THEME II: Career Research and Planning

What do you mean I have to earn a living? Are you telling me I have to keep going to school or continue learning in order to succeed?

US citizens now compete with those in other countries for jobs. Connections between skills, talents, and abilities, and one's education with the amount of income one can earn is lost on many teens. Earning an income to support ones self completely is a difficult step for many people to make. Even students who have been working part time during their high school years have not been responsible for their food, clothing, shelter, and utilities. Many do not pay for their transportation, recreation and/or entertainment expenses. Independence results in major reality checks. Many take the first job opportunity that comes along whether or not it matches their skills, interests, abilities, and values. Lessons in this unit are designed to provide information, focus, and a plan for choosing a career.

Career Research Lessons Overview
The unit begins with the students examining their strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes through inventories. Inventory results are used to match students with possible career choices. Some students are interested in starting their own businesses so entrepreneurship is also examined. Using the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site for its Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Delaware Career Compass, each student researches various careers/jobs to find:

• Nature of the Work
• Working Conditions
• Training required
• Future demand
• Amount of competition
• Earnings
• Opportunities for advancement
• Related occupations

Using a decision grid, students evaluate which occupation suits them best at this time.

• THEME I
• THEME III
• THEME IV
• THEME V