Career Research and Decision Making
Because you finally realized "superhero" was not a viable career option.
When you were five, you wanted to be a ballerina or an astronaut. Now that you're older, you may be figuring out that those may not be the most practical career paths (smashed toes hurt). It's time to make some decisions, do a little soul-searching, and get the real scoop from Shmoop.
This course, aligned to Florida content standards, helps you learn to make decisions, figure out what this "career" thing is all about, and make a personalized career plan.
Throughout the semester, you'll encounter lessons, readings, and activities that will teach you
- how to make decisions and set SMART goals for yourself
- what your values, interests, and skills are, and what career path fits you best
- how to research careers and discover important things like what jobs are out there, salary information, and what different professions really do all day
- what occupational and educational requirements you'll need for your profession
- how to plan a budget, pay for college, and what it means to be financially independent in the real world
- how to plan for your career, including developing a mission statement, development plan, and résumé
Unit Breakdown
Career Research and Decision Making - Decisions, Decisions
Some choices are tougher than cold pizza vs. cereal for breakfast. Some of them, even, have long-term effects on our lives and well-being. This unit is all about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals and figuring out how to make the types of decisions that will propel you toward those goals, rather than over the cliff because everyone else was doing it.
Career Research and Decision Making - Who Are You?
Know your strengths and play to them, is what we always say. Competitive paper plane folding may not be a career path, but by the time this unit is over, you will have assessed the possibilities until you can assess no more: personality types, interest inventories, and career predictors are the star players here.
Career Research and Decision Making - Sources of Career Information
The internet is often a lying liar who tells lies, but on rare occasions, it's got good info on top of all of those cat videos. In this unit, we'll seek-and-find all the best in credible sources of career information, which doesn't include Yelp reviews, unfortunately, and come up with three potential career paths for further research.
Career Research and Decision Making - Occupational and Educational Requirements
We've got a hefty dose of reality here, and you'll come face to face with such harsh facts of life as "Brain surgeons make more money than Art Historians." You'll dig up all the details of your potential careers like specific education requirements, job prospects, and salary potential, but hopefully not be left in tears of despair and/or cynicism.
Career Research and Decision Making - Financial Planning for College and Beyond
Unless you've got a bottomless trust fund (in which case, can we be friends?), you need to know how to prevent financial disaster from derailing your college plans, career plans, or credit histories. Bankruptcy isn't a good look on anyone, so this unit is all about the facts of financial life: the FAFSA, credit scores, budgets, and why APR is the scariest acronym of them all.
Career Research and Decision Making - Career Planning
Failing to plan is planning to fail, we've heard. This unit covers everything you need to know to look professional on various important pieces of paper like résumés and cover letters, and you'll cap off this knowledge-journey with a portfolio bragging about all the progress you've made toward your no-doubt admirable goals. Hello careers, here we come.