Chapter 8/ Week 7

After reading chapter 8, I decided to play around with O*NET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.  I think it would be very helpful to someone exploring career options.  I found counseling psychologist in the OOH, and it was also able to give me a list of similar occupations.    I liked O*NET too, because you can search careers in many different ways such as by ability, skills, etc.  So for example, if I am a very good listener, I can pull up ‘Active listening’ in the skills section, and it will give me a list of occupations that require that skill.  This is a great idea, because a career counselor, or client, can use this tool to play on someone’s strengths in helping them decide on a career. 

            As I was reading through this chapter, I realized that my high school did more than I realized in providing occupational information.  I remember my sister talking about a simulation they did in her class, with a store, bank, etc.  I also remember job shadowing at a veterinarian’s office.  This was encouraged, and I believe it was considered an “excused absence” from school.  That was actually one of the coolest experiences I had while I was in high school- I got to stand beside a vet during surgery as she was spaying a puppy.  My high school also had career days, when people from the community would come and talk about their occupation or career.  We could choose maybe 5 or 6 occupations we were interested in, and then sit in on their presentation and ask questions.  I don’t remember what careers I sat in on, and I don’t remember how large of a selection we had to choose from.  This is a great idea if many options are available, but it’s hard to beat a job shadow or direct observation experience. 

            Although I have never had any experience with apprenticeships, I am a huge advocate for them.  Most of their training is done while working for an employer who helps the apprentices learn their trade or profession.  When I think of apprenticeships, I particularly remember a guy who was in a business class with me in high school.  He was in an apprenticeship for taxidermy.  While I was not interested in taxidermy, the idea of an apprenticeship seemed so neat to me.  While I was stuck working at Subway during high school, he was learning to be a taxidermist!

Brown, D. (2012).  Career information, career counseling, and career development (10^th ed.).  New York: Pearson Education, Inc.