Concept #3

 How do you think you could find out about careers that interest you?

Topic #3.1

 Describe formal and informal methods of researching careers.  Evaluate sources of career information.  Identify work experiences that can help you explore careers.

 The U.S. Department of Education has organized careers into 16 different career clusters.  Career Cluster:  Groups of related occupations.  Choose one cluster and then start exploring related careers that might be right for you.

 Formal research is fully developed and formally presented and gives you enough information to act on your ideas.  Informal research can be conducted simply by observing the world around you.  How to gather research information:  Books  Internet Career Resources  Libraries

 The most direct way to learn about a career is to work.  Ways to Gain Experience:  Cooperative Programs:  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.  Internships:  A short-term job or work project that usually requires formal commitment.  Job Shadowing:  Involves following a worker on the job for a day or two.  You will gain experience and make personal contacts.

Topic #3.2:

 Develop key questions to ask when researching and assessing careers.  Identify the characteristics used to develop a career profile.  Determine the education and training needs for different careers.

 You can find out more about a career by examining a career in terms of the following characteristics:  Values  Tasks and Responsibilities  Working with Data-People-Things  Work Environment:  You physical and social surroundings at work.  Working Hours:  Flextime:  Workers construct their work schedules to suit their lives.  Aptitudes and Abilities  Education and Training:  Career Pathways:  Routes that lead to a particular career.  Salary and Benefits:  Benefits:  Employment extras.  Career Outlook  International Career Outlook

 How do I find out about careers that interest me?

 Kimbrell, G. (2012). “Succeeding in the world of work.” McGraw-Hill; NewYork.