Exploring careers: WhatŐs right for you
Executive Producer: Susan E. Green
Publication Data: Sunburst Communications, Inc. New York
Appropriate Grade Levels: Middle
Developmental Domains: Career
Exploring careers: WhatŐs right for you is a 30-minute video that helps students begin to explore a variety of careers. It is an excellent developmental guidance lesson for reinforcing the career exploration and planning process. It is appropriate for middle school students and could be modified for use with high school students. Students begin to understand the importance of this process as they see a link between personality types and career satisfaction. Students learn that the career exploration and planning is a process and you increase your chance of job satisfaction by learning who you are. This includes your interests, strengths, weakness and aptitudes.
HollandŐs Hexagon is introduced in this video to illustrate the different personality areas that can be considered when exploring careers. The hexagon is divided into six categories . The personality types are realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterpriser and conventional. The types are altered a bit to make it easier to understand for the students. The types are referred to as doer, thinker, creator, helper, persuader and organizer.
The video is divided into two parts. Each part demonstrates one step of the decision making process involved in career exploration. Part 1 involves identifying their personality type. Students identify their dominant style followed by their second and third personality types. This part of the lessons includes interactive quizzes presented on each personality type. Students can keep track of how they answer the questions for each type. This would be a good activity to implement during the viewing of the video and would encourage active participation.
The second part of the video explores potential careers than fit each personality type. This is one component that students should consider when exploring careers. Others include the job outlook, abilities, type of school or post-secondary options available etc. Different jobs are listed in the in each personality style along with other possible careers that are available with the secondary and third codes.
This video is a good career tool for introducing the decision-making process for middle school students. The interactive atmosphere facilitates some great discussions and modes of further activities. Students can identify their own personality types by comparing their interests, aptitudes, likes and dislikes to the different categories. The video stresses that we are all a combination of all of these, but some of us have different combinations and different dominant personality traits.
The video includes a teacherŐs guide with several suggested activities and discussion questions that enhance the developmental guidance lesson. The lesson could take one class period or could last as long as a week depending on the classroom setting and time available.
There are many possible activities that can be implemented during the guidance lessons. These are just a few of them covered in the text.
Activity #1: Complete the quizzes in the teacherŐs guide that cover the different personality types. The students can discuss their results in class.
Activity #2: Students write a list of five possible career fields that appeal to them. They research these jobs on the computer, in books and other resources available to them. They research job duties, responsibilities, job outlook and other relevant topics. They discuss if these jobs seem compatible with their personality styles.
Activity #3: Students participate in a job shadow day. They pick a career field and the facilitator can find the placements in the community. Students could discuss their experiences with the group.
Activity #4: Have the students interview three people in the Ňreal world.Ó Students ask them about their career paths. Some questions that would be appropriate are: Why did you select this career? How many jobs/careers have you had? What do you like/dislike about your career. This will help the students understand the career process. They may see that many people switch jobs several times in their lifetime.
The video is directly related to the Minnesota Graduation Standard Number 8 entitled Physical Education & Lifetime Fitness. It fits most appropriately under the sub-categories entitled Career Investigation and Occupational Experience. The video gives an overview of the career investigation process by introducing the six parts of the Hexagon in HollandŐs Personality Theory. Students evaluate career choices and understand career exploration is a process of making informed choices. It is an important skill as students begin to make decisions about their future. This video is a great introduction to this process.
The video is reflective of the Career Developmental Domain of the Minnesota School CounselorsŐ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling. The video attaches itself to this domain by helping students develop awareness of the career planning process. The video stresses that it is a life long process. The video demonstrates students evaluating their skills, aptitudes and interests by introducing HollandŐs Hexagon. The program is also a reflection of this domain by helping students develop skills in career decision-making. Learning about yourself, utilizing resources and information assists in this process.
The video also is related to the National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee Standards for middle/junior high school in the area of career planning. It relates to these competencies because the program assists in developing skills to make decisions. It also emphasizes the knowledge of interrelationship of life roles and the process of career planning. The video relates to these standards as it did to the MinnesotaŐs School CounselorsŐ Model of Developmental Guidance and Counseling.
Field, S. (1992). 100 best careers for the year 2000. New York: Prentice Hall.
Green, S.E. (1997). Exploring careers: WhatŐs right for you. Pleasantville, NY: Sunburst Communications, Inc.
Minnesota Department of Children Families & Learning. (2001). MinnesotaŐs Graduation Standards (Online). Available: http://cfl.state.mn.us
National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee. Career Development Competencies. Washington, DC: National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee.
Rief, J.M., & Enestvedt, J.K. (1993). The Minnesota school counselorsŐ model of developmental guidance. Publication location unlisted: Minnesota School CounselorsŐ Association.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. (2000). Indianapolis, IN: Jist Works, Inc.
Review submitted by: Jenny Schwieger
Professional School Counseling Program
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Interning 2001-2002 at Fairmont High School and Martin County West High School
FHS MCW
900 Johnson Street 16 W. 5th St.
Fairmont, MN 56031 Sherburn, MN 56171
Intern Supervisor: Bob Bonk