Academic and Career Planning

Students will be able to:

Recall the definitions of job, occupation, career, and career cluster.

Understand factors related to career and lifestyle (i.e. salary, finances, the workforce, supply and demand, family, life choices, aspirations, education). Note details and facts.

Activity

Identify/recall the definitions of job, occupation, career and career cluster.

• Job

• Occupation

• Career

• Career Cluster

Browse examples of careers and career clusters on O*Net.

Resources

Teach terms directly or have students research them.

There are a standard set of 16 Career Clusters recognized by the Department of Labor and most occupations-focused websites.

Provide a worksheet with the career clusters and brief descriptions of what the clusters entail or have students explore the clusters on O*Net.

Task

Exit Activity - What career cluster appeals the most to you?

Once robust discussion of the concepts has occurred, have the groups take one concept and rewrite the definition in their own words.

Activity

Brainstorm answers to these questions in a group:

• Why do people work in jobs and careers?

• How is supply and demand involved with what careers are available?

• How do personal finances connect to having a career?

• What is a salary?

• How do education and aspirations lead to a career?

Resources

Group students to brainstorm answers to this question. Then, have students write their answers on a white board or easel paper.

Based on their answers, teach the following concepts:

• Supply and demand

• Workforce needs

• Salary

• Education

• Aspirations

Task

Once robust discussion of the concepts has occurred, have the groups take one concept and rewrite the definition in their own words.

Activity

Answer these questions:

• What kind of life do you want to live?

• What is important to you?

• When you think of your future, what do you imagine for yourself in terms of where you live, what you have, what you do in your free time, and if you would like a family?

Complete a simple web with “My Future Lifestyle” in the middle and the answers to the questions above as the parts.

Resources

Teach students the term “lifestyle.”

*Note: students will most likely mix aspirations/values with financial pieces to their futures. Aspirations and values are a significant part of the next unit. This unit intends to bring awareness to the connection between financial needs/desires and careers/occupations.

Task

Have students complete their web.

Activity

Complete web.

Describe future lifestyle and relate the importance of choosing an occupation that has the salary requirements necessary to achieve it.

Determine a career cluster based on relevant information related to self and employment options and opportunities.

Activity

Contemplate this question:

• How will I financially support the lifestyle I want?

Complete the “Selecting a Lifestyle” worksheet.

Resources

Students need to understand that their financial goals and the career they choose have a direct connection.

Students should be reminded that they can always start out at one level in a career and go higher. Usually, over time, most occupations offer more money through raises, etc.

Students should also be reminded that money is not everything and that each student will have their own idea of what is important for finances.

Task

Homework - Compare/contrast “My Future Lifestyle” web and “Selecting a Lifestyle” worksheet.

Activity

Look at and compare the “My Future Lifestyle” web with the “Selecting a Lifestyle” worksheet.

Activity

Based on comparing the web and worksheet, recalibrate vision for the future if needed and then make notes about what you learned about yourself.

Describe future lifestyle and relate the importance of choosing an occupation that has the salary requirements necessary to achieve it.

Resources

Have students complete a reflection that captures what they learned about themselves as well as their understanding of how choosing an occupation that will help them get the lifestyle they want is imperative.

Activity

Explore the Career Clusters listed on O*Net.

Another website: CareerOneStop [Career Clusters videos]

This will involve research and exploration via clicking on individual clusters and then specific occupations within that cluster.

CareerOneStop provides videos about Career Clusters.

Using the information provided by the web/worksheet activities, find a cluster that offers salaries/time requirements that match intended lifestyle.

Resources

Provide students with a tutorial on how to navigate Career Clusters and learn about occupations/salaries on O*Net and CareerOneStop.

Task

Culminating question/activity: What is your intended Career Cluster?

Interpret relevant career data to determine possibilities for a preferred lifestyle.

Evaluate options based on the integration of career opportunities and personal insights and reflections.

Activity

Research individual careers within chosen Career Cluster to determine what occupations within that cluster match your goals for your future lifestyle.

Answer the following questions:

• What occupations within your cluster appeal to you based on what they involve?

• What occupations within your cluster appeal to you based on their salary/earning potential?

• Do you intend to stay in your area? If so, are there jobs in your cluster that are available?

CareerOneStop: Occupation Profiles

CareerOneStop: Salary Finder; Highest Paying Jobs; Wages by Occupation and Local Area

Keep track of your data via worksheet or journal.

Resources

Give students a worksheet/journal to keep track of the data they find about occupations within their selected Career Cluster.

Activity

Pair activity for discussion about career possibilities (see instructions).

Based on the data collected, determine career possibilities for your preferred lifestyle by noting:

1.) The Career Cluster that you are interested in

2.) 3-4 career options within that Cluster

Resources

Capture students’ analytical abilities by having them look over a partner’s data data and draw conclusions about what their partner’s career possibilities are based on the partner’s “Selecting a Lifestyle” worksheet and “My Future Lifestyle” web.

Task

Google Form: What are your 3-4 career possibilities?

Activity

Brainstorm for presentation.

Activity

Prepare for presentation.

Goal Setting and Planning

Developing long-term goals, establishing meaningful learning targets, identifying effective strategies, and planning out steps.

Activity

Present your rank-ordered career options within your Career Cluster and provide supporting evidence based on preferred lifestyle and career possibilities.