Title: Career Prep
Course: 21 Things for Students > Section: Career Prep

Field Operator

Important Introduction

It is important for 21t4s agents to be able to have 'cover careers' and be able to be prepared for a variety of careers you may hold in your lifetime. This mission consists of 5 Quests which are summarized below. Good luck agents, and find out which ones will suit your interests and skills! Once you have completed the 5 Quests you will earn your Career Prep Badge.

Quest 1: Who are you?

Take a special Holland code quiz and find out about your personality for the career choices you will be exploring.

Introduction

Watch the "Did You Know" video (from SchoolTube) above and watch for the number of careers you might hold before age 38.

Your task is to begin planning for your future beyond this 21t4s Agency. Did you ever imagine how many different jobs you might have by age 38? Planning for your future has never been more exciting and challenging. Knowledge is expanding at exponential rates, and trying to be prepared makes learning a life-long process. It's time to begin by finding out your interests, skills, and talents to guide your future. You will learn a lot about your personality by completing the activities in this Quest. Your SSI Chief may assign some alternate tasks to complete this Quest, so check in with the Chief.

Step 1: Who am I?

Download and use this secret "Who Am I" document  and fill in your information for these steps.

WhoamI.doc   WhoamI.pdf

A list of questions to help you think about Who Am I

1. What do I like to do? (Think about experiences you have enjoyed. What kind of school, religious, social or sports activities you like to do)
2. What are your talents, hobbies and/or abilities?
3. What do other people say you are good at doing?
4. What subjects at school do you like? What clubs or organizations do you belong to?
5. What do you like to do in your free time? (Have you volunteered, worked jobs in the neighborhood...)

6. Which skill areas describe you the best? Click these links and jot down (copy and paste) a few which describe you.

Step 2: Holland's Code Quiz

Which type of personality are you? Click this link to take the Hollands Code Quiz online (or this link to download the pdf version ) and find which you are, a Doer, Thinker, Creator, Helper, Persuader, or Organizer. You will likely have some qualities from several of these, but which one describes you the best?

After you submit your choices you will see text identifying your personality type. It will look something like the image below, and identify one key area, marked *highest for you, the 3 letter Holland Code, and Job Titles matching your type. Take a screenshot of the results and put it into your WhoAmI document.

Clicking on the Job Title  in their chart will take you to information about the median salary, required education, and job outlook (Note - some of their job title links do not work.)

Step 3: Learn more

Once you have the results, you can learn more about your *highestHolland's personality type. Refer to the following information, clicking on the hyperlink to go to the details about your type.

 ·        Realistic (this person is a Doer)

·        Investigative (this person is a Thinker)

·        Artistic (this person is a Creator)

·        Social (this person is a Helper)

·       Enterprising (this person is a Persuader)

·        Conventional (this person is an Organizer)

Copy and paste the words which describe you into the WhoAmI document.

Step 4: Create a Personality Map

Create a graphic illustration of what you have learned from this activity. Take 10 or more words which best describe your personality and interests and create a graphic illustration.

Tools we suggest:

Bubbl.us and create a mind map (example shown below)

Word Clouds: Wordle (example shown below)

or Tagzedo (example shown below)

 Step 5: Save this information for your next Quest.

Quest 2: Career Matches

United States Federal 16 Career Clusters Diagram.

Click here to view the pdf document of the chart below.

Introduction

Agents, this is where you will match your skills and interests to different careers.

Careers having similar characteristics and requiring similar skills can be grouped together. There are 16 national Career Clusters and 6 Michigan Career Pathways.

Once you know your interests, you can determine which of the national career clusters or pathways fit you best. You can also identify which careers interest you from the list of careers that match your survey/quiz results in Quest 1.

Step 1: Select three careers of interest to explore and compare

A. Download the Explore3careers document to use for your comparison.

                  Explore3Careers.doc Explore3Careers.pdf

B. Do a search and identify 3 career choices that interest you. Choose one of these two options for your exploration: Career Clusters or CareerShip

    Career Clusters

Your task is to locate one or two career clusters/pathways or interests which match to your interest and skill areas identified in the first Quest. Each of the career clusters in the map of the Federal Career Clusters at the top of this page is a collection of occupations. Each cluster is then divided into several sub-sections called Pathways.

Download this Career Cluster Survey and check the items in each boxed section which best describe you. Put the number (total) of checks in that boxed section in the Total number spot provided.  When done locate the top one or two career clusters which match to your interest and skill area.

CareerShip

Click on this link to ride the CareerShip and match your interests. Upon arrival at this page, click on the interest area you identified from your first Quest (eg. Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional) and check the box next to it and then click on the search button at the bottom.

Step 2: Research for your comparision

Start exploring the career(s) using the O*NET Database and the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) to answer the questions on the Explore2Careers Chart downloaded in Step 1. Record your information on the Chart making sure you include salary information.

Video Research

Use one or more of these resources to locate and watch a video about the two careers you selected. Jot notes into your chart which add to the information have already you collected.

Career Cluster Videos form careerinfonet.org

Career Occupation Search - type the career in the search box, then click the link provided to get more information and view a video

Step 3:  Spreadsheet Analysis

Download these directions for creating your Spreadsheet Graph Analysis

Quest 3: Game of Life

Introduction

Agents, you have successfully made it to the REAL WORLD. It is time to start investigating what the future has in store for you. This Quest will have you visit the "Show Me The Future" web site to play a game of life. You will select a job (with salary) and then spend money related to your life decisions in the game. You will start with a checking account balance based on the career you select. You will be making decisions about housing, transportation, clothing, food, and more. Your goal is to pay all of your bills and still have some cash at the end. Choose wisely!

Directions

1. Click on this link (Flash-based) Show Me the Future to find your new identity and go through the steps listed below

2. Check with your SSI Chief to find out the recommended size (587x400, 763x520, or 939x640) to open the game file and start paying some bills to see if you can afford your lifestyle with the job given to you.

3. Listen to the audio introduction then fill in the boxes (use an alias), your school name, and grade level.

4. When you get to the Job screen, you can select a different job choice by clicking on the regenerate button repeatedly until you find a career close to one you are interested in. Take a screenshot of your chosen job.

5. Click the continue button to proceed through each  choice and travel on the map to the listed expenditure areas (housing, food, charity, childcare, etc.)

6. When you have paid all of your bills, click on the checkbook and take a screenshot to post to your digital portfolio, blog, wiki, or secret file space document.

Quest 4: Promote Yourself

Introduction

You have successfully completed your Mission Research on careers, and established your top secret identity.  Next, you will prepare your own credentials and promote your skills and abilities for future missions.  During this Quest, you will be asked to prepare a resume, application, and digital portfolio in hopes of obtaining advancement within the organization.

Steps

Complete the resume, application, and digital e-portfolio.

Prepare a resume.
1. View the CareerTV Video on Resume Basics
2. Select a resume template- you may use the resume templates file, choose one from Google Docs or Microsoft website , or check with your SSI for an approved template.  (Often “References” are not listed on a Resume. Check with your SSI for direction on the use of “References”. )
3. Submit a “Draft” to your SSI, who will make suggestions for improvements.
4. After you obtain corrections, make revisions and create a final, error – free copy.  Submit to your “Final” top secret file space.

Complete an application.
1. Review the tips about completing a job application.
2. Submit the completed employment application to your SSI in your top secret file space.

Create an online digital portfolio (e-portfolio).
1. The purpose of an online portfolio is to promote your resume online!  Check out Levi Smith’s digital electronic portfolio (e-portfolio).  Make note of the images, pages, and contents.
2. Begin brainstorming your e-portfolio.  Using Bubbl.us, create an mindmap of what your e-portfolio will look like.  Capture a screenshot and post to your top secret file space.
3. Using Weebly , or a tool approved by your SSI, create your e-portfolio.  Include “pages” that coincide with the sections of your resume (e.g. About Me, Education, Work Experience, Skills, Activities, Awards & Honors).  References should NOT be listed on an e-portfolio.

Congratulations on completing this Mission. You are ready to receive your Career Prep badge .

Career Prep Question 1

What is the estimated number of jobs you will have by the age of 38?

- 2 to 4
Feedback: Try Again
- 6 to 10
Feedback: Try Again
- 10 to 14
Feedback: Great job!
- 16 to 20
Feedback: Try Again

Career Question 2

Why is learning about your personality so important when looking at career choices?

- It will help me narrow down my search for a career
Feedback: Try Again
- It will help me find a career that I enjoy
Feedback: Try Again
- It will help me find a career pathway that I can start to follow
Feedback: Try Again
- All of the above
Feedback: Great job!

Career Prep Question 3

What should you NOT do when filling out a job application?

- Use black or blue ink
Feedback: Try Again
- Proofread and be honest
Feedback: Try Again
- Leave blanks
Feedback: Great job!
- List most recent jobs first
Feedback: Try Again

.Career Prep Question 4

Why might a video resume help you get an interview?

- It will not help me, a paper resume is the way to go
Feedback: Try Again
- Both A & C
Feedback: Great job!
- It is a more creative way to sell myself
Feedback: Try Again
- Will stand out from the rest of the applicants
Feedback: Try Again

Career Prep Award

To receive your Badge or certificate for completion from your SSI Chief :

 Please take this short survey to share your ideas on how to improve these activities and this 21things4students resource.