Making Connections: Selecting a Career

Student Guide

Instructions

Using information learned in this unit and the example from the Making Connections lect ure, you will take
a career interest inventory, My Next Move. You will identify two careers of interest and research the
careers in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook . Research and
compare careers based on the eight components of a career to choose a career of most interest to you.
Follow the steps below to complete the activity.

Part 1 – My Next Move Career Interest Inventory

1. Go to the My Next Move website: http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip

2. Read the instructions for completing the My Next Move interest profile. When you have
completed each page, click Next to move to the next page.
3. Answer the series of questions on the career interest inventory by clicking one of the choices for
each type of work. When you have completed each page, click Next to move to the next page.
4. Once you have completed the inventory, click Next. You may go back and review or change your
answers or click Next again to see your interest profile.
5. Your results for the My Next Move inventory will display, showing the scores you received in each
of the six different classification groups (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and
Conventional).
6. Click on the classification group in which you scored highest to see t he type of work that
corresponds to that particular group. Click Close and then either click another interest or click
Next to explore and choose a job zone.
7. Read the instructions for choosing a job zone. When you have completed each page, click Next
to move to the next page.
8. Select a Job Zone. Click Next to see the list of careers. Click on a career to learn more about that
career. Continue with these steps until you find a top career of interest.
9. Print or save the career description to your Financial Math folder. You will need this information
later.
10. The My Next Move inventory section is now complete.

Copyright © Edgenuity Inc.

 Student Guide (continued)

Part 2 – United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook

Handbook Career Research

1. Now that the career interest inventory is complete and you have chosen two careers of interest.
you will find more information about each selected career using the United States Department of
Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook website at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
2. Using the site’s A-Z index of all occupations, find information about the first career of interest you
chose from the My Next Move inventory.
3. When you find the chosen career of interest, you will be directed to a page that highlights points
about the career, including:
a. What They Do
b. Work Environment
c. How to Become One
d. Pay
e. Job Outlook
f. Similar Occupations
Print or save this information about the career of interest; you will need this information when
creating your PowerPoint presentation.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the second career of interest you chose from the My Next Move
inventory.
5. The United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook career research is now
complete.

Part 3 – Creating your Graphic Organizer

Based on your research from the career inventory you completed (My Next Move) and the Occupational
Outlook Handbook information, you will now complete a graphic organizer describing and comparing the
two careers of interest and ultimately choosing the one career for which you have the most interest.
Complete the comparison chart using method A or method B.
Method A – Print the graphic organizer (or create a similar graphic organizer on separate paper)
and record your answers to the questions outlined below. When you’re finished, turn in your chart
to your teacher for a discussion and grade results.
Method B – Save the Word document to your desktop. Name the file “Selecting a Career
Graphic Organizer.” Record your answers to the questions outlined below. When you’re finished,
e-mail your chart to your teacher for a discussion and grade results.

Copyright © Edgenuity Inc.

 Student Guide (continued)

The graphic organizer should be outlined with the following criteria for My Next Move:
Top Career Choice
From the top group, which career interests you most?
Job Description
Give a short description of the basic duties related to this career.
Personal Attributes
Describe the specific career personality traits needed for this job (e.g., people person, work independently).
Education/Experience/Certification
List the degree(s), internships, years of experience, state certifications, etc. needed for your career of choice.
Employment
List the number of people employed in this profession in the year 2014 using information from the Occupational
Outlook Handbook.
Job Outlook
Identify the projected percent of increase or decrease of the career based on information from the Occupational
Outlook Handbook.
Earnings
Using information from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, tabulate the earnings received by people in the
career field, including median value, top ten percent, and bottom ten percent.
Work Env ironment
Describe the work environment for the career of interest (e.g., office, outside, varies).
Related Occupations
List five careers that are related to the career of interest.

Copyright © Edgenuity Inc.