CAREER EXPLORATION WEBQUEST

As a soon to be high school graduate, you have the task of choosing a career or a career pathway on which to focus high school studies.  By completing this webquest you should be able to identify your likes and dislikes in choosing the correct career.



 

You will do this by compiling a career exploration portfolio.  The portfolio will contain the following.

* the results of a career interest inventory

 

* a list of five possible careers suitable to your likes, dislikes, and personality 

* research on three of the possible careers 

* a list of career-related high school courses

On completion of the portfolio, you will create a brochure using Publisher to summarize the results of your career exploration.  The brochure will explain what career focus you have chosen, why you chose it, and how you plan to prepare for it by listing the high school classes needed.

Step # 1

Before beginning the career exploration activities contained in this webquest, you must create a career portfolio in which to store all assignments, printed documents, and career research.



 

Go to Virginia Career View , Click on Grades 6-8 and complete "Who R U". Make sure you print out a copy of the “Who R U” page. Take the time to investigate your interests and abilities by navigating through the Career Search Option. Read the information about careers and choose five careers that interest you and then chose three of those to research further. This website will answer a lot of questions for you, so explore it thoroughly! Please remember to print out any information you will need for your portfolio.



Use the Career Worksheet to list the five careers that interest you.  Be choosy, do not write down every job indicated. Make sure the job suggested actually reflects your personal likes and dislikes as well as interest you in some way.

When you are finished making a list of possible careers, review the list and place an asterisk by the three jobs that interest you the most.



Put everything in your folder!  Clients will want to see all research.



Step #2



Now is the time to research those jobs that caught your interest.  You need to spend some time researching these jobs to find out more information about them such as, job responsibilities, possible salaries, and educational requirements. Use the Career Information Sheet for each job.  Print out the worksheet (3), write your name in the appropriate blank as well as the career title being research.  Remember, this information will be used by a lot of people, please take the time to write neatly.  Use the Resource Links provided to locate pertinent information.



Once you have completed a career information sheet for each career, you need to reflect on what you have learned. You will do this by printing out and answering a Career Research Reflection Sheet. This page in your portfolio will help you think about

• what you liked about each job?                            
• what you disliked about the jobs?
• how the jobs relate to each other?                                                                        
• how you would prioritize them in a list of future careers?
• what classes would help prepare for these career choices.

Place all your research information and reflection sheets into your career folder and proceed to your final task - creating a brochure that describes the career you feel best suits you!



Step #3



Now that you have spent many days exploring careers, it is time to make a brochure that will help others to decide.  Remember, we want to be the best career counselors we can be!



Using Publisher, your brochure should include:                                                   

• what career focus you have chosen and why
• what classes you would like to take during high school and how the courses you have suggested would aid in preparing someone for college
• description of the job
• education and training requirements
• salary expectations
• where would you need to live
• anything else you feel would be important for someone to know about the career (possible colleges?)
• graphics that relate to the career

Resources

Virginia Career View



Exploring Career Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics



Career Exploration Guide and Resources for Younger Students



US Dept. of Labor Occupational Handbook



College Board



 

Conclusion



This assignment is a tool for the students to start to consider what they want to do after high school. It allows them to evaluate themselves and determine what their interest are and how that can play a role in their career choice. It is also a guide that they will use to find the right career as well as help others who look and read their brochures.  All the brochures will be forwarded onto the career counselors to be used at the high school level.  Maybe we can save a few of those college drop outs!