Chapter 4 - Learning About Careers

Internship

An occupational training program during which a person works at a job, learning from a more experienced person. It can be paid, unpaid, lasting for several weeks, months, or a year.

Basic Job Factor - Job prospects

Are there jobs available for someone with your skill set?

Cost of Living

Amount of money needed for rent, food, travel, and other everyday expenses.

Promotion

A move up to a higher position that has increased job responsibilities and requires increased skills and knowledge. It also results in higher pay.

Cooperative Education

A program between schools and places of employment that allows students to receive on the job training through part-time work.

Hourly wage

A regular hourly wage is normally paid for the first 40 hours of work. Overtime pay applies to the time worked over 40 hours. There may be a pay difference (1.5*your wage) for overtime, evening hours, and shift work.

Job Shadowing

Accompanying a person to his or her job to learn about that person's job.

The Occupational Information Network (O*NET)

Can be used to explore careers, related job skills and trends. It provides tools for assessing a person's abilities and interests. It is the most complete job resource available. The weblink is www.onetonline.org.

School Counselors

Can help in the following ways: Careers and their educational requirements, Colleges and trade or technical schools offering specific programs, Government service and recruiting information, Local opportunities to observe jobs in your career field

Compensatory time

Compensatory time, also known as comp time, is receiving future time off instead of being paid overtime. Some government agencies, including the state of Louisiana, pay employees comp time as overtime.

The Guide for Occupational Exploration

Designed to help people understand what traits are required for certain occupations. The Guide categorizes occupations into 12 interest groups that are further divided into work groups. Each work group describes jobs that require the same worker traits. The Guide makes it possible to determine how suited you are for a job, based on how well your abilities and interests match job requirements.

Basic Job Factor - Education, training, and skills

Do you have a diploma or degree? Do you have experience in a certain field?

Basic Job Factor - Work location and environment

Do you live near where you would have to work? Are you willing to relocate? Can you work in a high pressure environment?

Fringe Benefits

Extra rewards given to workers in addition to salary or wages, such as insurance coverage and paid vacation time.

Community Service

If your dream career involves working with community or service organizations, gaining firsthand experience will be easy.

Basic Job Factor - Advancement opportunities

Is the employer a company or a family owned business? In most small businesses, advancement opportunities are limited.

Types of Jobs - College Degree

Jobs requiring a college degree mean that a student completes a college or university program. College degrees are available for two-year programs (associate's degree), four-year programs (bachelor's degree), or more advanced studies (master's degree or PhD, which is a doctorate). Usually, when a college degree is a requirement for a job, companies are looking for people with a bachelor's degree.

Types of Jobs - Entry Level Jobs

Jobs that require no experience, training for these jobs may be provided on the job. A high school diploma is usually required.

Entry Level Jobs

Jobs that require no previous training.

Part-time jobs

Jobs where employees work under 30 hours per week.

Basic Job Factor - Salary and fringe benefits

Most ads don't advertise either. They are mentioned as early as the second interview. Do you have enough education and training to get a high paying job?

Traits

Noteworthy characteristics of a person. The following traits are examples of some common job responsibilities: Ability to plan and organize, memory for details, desire to help people, and ability to persuade.

Types of Jobs - Certification

Obtained through the association that represents the profession. To obtain a license or certificate, you generally must meet specific educational and experience requirements.

Types of Jobs - Internships

Some companies require their employees serve an internship as part of their training. Disney World recruits college graduates to serve internships.

Types of Jobs - Advanced Training

Some job skills are needed. Skills may be obtained at school or through company programs. An apprenticeship is another way to acquire skills.

Advanced Training

Special skills and training required for a specific job. Those skills may be acquired in high school, community college, a university, or a company's training program.

Skills

The abilities that result from education and training.

Training

The application of knowledge through practice.

Making more than minimum wage

The best way to make more than minimum wage is to earn a promotion. They result in greater responsibilities and even or hours, but the pay is better. The more promotions you earn, the better your paycheck will be.

Education

The gaining of knowledge to live and work in today's society.

Starting Salary

The starting salary for a job depends on the job specifications and the experience of the applicant. Entry level jobs usually pay minimum wage, the lowest hourly wage employers are permitted to pay, which is set by law. Some jobs are paid by annual salary, not by the hour.

Job duties

The tasks that must be done on a daily basis.

Union Wages

Union wages are set by contract between the employer and the union. If you take a job covered by a union contract, you will receive the pay scale established for that job. Raises are uniform for everyone in the same job category. The size and timing of raises are covered in the union contract.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook

Updated every two years, it's designed to help with decisions about your future work. It describes what workers do on the job, the working conditions, and the training and education required. The weblink is: www.bls.gov/ooh

Basic Job Factot - Job duties and responsibilities

What is required of you on the job? What do you have to do on a daily basis? They are described by the tasks that must be accomplished, by the traits needed in workers to do the job well.