226 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Summary • Consumer services careers fall into four major tracks: consumer advocacy, financial services, customer service, and buying. Consumer advocacy involves speaking on behalf of or supporting consumers. In financial services, workers deal with money, insurance, and investments. Customer service refers to taking care of customers’ needs. Buying involves identifying products for purchase. • Consumer services workers often possess strong interpersonal, verbal communication, writing, analytical, math, and conflict resolution skills. Having a good reputation for being fair, respectful, and ethical is important in consumer services. • Most consumer services careers require at least a college education. Many consumer services careers also require certifications, based on specialization of expertise. • Specialized knowledge for consumer services careers involves knowing consumer rights and responsibilities, understanding consumer buying techniques, and managing finances. • Sustainable purchasing involves buying products that benefit environmental, social, or human health. • A budget is a written financial plan to manage income, expenses, and savings. Using a budget can help consumers plan and save for future expenses. • Common savings and investment tools include savings accounts, money market accounts, CDs, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and IRAs. • Three types of credit include installment, noninstallment, and revolving credit. Consumers can face enormous debt if they do not learn to use credit wisely. • Many careers in consumer services are well paid, but can sometimes be stressful with a high level of responsibility. The future outlook for consumer services workers varies based on occupation. Portfolio Samples Portfolios for college or job applications often include samples of work. A sample of work might be an especially well-written paper, a persuasive presentation, or a hypothetical lesson plan. Portfolio samples are examples of your best work, so it is important to read and edit them. Correct spelling and grammar are important in school and in the workplace, and your best work should display your grasp of language. Before adding samples of your best work to your portfolio, complete the following: 1. Review samples of your work of which you are most proud. These samples might be from your schoolwork, participation in an extracurricular activity, or personal projects you have completed. 2. Consult with your teacher or college and career counselor about which samples of work would be best for your portfolio. Create a list of samples you want to use. 3. Proofread the samples for your portfolio. Check for correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation. 4. Partner with a trusted classmate to proofread each other’s samples. Afterward, review and incorporate corrections your classmate made to your samples. College and Career Portfolio Chapter 8 Review and Assessment