PREREQUISITE: MAKE A PLAN I

(1/8 credit in English)

You now have a pretty good idea of who you are, but trust me when I say there will always be plenty more to learn about yourself. The next step in making a plan for YOUR future is to begin exploring careers. The first step is to go to eXploring careers on the Internet at www.explore.cornell.edu/  Click the colored address of the web site!

Start with the guide on the left and go to Self eXploring. While you’re there, take at least 3 of the career assessment choices (skip Kaplan). Check the assignment one below before you begin because you’ll need to keep notes!

ASSIGNMENT ONE: Turn in a typewritten paper (don’t forget the spell and grammar check!) with at least one paragraph for each of your assessment choices from Self eXploring. What did each of the assessments tell you about your possible career choices? How much did you agree or disagree? Why? Be as specific as you possibly can be!

ASSSIGNMENT TWO: Your career choice down the road is a very personal choice and there are a lot of things to consider when making such an important choice. To help you on your road, do the assignment below and it in. Write on paper using the first word or two along with the number.

Rank these items as follows:

1 - Things I value VERY MUCH

2 - Things I VALUE

3 - Things I DON'T VALUE very much

_____ Help Society ~ Do something which contributes to improving the world we live in

_____ Help Others ~ Be directly included in helping other people, either individually or in small groups

_____ Public Contact ~ Have a lot of day-to-day contact with the public

_____ Work with Others ~ Work as a team member toward common goals

_____ Work Alone ~ Do projects by myself, with limited contact with others

_____ Competition ~ Engage in activities which pit my abilities against others

_____ Make Decisions ~ Have the power to decide courses of action and policies

_____ Work Under Pressure ~ Work in situations where time pressure is prevalent

_____ Influence People ~ Be in a position to influence the attitudes or opinions of other people

_____ Knowledge ~ Engage in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding

_____ Work Mastery ~ Become an expert in whatever work I do

_____ Artistic Creativity ~ Engage in creative artistic expression

_____ General Creativity ~ Have the opportunity to create new programs, materials, or organizational structures

_____ Aesthetics ~ Participate in studying or appreciating the beauty of things, ideas, etc.

_____ Supervision ~ Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work of others

_____ Change and Variety ~ Have work activities which frequently change

_____ Precision Work ~ Work in situations where attention to detail and accuracy are very important

_____ Stability ~ Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable

_____ Security ~ Be assured of keeping my job and receiving satisfactory compensation

_____ Recognition ~ Be publicly recognized for the high quality of my work

_____ Fast Pace ~ Work in circumstances where work must be done rapidly

_____ Excitement ~ Experience a high degree of (or frequent) excitement in the course of my work

_____ Adventure ~ Have work duties which require frequent risk-taking

_____ Financial Gain ~ Have a high likelihood of achieving very great monetary rewards for my work

_____ Physical Challenge ~ Do activities that use my physical capabilities

_____ Independence ~ Be able to determine the nature of my work without significant direction from others

_____ Moral Fulfillment ~ Feel that my work contributes to a set of moral standards which I feel are very important

_____ Community ~ Live where I can participate in community affairs

_____ Time Freedom ~ Be able to work according to my own schedule

ASSISGNMENT THREE: RANK THE FOLLOWING WITH THE ONE THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOU AS “1” TO THE ONE WHICH LEAST DESCRIBES YOU AS “6.” Write on paper just showing the first word of each description with the numbers.

_____Realistic ~ For people who like activities that are practical and concrete. They like to work outdoors and to work with tools and machines using their physical skills. They often seek work relating to nature and the outdoors, mechanics, construction or military service.

_____Investigative ~ For people who enjoy scientific and thinking jobs. They enjoy gathering information, uncovering new facts or theories. The often seek work relating to academic research, medical facilities, or computer-related industries.

_____Artistic ~ For people who value the quality of beauty, no matter how you define it, and like opportunities for self-expression. They prefer unstructured and flexible environments. They often look for work relating to art, music, drama, writing or in libraries or museums.

_____Social ~ For people who enjoy working with people-to inform, help, train or develop them in some way. They enjoy working in groups, sharing responsibilities and are good communicators. They like to solve problems through discussions of feelings and interactions with others. They often seek work relating to teaching, counselling or recreation.

_____Enterprising ~ For people who enjoy influencing, leading or managing others for organizational goals or for economic success. They enjoy persuading others to their viewpoint and prefer social tasks where they can assume leadership. They often seek work relating to business management, sales or politics.

_____Conventional ~ For people who enjoy activities requiring attention to accuracy and detail, often associated with office work. They enjoy working for large organizations and are comfortable with an established chain of command. They often seek work relating to financial institutions, accounting firms, or other large businesses.

ASSIGNMENT FOUR: Now tell me about what kind of a lifestyle and work environment you want. On paper, answer each of the questions below.

1. Would you rather live in a rural area (like Clayton), a small town, a medium sized city, or a large city?

2. Do you have any idea of what part of the country, or maybe even another country, where you would like to live as an adult?

FINAL PROJECT:

With all of the facts above, name three to five careers which sound like they might interest you!