In this lesson you will learn about the career planning process, technological advances that have impacted the way we work, new work environments, and the reasons people may change careers.
Any useful activity is called work. What motivates people to get up and go to work each day? Why do people work? There are several reasons people work.
Work that you do for pay is called a job. The type of job you do to earn a living is called your occupation. All of the related jobs you do during your life are called your career. The amount of money that we earn from our jobs allows us to lead a certain lifestyle. Your lifestyle is the way you spend your time, money, and energy. We all want certain luxuries that make our lives better, but they cost money. Therefore, we have to work to support our lifestyle.
Even though your future career may be years away, it is always important to start thinking about a career that is right for you now. There are three steps to follow to make an informed career decision.
Evaluate your interests, abilities, and work values. Think about what you enjoy doing, what skills you have and how you feel about work.
Gather information to consider career options that relate to what you know about yourself. When you are ready to consider your options, consult teachers, school counselors, professors, career counselors, and other professionals for advice. It is important to develop a network of friends and relatives to provide resources for career opportunities. For first-hand information, meet and interview people who work in careers that interest you. Think about the following questions:
Career goals are ideas about what you want to accomplish and can be either short-term goals or long-term goals. A short-term goal is something you would like to accomplish in the near future: a day, a week, or even a few months from now. Long-term goals are ones that you will achieve over a longer period of time: anywhere from one to twenty years. Intermediate goals are special types of shorter-term goals written to help us achieve a long-term goal. Intermediate goals are like stepping stones that help us measure our progress toward reaching long-term goals.
Today’s workplace is very different from workplaces 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. The traditional 9 to 5 job is disappearing, and the ways in which people work are changing. The changing nature of work means greater flexibility for workers, a more diverse and geographically dispersed workforce, and increased dependence on teams. People can connect from different parts of the country or the world to create a project with the help of technology and virtual meetings without leaving their office or home.
Technology has created an option for today’s workers to have greater mobility in work locations and flexible work hours. In the past, workers had to go to the office to access computers and equipment to do their jobs, but today with smart phones, reliable Wi-fi connections and other technology, many workers do not have to drive to an office location. Their offices may be located in their homes. These workers are known as telecommuters.
For workers who do work in an office building, many companies provide spaces that encourage a more relaxed interaction with colleagues to reduce stress and promote a sense of community. Some businesses have gyms so employees can focus on health and wellness. Some even offer on-site child care. Companies have reported these strategies improve teamwork, help reduce employee absence, and increase productivity.
When researching and choosing a career, it is important to look at the job outlook. You want to find a career with an existing demand for workers that pays a good salary. You should research the career to see if it is expected to grow. Will you be able to find a job in your chosen career, or will the competition be extremely difficult? Before beginning a career plan, it is good to know the job outlook of your career. You do not want to plan for a career in which you will not be able to find a job.
Each state and region has different factors when determining the fastest-growing careers, depending on what the state relies for on the economy. For example, Florida is known for its tourism industry, so careers in hospitality would be in higher demand than in a state like West Virginia that has low tourism.
View the top 50 fastest-growing occupations in the nation.
View the top 50 fastest-growing occupations in Florida.
Do you see a common thread in the occupations that are available? Are most of them from the same industry, like healthcare or construction?
One of the most overlooked in-demand careers is manufacturing. Manufacturing is the process of changing raw or processed materials into products. This includes cell phones, cars, orange juice, jewelry, cosmetics, and clothing, or just about anything you can think of! Manufacturing was once stereotyped because of outsourcing, low wages, and unsafe working conditions. This is not the case anymore.
According to the website Made in Florida, there are more than 14,000 manufacturing businesses in the state of Florida, employing over 300,000 people with an average salary of $68,000 per year.