Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Section 1-2 Career Planning 17
Your friends, relatives,
neighbors, and other people
in the working world are
also good resources. Ask
them about their jobs
and how they chose their
careers. This will help you
learn about different jobs.
What are the good and the
bad points of their jobs?
As you talk with others,
consider which types of jobs
you might enjoy.
Often students begin
exploring career options
through job shadowing
programs. These give
students knowledge of
a particular career area
through a one-day visit
to a job. The student
accompanies an employee
to work and observes that person’s activities. Job shadowing can help
students gain a realistic understanding of a typical day on the job. It can
also give them a better feel for their level of interest in pursuing a related
career. Teens are sometimes given opportunities to shadow parents for a
day to develop a deeper understanding of their work responsibilities.
Talking with a guidance counselor can answer your questions about
career opportunities. He or she can tell you about the education and
experience needed and suggest several schools that offer such programs.
Counselors may even set up meetings for you with recruiters from
various schools.
Most libraries, at school and in your community, are rich sources
of career information. A good place to begin your research is the
computer catalog system. Look under careers, jobs, or vocations for general
information. If you are interested in a certain fi eld, such as teaching, look
under that topic.
Education and Training Options
Sometimes high school graduates obtain job experience by joining
the military. Others may gain job experience by volunteering for the
Peace Corps or a similar organization. Other high school graduates go
on to schools of higher education to prepare for their careers.
Some careers require little training beyond high school, while others
require extensive training or education. When planning your career, you
1-6
These websites are good
places to start exploring
career information.
Online Career Resources
Source Internet Address
CareerOneStop www.careeronestop.org
Occupational Outlook
Handbook, U.S. Department
of Labor
www.bls.gov/ooh
Career Outlook, U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics
www.bls.gov/careeroutlook
O*NET, The Occupational
Information Network
www.onetonline.org
U.S. Department of Labor
Employment and Training
Administration
www.doleta.gov
USAJOBS, the offi cial job
site of the U.S. Federal
Government
www.usajobs.gov