Lab Description
The "Learning to Earn: Career Planning" lab is a comprehensive lab designed to guide students through the essential aspects of career planning and preparation. The lab is structured to provide students with practical knowledge and skills that will help them make informed decisions about their future careers. It is divided into three main sections: Career Planning Basics, Preparing for Job, and Unemployment, Needs & Wants, and Conclusion.
Section 1: Career Planning Basics
Students will explore the fundamentals of career planning, including understanding personal interests, strengths, and values, and setting short-term and long-term career goals.
Key Activities:
- Exploring Interests and Strengths: Students identify their personal interests and strengths through self-assessment activities.
- Setting Goals: Students learn to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) short-term and long-term goals related to their career aspirations.
- Educational Pathways: Students compare the benefits and drawbacks of various post-high school options, including entering the workforce, attending trade school, community college, university for a bachelor's degree, and graduate school.
- College Degree Costs: Analyzing the cost of attending colleges and the financial aid available.
- What is a good job? : Analyze survey results on what are the characteristics of a good job, what are employers looking for from a potential employee, etc.
- Career Clusters: Understand an analyze career clustered.
Section 2: Preparing for Job
Students develop practical job application skills, including resume writing, cover letter creation, and building a professional online presence.
Key Activities:
- Data Analysis: As a first step to career exploration, students will analyze various data such as Jobs vs Salary, Fastest Growing Occupations, Fastest Declining Occupations, etc. using interactive worksheets.
- Understanding Job Posting: Analyzing sample job postings to understand the requirements and responsibilities of different roles.
- Resume and Cover Letter: Students create a professional resume that highlights their skills, experiences, and achievements.
- LinkedIn Profile: Create a LinkedIn profile to showcase professional qualifications and begin building a professional network.
Section 3: Unemployment, Needs & Wants, and Conclusion
Students explore economic concepts such as unemployment trends and the difference between needs and wants, helping them understand broader economic factors that impact their careers.
Key Activities:
- Unemployment Trends: Analyzing data on unemployment from 2000 to 2022 to understand economic cycles and their impact on the job market.
- Needs vs. Wants: Completing a worksheet on differentiating needs from wants, and understanding how this distinction affects financial planning and career decisions.
- Final Reflection: Reflecting on what has been learned throughout the lab and discussing long-term career planning and personal financial management.
This lab provides a structured and engaging approach to career planning, helping students make informed decisions about their futures while equipping them with the practical skills needed to succeed in the job market. By the end of the lab, students will have a well-rounded understanding of career exploration, job application processes, and the economic factors that influence their career choices.
Who this course is for
Middle and High School
Student Feedbacks
We asked students, what you remember the most about the lab, and here are some of the responses
Career Planning - Basics (92 Minutes)
Sub Activities
- Growing Jobs
In this reading activity, students will understand the importance of career exploration, they will read that career exploration empowers them to make informed decisions about their future. They will understand that their personal interests, strengths, and values along with their skills play a vital role in finding the right career for them.
Sub Activities
- Your Interests, Strengths & Values
- Short and Long-Term Goals
- Your Goals
- Review Questions
Sub Activities
- Video - Work or School?
- Work, Trade School, College, University
- Reviewing Pros and Cons
- What is your choice?
The learning objective of this reading activity is for students to understand the financial aspects of obtaining a college degree in the USA, including the different types of institutions (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit, and community colleges) and their associated costs. Additionally, students will learn about various financial aid options such as federal and state aid, institutional aid, and private scholarships, enabling them to make informed decisions about financing their higher education.
Sub Activities
- How Much College Degrees Cost
- College Degree Costs
In this reading activity, students will understand that the perception of a "Good Job" is different for every student.
Sub Activities
- Survey Results
- Your perception
- What are employers looking for?
Students will read about different career cluster options available.
Sub Activities
- Classifying to career clusters
Preparing for a Job (93 Minutes)
Students will read about the different steps involved in choosing a career such as Self-Assessment, Explore Career Options, Gain Practical Experience, Evaluate and Narrow Down Options, etc.
Sub Activities
- Review Questions
- Jobs vs Salary
- Fastest Growing Occupations
- Fastest Declining Occupations
Sub Activities
- Job Posting
Students will read about the importance of a resume and cover letter while applying for a job.
Sub Activities
- Analyze a Resume
- My Resume
- My Cover Letter
Sub Activities
- Review Questions
- Create Your LinkedIn Profile
Unemployment, Needs & Wants (38 Minutes)
Students will read about unemployment, the causes of unemployment, the consequences, and different solutions to unemployment.
Sub Activities
- Unemployment Rate
Students will read about Needs & Wants and the role of time and money in satisfying their needs and wants. Students will also be given an introduction to the next worksheet on Needs & Wants.
Sub Activities
- Needs and Wants
- Your Needs & Wants
National Standards in Financial Education
Students will know that Compensation for a job or career can be in the form of wages, salaries, commissions, tips, or bonuses, and may also include contributions to employee benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and education reimbursement programs .. Students will use this knowledge to 12-1a . Research potential income and employee benefit packages that are likely to be offered to new employees by various companies, government agencies, or not-for- profit organizations . 12-1b . Explain why people should evaluate employee benefits in addition to wages and salaries when choosing between job and career opportunities . 12-1c . Differentiate between contributory and non-contributory employee benefits . 12-1d . Examine the benefits of participating in employer- sponsored retirement savings plans and healthcare savings plans .
Students will know that In addition to wages and paid benefits, employees may also value intangible (non- cash) benefits, such as good working conditions, flexible work hours, telecommuting privileges, and career advancement potential .. Students will use this knowledge to 12-2a . Give examples of intangible job benefits . 12-2b . Describe how intangible benefits can affect a worker’s career choices and income . 12-2c . Evaluate the tradeoffs between income and non-income factors when making career or job choices .
Students will know that People vary in their opportunity and willingness to incur the present costs of additional training and education in exchange for future benefits, such as earning potential .. Students will use this knowledge to 12-3a . Evaluate the costs and benefits of investing in additional education or training . 12-3b . Explain how differences in people’s life circumstances can affect their opportunity and willingness to further their education or training . 12-3c . Compare earnings and unemployment rates by level of education and training .
Students will know that Employers generally pay higher wages or salaries to more educated, skilled, and productive workers than to less educated, skilled, and productive workers .. Students will use this knowledge to 12-4a . Identify different types of jobs and careers where wages and salaries depend on a worker’s productivity and skills . 12-4b . Explain why wages or salaries vary among employees in different types of jobs and among workers in the same jobs . 12-4c . Discuss possible explanations for the persistence of race and gender pay gaps .
Students will know that Changes in economic conditions, technology, or the labor market can cause changes in income, career opportunities, or employment status .. Students will use this knowledge to 12-5a . Discuss how economic and labor market conditions can affect income, career opportunities, and employment status . 12-5b . Evaluate the impact of technological advances on employment and income . 12-5c . Discuss the effects of an economic downturn on employment opportunities for people with different characteristics, such as education, experience, employment type, ethnicity, and gender .