Explain how unpaid volunteer work might help you choose a career. Possible answers include being able to observe a career from the inside, gaining experience, developing contacts, and learning what employers want.

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