Careers and Leadership

Objective 4

Thinking About Careers

Chapter 7

More Than a Paycheck

• Choosing a career today is very difficult• There are more than 200,000 different jobs to

choose from• Working a job is not always about making

money• Working also improves your self-esteem,

makes you feel proud and competent, helps you gain knowledge, develop social relationships, and contribute to society

Self-Assessment

• Doing a personal assessment will help you to understand what you are good at

• Look at your interests, skills, aptitudes, personality traits, and values to help make that decision

Career Exploration

• The public library has many resources on jobs

• The Department of Labor publishes the Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Dictionary of Occupational Titles• Both give specific information about

jobs

Cont.

• Interviews• Talk to someone that works doing

what you are interested in

• Observing/Job Shadowing• Follow a person in the occupation you

are interested in and see if you are still interested in it

Career Preparation

• Once you figure what career you would like, you need to know what type of education is required

• Possibilities for training:• High school, technical institutes, trade

schools, apprenticeships, U.S. armed services, community college, four-year college or university, and graduate schools

Career Planning

• Now that you have explored different careers and know their requirements, it is time to plan

• Set goals for yourself• Make decisions now and know how

they will affect you later

Cont.

• Work a part-time job• Volunteer in the community• Internships• Apprenticeships• Cooperative education programs

A Clear Focus

• Starting to plan for your future now is important

• Stay focused on your goal and remember what you accomplish now will affect your future!