STEP 2 – UNDERSTANDING AND INVESTIGATING CAREER
CHOICES & EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING OPTIONS
INTRODUCTION
The second step involves investigating the world of work in greater depth, and narrowing down a
general occupational direction into specific ones. Students will begin to identify potential
careers, learn about labor market trends, gather information about careers and match the
career information with the results from their self-assessment to discover career options that
best fit their needs. Students will also understand the educational/training options necessary to
pursue various careers.
WHY INVESTIGATE THE WORLD OF WORK?
There are many reasons for you to help your students learn how to investigate the world of
work. The most important is to help your students to begin to determine what occupations and
careers best match their skills, interests, values and characteristics. Remember, career planning
is an on-going process and you are providing the foundation for your students to use throughout
their lifetime.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will learn:
• the skills that employers are looking for in employees.
• understand the type of training that is needed to pursue a career.
• understand training and educational options based on career choice including: ROP
courses, community college certificates and AA/AS degrees, technical school
training, four year university programs, apprenticeship, military and on-the-jobtraining (OJT).
• how to research a career of interest.
• about recent job trends, the fastest-growing jobs and other information that can
have an impact on career planning.
MATERIALS:
•
•
Step 2 worksheets
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SCANS Worksheet
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Career Exploration on the Internet/Labor Market Trends
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Career Interview
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Why You Need An Education and Training
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Why Should People Go To College?
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Researching Career Options
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Career Pathway Exploration
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CHOICES: Education/Training Checklist
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Education/Training Comparison Worksheet
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Post Secondary Training Options Vocabulary Quiz
Access to the internet or career library
Santa Cruz County ROP
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Step 2 Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO THE SCANS WORKSHEET
The following questionnaire is designed to help a student assess his or her own job skills.
Completion of the questionnaire will give students an idea of their strengths and weaknesses as
they plan for their future. The information could also be used to complete a resume or discuss in
a job interview. The questionnaire is based on the 1991 Secretary's Commission on Achieving
Necessary Skills (SCANS) established by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The following classroom activities can help you reinforce SCANS skills:
1. Create a class journal/log in which students describe their learning experiences.
2. Develop a session to teach students the components of good meetings (group work).
3. Create lots of time for informal interaction among students. Set up a “buddy system”.
4. Teach dynamics of team/group membership.
5. Develop opportunities for students to attend a variety of meetings- team, city council,
school board, faculty, and business.
6. Develop a guide on how to run a successful meeting/group activity.
7. Help students develop facilitation skills by having them facilitate a group activity.
8. Make connections to how the culture of the school compares to the culture of the
workplace.
9. Teach students active listening skills.
10. Conduct conflict resolution training.
11. Create student career portfolios. Give students opportunities to articulate and
demonstrate what they have learned.
12. Have students interview people about their work.
13. Bring in employers to give a panel presentation on how, what, and where they learn at
work.
14. Use assessment tools and rubrics that students understand before the assignment is
begun.
15. Have students study supervision, and have them analyze what makes for good and bad
supervision.
16. Teach the terminology used in various work -sites.
17. Create opportunities for students to experience peer teaching.
18. Create opportunities for students to make presentations to the class and outside groups.
Santa Cruz County ROP
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Step 2 Introduction
INTRODUCTION TO CAREER EXPLORATION ON THE INTERNET/LABOR
MARKET TRENDS
Helping students understand the labor market and employment projections can provide
important career information as they plan their future. Using the Internet or the career library
have students research a career field and review the labor market and employment projections
for it.
INTRODUCTION TO CAREER INTERVIEW
Talking to people about their career is important to helping your students learn more about
various careers. Have students interview an adult about their career. Use the “Career
Interview” worksheet to write down responses. Have students discuss in class what they found
out about careers by completing this assignment.
INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCHING CAREER OPTIONS
Have students research four career options of their choice. Use the Internet or career library
for resources and information. Using the “Researching Career Options” worksheet, have
students give an overview of the career, training/education requirements, future career growth,
salary range and actions to take to explore career option further. Use the “Career Pathway
Exploration” worksheet to help your students begin to research optiosn. Discuss with students
the importance of aligning their career self-assessment (Step 1) with their career options.
INTRODUCTION TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION/TRAINING
Discuss with students why future success in life requires further education or training after
high school. Use the following worksheets:
• Why you need an education and training
• Post secondary training options vocabulary quiz
( Answer Key: G, R, W, U, K, F, M, A, C, T, I, D, L, B, E, O, Q, P, J, N, S, H, V)
• Why should people go to college?
• Choices: Education/training checklist
• Education/training comparison worksheet
Santa Cruz County ROP
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Step 2 Introduction