CAREER LAB
Overview
You know that choosing a career is a very important decision. However, you still aren’t
sure what you want to do with the rest of your life. You have decided to use the decision-making
process to help you make some preliminary career choices. Based on your personal needs,
values, and interests, you will identify three careers that appeal to you. In this project, you will
perform the research necessary to make some solid decisions about your future.
Assignment
Research three careers that seem compatible with your interests, aptitudes, values, and
abilities. You can access career information using a variety of resources including the Internet.
Then, write a career critique for each career and decide which career is the best option for you.
Create a detailed career critique for that career and write a two-page essay explaining your
choice. In your essay, state the steps you plan to take now to prepare for this career. Be sure to
include a preliminary education and training plan that you will use to achieve your career goal.
Procedures
Identify three careers that interest you and follow the steps listed below:
 Perform research using a variety of resources and experiences
 Take notes on your three career choices, organizing your notes according to the
suggestions offered in the Helpful Hints section on the next page.
 When you’ve accumulated enough research, write your career critiques and decide which
career suits you best.
 If your research indicates that your career choices are unsuitable, choose more careers to
research until you find the one that is compatible with your interests, aptitudes, values
and abilities.
 Using a clear, coherent format, create a comprehensive career critique of the career
you’ve selected.
 Write a two-page essay explaining why this career is a good choice for you and the steps
you would need to take if you decide to pursue this career.
Report
Your final products for this report should include a typed career critique for each of the three
careers and a two-page essay explaining why the career you’ve profiled is a promising option
for you.
PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION
Your career critiques will be evaluated based on:
1. Organization of research
2. Comprehensiveness, relevance, and correctness of data
3. Evidence of thorough research
4. Neatness and presentation
Your two-page essay will be evaluated based on:
1. Content and thoughtfulness of essay
2. Identification of a preliminary education and training plan to achieve the career goal
3. Neatness and presentation
Your final report will need to be submitted in a notebook or folder. This will be your semester
exam. It will be due on _________________________.
HELPFUL HINTS
Creating a Career Critique
To create an accurate and complete career critique, you’ll need to perform thorough research
about the careers you’ve identified. When creating your profile, include the following
information about your career:
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Advantages
Disadvantages
Job Outlook
Education requirements
Training requirements
Salary
Benefits
Work Schedule
Work Conditions
Opportunities for advancement
Educational requirements
Personal qualities needed