This week's presentation was both a learning experience (from a middle school perspective) and fun. Because of my military background, I may be a bit biased in saying that I really liked how they integrated the military information being an option for a future career. When I was in high school, children who wanted to go to the military had a stigma toward them. They were the kids that did not have a very good family life or money to attend post-secondary education. Presenting the military as an option at such a young age can possibly reduce the stigma toward children whose passion may be to serve their country or pass along generational service commitment.
According to Brown (2012) there are sixteen occupations projected as the greatest decline from 2008-2018. As of now, career counselors can utilize this projected information in conjunction with career days as early as elementary school. While a lot of parents are still employed in these careers, it will be beneficial to leave them out of a career day because there may be little to no option for the student to obtain a career in that field. Many of the careers listed have been common to most generations over the 20th and 21st century, but with technology and economic changes, they are rapidly decreasing. One career in Lancaster that has been a hot topic is the Postal Service. While it has not been passed, many politicians are in favor of “doing away” with mail services on Saturdays. This will save the Postal Service millions of dollars. It is understandable that a career in the postal services will be decreasing as the use of the internet mail becomes more popular. Personally, I used to buy stamps frequently and mail 5 or 6 bills a month. As of late, I buy stamps approximately once a year and may mail one bill a quarter. With bill payment options online, through my bank, it is faster and easier than mail. Similar to that of a postal worker, careers working with machinery and answering phone for a large credit agency, have been moved to other countries. While the services are still available, an American still interested in these careers, would have to move to another country. Many companies who have “off-shored,” save money by paying employees a lot less in these countries. Careers like these can also be integrated in career days. While it would not be a logical move, it is still an option.
Brown, D. (2012). Trends in the Labor Market and the Factors That Shape Them. In Career Information, Career Counseling, and Career Development (10th ed., pp. 362-371). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.
No comments:
Post a Comment