Chapter 5

Careers and Education

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All rights reserved

Learning Objectives
Explain the process for deciding a career path
Describe different sources of information to
research careers
Explain how one can gain the skills needed for
career choice
Describe the process of applying for a job

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Determining a Career Path

Identify areas of interest to you
Make a list of things you enjoy doing
Identify careers that involve these activities
and interest
Talk to your career counselor
Take a personality test
Take a look at Figure 5.1 to see the fastest
growing jobs from 2006-2016
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Figure 5.1

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Education and Skill Requirements

Consider the education and/or skills
requirements for possible careers
Choosing a career requires a cost/benefit
analysis
Do not focus solely on the financial costs
Consider how the extensive training will impact
your quality of life
Take a look at Figure 5.2 to see the relationship
between years of education and earnings.

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Figure 5.2

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Job Availability
Factor in job availability for whatever career
you want to pursue
Consider jobs you can do while you pursue
your career
Research the job demand in the region you
live in or would like to live.
Relocation for a job can be expensive

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Compensation
Compensation is
how much money
you make for your
job

Research the compensation for any

careers you are considering
You will need a minimum level of
income in order to cover your
expenses
A job that does not pay well may
not allow you to cover expenses or
increase your net worth

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Sources of Career Information

The Internet is a great source of up-to-date
career information
Websites can provide you with the following
information:
Different career options
Possible compensation levels for these careers
Skill sets needed for careers in a number of
fields
Lists of the most frequently available jobs

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Sources of Career Information

The following websites are great
sources for this information:
www.careers.org
www.careerbuilder.com
www.bls.gov

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Field Trips and Speakers

High School field trips can help you identify
careers of interest
Class speakers can also provide valuable
information on their careers
Use these opportunities to investigate
various career options

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Job Experience
Part time jobs allow you to find out about
working for a living
You can eliminate certain career options and
identify possible career choices
It might show you what you do and do not
like in a job

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Internships
An internship is
a temporary,
short-term
position designed
to provide
exposure to and
training in a
particular job.

An internship helps you gain

additional information about a
certain career or job
Companies hire interns to perform
various tasks around an office
Internships can be paid or unpaid

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Contacts
People you know can be great sources of
information regarding careers
Visit someones parents or grandparents to
learn first hand what they do for a living.

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Getting the Skills You Need

Investigate the training and education you
will need for your ideal job.
Take a look at Figure 5.3 to see:
a list of various high-demand career choices
the expected wages
the education needed to get these jobs

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Figure 5.3

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Training Programs
An apprenticeship
is another name for
on-the-job training
programs

Some careers require specialized

training before entering the field
A certificate or license might be
needed in order to pursue your career.
Some jobs give you the formal training
while you work (apprenticeships)
Apprenticeships are common for
skilled trades such as plumbing,
electrical contracting, and welding.

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Training Programs
Certification is an
official document or
record stating that a
person has met some
standard for training
or knowledge

Information on job training can be

found on websites such as:
CareerOneStop
The Bureau of Labor Statistics

Be careful about training information

provided elsewhere on the Internet
Some websites have authentic
certification, but others may be just
trying to take your money.

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Education
Accreditation is an
official recognition
that a school or
program meets a
certain standard

Colleges and universities provide

training in the form of education
leading to a degree
Research the types of majors and/or
degrees you would like to pursue
Research the colleges that have
these majors
Make sure it is an accredited
school.

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Expanding Your Education

Graduate degrees provide you with
additional knowledge and skills that should
qualify you for a better job.
It can cost a lot of money to get a graduate
degree
An advanced or graduate degree can
enhance your employability

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Job Application Process

Most jobs require you to fill out a job application
Job applications provide your prospective employer
with information about your previous work history.
Potential employers can also contact your previous
employer to find out about your worth ethic
Take a look at Figure 5.4a and b for a sample job
application

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Figure 5. 4a

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Figure 5. 4b

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Resume
Resume is a
document that
gives prospective
employers a
snapshot of your
qualifications.

Your resume includes your personal

background information, including
education and previous work history.
Provide a list of any skills you have such
as computer training and specialized skills
Different types of resumes emphasize the
strength of your background.
The internet is a good resource for how to
structure an effective resume
Look at Figure 5.5 for a sample resume

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Figure 5.5

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Cover Letter
The more education and training you get, the more
information required during a job application
A cover letter is sometimes submitted with a resume
Cover letters include more information and are like an
introduction to the potential employer
A cover letter points out your strengths and persuades
the would-be employer that you should be
interviewed.
Take a look at Figure 5.6 for an example of a cover
letter

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Figure 5.6

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Job Searching
Many people post resumes online using
websites such as MonsterTrak
Learn and become familiar with the process
People change their jobs and careers more
often today

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Summary
Important things to
remember when
deciding what career to
pursue:
Review the
education/skills needed
Research the job
availability
Research what kind of
compensation the job
has

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There are several

sources available to
you to research these
kinds of things, such
as:

People
Job experience
The internet
Personality test

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Summary
Additional training or education may be required for
your career choice or to move to a different career
The benefits of this will increase, but so will the
costs.
Applying for a job may involve all or some of the
following:

Filling out applications

Writing and posting a resume
Writing and posting a cover letter
Using online services

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Key Terms and Vocabulary

Accreditation
Apprenticeship
Certification

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Compensation
Internship
Resume

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Websites

www.careerclusters.org
www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
www.careerjournal.com
www.careers.org
www.careerbuilder.com
www.acinet.org
www.collegeboard.com
www.MonsterTrak.com

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 http://www.mynext
move.org/explore/ip

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