Chapter 5Planning Your Career

What You’ll Learn You will discover how planning

can help you reach career goals in the future.

You will learn what a career plan should include.

You will set goals and make a plan for a career that interests you.

Lesson 5.1How Planning HelpsDiscover Why planning is important. What a career plan should

include.

Why it’s importantPlanning is the surest way to achieve your goals.

Plan for SuccessPlanning helps make activities a success.

Why Plan? Planning helps you manage your

time. Planning helps you remember

events. Planning helps you prioritize. Planning helps you reach goals.When you have a plan, it is harder to

procrastinate (put off doing or deciding about something).

Prioritize and Carry ThroughWhen you have a plan, it is harder to procrastinate (put off doing or deciding about something).

A plan helps you prioritize (put tasks in order). By ordering tasks from first to last or most important to least important, you will find it easier to reach your goals.

Carrying out your plan gives you a feeling of accomplishment!

What Goes Into a Plan?

You’ll want to include three important steps:

–Education and Training–Jobs Along the Way–Career Research

Education and Training You can get started on this step right

now by working to strengthen your basic skills, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Basic skills count in all kinds of careers.

Following high school, you may choose to continue your education or get other training. Many jobs require education past high school.

Education and Training Alternatives… On-the-Job Training Apprenticeship Vocational-Technical Centers Trade Schools Community Colleges and

Universities

Four-Year Colleges and Universities

Military Service Continuing Education Distance Education

Read the chart on page 86—you will need to know what each of these alternatives offer!!!

The Value of a College EducationWhy would it be wise to get a college degree in addition to work experience? Jobs requiring a college education

are growing faster than all other jobs.

Jobs requiring a college education also will usually pay more.

Jobs Along the Way

Another important step in planning your career is planning the jobs you will hold along the way to your ultimate career goal.– Temporary job—usually last only a short

while.– Part-time—working up to 30 hours a

week.– Full-time job—working 40 hours or more

a week.

Part-time job

In high school or later, you may decided to take a part-time job related to a possible career choice. You may work up to 30 hours a

week. Good way to learn about a career

field that interests you.

Temporary JobsA temporary job is another way to try a specific kind of work. Temporary jobs are a good idea for young people because: They are a good way to develop

skills you may need or gain work experience.

They are convenient and usually lasts only a short while (such as a particular season).

Full-time Job Working full times means you will

be working 40 (or more) hours per week.

You will probably work at several full-time jobs during your lifetime.

Career Research

Be sure to include career research as a step in your career plan. Why?– You will learn about new opportunities

and changes in career fields (what you learn could affect your career plan).

– So you can stay informed, which will allow you to adjust your career plan as needed.

When you build research into your career plan, your plan will always be up-to-date.

Be Prepared and Be Flexible

Personal responsibilities may affect your career plan. (You may have to delay a step in your plan until your children go to school, or you may change your plan so you can work at home.)

Be prepared for surprises. You can’t know the future. (You never know what might happen that could cause you to delay or change your plans).

Lesson 5.2Designing a PlanDiscover How to set goals you can reach Different kinds of goals How to make your own career

plan

Why it’s importantA plan will show the steps that will help you reach your career goals.

Steps to Help You Reach Your Goals Be as specific about each goal as

you can. Put your goals in the order that

you’ll do them. Make realistic goals. Change your goals as needed.

Setting goals Short-term goal: something that

you might start right away. Medium-term goal: usually more

challenging than a short-term goal. Takes longer to achieve.

Long-term goal: May take a long time to reach. Short-term and medium-term goals can sometimes help you achieve a long-term goal.

Remember: When setting goals, be sure to put

them in chronological order (the order in which they will happen).

The more specific and realistic your goals are, the more likely you will achieve them.

Your plan is never set in stone. Things may change over time. Keep an open mind.

The motivation to achieve your goals comes from within.

Attitude Counts!!!

TEAMWORK Working in teams can improve

productivity and creativity. The right attitude will make your

team a success. A good tip: Respect your

teammates and you’ll find they will do the same for you.