201005 Career Investigation

Investigate careers with these high school worksheets!

Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 1. Investigating Careers• Will likely be necessary before making career decisions•Includes learning the following about possible career paths: – day-to-day tasks and activities – challenging experiences – rewarding experiences – misconceptions•Includes: – entry-level employment – military services – steps required to participate in different careers – education needed • apprenticeships • community college • technical college • universities Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 2. Resources• For learning about careers include: – the Internet – counselors – personal interviews – volunteering – job shadowing – internships – part-time jobs Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 3. The Internet• Can be a great starting point for investigating careers – there is an abundance of career information available, including: • job descriptions • job outlooks • qualifications and requirements • earnings • advancement opportunities Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 4. Internet Resources•Are NOT all equal – be sure websites used are sponsored by credible, established organizations • sources most likely to be credible are those ending in “.gov”,“.org” and “.edu” – use a variety of sources to allow for comparison and consensusDid you know? The organization which approves and regulates domain names in the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a privately held, nonprofit organization in California. Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 5. Reliable Internet Resources•Include: – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • www.bls.gov – CareerOneStop • www.careeronestop.org – O*net Online • www.onetonline.org – The Career Key • www.careerkey.org Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 6. Counselors•Are experts on career exploration and decision making• Can help individuals sort through the vast amount of information and apply it to their specific career goals• Ask questions to provide guidance concerning career goals and plans• Can be found in high schools, colleges and commercial career centers• May request participation in self-assessments• Will ask questions and discuss various career options• Will not provide specific instructions, but suggestions, information and guidance concerning career goals and plans Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 7. Personal Interviews• With those currently employed in fields of interest are a great way to gain insight into careers – find professionals in careers being considered, arrange interviews, ask for information and advice • Can also help when building a network of professional contacts• Should be held in a professional manner – develop questions and discussion points beforehand – dress appropriately – be polite, gracious and considerate – listen and express interest – express thanks – consider asking for suggestions of others who would be helpful to talk to Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 8. Volunteering•Is the act of offering services without the expectation of payment•Allows for observation of job duties and tasks•Provides an opportunity to experience the atmosphere and culture of a career field•Allows for skill development specific to the career• Can help when building a network of professional contacts•Opportunities can be found through many different organizations in many different career fields – to search opportunities use: • volunteermatch.org • idealist.org • handsonnetwork.orgDid you know? On any given day, there are more than 10,000 volunteer opportunities in the United States. Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 9. Job Shadowing•Is a program in which students learn about an occupation by following a professional throughout the work day• Offers a chance to observe the day-to-day activities of a job•Provides the opportunity to have questions answered• May be available through programs at high schools and colleges• Programs are also offered by some companies, organizations and government agencies• May also be set up on an individual basis through students’ utilization of professional contacts Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 10. Virtual Job Shadowing•Allows students to experience job shadowing through the Internet – professionals participate in video interviews and answer questions about job responsibilities, qualifications and more Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 11. Internships•Are a temporary form of employment with an emphasis on supervised on-the-job training• May be paid or unpaid• May be part-time or full-time•Allow students to get exposure and gain experience in a career field without long-term commitment• Typically include work directly related to the career field• May also include some menial tasks• Require skills including: – time management – communication – organization – initiative – ability to learn and adapt•Are a great way to enhance a résumé because they count as work experience•Are a great way to build a professional network of contacts• Can be found through: – high school and college counselors – online internship databases – utilization of professional contacts Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 12. Part-Time Jobs•Allow for career exploration while earning work experience and money• Can provide valuable lessons about commitment, time management and responsibility• Can enhance a résumé Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 13. Investigating Careers•Is a process requiring patience, flexibility, thought and reflection – be open-minded and willing to take on tasks which might not be considered desirable – be enthusiastic and do not become discouraged if things do not go as expected – be purposeful and think about how each experience affects career goals Fill in the blanks to complete each statement. 14. Career Planning•Is vital for individuals who want to be successful and effectively plan their career path• Requires knowledge and understanding of the career, including: – determining academic and training requirements• Positively affects an individual’s career path and improves the following: – job satisfaction – productivity – motivation – loyalty – security – work life balance