UNIT 1 CHAPTER 2 Career Planning

Everybody desires a career that is

fulfilling, rewarding, and enjoyable.

Selecting and Charting a Good Career Path

Today, finding the right career is not an easy task, as the world is getting more competitive and technical every day.

That’s today’s challenge; you need to take as many courses in these fields as you can.

Math

Science

YOU need to think about grades. Good grades open doors of opportunities while poor grades close them.

You need good grades in high school to get into college and then good grades in college to get into medical school or law school.

Let’s say you want to be a doctor or lawyer.

Even though the future seems far away, you can start planning for your career by making good grades and choosing courses wisely.

The Future is Now

The decisions you make now are important.

If you have an idea where you want your career to go, NJROTC will help you focus, and focus will help you succeed in school and life.

Careers Versus Jobs

People often use the words career and job as if they mean the same thing. Do you think they mean the same thing?

The work someone does to make a living. Work that earns money to cover basic needs.

JOB

Career

An occupation or profession, requiring special training, followed as one’s lifework

People take jobs to:

•!Make money •!Meet a special need at home •!Pay for schooling •!Finance careers they care about but that

don’t pay well.

People in a career have opportunities that exist for them to learn, advance and develop their talents.

Profession and occupation are two other words with much the same meaning as career.

An occupation or career, especially one such as the law, medicine, or engineering, that requires considerable training and specialized study

PROFESSION

OCCUPATION

An activity that serves as one’s regular source of livelihood

Some professions, such as medicine, require specific courses of study while others require less formal education. Many careers don’t even require a college degree.

Regardless of what you do, any work that you would describe as a career involves a path for advancement.

Most people desire work that has a possibility of advancement, or promotion to a higher rank.

Careers generally involve moving up a ladder of responsibility over a period of years.

Upper rungs:

•! More work •! More authority •! More money

In your work life, what counts is not where you start but where you finish.

Start Work Life Finish

College studying engineering

You may not get very high up the ladder in an organization, but you can still gain valuable experience in such things as self-discipline, pacing yourself at work, and treating others well. Your boss may give you a good reference for being:

•! Punctual •! Reliable •! Good with customers

even if you go off to college to study engineering.

Career Direction – Getting to Know Yourself

The key to finding a satisfying career path is answering these two questions:

•! What do I want to do?

•! What am I suited to do?

Know Yourself

You must be aware of your:

•! Aptitudes •! Abilities •! Interests •! Values •! Attitudes •! Physical abilities

Choosing a career involves your feelings, your personal needs, and your insights into yourself.

The ability to understand a hidden or inward truth

INSIGHT

Aptitudes and Abilities

What do you like to do in your spare time?

What subjects do you like most at school?

Aptitudes are talents or skills that you have or can develop with practice or training.

Your physical abilities – strength, stamina, good eyesight, good hand-eye coordination, for instance – are important too.

A natural ability or talent

APTITUDES

ABILITY

Mental or physical powers to do certain things

If you like to take things apart, your niche might be as an auto mechanic or an engineer.

If you enjoy solving puzzles, you might be a good program analyst or accountant.

Good writing skill is a much needed talent in the business world.

Work gives you experiences that are different from school.

Do you like dealing with the public as a sales clerk, or maybe you are more interested in the products you are selling – electronics, clothing, books – or do you enjoy both?

Interests

Your likes, dislikes, hopes, and wishes are part of your interests.

Special tests of interests (called inventories) can tell you how your interests match those of people in the field you are considering.

Those subjects or activities that capture someone’s attention, curiosity, or concern

INTEREST

You need both interest and aptitude to succeed in a career.

To be a good graphic artist, you not only have to like to draw, you have to be good

at it.

Values

Values give your life meaning – they help you to be the person you want to be.

Principles, standards, or qualities someone considers worthwhile or desirable

VALUES

People express their values in terms of their moral, religious, or political beliefs.

If service to others is an important value to you, you might find a satisfying career in health care or teaching.

Attitudes

Some jobs and careers require certain kinds of temperaments.

A person’s typical way of thinking, behaving, or reacting

TEMPERAMENT

Unflappable calm is a good attitude for a police officer.

A person’s state of mind and feelings about subjects and events.

ATTITUDE

Remember, some people overcome personality limitations and find success in a field they care deeply about.

A shy person may win an election to public office.

You may work hard to develop the courage to work in public safety.

A guidance counselor at school can give you a reading on your own temperament with something called an “attitude inventory.”

An “attitude inventory” may identify qualities to develop or overcome. It can help you to know yourself.

The public sector includes people who work for federal, state, or local government.

•!With a large group of people, a small team, or on your own?

There are other ways careers differ. Do you like to work:

•!Indoors or outdoors?

How do you feel about money?

Do you want job security and a steady income – or are you willing to accept risk for the opportunity to receive higher earnings?

What kind of family do you want?

Will the career you want support the

family you’d like to have someday?

The U.S. Navy as a Career Option

The Navy is an ideal place to have a rewarding career, meet people, and have endless opportunities for training.

The Navy offers over 65 technical skills (called ratings).

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)

College graduates may choose to become commissioned officers

Commissioning programs:

• United States Naval Academy

• Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship

NJROTC students receive special consideration for the Naval Academy and NROTC scholarships.

The U.S. Naval Academy

Your Naval Science Instructor can make three nominations to the Naval Academy each year.

The naming, or submitting the name, of someone for an appointment, to the Naval Academy.

NOMINATION

The nominees compete for appointment to the Naval Academy by the:

• President • Vice President • Secretary of the Navy • Congress

APPOINTMENT

The designation of someone to attend a Service Academy by a public official such as a member of Congress.

U.S. Naval Academy

The Naval Academy is located on the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland.

Admission requirements:

• Qualification • Nomination • Selection

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Good moral character

• Seventeen through twenty-three years of age

• Unmarried • Not pregnant

• Not legally obligated to support a child

• U.S. citizen • Good physical

condition

A major eligibility factor used by the admissions board is your Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) program test scores.

SAT ACT

If your high school offers "honors" or "AP" courses, you should take them.

Over 75 percent of the candidates for Naval Academy admission rank in the top fifth of their high school class.

College preparatory subjects should include:

• Mathematics (algebra, geometry, and trigonometry) (four years)

• Science (physics and chemistry) • English (four years) • History •!Government • Computer science.

To enter the Academy, you will need to pass a medical exam and a physical-fitness test. Every midshipman is required to do physical exercise every day.

MIDSHIPMAN

A cadet or student at the Naval Academy or in the NROTC program

The physical-fitness test consists of six parts:

• One-mile run • 300-yard shuttle run • Kneeling basketball throw • Abdominal crunches • Push-ups • Pull-ups or a flexed-arm hang (women)

The Naval Academy academic program includes a core curriculum plus 18 subject areas to major in:

• Eight in engineering (most majors)

• Six in science, mathematics, and computer science

• Four in humanities and social science

Graduates earn a bachelor of science degree and a commission in the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. They then have a five year active duty commitment to the Navy or Marine Corps.

The Naval Academy provides young men and women the mental, physical, and moral training they need to serve as officers of the Navy and Marine Corps.

NROTC College Scholarships

Four-year NROTC college scholarships are offered at numerous colleges and universities.

NROTC Units

Highly qualified candidates who are not offered 4-year scholarships may be offered 3-year or 2-year scholarships.

Approximately 1,200 officers are commissioned annually through the NROTC program.

NROTC college scholarship students receive:

• Full tuition, laboratory, and administrative fees

• Uniforms

• $250.00 or more per month allowance

Upon graduation, NROTC midshipmen accept a commission as ensign in the Naval Reserve or second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve and serve on active duty for at least four years.

If you desire to join the Navy, stay in school. A high school diploma is required for enlistment.

Enlisted Careers

If you successfully complete two years of NJROTC, you can enlist in the Navy at the E-2 pay grade. Most enlistees go in at the E-1 pay grade.

If you complete three years of NJROTC, you can enlist in the Navy at the E-3 pay grade.

Seaman

Airman

Fireman

With three years in NJROTC and a letter from your SNSI, you can also enter the Army or the Air Force at pay grade E-3. Marines do not allow three-year cadets to enter the Corps as E-3s.

Advanced Programs

The Navy has three rigorous and demanding Advanced Programs, which are the:

• Nuclear Power Program • Advanced Electronics Program • Advanced Technical Program

To qualify for these programs you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen

• Have a high school diploma or college degree

• Have qualifying scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

• Sometimes take advanced placement tests.

If accepted into these three programs, you enter the service as an E-3 and enlist for six years instead of the usual four.

Sailors with Navy Advanced Program training are in great demand in the civilian world after finishing their obligation to the

Navy.

Navy Nuclear Program

On completion of the Nuclear Field (NF) “A” school in Charleston, SC you are advanced to the E-4 pay grade. Then comes Nuclear Power School, also in Charleston.

Nuclear Power School Charleston, SC

Navy Advanced Electronics

Program

Great Lakes, IL

After completing initial electronics training, usually 22-36 weeks, you are advanced to the E-4 pay grade. You may then be assigned further training or given an assignment.

Once you complete training, you will be assigned to occupations in:

• Data systems • Electronics • Electronic warfare • Cryptology maintenance • Missile and Sonar operation • Fire control

The Advanced Technical Program Great Lakes, IL

Once you complete training, you will be assigned to occupations in:

• Small ship engines • Gas turbine systems • Damage Control • Interior communications electronics • Cryptology

In addition to the special programs, the Navy offers training in such diverse career fields as:

• Arts and photography • Aviation • Business management • Computers • Construction and building • Education • Emergency, fire and rescue

More Careers in the Navy

Career fields (cont.)

• Energy and power • Engineering • Finance and accounting • Food, restaurant and lodging • Human resources • Information Technology • Intelligence and communications • Law enforcement and security

Career fields (cont.)

• Legal support services • Mechanical and industrial repair • Medical and dental support services • Music • News and media • Office and administrative support • Purchasing and supply

Career fields (cont.)

• Religion • Science • Special-operations warfare • Telecommunications • Transportation and logistics • World languages

Learning Centers

Each skill offers:

• Formal training • On-the-Job

Training (OJT)

Developing Good Study Habits

It should be clear that finishing high school is essential to getting a good job and enjoying a successful career.

• Learning good study habits • Managing your time • Becoming skilled in test taking • Listening and taking notes

Four things will help you succeed in high school:

By studying, you reinforce the material presented in your classes by:

•! Reviewing textbook chapter or class notes •! Working some exercises or problems

This makes the material your own and leads to better grades.

Tips on the importance of studying:

• It doesn’t have to be boring or hard. •! When done right, it is interesting and fun. •! Start at the beginning of the course. •! Most classes start easy and get harder. •! Master the first lesson or you will be lost.

Studying, when done right, can be interesting and enjoyable.

Where to Study

School

Library

Home

Friend’s house

• The library, with its quiet atmosphere and availability of reference material, will put you in the right frame of mind to study.

• Choose one place you go just to study.

• Any good place to study should have good lighting, seating, and writing space with few interruptions.

• Organize your study materials and have them at hand!

• Avoid listening to music while you study. Music may relax you but ultimately may prove to be a distraction and keep the material from sticking.

• Studying with a friend can be productive if you are working on the same assignment.

• But random conversation and visiting can be a distraction!

• Try experimenting with “study buddies” to find out who you work best with so you can get the most out of the experience.

When to Study

Set regular times to study.

What time is best for you?

Right after school?

Evenings?

Immediately attack the material for:

• Term papers

• Science projects

• Other big assignments

Remember even the scariest assignment can be tamed with just a little planning:

• Break the work down into steps.

• Plot them on your calendar.

Mastering this technique will give you a skill that will help you the rest of your life.

Some guidelines for studying are:

1.!Take breaks during long study sessions.

Some guidelines for studying are:

1.!Take breaks during long study sessions.

2.!Don't spend all your time on one subject.

Some guidelines for studying are:

1.!Take breaks during long study sessions.

2.!Don't spend all your time on one subject.

3.!Begin with the most boring or hardest subject and work toward the easiest one.

Some guidelines for studying are:

1.!Take breaks during long study sessions.

2.!Don't spend all your time on one subject.

3.!Begin with the most boring or hardest subject and work toward the easiest one.

4.!Keep a schedule for at least a week. Be sure to include time for recreation, sleep, exercise, food, and friends.

Study Methods

O. Overview

K. Key Ideas

R1. Read

R2. Recall

R3. Reflect

R4. Review

OK4R PQRST

P. Preview

Q. Question

R. Read

S. State

T. Test

A couple of study methods that will help you with the material in your book go by the following initials:

O. Overview

K. Key Ideas

R1. Read

R2. Recall

R3. Reflect

R4. Review

OK4R

O. OVERVIEW

Read the title, the introductory and summarizing paragraphs (often at the beginning or end of a chapter, often in bold type), and all headings.

K. KEY IDEAS

Skim for the key ideas (usually found in the first sentence of each paragraph). Read italics and bold type; study pictures, graphs, and tables.

R1. READ

Read the entire assignment.

R2. RECALL

Put aside the material and say or write the major points of the reading. (This is where a study buddy can help.)

R3. REFLECT

Fix the material in your mind, and relate it to how the material fits in with prior knowledge about the subject.

Tests And Exams

The best preparation for examinations is keeping up with assignments using good study behavior.

Effective Exam Preparation

• Keep up with assignments.

• Study regularly.

• Anticipate teacher's questions.

• Review emphasized class discussions.

Ideas for Test Taking

If faced with an objective or short answer test – pay attention to details.

If taking an essay exam – write about the big ideas of the material and their relationships.

Ineffective Exam Preparation

• Cramming - will make you less likely to remember the material. • Excessive worrying

Preparing for an exam at the last minute. The least effective way to prepare for a test, since it is unlikely that students will be able to remember the information they tried to learn at the last minute.

CRAMMING

Effective test taking:

• Read directions carefully.

• Ask for clarification of directions.

Strategies to use on short answer and true/false tests:

• Make a 30-second survey. • Pay attention to details. • Penalty for guessing? • Use a steady pace. • Skip and mark difficult questions.

COMPLETION TEST

1. Socialism means that all work is cooperative and no competition is allowed.

Strategies to use on completion tests:

• Do not leave blanks.

• Check doubtful questions.

Matching Tests

Strategies to use on matching tests:

• Answer easy questions first.

• Follow directions; sometimes answers may be used more than once.

Essay Test

Essay tests usually require long written answers, to complex questions.

Unlike matching, true-false, and other short answer tests, essay tests show your:

•! Mastery of the material

•! Writing skills

•! Organizational skills.

Essay Test

1. What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

2. What are the two main sources from which you learn prejudice?

• Know meaning of cue words.

STRATEGIES TO USE ON ESSAY TESTS: • Read the question carefully to make sure they understand what they are being asked to do.

• Note phrases in margin.

Essay Test

1. What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

2. What are the two main sources from which you learn prejudice?

Write legibly, and review your answers before turning your paper in. Sometimes to fill the blank space, you may write things that are interesting and true, but not the answer to the question.

The questions on essay tests are often not really questions, but commands: “Explain the causes of the American Revolution.” These commands are often given in language you don’t use every day. The matching drill on words in the next few slides will prevent any unpleasant surprises on test day.

Essay Tests

Listening and Note-taking Skills

Good listening skills are important to success in school. Listening is a lot more than just hearing.

Continuous, unfocused, and unconscious

Hearing

Listening

Focused, conscious activity

Listening is the neglected communication skill.

Passive listening is one-way communication. You may or may not understand what you’ve heard. Listening to your MP3 player or television or a teacher who doesn’t take questions are examples.

Competitive listening takes place when you are not listening closely. You only listen long enough to get the necessary information.

Active listening is two-way communication. You pay full attention and think about the information.

Reflective listening involves not only actively listening to the speaker, but also interpreting the speaker’s feelings. Good friends often engage in reflective listening.

Effective Listening Techniques

To be a good listener, you need to focus on what the speaker is saying. The following techniques can help you.

•!Clarify. Ask specific questions to ensure you’ve understood the speaker.

Example: “When you say the research

paper is due on the 15th, do you mean in

class, or by the end of the day?”

•!Restate. Use the speaker’s words as your own and repeat what you think the speaker has said.

Example: “Did I understand you correctly?

Did you say that classes will be canceled if

the temperature falls below zero degrees

Fahrenheit?”

•! Acknowledge. Let the speaker know you have understood the message and that you appreciate the speaker’s point of view.

Example: “I appreciate the fact that you can’t attend every meeting. I realize that you live much farther from school than most students do.”

•! Summarize. Touch on the main ideas or conclusions, not each individual point. You restate the main ideas and set the tone for the next subject or conversation. This can be useful when you are discussing several issues.

Example: “OK. We’ve agreed that I’ll work your shift on Thursday evening and you’ll work mine on Friday morning, right?”

•! Frame. You present information in a neutral way. You can then find areas of agreement on which to focus. This helps shape the conversation.

Example: “I can see your point that we need

new team equipment, but we won’t get it

soon. Do you think we can make better use

of what we have?”

Note Taking

One way to remember what a speaker or teacher says is to take notes.

Note taking tips:

•!Make a sentence or two of the main points.

•!Don’t try to write down every word. •!Too many notes lead to poor listening

skills. •!Jot down words, phrases, diagrams.

•!Draw arrows and use bullet points.