1. Direct Your Future
Module 1:
Scanning the World of Possibilities

2. The World of Work Objectives
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
State three reasons why it is important to spend time and energy doing career exploration.
List the influences on your career thinking to date.
Describe how occupations can be grouped into clusters.
Sort occupations into these clusters.
(*Optional)Select two of these 16 clusters as favorites based on present knowledge and your Kuder® Career Search with Person Match and Kuder® Skills Assessment reports.
Direct Your Future
1-2

3. Dictator The World of Work ˈdikˌtādər/ noun
A ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force.
Direct Your Future
5-2

4. The World of Work
The Dictator Game
Direct Your Future
5-2

5. Reasons Why Career Planning is Important
A major portion of your life –at least percent of your waking time –is spent at work.
Good career planning improves the chances that you will be satisfied with your work. Satisfaction in work affects other parts of your life.
The amount of money earned through work affects your lifestyle.
Work is a way to express your interests, skills, and values.
Work is a way to structure your time.
Direct Your Future
1-3

6. Influences on Career Decisions
Parent(s)/guardians and other relatives.
Counselors, teachers, and coaches.
Friends.
Television and/or the Internet.
Experiences.
School activities and coursework.
Part-time jobs or volunteer work (community service).
Direct Your Future
1-4

7. Direct Your Future
16 Career Clusters

8. 16 Career Clusters 16 Career Clusters
Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Architecture and Construction
Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications
Business, Management, and Administration
Education and Training
Finance
Government and Public Administration
Health Science
Hospitality and Tourism
Human Services
Information Technology
Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
Manufacturing
Marketing, Sales, and Service
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Direct Your Future
5-3

9. Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Occupations related to farming, ranching, forestry, and saving natural resources. Workers in this cluster may:
Work outside, or a combination of indoors and outdoors.
Work with plants and animals.
Be in charge of growing food and preparing it for sale.
Examples: food scientist, wildlife manager, waste water manager, and farm manager.
Direct Your Future
5-4

10. Architecture and Construction
Occupations related to planning houses and building them. Workers in this cluster may:
Work outdoors or indoors.
Draw the plans for buildings.
Build part of a house or building.
Repair a house or building.
Restore an old house or building.
Examples: architect, surveyor, cost estimator, building code inspector, plumber, pipefitter, electrician, and steamfitter.
Direct Your Future
5-5

11. Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications
Occupations related to communicating with or entertaining others. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors in studios, offices, or on the stage.
Create something new through writing, art, or composing music.
Report events or opinions through newspaper writing or making films.
Entertain others through acting, singing, dancing, or other art forms.
Examples: video systems technician, audio systems technician, web designer, interior designer, dancer, editor, stage designer, announcer, music teacher.
Direct Your Future
5-6

12. Business, Management, and Administration
Occupations related to making businesses operate. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Plan and manage the day-to-day operation of a business.
Supervise the work of others.
Support the work of others by taking care of clerical work and details.
Examples: auditor, public relations specialist, business analyst, market researcher, sales manager, court reporter, desktop publisher, receptionist.
Direct Your Future
5-7

13. Education and Training
Occupations related to teaching young people or adults. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Teach children or adults new knowledge or skills.
Design and develop curriculum.
Supervise teachers.
Manage large school districts or training programs.
Examples: school superintendent, instructional coordinator, counselor, speech-language pathologist, professor, child care worker, special education teacher.
Direct Your Future
5-8

14. Finance
Occupations related to managing and keeping track of money. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Invest money for people.
Keep track of money for businesses or banks.
Put together insurance plans for people or companies.
Examples: personal financial advisor, tax preparer, accountant, credit analyst, loan officer, teller, actuary, claims agent, insurance appraiser, bill and account collector.
Direct Your Future
5-9

15. Government and Public Administration
Occupations related to government and public service. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Work in a state or federal agency.
Hold a public office.
Represent the United States in another country.
Examples: legislative aide, ambassador, submarine officer, census clerk, tax auditor, bank examiner, border inspector, Equal Opportunity Officer.
Direct Your Future
5-10

16. Health Science
Occupations related to making or keeping people well. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Serve people’s physical or mental needs by providing direct services.
Do research related to health, disease, or nutrition.
Supervise facilities where people with physical or mental needs are located.
Examples: certified nursing assistant, nutritionist, social worker, molecular biologist, pharmaceutical scientist, geneticist.
Direct Your Future
5-11

17. Hospitality and Tourism
Occupations related to restaurants, hotels/motels, travel plans, or entertainment. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Manage restaurants, hotels, or amusement parks.
Plan travel for other people.
Advertise or sell all kinds of travel arrangements.
Examples: restaurant owner, baker, kitchen steward, laundry supervisor, executive housekeeper, resorts scheduler, gaming and casino manager.
Direct Your Future
5-12

18. Human Services
Occupations that serve the personal needs of others. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Improve the lives of others in some way.
Provide personal care to others.
Provide counseling or other mental health services.
Provide spiritual care.
Examples: elementary school counselor, teacher’s assistant, mental health counselor, psychologist, dietician, geriatric service worker, certified financial planner.
Direct Your Future
5-13

19. Information Technology
Occupations related to providing computer or web-based services. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Write computer programs.
Manage computer databases.
Plan and operate computer networks.
Examples: network engineer, data administrator, programmer, software tester, web administrator, animator, technical support analyst.
Direct Your Future
5-14

20. Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security
Occupations that protect the public. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors or outdoors.
Protect people from crime.
Protect people from fire or other harmful events.
Enforce laws or the decisions of the court.
Examples: jail administrator, youth services worker, fire inspector, firefighter, police officer, private detective, attorney, court reporter, paralegal.
Direct Your Future
5-15

21. Manufacturing
Occupations related to making products. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Plan how products can be made.
Participate in making products.
Manage the production of products.
Check the quality of products.
Examples: assembler, bookbinder, manufacturing technician, design engineer, quality control technician, material handler, traffic manager, environmental engineer.
Direct Your Future
5-16

22. Marketing, Sales, and Service
Occupations related to promoting and selling goods and services. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Make plans to market products or services.
Sell products or services directly to others.
Manage the sale of products and services.
Examples: small business owner, field representative, merchandise buyer, sales associate, copywriter, trade show manager, market analyst, warehouse manager, shipping clerk, customer service representative.
Direct Your Future
5-17

23. Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
Occupations related to design, research, and development. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors.
Do research in a laboratory setting.
Design new things, such as bridges or roads, and build them.
Assist those who design new things in a laboratory setting.
Examples: automotive engineer, biomedical engineer, chemical engineer, civil engineer, chemist, lab technician, biologist, geneticist.
Direct Your Future
5-18

24. Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
Occupations related to moving people and materials. Workers in this cluster may:
Work indoors or outdoors.
Drive or pilot trucks, ships, trains, planes, and other forms of transportation.
Manage people and activities related to moving goods.
Examples: transportation manager, commercial pilot, packers, auto body repairer, railroad inspector, mapping and survey technician, health and safety manager, travel agent.
Direct Your Future
5-19

25. Your Destination
Place yourself in a destination/cluster

26. Optional - Log on to Kuder® Navigator.
Under the tab Learn About Myself, take the Kuder® Career Search with Person Match (interest inventory) and the Kuder® Skills Assessment, following the instructions on Handout 3: Take the Kuder Career Interest and/or Kuder Skills Assessment.
You will receive your reports immediately. Print the complete versions of the reports and bring them to the next class session.
Direct Your Future
5-20