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STAGE 1: CURIOUS OBSERVATION
First, it is important to be curious and make observations about yourself in deciding your career. Base your inquiry on what you like to do. What jobs have you always found appealing or been curious about? What jobs do you think are challenging? What have you always wanted to do?
Secondly, a career-conscious person always keeps an eye open for possible career opportunities, literature, fairs, classes, and other leads. This alertness should become second nature. STAGE 2: IS THERE A PROBLEM?
At this stage, try to pinpoint the problem. Is your problem "What career shall I choose?"...or..."What are my natural and strongest abilities? When defining your problem, there are other considerations besides finding a way to earn money. There are your goals in life and what you can contribute to make this world a better place in which to live.
STAGE 3: GOALS AND PLANNING
Your goal is to choose a career by making a study of various careers and analyzing yourself to see which ones suit your talents and emotional requirements. Use the top of the opposite page as a guide. Start now! Plan early for your career.
Complete a list of desirable careers. This will reduce the scope of your search. Investigate the type of education and training required. Prepare a plan of action and things to do for each stage or ingredient. STAGE 4: SEARCH, EXPLORE, AND GATHER THE EVIDENCE
Develop a passion for learning about various careers. Build up a list of tentative careers. Use a notebook page for each one to make notes. Back it up with a folder on each career or category.
Keep records of which books or periodicals have the best information about specific careers. STAGE 5: GENERATE CREATIVE AND LOGICAL ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
While gathering information, build your list of tentative career choices. Make only minor evaluations at this stage so that the size of your list is practical. Do not fully evaluate or judge your choices yet. There is not just one job that is right for you. There are numerous careers in which a person can be successful and happy. Consider creating your own career. There are many successful people who made their own job by filling a need not currently being met.
STAGE 6: EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE
Now work on a better evaluation and weight the evidence for each career on your tentative list. Take a systematic approach. Prepare a spreadsheet. If a computer is available–use it. Establish criteria such as: money, personal appeal, physical suitability, education required vs. cost, etc..
Rate each career on your list by a scale or grade you devise. You might have to do more research to properly grade them. Experiment by spending a day on a job in the chosen fields or working in community service. STAGE 7: MAKE THE EDUCATED GUESS (HYPOTHESIS)
After reviewing your spreadsheet, make an educated guess. Usually you have only one hypothesis; but, in a case of career choice, you may want to research several careers. Then, over a period of years, you must constantly review and compare.
Write your hypothesis in statement form. Explain the reasoning that supports your choice. For each career, prepare predictions about: earnings education time job enjoyment service to society etc. STAGE 8: CHALLENGE THE HYPOTHESIS
Challenge your hypothesis by trying out your career choice.
Suggestions:
While experimenting with your career choice, make observations and ask questions. Continue to search for evidence. STAGE 9: REACH A CONCLUSION
Okay, you made a choice and you challenged it. Does it still appeal to you? How do you like this career field? Does it appear to be the best possible choice? Why or why not? Summarize what you have learned.
If you do have second thoughts or doubts about your choice, remember that in using SM-14 there is a lot of backtracking, jumping, and skipping. Perhaps you should go back to the exploration stage and begin again. STAGE 10: SUSPEND JUDGMENT
Keep an open mind and be willing to accept new information regarding your career choice.
For example, if new career forecasts predict an oversupply of employees in your field, or while you were doing volunteer work, you discovered aspects you didn’t like you should reconsider. Go back to Stage #4 to renew your search.
Consider cross-training, be able to pursue several different careers. Adaptability will be essential in the fast-changing times ahead. STAGE 11: TAKE ACTION
Anticipate action–plan ahead! The action you take depends on your grade level or stage of life. If you will soon graduate from high school, you must apply at selected colleges. If you expect to enter the workforce, you must investigate which companies offer the best opportunities. Whether you are college-bound, changing careers, or entering the workforce, remember that some action should be taken.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION: MOTIVATION AND SENSITIVITY
Be sensitive to all input, especially your needs, interests, abilities, and ambition. You know yourself better than anyone else knows you. Do some serious self-analysis by taking a personal inventory–identify your values, interests, and talents.
Ask yourself, "What do I want to do with my life? What motivates me?" Is it a desire to help society? Money? Interest in the work? Job Security? Job Prestige? A desire for a fulfilling family life? In what subject area does your memory work best? PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Smart career investigation and decisions require a variety of attributes. Some important and necessary personal attributes are:
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION ON CAREERS
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