Finding a Career (page 1 of 2)	
Finding a Career	
How do you find out about different careers?  Which career may be right for 
you?  Which careers provide  high pay?  What does it take to enter a career?  
What is the future outlook for a career?  It is not too early to start thinking 
about answers to these questions and your life beyond school.  School is more 
fun if you know you are preparing for a rewarding career.  Here are some 
things you can do to research careers.
Visit the Career Center
Most schools have a Career or Counseling Center that is designed to help 
students research college and careers.  What will you find in this Center?
1)  Interest surveys.  Interest surveys are questions (on paper or computer) 
that you answer to find out which careers may fit your personality and 
  interests.  Important:  Give your own answers  on the interest survey, and 
not answers that your friends want,  so that the interest survey points to 
careers that are right for you.  
2)  College and career research.  Use the Career or College Center's computer to find answers to 
  questions about the career — pay, working conditions, hours of work, job duties, education needed, and 
future outlook.  You will discover which colleges have majors to train students for this career.  Also, 
you may use the Internet at home to research careers:  a) Job information at  Occupational Outlook 
Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh.  b) Video library of jobs at  www.careeronestop.org.   
  c) College information at   www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator .  d) Student Aid information, at 
  www.studentaid.gov.  e) College information at the college's website. 
Talk to a Counselor
Do you talk to a counselor only when you want to change a class or are in trouble?  Counselors are at the 
school to help you with: a) today's questions, and b) preparing for the future questions.  Make an 
appointment with your counselor to discuss your future career plans.   Ask your counselor:  Are my classes 
and grades preparing me for a career?  What do you see as my strengths?  What are some careers available 
in our area that I might like?  What can I do now to prepare for a career?
Enroll in a Job Training Class
Job training classes are credit earning classes held during school or after 
school hours that train you for a job.  The job training may be held in a 
classroom or business.  For example, a police science class may be taught 
at the police station; a nursing class may be taught at a hospital; an animal 
health class may be taught at an animal hospital; and a marketing class may 
be taught at the local mall.  Take a job training class to see if a job is right for you.  When you complete the 
class, you will:  a) Earn a Certificate of Completion to place on your resume and job applications; b) Meet 
valuable contacts such as supervisors and managers.  This is important because supervisors and managers 
may allow you to use their names as references on your future job applications and resumes.

Finding a Career (page 2 of 2)	
QUICK CHECK
If you like the job training class, the career may be right for you.  If you do not enjoy the class, you will 
save yourself the time and trouble of preparing for the wrong job.  Job training class may of fer you another 
bonus   — if you do well in your class, an employer may even offer you a part-time job after the completion 
of the class because of the experience you gained.
Get a Job
A part-time job can teach you valuable skills you will need in a career.  It can teach you to be dependable; 
improve your ability to get along with others; require you to plan your free time among work, study , and 
social activities; teach you to budget money; and help you see the good things and bad things about work.  
A boring part-time job will motivate you to do well in school to prepare for a different job.  An interesting 
part-time job may lead to promotions and a rewarding career.
Do Volunteer Work
If you want to explore a career area, you may enjoy volunteer work.   Volunteer jobs 
may be found in police departments, fire departments, hospitals, and city recreation 
departments.  To apply, visit the agency and ask to speak to the supervisor about 
volunteer work.  In addition, your school may offer exploratory work experience 
or job shadowing classes for school credits.  The teacher finds the type of volunteer 
work that interests you and sets up a volunteer schedule.  Ask your teacher or 
counselor if your school offers a class for volunteer jobs.
Watch Workers & Ask Questions
Another way to learn about careers is to watch workers.  There is much for you to see because every day 
people in your city go to work.  Watch workers as you are go to school, shop, hang out with friends, or 
drive around town.  Watch workers as they come to your home or school to repair, build, or sell things.  
When you see a career that interests you, ask questions.  Most workers love to talk about their jobs.   You 
may say, "You have an interesting job.  Can you please tell me about the types of things you do each day?" 
or "How does a person get the type of job you have?"  If you don't ask, you never find out!
1.  When is school more fun?
2.  a) What are interest surveys?  b) What is 
  important?  c) Why?
3.  Write job internet address where you can find:  
a) Job information.  b) Video library of jobs.  
c) College information.
4.  a) Counselors are at the school to help you 
with what 2 things?  b) List 2 questions to ask 
your counselor about your career plans.  
5.  a) What are job training classes?  Where may 
these classes be held: b) nursing class?  
  c) animal health class?  d) marketing class?
6.  a) When you complete the job training class, 	
what will you earn?  b) Who will you meet?' 
c) Why is this important?  c) If you do not 
enjoy the class, what will you save?
7.  List 3 things a part-time job can teach you.
8.  a) What might a boring part-time job motivate 
you to do?  b) To what 2 things may an 
  interesting part-time job lead you?
9.  a) List 4 places where volunteer jobs can be 
found.  b) What do you ask your teacher?
10.  When may you watch workers.  List 4.
11.  When you see a worker with an interesting 
career, what may you say?
12.  What do most workers love?
13.  What happens if you don't ask?