Career Narrative Assignment
A career narrative is a 1 ½ - 2 ½ page typed essay that defines your career goals and
tells the reader who you are and why you have chosen this path. You’ll highlight your
interests, talents, and abilities as you relate them to a possible career goal. This
experience will help you to construct a personal graduation plan (PGP) that supports
your education and future college and career goals.
Section 1: Career Plan Sheet
Complete this plan sheet. This information will help you write your Career Narrative,
Complete one based on what you know about yourself and information you have
learned about yourself in class.
Part 1 Personal Profile
Interests: What do you like to do, what intrigues you, what do you enjoy learning about
and doing. This may include hobbies, sports, music, clubs, etc. BE SPECIFIC!
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________
Skills: What can you do? Do you communicate well, speak well, manage money, fix
things, computer skills, etc.
5. _______________________________________________________
6. _______________________________________________________
7. _______________________________________________________
8. _______________________________________________________
Aptitudes: What areas do you excel in naturally? Are you good with numbers,
communication, etc.?
9. _______________________________________________________
10. _______________________________________________________
11. _______________________________________________________
12. _______________________________________________________
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
Personal Characteristics: This includes all of your qualities and personal attributes. Are
you patient, a good problem solver, competitive, etc.?
13. _______________________________________________________
14. _______________________________________________________
15. _______________________________________________________
16. _______________________________________________________
Values: These are the things you hold deeply and are essential to you. Include things
like, gaining recognition and respect, creating new things, helping others, etc.
17. _______________________________________________________
18. _______________________________________________________
19. _______________________________________________________
20. _______________________________________________________
Work Environment: Describe your preferred work environment. (Inside, outside, tasks
performed, dress code, etc.)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Geographic preference: Where do you want to live? Big City? Small Town? Stay in
TX? Travel frequently?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Educational Level:
How many years of post-secondary education do you want to pursue? _____________
What options for further education are you willing to consider (community college,
university, technical school?) ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
What resources do you have to finance your education? (Scholarships, loans, parents, etc.)
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Lifestyle Conditions: Consider your desired standard of living. In today’s dollar what
would be acceptable for starting pay? BE REALISTIC
Visit, http://www.texasrealitycheck.com/ to determine if you are being realistic.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Part 2: Career Plan
For this section you need to have a specific career in mind. Refer to the research that
you recently conducted. The career I am planning on pursuing is:
______________________________________________________________________
1. Write a job description for this job. This should include main duties and responsibilities
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Is this job related to my interests? yes
no
Explain:_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
3. What main skills does this job require? Do you already possess these skills or are you
planning to learn them?
Skill
Have/Don’t have
Where learned
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Does this career choice conflict with any of your values? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. How well do your personal characteristics fit with the career choice?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. How well does the work environment match with your preferences?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
7. What is the required level of education? _____________________________________
8. Are there options for the degrees, certifications, or other postsecondary training you
need?_________________________________________________________________
9. Where can you get it?____________________________________________________
10. How long will it take?_____________________________________________________
11. How much is this training going to cost?______________________________________
12. What plan do you have to pay for your education?______________________________
Education required ______________________________________________________
Where can you get the education? __________________________________________
How long will it take to complete the training? _________________________________
How much will it cost? ___________________________________________________
How will you pay for it?_______________________________________________
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
13. Will this afford you the lifestyle you desire? What is the pay range you can expect? Are
their any special benefits that are common in this job? Are there significant life style
choices associated with this career? (travel, high stress, long hours, etc.)
Pay range: Starting Salary _________ Average _________ Top __________
Special considerations:
______________________________________________________________________
14. What are the negative aspects or possible disadvantages to pursuing this career?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
15. What is the job outlook? Are there any roadblocks that may make it difficult to achieve
this goal? How might you overcome these obstacles? Explain.
Job Outlook:____________________________________________________________
Roadblocks:____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Overcoming obstacles:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Overall, does this career seem a good match for you? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Now that you have thoughtfully considered your future goals relating to your
career, use the information to write your report.
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
Career Narrative Rubric
Content
Title page
5
Introduction
15
Body
50
Conclusion
Mechanics
(5) has title page
typed neatly with
name, date and
titles
(4) has title page
typed, with name,
date and titles
(2-3) Title page is
messy or
handwritten
(0-1) no title page
(15) clear and
complete,
interesting,
presented in a way
which makes the
audience want to
read it
(50) Covers all
topics presented in
the directions plus
other information,
flows smoothly.
with good
transitions
(20) Clear and
complete
statements
including a
thoughtful
description of
advantages and
disadvantages,
steps to fulfill
career goal clear,
all stated in a
positive manner
and enthusiastic
(30) Easy to read
and written in
proper format, less
than 2 grammar or
punctuation errors
typed as stated in
directions
(10-14) clear and
complete,
somewhat lacking
creativity contains
5 of 6 components
outlined in
directions
(40-49) Covers all
topics presented in
the directions,
flows smoothly.
with good
transitions
(5-9) Statement
not clear, lack of
interest contains 4
of 6 components
outlined in
directions
(0-4) Not
interesting
contains less than
4 components
outlined in
directions
(30-39) Covers 3
of 4 topics
presented in the
directions,
flows less
smoothly with fair
transitions
(10-14)Less clear
and complete
statements
including some
advantages and
disadvantages,
attempts to
describe steps to
fulfill career goal
clear, not as
positively stated
(0-29) ) Covers 2
or less of the
topics presented in
the directions,
does not flow
smoothly with
weak transitions
(0-9) not clear and
complete
statements, does
not include
advantages and
disadvantages,
attempts to
describe steps to
fulfill career goal
clear, not as
positively stated
(15-24) Not as
easy to read and
written in proper
format, less than 6
grammar or
punctuation errors,
typed as stated in
directions
(0-14) Not easy to
read and not
written in proper
format, more than
6 grammar or
punctuation errors,
font hard to read
or not typed at all
(15-19) Clear and
complete
statements
including
advantages and
disadvantages,
attempts to
describe steps to
fulfill career goal
clear, all stated in
a positive manner
and enthusiastic
(25-29) Easy to
read and written in
proper format, less
than 4 grammar or
punctuation errors
typed as stated in
directions
Totals
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
Section 2: Career Narrative
Now you should be ready to write your career narrative. Your final draft needs to be
typed. It should be in essay form and will be the introduction to your 4 th quarter project,
the Portfolio. Failure to complete this project will result in an incomplete and
possibly failing and loss of credit. Grading will be based on the attached rubric.
 Type should be 12 font in a plain, easy to read font such as Arial, New Times
Roman, etc.
 1 ½ -2 ½ pages
 1 ½ line spacing
Introduction:
Define your career goal. If you do not know for sure what you want to be, at least
identify a career cluster. Explain why you have chosen this career. What interests you
about it? Why do you think you would be successful at it? What experiences you have
had so far that lead you to think you would like this career?
Body:
Describe the career in all of the following areas:
 Job description: duties and responsibilities of the position
 Personal qualities/characteristics needed for success
 Working conditions and environment
 Average salary
 Benefits
 Educational requirements
 Cost and time of education
 Where you can get the education needed
Conclusion:
 Include advantages and disadvantages for this career. It should be clear in your
writing that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. List the disadvantages
followed by the advantages.
 What Specific plans do you have for pursuing this career? Include further work
experience, classes/programs you will take post-secondary plans.
 End on a positive note. This should be a sample of your best work!!!
Online Examples and Resources for Crafting a Career Narrative:
1. http://poster.4teachers.org/worksheet/view.php?ID=55173
2. http://teacherweb.com/OH/SpringfieldClarkJVS/EmploymentsearchwebQuest/ap1.aspx
3. https://alumni.asu.edu/news/blog/whats-your-story-crafting-career-narrative
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc
Career Narrative Assignment
Adapted for use in Texas from the original source: Mesa Public Schools; Mesa, AZ;
http://www.mpsaz.org/cte/teachers/teacher_resources/files/career_narrative.doc