Choosing and Exploring Careers

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Choosing and Exploring Careers
Created by Georgia Agricultural Education
Curriculum Office
May 2007
Reference Ricketts, Cliff. Leadership Personal
Development Career Success. Delmar Publishers,
Inc. Albany, NY.
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Why Work??

• Why do people work? People work for various
  reasons, depending on the individual. Common
  reasons
• A. Earning money
• B. Social satisfaction
• C. Positive feelings
• D. Prestige
• E. Personal development
• F. Contributions to health
• G. Self-expression
• H. Security
• I. Success
• J. Happiness
• K. Peers and family

3
Unfortunately

• Many people do not follow their dreams of
  attaining the career they want. Their choices
  are often made by what others want them to do.

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Brainstorm

• What is the difference between work, an
  occupation, a job, and a career?

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The difference is

• Work - an activity that is directed toward a
  purpose or goal that produces something of value
  to oneself and/or to society. A wage may or may
  not be paid, depending upon the type of work,
  such as volunteer.
• Occupation the name given to a group of similar
  tasks that a person performs for pay.
• Examples include things such as carpenter work,
  legal work, truck driving, etc.
• Most occupations require specific knowledge and
  skills to perform them.
• Job - a paid position at a specific place or
  setting.
• For example, a welder (an occupation) may have a
  job at a mill.
• Career - a series of jobs that is pursued in
  order to achieve the ultimate occupation that the
  individual wants.

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What are the factors one should consider in
selecting a career?

• Standard of living will this career allow me to
  live comfortably or the way I desire?
• Personal contact do I want to be around other
  people a lot or work by myself?
• Formal education required almost every career
  requires a high school diploma. Many require
  degrees from technical school or college.
• Practical experience required some careers
  require workers to have experience in addition to
  formal education. Are you willing to put forth
  time to gain that experience?
• Locations of employment are you willing to move
  to find your dream job, or do you want to stay
  close to home?

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What are the factors one should consider in
selecting a career?

• Will you enjoy your work will you be excited
  about doing this job, or would you just be doing
  it for the money?
• Your working conditions do you want to work
  indoors, out, or both? Are you willing to work
  around dangerous machinery or chemicals?
• The amount of leisure time available will this
  career give you the leisure time you desire?
• Security during retirement will this career
  provide a sound financial future?
• Your health and happiness does this job require
  physical or mental stress which could affect your
  health and happiness?

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What are the steps in choosing a career?

• Step 1 Consider your interests, abilities, and
  other characteristics.
• Step 2 Narrow the field of jobs.
• Step 3 Study the requirements of the job.
• Step 4 Plan for alternative occupations.
• Step 5 Prepare a plan for career preparation.
• Step 6 Be willing to pay the price for success.
• Step 7 Gain working experience.

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What would you like to do?

• Using the www.ffa.org website and the following
  slides, brainstorm 5 possible careers that you
  would be interested in.

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Eight Major Career Areas

• Production Agriculture
• Agriculture Mechanics
• Agriculture Sales Service
• Agriculture Processing
• Forestry
• Rural Recreation Natural Resources
• Agriculture Marketing Business Management

• Horticulture

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Production Agriculture

• Raising
• Field Crops
• Poultry
• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Livestock

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Agriculture Mechanics

• Involves
• Planning Constructing Buildings
• Machinery Maintenance
• Welding
• Electrical Work
• Plumbing

13
Agriculture Sales Service

• Involves Occupations such as
• Veterinarian
• Ag Commissioner
• Equipment Dealers
• Feed Dealers
• Ag Flying

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Agriculture Processing

• Involves processing and distributing food
• Examples include
• Butchers
• Plant Workers
• Egg Processing

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Horticulture

• Involves
• Landscaping
• Floriculture
• Turf Management
• Nursery Management

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Forestry

• Involves
• Producing
• Harvesting Timber
• Managing Forests
• Reforestation

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Rural Recreation Natural Resources

• Involves
• Working with
• renewable resources
• Examples
• Wildlife
• Water Soil

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Agriculture Marketing Business Management

• Involves
• Business Economics
• Developing Markets
• Successful Marketing

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• Narrow list of 5 to 3 and answer the questions in
  factors to consider for each of the three
  careers
• Then, pick the 1 you like the most to complete
  the Career Exploration Assignment