Career Exploration
	Introduction /  Task / Conclusion by Jeff MacFarland and Joyce Valenza

Images from Free Foto.com

Introduction

Welcome to the career portion of the senior seminar self-analysis.  Most of us have a concept of a "dream job."  This activity will give you the opportunity to explore a number of jobs, some you dream about, even some jobs you may think you'd hate. You'll explore your talents, personal preferences and maybe even discover a career you never before considered! Hopefully this will help you sort through your topic selection over the next two weeks and beyond!

Your task

1.  Create a list of three potential careers

• List #1 should be three careers that you would absolutely love to have.

• List #2 should be three careers that you believe you'd absolutely hate!

2.  Find out a little more about your personality.  Take the Myers-Briggs test

3.  Explore careers that might be suited to your personality by taking the Princeton Review Quiz

4. Now it's time to research the careers you originally selected or found through the Career Quiz. Use these Websites to help you explore your two careers.

• Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/oco/
• Career Browser http://cbweb9p.collegeboard.org/career/bin/career.pl
• Career Explorer http://careerexplorer.net/careers.asp

5. Use the information you've collection to prepare a trading card.  You will need to summarize your information into meaningful, concise bullet points!

For the careers you explored, share with the class two completed organizers (you should have one from your dream job list and one from your "anything but dream job" list.):

• rationale for career choice
• a brief description
• education
• salary and benefits
• physical demands
• job outlook
• working conditions (indoors, outdoors, stress factors, people contact/isolated, etc.)
• possibility of advancement

Important: Consider the personality and career inventory tests you took.  Respond to these questions:

• How do the test reports of your interests and aptitudes inform you about your likely success in the career that most interests you? 
• Do these reports offer any valuable information?
• Do your skills and aptitudes prepare you for the career that most interests you?

Conclusion:

The average person will change jobs more than seven times in his or her life. What you think you may want to do for a living now, may change over the next five years. Your interests and aptitudes can help guide you in making informed choices. You may be surprised that jobs you never considered may be right for you. Remember you will spend most of your waking hours at work. You might as well enjoy it!

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