CAREERS 2008 Activities Guide
A series of activities to accompany Oregon CAREERS 2008
Brenda Turner Oregon Employment Department 503-947-1233 Brenda.P.Turner@state.or.us
CAREERS 2008 Activities Guide
The CAREERS 2008 Activities Guide is an excellent tool to help students explore CAREERS. Each easy-to-understand activity is tied to a particular section in CAREERS. Please direct questions or comments related to the guide to Brenda Turner.
Teacher’s Guide
A Teacher’s Guide to the Activities Guide is available by sending an e-mail to Brenda Turner at Brenda.P.Turner@state.or.us. Please put “Teacher’s Guide” in the subject line and note what school or organization you work with. You will receive a Word document with the answer key to exercises in the Activities Guide.
Table of Contents
Section 1. Career Planning Activities Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks Exercise 2: Skill exploration Exercise 3: Contacts for teenagers Exercise 4: How far does your money go? Exercise 5: Budget planning
Page
3
Section 2. Job Search Activities 8 Exercise 6: Job hunting questions Exercise 7: Job application, cover letter and resume writing (True or False) Exercise 8: Writing cover letters
Section 3. Career Paths Activities Exercise 9: Create Your Own Career Path
11
Section 4. Career Guide Activities Exercise 10: Thinking through your career choice
13
Section 5. Who Can Help Activities Exercise 11: Finding resources
17
Section 6. Interview Activities Exercise 12: From the Interviews Exercise 13: What would you want to know?
18
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Section 1. Career Planning Activities
(Based on information found in Career Planning on pages 3-19.) Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks 1. Read the article on page 6 titled “Who Are You?” Think about the questions asked in the article. Write out your answer to each one. a. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
b. What type of job do you want to have when you get older?
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
c. What level of education do you want to achieve?
____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
2. What should you consider when looking at possible career choices? List four. _______________, _______________, _______________, or ________________
3. An organization that provides information to make it easier for people with disabilities to do their jobs is called the __________ _______________________ ________________ .
4. More than half of all college students in Oregon receive ___________ ____, which can come in the form of ________________________, ____________, and/or _________ _______.
5. Three ways to learn more about a career field are _____________, _____________, and ______________.
6. Being successful in whatever you do, whether it’s school work, sports, clubs, or your job, depends a lot on your ______ AND your ________.
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7. Certain laws restrict when teenagers can work. When school is in session, 14 and 15 year olds can work _______hours a day on school days, and no more than ____hours a day on non school days. The maximum number of hours they can work each week when school is in session is ______, and they cannot work during school hours. There are fewer restrictions on 16 and 17 year olds, who can work up to _____ hours a week.
Exercise 2: Skill exploration The article on page 8 mentions six of the most common skills employers want their employees to have. One skill area has been given as an example. Below, list the other five skill areas mentioned, and then write in experiences you have had that improved your skills in each area, and ways you could build your skills further. Skill 1. Use basic math and algebra Related experience Math class Cashier at football game Managing bank account How to build skill Do math by hand instead of using a calculator Finish all math homework Work to get an A in algebra
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Exercise 3: Contacts for teenagers Many types of businesses employ teenagers. From the following list, pick three job categories and list a local business or private individual whom you might contact to ask about jobs. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Office work Retail stores Restaurants Hotels Carwashes Service stations Movie theaters Amusement parks Outdoor parks Private homes Nursing homes Hospitals Dog Kennels Farms
1. First choice:_______________________________________ Business name or contact:
2. Second choice:_____________________________________ Business name or contact:
3. Third choice:_______________________________________ Business name or contact:
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Exercise 4: How far does your money go? Cutting back and taking small steps can help you while you are in college. Try figuring this: a new video game can cost about $60 and renting video games can average about $7 per rental. If during four years of college you decide to rent a video game each month rather than buy one, how much would you save?
Exercise 5: Budget planning Choose a career that you might be interested in from the Career Guide on pages 52-79. Fill out the budget worksheet on the next page based on the average wage for the occupation you select. You can check the Web, look in newspaper classified ads, and talk to your parents or others about costs for such things as electricity, utilities (gas, water, garbage), insurance, and cable television. After you fill out the budget worksheet on the next page, determine if you will be able to cover the costs of all of these items with your earnings. If you cannot cover your expenses, what are some ways to reduce your expenses?
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Budget worksheet Income
Monthly wage (annual income divided by 12) Taxes (25% of monthly wage for federal, state, social security) Net income (monthly wage minus taxes) $ $ $
Expense/item
Rent/home mortgage Electricity Telephone and cell phone Other utilities (natural gas, water, garbage) Car and home insurance Cable or satellite TV and Internet Car payments, gas, and maintenance Health insurance Food - eating out Food - grocery store Household (paper towels, light bulbs, etc.) Clothing and shoes Laundry Personal (haircuts, toothpaste, etc) Entertainment (bowling, movies, etc.) Vacation Hobbies Childcare Loan payments (college, credit cards, etc.) Other (books, DVDs, gifts, hobbies, etc.) Savings/investments Donations Total Expenses Net Income minus Total Expenses If this number is less than zero, you are spending more than you are earning. If it is greater than zero, you have enough income to pay for all of your expenses.
Cost Per Month
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
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Section 2. Job Search Activities
(Based on information found in Job Search on pages 34-49) Exercise 6: Job hunting questions 1. List three sources of online job and career information. a. ________________________________ b. ________________________________ c. ________________________________ 2. Talking to people you know about job opportunities is called ________________. 3. Which of the following can be used to find out about job openings? a. Newspaper b. Word of mouth c. Companies you contact d. All of the above 4. Resumes should be designed to sell you, your skills, and your knowledge to an employer. Name three topics you should cover on your resume and why you think they are important to employers. a. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ c. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ 5. Name two different resume styles. a. ______________________ b. ______________________
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6. If you were writing a resume, which of the resume styles from question 5 would you use, and why?
Exercise 7: Job application, cover letter and resume writing (True or False) 1. Don’t waste much time writing a cover letter for your resume. Employers receive so many letters that they don’t look at them. True False
2. You should tailor your resume and job objective to the position for which you are applying. True False
3. If you don’t know the name of a contact person, you should address your cover letter “to whom it may concern.” True False
4. Your cover letter and resume should be neatly printed on quality paper. True False
5. “I will do anything” is a good career objective to put on a resume. True False
6. You will save time and impress your potential employer if you have all the information you need with you to complete a job application. True False
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Exercise 8: Writing cover letters Review the following cover letter and find at least three things wrong with it using tips in the Job Search section of Oregon CAREERS. Next, rewrite the letter. Keep the general content of the letter the same, but write a proper cover letter without any errors.
January 12, 2008
To the person in charge
My resume is in this envelope. I saw a sign that said you are taking resumes. I really like art and drawing and my freinds tell me I am really good at it. I have a lot of computer stuff that I use all the time. It would be fun to get new software when it came out right away for free. I know that you have people designing art for your ads and I thought you might have a job for me. I haven’t had a job yet, but I like people. I go to Anywhere Hi School and I am often home during weeknights. Just call me and I will drop by to talk to you.
Sincerly,
Clueless Carol 555 East Main Street Salmonville, Oreogn 97651
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Section 3. Career Paths Activities
Exercise 9: Create your own Career Path Read page 20 to learn about Career Pathways, then review page 21 for examples. Choose one of the six Career Learning Area that you might be interested in from pages 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, or 32. List five steps that you could take to get from where you are today to your career goal. Step 1: What types of classes could you take in high school that will help you learn more about your career area?
Step 2: What kind of after school job or volunteer work could you do that would give you some hands-on training in the career area you are interested in?
Step 3: What kind of short-term education or training could you take that would help you get a job related to your career goal?
Step 4: Will you need additional training or schooling to advance in your career field?
Step 5: Once you have the necessary skills, education, and training, what would be your ideal career?
On the next page, fill in the diagram of the career pathway you outlined above.
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My Career Pathway
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Section 4. Career Guide Activities
(Based on information found in the Career Guide on pages 50-85) Exercise 10: Thinking through your career choice Review the occupations in the Career Guide beginning on page 52 and select three potential careers. Evaluate each occupation based on the questions below. 1. Occupation __________________________________________ Do you find the description of this occupation: a. extremely desirable c. moderately desirable b. desirable d. undesirable Is the potential number of job openings: a. substantial d. fair b. above average e. limited c. average Are the entry wages: a. very high (above $45,000 per year) b. high (above $35,000$45,000)
c. moderate ($25,000$35,000) d. low (below $25,000)
What required training and education would you need for this job? (See Column 3 in the Career Guide.)
What is the course(s) of study recommended for this occupation? (See Column 4.)
How long would the required training and education take? (See page 51 for descriptions)
What Oregon schools could you go to for related training and education? (See Column 5 and pages 80-85.)
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2. Occupation __________________________________________ Do you find the description of this occupation: a. extremely desirable c. moderately desirable b. desirable d. undesirable Is the potential number of job openings: a. substantial d. fair b. above average e. limited c. average Are the entry wages: a. very high (above $45,000 per year) b. high (above $35,000$45,000)
c. moderate ($25,000$35,000) d. low (below $25,000)
What required training and education would you need for this job? (See Column 3 in the Career Guide.)
What is the course(s) of study recommended for this occupation? (See Column 4.)
How long would the required training and education take? (See page 48 for descriptions)
What Oregon schools could you go to for related training and education? (See Column 5 and pages 80-85.)
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3. Occupation __________________________________________ Do you find the description of this occupation: a. extremely desirable c. moderately desirable b. desirable d. undesirable Is the potential number of job openings: a. substantial d. fair b. above average e. limited c. average Are the entry wages: a. very high (above $45,000 per year) b. high (above $35,000$45,000)
c. moderate ($25,000$35,000) d. low (below $25,000)
What required training and education would you need for this job? (See Column 3 in the Career Guide.)
What is the course(s) of study recommended for this occupation? (See Column 4.)
How long would the required training and education take? (See page 48 for descriptions)
What Oregon schools could you go to for related training and education? (See Column 5 and pages 80-85.)
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Evaluating the occupations After reviewing the information you gathered on the three occupations, what would your top choice be? Why is it your top choice?
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Section 5. Who Can Help Activities
(Based on information found in Who Can Help on pages 86-95) Exercise 11: Finding resources 1. List five courses of action you could choose to take after finishing high school. a. __________________________________________ b. c. d. e.
__________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________
2. Describe what Peace Corps and AmeriCorps have in common.
3. How do Peace Corps and AmeriCorps differ?
4. An apprenticeship is training that combines _______________ learning and _______________ courses.
5. Three career fields in which apprenticeship training is available are _______________________________, _______________________________, and ________________________________.
6. Oregon’s Private Career Schools offer training in areas such as ___________________ and _______________________ , and the course commitment can last from ____________ to ______________.
7. The armed forces offer diverse occupational specialties such as ____________, ____________, and ____________.
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Section 6. Interview Activities
(Based on information found in the interviews on pages 17, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, and 33) Exercise 12: From the Interviews Match the job descriptions on the left with the job categories on the right.
____1. Provides students a chance to learn valuable job experience ____2. Enjoys working outdoors in a physically demanding job ____3. Is heard by thousands of listeners early in the morning ____4. Moves money instantaneously around the world ____5. Cares for patients and helps with their treatment ____6. Tests evidence samples using high-tech instruments ____7. Machines parts used to build assembly lines a. Medical assistant b. Work director of wire transfer division c. Forensic scientist d. Summer internships e. Model maker / tool maker f. Radio broadcaster g. Irrigation technician
Exercise 13: What would you want to know? Think back to the occupation that was your top choice in Exercise 9. There are several things that would be helpful to know before pursuing a career in that occupation. One way to learn about a career is to talk to someone in that occupation. If you were to interview a worker in the occupation that was your top choice, what are three questions you would ask them about their job that could help you decide if this is a good career choice for you?
1.
2.
3.
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