Career Investigation - JustAnswer

Career Investigationgraded project

CS011A

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Career investigation graded projeCt iii

introduction 3

part 1: educational and career goals 4

part 2: employment opportunities and applications of applied learning 5

part 3: continuing education and career development 6

part 4: job application details 7

submitting your work 9

Career investigation graded projeCt i

introductionThis project-based assignment is designed to help you define and communicate your goals related to your field of study. This project will help you understand the process of locating potential employers who might want to hire graduates with formal instruction in this career field. You’ll focus on the skills, training, and personal traits that those employers look for when recruiting job applicants. You’ll also investigate and describe potential paths for continuing education, career development, and enrichment. Finally, you’ll complete a sample application and simulate the experience of formally responding to an employment opening.

One objective of this project is to help you organize your thoughts on why you’re interested in this specific career field. Portions of this project can be used as a dry-run for an interview that you might have as you look for employment after graduation. Another objective is to develop an appreciation for education as a lifelong process. In order to truly become a professional in your chosen career, you need to view your graduation from this program as the starting point in your education, not the conclusion. That’s why graduation ceremonies are called commencements. It’s the beginning of the process, not the end.

We’ve designed this project so that you have a great deal of time to complete it. The project requirements and expectations are outlined for you here, but you do not submit the final version to the school for evaluation and feedback until the very end of your studies. Like the other assignments in your program, this assignment is also open book. Not only is it open book in terms of your study materials, you’re encouraged to use the Internet and any other research tool available to you to develop your responses. You’ll be able to relax and enjoy the process of investigation, and along the way you’ll become better prepared to look for job opportunities and to grow throughout your career.

You can write outlines or drafts of your responses on the spaces provided in this booklet. Once you’ve completed all the parts of the project, you’ll need to create an electronic version of your assignment, preferably as a Microsoft Word file. Name your file with your student number_program code_lesson number and submit your finished assignment using the Drop Box in the Student Portal. Detailed instructions are provided at the end of this booklet.

This project consists of four parts. Each part is worth a specific amount of points as described below. Your total grade will be equal to the sum of your totals for each part. Grading of this project will be as follows:

• Part 1: 20 points


2 Career investigation graded projeCt



Total Possible Score: 100 points

Now that you understand the basic goals of your project, let’s get started.

part 1: educational and career goalsWhen you decided to enroll in this program you had a goal or objective in mind. You may have been interested in gaining employment, changing careers, or perhaps starting your own business. Or your goal may have involved personal enrichment. Or maybe the education obtained from this program is one small component of a larger career development plan that you have designed for yourself. In two to three paragraphs describe your reasons for participating in this career education program.

There are no right or wrong answers in this assignment. You should attempt to describe the factors that sparked your interest in the particular career and the factors that influenced you to seek formal education.

Here are some questions to consider while you develop your response to Part 1 of this assignment:

• Did a family member, friend, or mentor introduce you to this career?

• Did you develop an interest in this career because of courses you took in high school?

• What attracts you most to this career? Possible financial rewards or the satisfaction of seeing the end result of your efforts?

• Is there something about the working conditions or potential clients that you find interesting?

• What is your ideal employment situation? Do you want to be your own boss or do you want to be a valued employee?

Draft your response below.

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Career investigation graded projeCt 3

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part 2: employment opportunities and applications of applied learningNow that you’ve considered some of the reasons why you’re attracted to your career, your next step is to locate potential employers or identify clients or customers that might be interested in your new skills and knowledge. Locate any five employment ads related to your particular area of study. The ads can be from online job-search sites, newspapers, trade publications, or any other legitimate source. Try to find a range of employment descriptions and employers. Provide the name of the potential employer if available, but most importantly list the job skills and employee characteristics the employer is looking for. List any certifications or professional affiliations required to apply for employment. If salary information is provided, include that as well. If your source is computer-based, you can copy and paste the ad into your document.

In addition to potential employers, research and identify three clients or potential customers in your local area that you could market your new skills to if you were to be self-employed. You can also identify three other situations where you might be able to apply the skills you have obtained.

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part 3: continuing education andcareer developmentIn Part 3 of this assignment, you will investigate potential resources and opportunities for continuing education and professional development in your chosen area of study. You should look for educational programs that provide instruction at a more advanced level than the program you are enrolled in now. List the names of the institutions you find that offer these programs, the entrance requirements (if any), and the objectives of the program. Research certifications that are related to your field of study and instructional programs and products that you can help you prepare for and pass required certification exams. Identify trade and professional organizations that support professionals employed in your field or who provide similar services. List the requirements for application and continued membership.

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part 4: job application detailsIn the final part of this project, you’ll complete a sample job application that you can use as a quick-reference fact sheet when you apply for actual employment. Many times applicants present a poor image to potential employers because of missing or incomplete information on their application. If they’re not prepared, they might have sloppy or illegible entries, misspellings, and other errors that could cause their application to be viewed unfavorably. This assignment will give you the opportunity to practice the process and to identify the key people, dates, and information you’ll need to thoroughly complete an application. You’re not required to supply any information on this sample that you feel is sensitive (for example, you shouldn’t use your actual Social Security number). You can make up certain information for the purpose of this exercise, but remember to create a real version after you receive feedback from the school. You’ll want to have a final accurate copy that you can use when you apply for an actual position. Pay careful attention to the directions on the application and provide any information in the order requested. Review the dates provided for your education and work history and make sure they make sense.


sample application for employment

MY FACT SHEET Complete and carry with you on your job search

Applicant’s Name (Last) First Middle Initial

Social Security Number - -

Mailing Address (Number) Street Work Telephone Number( )

City State Zip Code

Home Telephone Number( )

EDUCATIONName of School Location of School Degree or Course of

StudyDate Completed

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY – Begin with your most recent job. List each job separately.

Job Title Dates Worked From ______ To _______ Pay $ ______ Per _____

Name of Employer Name of Supervisor

Address: City State Zip

Code

Telephone Number ( ) Reason for Leaving:

Duties Performed:

Job Title Dates Worked From ______ To _______ Pay $ ______ Per _____

Name of Employer Name of Supervisor

Address: City State Zip

Code

Telephone Number ( ) Reason for Leaving:

Duties Performed:

PERSONAL REFERENCES: List the names of three references that employers may contact.1) Name Telephone # ( ) Relationship (Teacher etc.)Address: City State Zip Code

2) Name Telephone # ( ) Relationship (Teacher etc.)Address: City State

Zip Code

3) Name Telephone # ( ) Relationship (Teacher etc.)Address: City State Zip Code


submitting your workWhen you complete all four parts of your project, you must submit all of your work to the school. Keep in mind that the results of this project will be graded.

Once you’ve completed all four parts of this assignment, login to the student portal at http://community.ashworthcollege.edu. Click on the Student Portal at the top right-hand side of the screen (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Click on Lessons to access your My Courses page and navigate to the final segment of your program using the My Sites button on the top right of the My Courses page (Figure 2).

Figure 2

http://community.ashworthcollege.edu


Click on Assignments under Quick Links on the left-hand navigation menu (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Click on the link for your graded project under Assignment title in the center of your screen (Figure 4).

Figure 4


Click on the Browse button at the bottom of the page to locate and attach your finished project. When you have attached your file, check the Honor Pledge box to confirm that you are submitting your own work for the assignment. Then click Submit (Figure 5).

Figure 5

You’ll see a confirmation message that tells you your project has been successfully submitted to the school (Figure 6).

Figure 6

Remember, you should not submit this project until the end of your program. Do not attempt to submit your work for this assignment at this time.


grading rubric—achievement exam: Career investigation and development

Part 1: Educational and Career

Goals

Part 2: Employment

Opportunities and Applications of

Acquired Learning

Part 3: Continuing

Education and Career

Development

Part 4: Job Application

Details

Grading Considerations Points/Actual Points/Actual Points/Actual Points/Actual

Student attempted legitimate response to project part. 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/

Student meets basic criteria of question/inquiry; minimum number of paragraphs, resources submitted; sample application attempted.

5/ 5/ 5/ 5/

Response submitted is organized and accurate; clear evidence of investigation and legitimate sources. 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/

Student displays good communication techniques, including correct spelling and punctuation. 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/

Student demonstrated job-search skills and ability to identify critical work skills and employer preferences; self-employment targets are practical and well-reasoned.

N/A 10/ N/A N/A

Student identification of continuing education opportunity was appropriate for specific career field; professional organizations identified are clearly connected to student’s career field.

N/A N/A 5/ N/A

Student supplied all information requested on job application; education information appears accurate and organized per directions; job history appears logical and accurate; dates and job titles appear reasonable; references provided would be useful to potential employers.

N/A N/A N/A 5/

Total Points Possible 20 30 25 25Total Points Earned (Each Part)

Sum of Points from Parts 1-4 = (Project Grade) Total Grade =

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