topic 13 - goodheart-willcox

� You can prepare for a career inmany ways.

� Part-time work can help you learnabout jobs.

� You can develop skills that canhelp you find your first job.

After studying this lesson, youwill be able to

define job skills, apprentice,career and technical education

program, and resume.

list three ways to get job training.

explain the benefits of workingpart-time.

outline the steps in getting a job.

O B J E C T I V E S

job skills: skills that are used inthe world of work.apprentice: someone wholearns a job by working with askilled worker.career and technical education program: a courseor series of courses that teachesspecific job skills.resume: a written description ofa person’s qualifications and workexperience.

headingfor a

career

headingfor a

career

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13-1

Topic 13Being well-prepared for the job market can help

you get the job you want. It can also help youadvance faster and earn a higher income.

Find out how to prepare for careers that interestyou. Preparing for a career involves getting job train-ing. It may involve getting some work experiencethrough a part-time job, too.

Getting Job TrainingThe purpose of job training is to learn job skills.

These are skills that are used in the world of work. Having jobskills can help you get and keep a job. Some skills, such as basiclearning and relationship skills, are required for all jobs. See 13-1.Some jobs also require specific job skills. For instance, if you wantto work as an artist, you need art skills.

You can get job training in several ways. You may choose totake special courses in high school. You might decide to attend atraining school or college after high school. You could choose toget military training. You could also choose to become an apprentice. An apprentice is someone who learns a job by working with a skilled worker. Depending onyour goals, job training may last a few months or many years.

489Lesson 13-1 Heading for a Career

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Skills that are used inthe world of work.Someone who learns ajob by working with askilled worker.

13-1Being able to

communicate clearlyis a skill needed for

all jobs.

Resource:Planning Ahead,Activity A, 13-1,SAG. Students areto identify job skillsthat they have andjob skills they wouldlike to gain. Eachstudent is to thenwrite a plan forgaining one of theneeded job skills.Research:Compile a list ofapprenticeshipopportunities.

This sample chapter is for review purposes only. Copyright © The Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Your career plan portfolio can helpyou decide what courses to take inhigh school. For instance, suppose youwant to be a teacher. Your researchtells you teachers need a collegedegree. Therefore, you decide to takehigh school courses that will prepareyou for college. See 13-2.

Your career plan portfolio may notrequire a college degree. In this case, ahigh school career and technical edu-cation programs may provide the train-ing you need. Career and technicaleducation programs are courses thatteach specific job skills. Business edu-cation, culinary arts, early childhoodeducation, and auto repair are exam-ples of career and technical educationprograms offered in many high schools.See 13-3.

Some career and technical education programsare taught at special career and technical educationschools. Some programs involve on-the-job workexperiences. Students attend school part of the day and go to work part of the day. Other programsprovide work experiences at the school.

1. Why do you think it might be important to get job train-ing before you begin looking for a job?

2. Why might you want to enroll in a high school career andtechnical education program?

CHECK

13-2This fashion

design college student took clothing

and art courses inhigh school.

Review:Look at the compo-nents of a careerplan portfolio inLesson 12-2.Enrich:Visit a high schoolcareer and tech-nical educationprogram. If a fieldtrip is not possible,invite a teacherfrom one of theCTE programs tospeak to yourstudents.Resource:Job TrainingOptions, repro-ducible master, TR.This master

Working Part-TimeAnother way to begin preparing for a career is to get a part-

time job. Part-time work means less than 40 hours a week. Manyteens have part-time jobs. They work during evenings and onweekends when they are not in school.

describes various types of job training options. Point out the pros and cons of each option as you go along. Askstudents to cite examples of each type available in your community or state. Mention the types of informationneeded to compare various schools and training programs, such as the types of training offered, the cost, andplacement services.

Part-time jobs have many advantages. You learnhow to be a responsible employee and you learn jobskills you can use in a future career. You also learnhow to handle an income. A part-time job can evenlead to other jobs.

There also are disadvantages to working part-timewhile in school. You will have less time to do yourschoolwork. You may not be able to participate inafter-school activities such as sports and clubs. Whenyou work, you will not have as much time with yourfriends. Deciding whether to work part-time requiresan examination of the advantages and disadvantages.


13-3These culinary

arts students wonawards at a national

FCCLA meeting.

Find out what career and technical education courses areoffered at a local high school. Interview a student from one ofthe programs that interests you. Ask the student what courseshe or she must take. Ask what job skills he or she is learning.Find out how well the student feels the program is preparing himor her for a future career. Share your findings with the class.

!!ActionAction

?A course or series ofcourses that teachesspecific job skills.

Activity:Debate the pros and cons ofteens working.

Note:According to the Monthly Labor Review, 34% of all teenagers are employed during the year. Employed teens aremore likely to be from two-parent families. For teenagers in low-income families, 25% worked during the year.Nearly one-third of employed teens work more than 10 weeks a year and more than 20 hours a week. Someresearch suggests that teenage employment can have negative effects, such as premature affluence, which canlead to lower educational attainment.

Try to find a part-time job related to a career that appeals toyou. This will give you a chance to see if you like that field. Youmay choose another career if you don’t like the job.

You may decide to do volunteer work instead of getting a part-time job. Although you won’t receive an income, you will learnmany of the same skills you would learn at a job. See 13-4. Forinstance, you might volunteer in a clinic. This work would teachyou skills you could use in a medical career. The skills you learnmay be more helpful to your future than the income you’ll be missing.

Topic 13 Preparing for Work492

1. What does working part-time mean? Why do you thinkpart-time jobs are often held by students?

2. What are two advantages and two disadvantages of having a part-time job or doing volunteer work?

CHECK

13-4Volunteer work at

a hospital helps thisgirl explore medical

careers.

Research:Investigate child labor laws, which affect teensworking. Youth Rules (youthrules.dol.gov) is agovernment-sponsored site designed for teens.

Resource:Thinking AboutWork, Activity B,13-1, SAG.Students are askedto list part-time andvolunteer jobs avail-able to teens in thecommunity. Theyare to then listadvantages anddisadvantages ofworking part-timeand as a volunteer.Research:Look for onlinesources of informa-tion on jobs forteens. The Web siteQuintessentialCareers (quintca-reers.com/teen_jobs.html) offerscareer resourcesfor teens.

Getting Your First Job

There are skills you can use toget the job you want. These skillsinvolve finding available jobs, plac-ing an application, and interview-ing for a job. These important skillswill help you find your first job aswell as future employment.

Where can you look for jobs?The newspaper runs employmentads each day. See 13-5. Yourfriends and family may know ofjobs that are available. Your schoolcounselor frequently gets callsfrom businesses looking for quali-fied people. Some communitieshave youth employment agenciesto help teens find part-time work.


You also can use your initiative to find a job. Youcan place a Position Wanted ad in the newspaper. Youcan call businesses and ask if there are availablejobs. You can look for Help Wanted signs in the win-dows of area stores and then apply for jobs.

When you apply for your first job, you must showyour Social Security card. Child labor laws affect thework you can do when you are under age 18. The typesof jobs, hours, and work settings may be restricted.Youmay be required to get a work permit.Your guidancecounselor can tell you about the laws in your state.

You can apply for a job in person, by telephone,by mail, or online. Find out which is preferable. Aprospective employer may ask you to submit aresume and give references. A resume is a writtendescription of a person’s qualifications and work expe-rience. A reference is a name of a person who can becontacted about you and your work habits. Mostemployers require references on job applications.Always ask people if they will give you a recommen-dation before you list their name. References shouldbe people who know about you and your work. Do not

Look at the want ads ina local newspaper. Clipany ads for part-timejobs that teens might beable to fill. Make a collage or bulletin board display with the clippings.

13-5Newspapers are agood source of ads

for employment.

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A written descriptionof a person’s qualifica-tions and work experience.

Activity:Complete a resume. Show examples of resumes of teens.Discuss:Why is it important to ask permission before listing a person as a reference?

use relatives. Former employers arean excellent choice. Teachers, coun-selors, ministers, priests, and rabbisalso are good references.

You will probably be asked to fillout a job application. Be neat andaccurate when completing an appli-cation. Type or use a pen. Someapplications can be completed online.Avoid making mistakes such asspelling errors. Provide all therequested information.

Most employers interview potential workers in per-son before they hire them. See 13-6. First impressions

are important. Dress appropriately. Make sure you lookclean and well groomed. Have a positive attitude. Smile

and shake the interviewer’s hand when you arrive. Usegood posture. Be on time and use good manners. Thank the

person for his or her time. Be prepared. Know as much as possi-ble about the company. Ask a family member or friend to practiceasking you interview questions.

Try not to get discouraged if you do not get a job for which youhave interviewed. Most people have more job rejections than joboffers. It takes a lot of trying to get the job you want.


The

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The

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1. What skills are involved in getting a job?2. List three sources where you can find jobs.3. What are three hints for interviewing successfully?

CHECK

13-6Learning inter-

viewing skills willhelp you get the job

you want.

Activity:Role-play the do’sand don’ts of asuccessful interview.Resource:Make the Grade inYour Interview, colortransparency CT 13-1. Use this trans-parency to reviewtips for a successfuljob interview. Askstudents what apotential employer islikely to think aboutthe work skills of anemployee whofollows each ofthese tips in aninterview.

Resource:Heading for a Career: Checkpoint Review Sheet for Lesson 13-1, reproducible master, TR. Use as a quiz orreview to evaluate students’ attainment of all lesson objectives.

Entering the career world requires preparation. One way toprepare is to get job training. High school career and technicaleducation programs offer job training for some careers. A part-time job or volunteer work can also help you prepare for a career.Both job training and part-time work teach you job skills you willneed in the future. There also are job skills you can learn to helpyou earn your first job. These skills include finding available jobs,applying, and interviewing.

After studying this lesson, you will be able to

define transferable skills, basic learning skills, work ethic, thinking

skills, and criticism.

give examples of how basic learningskills are used on the job.

describe the importance of gettingalong with others on the job.

list traits of a successful worker.

explain why thinking skills are needed on the job.

explain why workers must continueto learn.

O B J E C T I V E S

transferable skills: job skillsthat can easily be transferred fromone job to another.basic learning skills: skills inreading, writing, and math.

ork ethic: how a person feelsabout his or her job and the effortput into the job.thinking skills: the ability tothink creatively and critically, makedecisions, and solve problems.criticism: a judgment.

gettingready for

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13-2

Topic 13

� Basic reading, writing, and mathskills are needed in almost every job.

� Your ability to get along with others can affect your career success.

� You can develop certain traits thatwill help you be a successfulworker.

� Thinking skills will help you succeed on the job.

� Continuing to learn on the job willhelp you advance in your career.

Some people are successful on the job. Theyreceive more responsibility and more pay. They mayreceive other job offers, too. Basic learning, relation-ship, and thinking skills are the keys to this type of jobsuccess. These are called transferable skills. Youcan transfer these skills from one job to another. Youcan develop and improve these skills now. They will beuseful throughout your life. See 13-7.

asic Learning killsSkills in reading, writing, and math are called basic

learning skills. They are needed to get and keep a job.They are also needed to keep up with changes on thejob. Most jobs require basic computer skills.

Few jobs are open to workers who do not havebasic learning skills. Checking a work schedule andreading directions require reading skills. Applying for ajob and completing report forms require writing skills.

The ability to clearly communicate withothers is needed on the job.

Making change and taking measurements require math skills.See 13-8. (Math skills are also neededto manage your income.) These are justa few examples of common work tasksthat require basic skills.

Basic learning skills are oftentaught in job training programs foradults. Learning these skills while youare in school will help you compete inthe future job market.


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ob skills that caneasily be transferredfrom one job to another.Skills in reading writing and math.

13-7Developing basic

learning and think-ing skills will help

you succeed in theworld of work.

Quote:“Your future is so bright that it’s going to burn youreyes!” (This is what Quincy Jones told Oprah Winfreyafter she had finished filming The Color Purple.)Resource:In the Future, Activity A, 13-2, SAG. Students are topretend that it is 20 years in the future. They are toanswer questions about the jobs they might have atthat time.Discuss:How can the basic academic skills that you arelearning now affect your ability to get and keep a job?Note:According to the Monthly Labor Review, more than onehalf of all workers use a computer at work.

49Lesson 13-2 Getting ead for Job uccess

Getting long ith thersThe ability to get along with others is required in all jobs. If you

cannot get along with others, employers will not want to hire you.Other people will not want to work with you. See 13-9.

You need to get along with your supervisor. Obeying companyrules will help you get along. Following your supervisor’s instruc-tions will also help. If you disagree with your supervisor,you may be able to state your feelings. However, you willhave to respect his or her decisions. Otherwise, youmay lose your job.

You will need to get along with your coworkers,too. Working together requires teamwork skills.(Review Lesson 3-4.) It requirespatience and kindness. Other work-ers may be different from you. Youcannot allow these differences tokeep you from getting along with oth-ers. Some pointers for getting alongwith your coworkers are listed below.• Listen to what your coworkers

have to say. This will help youunderstand them.

• Get to know your coworkers. Takean interest in what they do.

• Take part in group discussions.This involves listening as well asoffering ideas.

1. Why are skills in reading writing and math called basicskills?

2. ive one e ample of how each of the basic learning skillsmight be needed on the job.

CHECK

13-8Basic math skills

are needed to use acash register and

count change.

Discuss:How does participating in team sports help youlearn to work with others as a part of a team?Resource:Worker’s Hot Line, Activity B, 13-2, SAG. Studentsare to write responses to letters about problems atwork. Ask volunteers to read their responses to theclass and discuss.

Activity:Search want ads tosee which qualifica-tions keep reap-pearing. Whichskills are transfer-able from one jobto the next?

• Take part in group decision making. Do your partafter the decision is made, even if the decision isnot what you wanted.

• Avoid blaming coworkers for your problems. Talkover your conflicts. Review conflict resolution skillsin Lesson 1-6. Try to reach agreements that willlet you get along in the future.Your job may also require you to get along with

customers. Be friendly, helpful, and polite when deal-ing with customers. You are representing your compa-ny. How you treat these people will affect whether theydo business with your company again. See 13-10.

eing a uccessful WorkerSuccessful workers have traits that help them do

their jobs well. They have good attitudes. They managetheir time well. They are also loyal, honest, and hard-working. They demonstrate a strong ork ethic. Thisis reflected in how you feel about your job and the

effort that you put into it.One of the biggest factors

affecting your job success is yourattitude. See 13-11. Have a goodattitude about yourself. This meansyou believe in your skills as a worker. This type of attitude givesyou confidence and helps you do agood job. Have a good attitudeabout your work. This means you


Pretend you are workingas a clerk in a localstore. Role-play a situa-tion showing poor skillsin getting along with others on the job. Thenrepeat the role-playshowing good skills ingetting along with others.

1. How can getting along with others affect your job success?

2. Why is it important to be friendly helpful and politewhen dealing with customers?

CHECK

13-9Getting along with

coworkers is arequirement of

all jobs.

Resource:Getting Along Mobile, reproducible master, TR. Ask students to create mobiles that illustrate personal relationship skills.You can either make a transparency of the master or you can photocopy the master, cut out the sections, and make asample to show the class. Provide a variety of materials for the students to use and encourage students to include thepoints that they think are the most important in getting along with others. Hang the mobiles around the classroom.

enjoy what you do. If you likeyour job, you are likely to dobetter work.

Your attitude is seen inwhat you say and how you act.If you have a good work atti-tude, you will make nice com-ments about your job. You willbe cheerful and confident.Having a good attitude makesyou pleasant to be around.

To be a successful worker,use your time wisely. Arrive for work on time. Avoidleaving work early. Use your time at work for companybusiness, not private business. Don’t take more thanthe allowed amount of time for breaks. Avoid wastingtime on the telephone.

Successful workers are loyal. As a loyal worker, donot gossip or make unkind remarks about yourcoworkers. Do not complain about your supervisoreither. Above all, never discuss company secrets awayfrom work.

You must be honest to be successful on the job.You may handle money or work with costly products.


13-10Successful

workers are cheerfuland courteous whenhelping customers.

13-11Having a good

attitude toward workcontributes to a

strong work ethic.

?

ow a person feelsabout his or her joband the effort put intothe job.

Reflect:Think about the quote by Walt Whitman, “Have your learned lessons only from those who admired you, and weretender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselvesagainst you and disputed the passage with you?” Ask how criticism can help you learn.

You may have an expense account if you travel for business.Employers need to be able to trust you. If you are suspected of stealing or cheating, you may lose your job.

To be a successful worker, do your best. Work hard to complete your assigned tasks. When you make a mistake, be willing to admit it. Learn from it, so you will not make the samemistake again. See 13-12.

Topic 13 Preparing for Work

1. How do workers with a good work ethic feel about them-selves and their jobs?

2. Why shouldn t you gossip about coworkers and complainabout your supervisor?

3. What are three jobs in which a workers honesty might bee tra important?

CHECK

� rri e on time� se ork time for ork not for personal matters� Take onl the amount of time that is allo ed for breaks or

lunch� o not lea e ork earl� sk for acation onl after it is earned� se sick time for illness onl� se the telephone for business onl o not use a personal

cell phone hile on the job� e cheerful� ho interest in the job and the compan� sk intelligent uestions� Get along ith other orkers� ccept suggestions from others illingl� e illing to learn ne skills as the job demands

Guidelines for uccess

13-12Following these

guidelines will helpyou be a successful

worker.

Activity:Read the essay All I Really Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum. Compare the advicein this essay to what people need to know to get along with others at work. Ask students to write their own essayon All I Really Need to Know. If you do not have a copy of Fulghum’s essay, you can download it from the Internetfrom a variety of sources.

Thinking killsThinking is an important skill. Through it, you gain

knowledge. Thinking skills are the ability to think cre-atively and critically, make decisions, and solve prob-lems. Decision making and problem solving are con-sidered thinking skills.

When you are creative, you can come up with newsolutions to a problem. You have a lot of ideas.Employers need creative people.

Critical thinking means you can look at different sides of aproblem. You can understand different points of view. You are ableto reason and analyze situations.

Decision making is an important skill, both in life and on thejob. Review Lesson 3-4. Good decision making involves analyzingalternatives and picking the best one. It involves thinking throughconsequences. Good workers can help group members makegood decisions.

Employers need workers who can solve problems.You are ableto think through problems and resolve difficulties.You gather factsand suggest solutions. People advance on the job when they areable to solve problems. For example, parents like to hire Rashad asa babysitter. In his neighborhood, he is known for being able to han-dle emergencies using good problem-solving skills.


Invite a person who is a job supervisor to speak to yourclass. Ask the speaker to describe traits of a successful worker. Ask him or her to discuss the most common reasonsworkers are fired. !!ActionAction

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he ability to think creati ely and criticallymake decisions andsol e problems.

1. What are thinking skills?2. Which thinking skills do you have? ive reasons for your

answer.

CHECK

Activity:Analyze a case study about teens working. Identify thinking skills that would be needed to solve the problem. Forexample, Ethan and his best friend work at a small clothing store at the mall. The store depends on teens to workon the weekends. There are only six teens who work approximately 10 hours a week. Ethan’s best friend hasrequested a month’s leave since one of his parents is receiving treatment for cancer. Ethan wants to help hisfriend keep his job. What could he do?

Continuing to LearnIn order to advance in your career, keep

growing and learning. Tools, materials, andmethods change. As you advance, yourresponsibilities will change, too. You mustbe willing and able to keep up with thesechanges. This means learning new skills.

How can you continue to learn?Reading can help you stay informed. Youcan also take adult education classes. Manybusinesses offer classes to help workersstay informed, too.

Another way to learn is through criti-cism. Criticism is a judgment. Some peopleuse criticism to find fault with others.However, when used in a kind way, criticismcan be helpful. Your supervisor or coworkersmay use criticism to make you aware of

errors. You can use their criticism to help you improveyour work in the future.

You can also learn by asking questions. When youare given new tasks, ask for help when you need it.Be willing to learn from other workers and youremployer.

Learning is a lifelong process. You cannot learneverything you need to know in school. By continuingto learn, you will help ensure your job success.See 13-13.

?A judgment.

13-13Taking classes

can help workerskeep up withchanges on

the job.

1. Why is it important to continue learning even after youget a job?

2. What are three ways you can continue to learn after youfinish school?

CHECK

Activity:Give students bright yellow circles. Ask them to write down at least one hint for having a bright future that theylearned from this lesson. Post their hints on a bulletin board with the quote by Quincy Jones, “Your future is sobright that it’s going to burn your eyes.”

Certain skills and traits are needed for success in all types ofjobs. You must be able to use basic reading, writing, and mathskills. You must be able to get along with others. Have a good atti-tude and be able to manage your time well. Being honest, loyal,and hardworking will help you be successful, too. Your success willalso be affected by your thinking skills and willingness to keepgrowing and learning as a worker.


Find out what types of adult education classes are offeredin your area. Report your findings to the class. !!ActionAction

The

Main

Ideas

The

Main

Ideas

Resource:Getting Ready for Job Success: Checkpoint Review Sheet for Lesson 13-2, reproducible master, TR. Use as aquiz or review to evaluate students’ attainment of all lesson objectives.

4

Life kills in ctionLife kills in ction

Help your class prepare a survey. Each student should inter-view five people who are currently employed. Ask each worker thefollowing questions:• How did you develop the job skills needed for your job?• Have you transferred job skills from previous jobs? What are

some examples of transferable skills you use in your job?• How are basic skills in reading, writing, and math used in your

job?• Are computer skills required in your job?• With whom do you work in your job? Why is it important that

you get along with others in the workplace?• What traits do employees need to succeed in your line of

work?• Does your place of employment offer special classes or work-

shops for you to attend?When you finish your survey, compile your results into an arti-

cle for your school newspaper.

Topic ummarTopic ummar

Once you choose a career, start preparing for it. One way is toget job training. You can get job training by being an apprentice,taking special courses, or participating in career and technicaleducation programs at school. Job training will teach you the skillsyou need to be successful at your job. They may be specific skillsor skills related to learning and getting along with others.

Working part-time is another way to prepare for a career. Youcan learn how to behave in a work setting. Part-time jobs and vol-unteer work also give you the chance to explore careers in fieldsthat interest you.

(continued)

Topic 13

e ieTopic 13

e ie

Having basic learning, relationship, and thinking skills will helpyou be successful in a job. Basic learning skills are needed to getand keep a job. Relationship skills help you get along well withyour coworkers and customers. Other important traits include hav-ing a good attitude; managing time well; and being loyal, honest,and hardworking. You need thinking skills to help you think cre-atively and critically, make decisions, and solve problems. Youmust also be willing to learn new skills.

Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.1. What are two types of skills that are required for all jobs?2. Give two examples of career and technical education pro-

grams that are available in many high schools.3. True or false. When you work part-time, you work more than

40 hours a week.4. List three benefits of working part-time.5. What are the basic learning skills?6. Why are basic learning skills important for getting and keeping

a job?7. Why is it important to get along with others on the job?8. List four hints for getting along with others at work.9. True or false. Your attitude affects your success on the job.

10. How can you learn from criticism?11. Why is learning a lifelong process?

To e ieTo e ie

Answers forTo Review questions1. basic learning

and relationshipskills

2. (List two.Studentresponse.)

3. false4. (List three.

Studentresponse.)

5. reading, writing,math

6. (Studentresponse.)


8. (List four.Studentresponse.)

9. true10. You can learn

about yourerrors andimprove yourwork


Match the definitions in Column A with the terms in Column B.Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

ocabular uiocabular ui

Column A1. A judgment.2. Someone who learns a job by working with a

skilled worker.3. A course or series of courses that teaches specific

job skills.4. Skills in reading, writing, and math.5. Skills that are used in the world of work.6. How a person feels about his or her job and the

effort put into the job.7. Job skills that can easily be transferred from one

job to another.8. The ability to think creatively and critically, to make

decisions, and to solve problems.9. A written description of a person’s qualifications

and work experience.

Column BA. job skillsB. basic learning

skillsC. apprenticeD. career and tech-

nical educationprogram

E. criticismF. resumeG. thinking skillsH. transferable skillsI. work ethicJ. reference

Answers forVocabulary Quiz1. E2. C3. D4. B5. A6. I7. H8. G9. F

topic 13 - goodheart-willcox

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