Choosing A Career

Choosing A CareerWhy do people work?Try to imagine how you would fill in 24 hours a day, every day, if you didnt have to work. There you go - off to the beach in summer, the movies in winter, watch T.V. on rainy days, go skating or horse riding, read a lot of books or magazines, sleep . . .Where would the money come from to pay your bus fares, to get into the movies, to buy your T.V. or to pay for the electricity, or buy your skates and books?Probably not, because if no-one had to worry about earning money, then who would bother driving your bus to the beach - for that matter, who would bother building your bus, or making your movies, skates, books, etc.? Why would they have to?What youd probably end up doing would be spending most of your time out in the fields growing your own food, or looking after your cows for milk and meat, your sheep for clothing, growing bamboo for the walls of your humpy.Why would you need to do this? Because no-one else would need to do it to earn money, because money grew on trees - right?Obviously, money in that sort of society doesnt really exist, and is of no value to the people.So, in our society, is MONEY is the NUMBER ONE reason for working ! ! ! ?A lot of people might agree with this statement, but is money the main reason why so many people spend so much of their time working?Surely work gives us other things as well as money?So, the main reason why work exists today is since we cannot possibly do everything for ourselves, we get other people to do things for us, and pay them for their work. In order to do that, we must also do things for other people so that we can earn money.Think of everything you do-all of it costs money. Electricity isnt free, nor is water, food, housing, clothing, etc. So, we appear to be back at the point again where money is still the MAIN REASON for working, but now probably not in the original way you were thinking.However, in the process of reaching this conclusion, we have uncovered another couple of reasons why people work- because you are good at doing something special other people need your skills, and you need theirs to satisfy our needs for shelter and food to provide luxuries to make our lifestyle more enjoyable.You can get a lot out of working - it doesnt just have to be something you gotta do!.In fact, although money might appear to be the main reason for working, it isnt always the main thing people get from their job.In fact, many people stay in low paid jobs because they get a lot of personal satisfaction from other aspects of that job.Rewards from WorkLook at this list of rewards that people might get from work, and see whether you think that money is still number one:WORK: lets me use my special abilities, skills and knowledge makes me feel that Im doing something useful keeps me busy and helps fill in time lets me be creative involves doing a variety of tasks allows me to meet a lot of people lets me experience new things and learn more lets me see something for my efforts allows me to be responsible gives me power/influence over others provides opportunities to make friends lets me help people provides money allows me to be with others provides physical activity for me allows me to contribute to the community lets me control my own time allows me to satisfy my other needs offers me chances for improvement and/or promotion allows me to be known and liked by many peopleAre there any other rewards that work might offer?If you can think of any add them to the list and then pick out and number in ORDER of IMPORTANCE, your TOP FIVE reasons why you would like to work.Keep these reasons in mind when looking at job/s youd like to do -will those jobs provide you with those rewards?For each statement listed above, can you name at least one job which would offer that as its main reward?If you were not working, which of these rewards would you not receive if you were: studying (at school, college,uni, etc.) looking after a family home living off lottery winnings travelling unemployed making handicrafts for saleAre any of these in your Top Five? Does this make any difference to your thoughts on your future? What rewards can you get from not working?How would the rewards from permanent part-time, casual or shared work, differ from the rewards from full-time work?For example, you would have more control over your own time with part time or casual work, at the expense of money.Try to list at least five more differences.WHAT SATISFACTIONS DO I WANT FROM WORK ?This worksheet lists groups of certain features of jobs which are often important to people because they give them satisfaction. provide opportunities to sort out problems allow me to do something useful let me see something for my efforts be able to be done efficiently have good working conditions let me use my hands perform a useful function in the community provide honest information or service provide time to enjoy other aspects of life allow me to work with things/objects rather than with books/ideas allow me to carry out decisions I make let me try out new ideas allow me to express an opinion allow me to enjoy freedom from close supervision let me organise work for others to do have opportunities for promotion to senior levels let me make decisions for myself allow me to mostly be my own boss allow me to tell others what to do allow me to influence others give me a feeling of achievement let me meet people let me teach others what I know be one where Im really needed make me feel appreciated give me an opportunity to be known for my abilities be seen by society as useful let me get some occasional praise or thanks allow me to show others what I can do increase my self-confidence keep me busy most of the time make me feel that I am useful allow me to plan for the future not be risky or dangerous have good working conditions have opportunities for promotion include provisions for retirement be well paid for the work done be one I can make a career out of be one where I know exactly what I must do allow me to get things done provide opportunities to follow what really interests me allow me to see something for my efforts have opportunities for promotion let me become independent allow me to further develop my knowledge and abilities provide some challenging work for me to do allow me to attain status/prestige in the firm/community allow me to achieve something with my life enable me to get the material things that go with being successful give me a chance to be with people let me work closely with others help other people give me a chance to help people with problems allow me to share my interests with others provide a useful function in the community provide opportunities to meet a range of different people give me a chance to hear what others think/feel provide occasional praise/thanks for work done give me a chance to understand peopleallow me to acquire and pass on information let me try out new ideas allow me to share my ideas with others be one where I know what is going on allow me to further develop my abilities/knowledge allow me to organise and analyse information provide some challenging work improve my understanding of certain things allow time for discussion about work with others provide opportunities for me to broaden my horizons give me a chance to work with pleasant things allow me to be creative provide pleasant surroundings for me to work in let me use my talents fully let me express myself in my work let me try out new ideas improve my understanding/appreciation of nature and/or culture leave opportunities for me to enjoy the nice aspects of life be pleasing to my senses enable my work to be appreciated by othersA. Id like my life to be as safe as possible, so that I can cope with the unexpected without difficulty.B. I gain great satisfaction by finding out everything I can about my job so I can become expert at it. C. I am not happy being a follower and would rather exert some power over others. D. I prefer people who notice the good job that I do- I love receiving attention from others. E. I value useful, worthwhile things which help make life more comfortable. F. I like to be in pleasant surroundings, working with the artistic skills and talents that l/others have. G. I gain much self-satisfaction by getting results in my job, and by handling challenges well. H. I much prefer to work and be with other people, and feel as if I can do something useful for them. RsumsSample #2.But, only a little bit of extra thought has been put into their rsum.Name: Lee J. GrantAddress: 68 Smythe Street, GUM FLAT 2221Telephone: 6456 3356 (message only)Birthdate: 28th November, 1979Education: Coolabah High School, 1995 School Certificate Grades English 2 Mathematics 3 School Assessment Results Science 4 Geography 3 Commerce 2 Home Economics 3 Special Skills: Typing course at Billabong TAFE - tested at speed of 30 w.p.m. Can work basic office machinery - small switchboard, copier, calculator, etc. Work Experience: Weekend Assistant at Mut Mut Pizza, Gum Flat, February to October, 1995 School Work Experience - two weeks in September 1995 at Patcher Furniture as Clerical Assistant Interests and Hobbies: Participate in the local social tennis club. Enjoy reading home furnishing and decorating magazines. References: 1. Rev. D. Rigby, St Stephens, Gum Flat. 2. Mrs J.N.Knowles (Manager), Mut Mut Pizza, Plain St., Gum Flat. 3. Mr T.B.Jones (Senior Clerk) Patcher Furniture, Jill St., Billabong. Job InterviewsPREPARINGWho would you take with you for a job interview? Why?What should you try to find out before the interview?What things should you have prepared to take with you? (HINT: your rsum better be on this list!)Looking at the clothes you own now.What would you wear for a job interview as:- an office worker- a trade apprentice- an airline steward/ess- a labourerCould you wear the same clothes for each interview? Why? Why not?Could you wear sandals or open shoes for any interview?Should females wear a bra?Should males wear a tie?What things decide what you should or should not wear for a job interview?Job InterviewsDURING THE INTERVIEWDo you know what to do in different situations? Shaking handsShould you shake hands with the interviewer?When and where would you not shake hands?What type of hand shaker are you?Should girls shake a male interviewers hand?Should guys shake a female interviewers hand?How do you know what to do?Sitting downIs it appropriate to wait until you are asked to sit? If you arent asked, what can you do?Addressing the employerHow should you address the interviewer?What can you do if you dont know or cant remember the persons name?Handing over your papersAt what stage should you present your papers (rsum, references, etc.) to the interviewer?Smokers.If you smoke, is it a good idea to accept a cigarette offered to you by the interviewer?Job InterviewsANSWERING QUESTIONSQuestions will probably be asked in a rapid sequence, and can be designed to put pressure on the applicant.If you have not got sensible answers prepared which you can present confidently, you will be well on your way to making a poor impression.Look closely at each of these questions.Try to work out what the interviewer might be looking for, and then prepare your answers to the questions.Practice saying your answers so that you will sound confident when you are with the interviewer. What were your best subjects at school? What did you like most/least about school? Why? Could you have done better at school? What hobbies do you enjoy doing? What sports? Why do you want to do this job? How did you decide to pick this type of work? What do you know about this job? What do you know about our firm? What plans do you have for the future? What type of work experience have you had? Tell me about yourself . . . What are your strong/weak points? How do you spend your spare time? Why did you choose the subjects you did at school? Why dont you have a job? Why have you no qualifications? What do you think of training? Why do you want to work for us? Have you applied for jobs with other companies? How would you behave if you didnt get on with your boss or other workers? What do you hope to achieve from this job? What do you think success is? How well do you carry out instructions? What do you see yourself doing in five years time? What are you looking for in life? Why should we employ you?If you have had other jobs before, add these possible questions: What do you look for in a company? Why are you leaving/have you left, your present job? How long do you plan to stay with us? What do you think of your boss? What do you think of your present company? Why have you changed jobs so many times? Why havent you changed jobs so far? Can you work under pressure? Would you prefer to work for a man or woman?Job InterviewsEVEN MORE QUESTIONS.State what is good OR bad about each response to each of these questions.What reaction is the interviewer likely to have to each response?Why did you choose this job/career? Ive always enjoyed being with people and I thought being a receptionist would suit me. It was the only thing I could get into at the time. I wanted a job in which I could us my hands to make things. My father was a banker and he always expected me to follow in his footsteps. It pays well, doesnt it? I didnt get into medicine or law. I felt it was an area in which I could contribute to the world. It has good holidays. I like working with cars and get great satisfaction from fixing them. I think this type of job offers me much scope for variety.Why do you want to leave your present job? I have enjoyed my time at N.O.Hopers, but I feel it is time to move on to new challenges. I hated it there-they made me work too hard. I find that my main interest is in selling. Working at Stag Nates doesnt offer much scope in that area. I would like to get out before they sack me. I would lik