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Exploit your talent. What are you good at? When was the last time you enjoyed yourself so much that you totally lost track of time while you worked on a project or pursued a goal? Out of all your current work and student roles, what would you gladly do for free? Have any of your friends or your parents told you that you’d be good at a particular thing and that you should do it for a living? What is it? If you don’t remember, go ask a couple of them. Talents can evolve into rewarding careers. Reflect on Learning: What are some strategies for identifying potential career areas? Envision “Future You” and work toward making that vision a reality, talk with people who have careers that appear interesting to you and ask about their career path, exploit interests and talent. Have you researched a career path based on that interest, talent, or hobby? Explore! There are many routes to a rewarding career and many factors to consider when you are exploring career options. Students often focus only on the types of skills and education they need, then try to figure out where they’ll fit in and whether they can get a job in that field. Here are some alternative ways to ponder career prep: Eliminate the Distractors. A popular multiple choice test-taking strategy is to eliminate the obviously wrong answers first. These are fittingly called distractors . In a way, picking a career path is sort of like answering a multiple choice test. If you don’t know the answer, narrow the selection by eliminating the distractors — the career paths which are obviously wrong. Rule out career areas which you are certain do not appeal to you and will never appeal to you. With a less crowded field, you may be able to spot the things that do interest you. Explore by Industry. For many, a rewarding career is more about the industry they work in than the specific job they do . For example, maybe you love the entertainment industry, but don’t really have acting or directing chops. Don’t give up on your dream! There are hundreds of career paths within the entertainment industry: set designer, script and screenplay writer, editor, sound technician, publicity manager, business manager, costume designer, casting agent, lighting designer and more. Want to work in the healthcare field, but don’t really see yourself going to medical school? No worries. There are hundreds of career paths within that industry. Don’t limit your career contemplation to one type of job. First select the industry that interests you, then explore the many career opportunities within it. PRODUCT PREVIEW
Explore by Pay. If your career goal is to pull down the big bucks, you should know that employee compensation (pay) varies from industry to industry and job to job. Salary or wage level is a function of special job skills and how much demand there is for the particular skill . For example, jobs in the medical and engineering fields have historically paid very well because the skills require a lot of training and are in high demand. Things change, but historically, some industries, such as the service and education industries which include teaching, restaurant, and transportation jobs, have lower pay. (Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook) Before you commit to a lifetime of unsatisfactory earnings, explore careers by pay level. Know what kind of a paycheck you’ll get before you commit to your career path. There are plenty
Fin Lit Trivia Fin Lit Trivia Fin Lit Trivia
Is there a doctor in the house?
According to a 2014 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, 16 of the nation’s top 30 highest-paying occupations are in the medical field.
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THE 21st CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO FINANCIAL LITERACY
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