CAREER EXPLORATION

Purpose of Career Exploration

Allows for introspection and assessment

Prevents unrealistic expectations Gives you perspective and information To find your niche Helps to uncover a career you love

Career Exploration Uses…..

Values Interests Skills Abilities

….that we already possess and those that we can learn

Steps of Career Exploration Clarify

- ideas, interests, options, choices Research and Explore

- talk, read, shadow, interview Review

- what is it you found out? Repeat (as needed)

- start the process again Decide

- armed with information, you can make choices

Time Spent in the Workplace

40 hours per week x 52 weeks per year= 2080 hrs per year

2080 hrs x 25 years of work = 52,00 hours at work

You better like what you are doing!!!

Skills for Today’s Work Force

Ability to be a perpetual learner in a rapidly changing work environment

Competence in reading, writing, and use of a personal computer

Proficiency in both listening and oral communication

Adaptability and possession of creative problem solving skills

Strong self esteem and motivation for sustained career development

Well developed interpersonal skills and the sensitivity to function well s part of a team

Potential to be an effective leader

Career Trends

Patch-work careers: Careers made up of many jobs which provide variety

Career changes: It is now common for people to shift or change careers

College majors and careers: Often a major does not directly relate to a career field

Non-traditional careers: Men in the nursing field, women in the mechanics field

Holland Theory of Career Choice

Individual personality dictates career choice and satisfaction

Career choice is an expression of our personality

There must be congruence for us to be happy at work.

Holland’s Theory

Proposed 6 personality types arranged in a coded system:

R (realistic)I (investigative)A (artistic)S (social)E (enterprising)C (conventional)

Holland’s Theory

Realistic

Skilled trades such as electrician, machine operator, photographer, some service occupations

Investigative

Scientific careers such as chemists, computer programming, mathematician, lab tech

Holland’s Theory

Artistic

Writer, critic, editor, designer, musician

Social

Teacher, social worker, nurse,

Holland’s Theory

Enterprising

Managerial positions, sales, real estate

Conventional

Office and clerical work, bookkeeping,

teller, accountant

Holland’s Hexagon

R I

AC

E S

Learning Theory of Career Development

Focuses on how life events and experience help in determining career choice.

Made up of 4 factors

A social-learning theory

Learning Theory

Genetic abilitiesInherited qualities may set limits on career choices

Environmental conditionsBeyond a person’s control. These experiences in a person’s environment can influence skill development and activities

Learning Theory

Learning ExperiencesSchooling opportunities can help open doors to career opportunities, trial and error, observable consequences

Task Approach SkillsProblem-solving skills, emotions, habits