CAREER PLANNING
TR1
GRADE 6&7
LESSON 5
A. Career Planning Checklist: Middle School
Here are a few things you can do as early as middle school to get started on a successful path to your
future career. Don't worry if you don't yet know what that career is!
1. Be a good student and work hard to get good grades.
You may wonder how your grades in middle school can affect your future career path. Believe it or not, your
grades count a lot. Grades are the only way colleges, employers, and others in positions of authority can
objectively measure your performance.
Middle school is the perfect time to identify what kind of student you are and where there's room for
improvement. You may even want to talk to your teachers about ways you can better your grades. If you wait
until high school, it will be too late.
There is simply no downside to getting good grades.
2. Develop good study habits.
Not only do good study habits lead to good grades, they provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning.
After all, learning doesn't stop when you finish high school or college…
A good way to improve your study habits is to figure out how you learn best. For example, if you're a visual
learner, flash cards may help you study more effectively. And if you're an auditory learner, it may help you to
read your assignments out loud. Knowing how you learn will make it easier for you to absorb new
information.
Good study habits will benefit you long after your school years end.
3. Do your homework.
Homework may seem like a hassle, especially when you've got so many other things on your plate, like soccer
practice and marching band. But doing homework is part of your job as a student.
Homework is a great way to show that you can get things done without supervision. (When you're part of the
working world, many work-related responsibilities will seem no different from homework.) So get in to the
habit of doing your homework and finishing it on time.
Homework is practice.
4. Read books, magazines, and online publications for fun.
Don't limit learning to just your schoolwork. Reading in your free time, just for fun, will help you increase
your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and reading speed.
Reading for fun also allows you to study topics that interest you but may not be taught in the classroom—
maybe skateboarding or gaming. Do some research on your own and stay up to date on what's going on in
that field. You never know when a hobby may turn into something more.
The more interests you have, the more opportunities you have.
5. Get involved in extracurricular activities.
When admissions counselors or employers review your application, your extracurricular activities—sports,
music, clubs—give them a glimpse into your character. That's because extracurricular activities require skills
you won't necessarily learn in class: teamwork, leadership, responsibility.
Such real-world skills contribute to the strength of your character. And the stronger your character, the more
attractive you are as a potential candidate.
Extracurricular activities can help you strengthen your character.
6. Identify several career areas that may interest you.
Use the results from KUDER Career Assessment. Or you can still check out the career clusters listed to see if
any match your interests and abilities. Choosing a career that you like and you are good at will be a big part of
your future happiness. Use TR2 and TR3.
B. Career goal:
Example:
To become a Physical Therapy Assistant (assist physical therapists in providing treatments and
procedures)
Requirements:
 Training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience or an associate’s degree. Some
require a bachelor’s degree.
 Excellent communication skills
 Critical Thinking
 Being able to monitor and assess situations
 Time management
 Service oriented
 Learn strategies and procedures quickly and precisely
 Writing skills
Current skills and interests:
 Summer work for ABC Nursing Facility and Rehab
 Volunteer at XYZ Special Learning Center
 Served as class vice-president for 3 years
 High school biology courses-4.0 grade point average
 High school geometry and algebra classes-3.75 grade point average
 High school speech and debate class-3.80 grade point average
 Played basketball/softball throughout junior high/high school
Plan to reach career goal:
 Associates degree: LMN State Technical College
 Work directly with PT at ABC Nursing Facility and Rehab
 Complete two 40-hour observation sessions of physical therapy
 Job experience:
 Continue as a volunteer at XYZ Special Learning Center
 Work directly with PT at ABC Nursing Facility
C. It's Not All About Money!
When thinking about what you want to do for the rest of your life, choose something that you
genuinely like to do, not just something that will make you a lot of money. All of these factors should
weigh in to your decision:
Question: Are my strengths a good "fit" for the job?
Answer: Ask yourself what kind of things you like to do and what you're good at. Are you
comfortable speaking in front of people? Do you like animals? It's easier to narrow down your
career choice if you know your strengths. After all, you may have the smarts to be a veterinarian, but
if you don't like animals, it's probably not the job for you.
Question: Does my choice of career offer work/life balance?
Answer: Everyone has different needs when it comes to work/life balance. What are yours? Certain
careers may require more than 40 hours of your time each week. Will you burn out quickly? Or will
you thrive at the challenge? As you explore careers, consider the impact that each may have on your
personal life.
Question: Will I receive fair compensation/benefits?
Answer: Never choose a job simply because it will make you rich. However, you do want to make
sure that the prospective salary and benefits are suitable for the work you will do. If you feel
underpaid, you may not want to work to the best of your ability.
Question: Will I have opportunity to improve my skills and advance?
Answer: Not everyone loves change. But if you're someone who wants a chance to hone your skills,
move up the ladder, and tackle more challenging projects, choose a career with a lot of growth
potential. Growing industries can offer the most diversity in terms of responsibilities and
opportunities.
Question: Do setting and environment matter to me?
Answer: Take stock of your surroundings and how they affect you. Do you picture yourself working
in an office or outside in the fresh air? Do you like being around lots of people, or do you think more
clearly on your own? Considering that you will spend more than one-third of your waking hours at
work, these issues should be an important part of your career decision-making.
Prioritize Your Needs
There are many other factors that go into job satisfaction—job location, daily stresses, colleagues.
You can take some preventive steps by choosing a career that is compatible with your outlook and
your vision of the future.
Prioritize the top five or 10 things you need most from a career and start your search.
Want to Know More?
Find careers for the factors most important to your job satisfaction:
 Achievement
 Independence
 Recognition
 Relationships
 Support
 Working conditions
D. Schools for Your Career
You've decided on a career. Now how do you choose a school?
To find the best schools for the major or career that interests you, visit the College Board website.
The College Board has an expansive list of majors/careers that allows you to drill down to a specific
selection.
Major & Career Profiles
Are you there yet? After you read about the major/career, take a look to the right of the page. Select
the link near the top to find out which colleges offer a program in that field.
From the list of colleges, you can choose a school to get more details:
 Find out if you are on track to meet the program requirements.
 See where you stack up with the current freshman class.
 Assess the college costs and financial aid opportunities.
Take the time to figure out if the school is a good fit for you.
Want to Know More?
 Check out these other good resources on the Web:
o College Navigator from the National Center for Education Statistics
o My Colleges and Careers on Facebook