Linking to Hot Careers: How to Get that Job You Never See in the Newspapers

Linking to Hot Careers:

How to Get that Job You Never See in The Newspaper

E. Samynna Jones (Bartlett High School)

jonese3@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us

Myrna Robinson (Houston High School),

robinsonm03@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us

Summer Integration Training Program '99 Shelby County Schools

View PowerPoint Presentation

Grade Level: Secondary

A Note to The Teacher

This WebQuest is designed for all levels of learning capabilities and spreads across many disciplines. It is helpful if students have a working knowledge of using search engines from the computer. Some additional time may be required to demonstrate the application of these tools for slow learners. Job applications may be secured from workbook/textbook sources of downloaded from the Internet.

Introduction

One of the most important decisions you will ever make is choosing a career. Have you given any thought as to what kind of job you might be best suited for, according to your capabilities and interests? Many students have no idea of what they would like to become in the world of work. If you are in this category, you are not alone. This WebQuest will help you chart your course directly to that great job you "never see in the newspaper" through self-assessment checks, Internet job searching, resumé and cover letter writing and Internet posting, application completion, and interview preparation. The necessary tools are here for you. Your task is to determine what career is best for you and get it!

Task

This WebQuest has a database of useful instruments that you will use to help you make a career decision. You will assess your personality, interests, and skills to determine the most appropriate occupation for you. You will then investigate that career for its characteristics. You will prepare a resumé and cover letter and post them on the Internet. Job applications must be completed. Links are included to prepare you for the interview.

Process

Career Link Modules

Module One ~ What is an assessment? Why is it a useful job search tool? How do I take a personal assessment test? What do my assessment results reveal?

Module Two ~ What do I do with my assessment results? What are the characteristics of my career choice? How will my results guide my investigation?

Module Three ~ In what grammatical skills do I need to exhibit mastery? What formatting skills are necessary? What communication arts must be displayed?

Module Four ~ How do I compose a career characteristics research paper? How do I compose a resume'? How do I compose a cover letter? What information to I need to know in order to complete a job application?

Module Five ~ What is interview etiquette? What must I expect in an interview? How do I compile a portfolio?

Module One

Principles Procedures Activities Check Off!

Knowing You:

The Assessment

Learn to assess your interests, abilities and skills to determine your career interests.

Explore the websites listed.

Select one assessment instrument to download and complete.

Career Planing Guide

Keirsey Character Sorter

Careers for ADD

Character Interests Game

College Board Career Assessment

Indiana Career and Postsecondary Advancement Center

Module Two

Principles Procedures Practice Check Off!

Analyzing the Results of Your Assessment

Score your self-assessment and match your results with the career that best suits your profile.

Discuss your results with a partner.

Share this information with your parents and discuss whether or not this is the best choice for you, or if you should assess yourself again.

Select one career that fits your profile and research it from the selected websites.

Career Magazine

Career Magazine on Campus

Career Mosaics

Sorter II

GSIA: Career Opportunities Center

Pitco's Ask An Expert

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook

Name your career.

Give your instructor the name of the career you plan to investigate.

Download and complete the skeletal outline (link)

(Assignment)

Module Three

Principles Procedures Practice Check Off!

Reviewing Basic Grammar and Writing Skills

Complete the basic skills sheets.

Basic Skills Worksheet (link)

(Assignment)

Fine-tuning Formatting Skills

Download, read, and study the formatting guide.

Formatting Guide (link)

Polishing Communication Arts

Writing

Listening

Speaking

Thinking

Choose a partner and practice answering interview questions.

Pitco's Ask An Expert

GSIA: Career Opportunities Center

Basic Skills - Guide to Grammar and Writing

Writing the Research Paper

From your completed outline, compose a one page research paper on your selected career.

In the correct format, type your research paper and place it in your portfolio. (Assignment)

Module Four

Principles Procedures Practice Check Off!

Building Your Personal Profile

Read and analyze the information on writing a resumé.

Career Mosaics

GSIA: Career Opportunities Center

Kathy Schrock's Guide

Capitalize This!

Construct your resumé.

Exchange resumés with a partner and critique.

The Princeton Review Online - Careers

Composing A Cover Letter

Write a generic cover letter and attach it to your resumé. Place these items in your portfolio.

Completing A Job Profile

Download the FedEx (link) or International Paper (link) job application.

Complete your job application selection and place it in your portfolio.

(Assignment)

Module Five

Principles Procedures Practice Check Off!

Walking through The Interview Process

Dress for Success

Questions to Watch

Interview Etiquette

Explore the following websites and complete the accompanying activities.

Kaplan - The Hot Seat

GSIA: Career Opportunities Center

Job Web

Use an interview evaluation sheet to complete during the interview simulation.

(Assignment)

Assemble in groups of three. Choose an interviewer, an applicant, and an interview critique. Simulate an actual job interview. Change roles until each person has participated in each role.

Place each interview evaluation sheet in the appropriate portfolio.

Resources

Career Magazine provides the job seek with a continuos update of job opportunities, employers, interesting articles, resumé bank, job fairs, and a daily job horoscope for the astrology buff.
Career Magazine on Campus is designed with the college student in mind. There are news articles on diversity, recruiter and consultant directories, relocation resources, and many other career links.
Careers for ADD Explorers is a unique self assessment process that helps the ADD or ADHD person define the best career and path to take in order to reach that career.
Career Mosaics allows the serious job seeker to search through thousands of hot job offerings, connect with hundreds of employers, build, post and research resumes, travel through an online job fair, and explore career opportunities abroad.
The 10 step Career Planing Guide helps sculpt and mold the career most perfectly suited for your individual needs.
The Keirsey Character Sorter will allow you to determine exactly what your life's work should be by sorting and eliminating.
The Keirsey Character Sorter II will take you a step farther by narrowing down your field of job choices.
The Character Interests Game is a fun activity designed to help you match your interests and skills with similar careers.
The GSIA: Career Opportunities Center was designed by the Graduate School of Industrial Administration. It is essential reading for anyone beginning a job search, writing a resumé, or planning to interview.
The College Board Career Assessment is a necessary tool for every college student. The assessment asks you questions about yourself which may be used to find careers that match your interests and abilities.
Kathy Schrock's Guide provides helpful grammar tips to fine tune your resumé.
Pitco's Ask An Expert allows you to do an online interview with a person from your desired profession.
Capitalize This! is an excellent grammatical check list to use in beefing up your resumé.
Kaplan - The Hot Seat is an actual simulation of a job interview.

Evaluation

Each segment will be evaluated using a grading rubric. The rubric will assess the following categories:

Inclusion of Materials
Quality of Content
Effective Use of Resources

Once the segment grades have been determined, an overall grade will be assessed for the completed portfolio.

Conclusion

Upon completion of this WebQuest, you should understand the step-by-step process of career searching and development. Check your understanding by considering the following essential questions.

What is the best way to ascertain the career for me?
What makes a good resumé and cover letter?
What elements are necessary for my personal job profile?
How do I make myself marketable?
Why is the Internet a beneficial resource tool when job searching?

Principles	Procedures	Practice	Check Off!
Analyzing the Results of Your Assessment	Score your self-assessment and match your results with the career that best suits your profile.	Discuss your results with a partner. Share this information with your parents and discuss whether or not this is the best choice for you, or if you should assess yourself again.
	Select one career that fits your profile and research it from the selected websites.	Career Magazine Career Magazine on Campus Career Mosaics Sorter II GSIA: Career Opportunities Center Pitco's Ask An Expert Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Outlook Handbook
	Name your career.	Give your instructor the name of the career you plan to investigate. Download and complete the skeletal outline (link) (Assignment)