EDUC 1300 Career Exploration Research Paper

EDUC 1300
Career Exploration Research Paper
Student Learning Outcomes
At the successful completion of this research paper the student will be able to:
LO1. identify the key components of a successful student.
LO2. articulate career goals in an academic setting through self-awareness and research.
LO3. critique the quality and results of the current research in the content areas of learning,
cognition, or motivation.
LO6. compose writing assignment(s) using Standard American English and basic computer
skills.
Why Should I Research Careers?
Choosing a vocation, craft, or career will be one of the biggest decisions you will ever
make in your life. You will spend about ten times the amount of time working in your career as
you do in school preparing for it. It will, to some extent, determine the level of satisfaction and
happiness in your life. According to a study done by the University of Aberdeen, “Job
satisfaction is the most critical factor for life satisfaction and well-being,” (Medical Press, 2006 – Write a paper; Professional research paper writing service – Best essay writers,
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2006 – Write a paper; Professional research paper writing service – Best essay writers-06-job-satisfaction-tops-poll-life.html). This class will be
your “one shot” within the college setting to become fully informed about this important
decision.
General Directions:
Write a career research paper, in APA style, that explores in detail a career of your choice. The
full document, including title page and reference page should be 7 to 10 pages. An abstract will
NOT be required. There will be many steps in writing this paper (see specific directions for each
step below).
To prepare to write this paper, you should first complete several assessments. We will
complete these throughout the course of this class, but they are listed here for easy reference:
1. ACES Inventory from Connections textbook
2. Career Cruising Assessment Matchmaker and My Skills
(https://public.careercruising.com/en/) Username: NCTC, Password: gocenter
3. Career Cruising Learning Preferences Inventory
(https://public.careercruising.com/en/) Username: NCTC, Password: gocenter
4. Multiple Intelligence Survey (MIS)
https://www.literacynet.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html
5. Personality Inventory (PAP) or www.16personalities.com
Also, you may want to visit the Student Resources page under NCTC Career Services on the
NCTC website for additional information, surveys, and career assistance
(http://www.nctc.edu/career-services/student-resources.html). If you cannot decide on a job,
craft, or career to research, please make an appointment to talk with me.
Additional Resources for the Paper
Most of the information needed for the general career description section of your paper can be
located via Career Cruising, but here are some additional resources you can use.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
1. Log on at https://www.bls.gov/
2. You can enter the career name in the search box-it must be the exact title or career OR
3. Click on one of the major job groups on the left-hand column of the screen.
4. From the job group, select the career that you want to research. If it is not listed here, go
back to the list of major job groups and select another one.
Career One Stop
1. Log on at https://www.careeronestop.org/ExploreCareers/Learn/career-profiles.aspx
2. Click on Occupation Information.
3. Click on Occupational Profile.
4. Click on the major job group that best fits the career.
5. Click on the career within the major job group. (You may have to go back to this group if
the career is not listed.)
The Sloan Cornerstone Career Center –Healthcare, Science, and Technology
1. Log on at http://www.careercornerstone.org/
2. Click Degree Fields in column at left.
3. Scroll all the way down to see the career choices.
4. Be sure to check out “Profiles of Professionals” and “A Day in the Life” for great
informational interviews.
Sections of the Paper
Follow the outline provided below to achieve all the credit available as indicated on the grading
rubric for this assignment. These sections will be followed with additional directions and
guidance in the remainder of this document.
The Career Research Paper will consist of the following sections:
1. Title Page (This will be in APA format) (1 page)
2. Paper Content
 Part 1: Why Did You Choose This Career? (1 page)
 Part 2: Job Description/Education Required (1-2 pages)
 Part 3: A Day in the Life (1 page)
 Part 4: Positives/Challenges in this Career (1 page)
 Part 5: Personal Assessment (1 page)
 Part 6: From Here to There (1 page)
3. Reference Page (APA style) (1 page)
The Paper Section By Section
Title Page
Your paper should include a title page in APA style. You do NOT have to include an Abstract.
View this slideshow from the Purdue Writing Lab for general APA formatting information for
your title page and the entire paper.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa
_powerpoint_slide_presentation.html
Paper Part 1: Introduction: Why Did You Choose This Career?
Write a one-page explanation of why you chose this career. Consider the following questions
to help you write this part of the paper:
 Did someone inspire you to follow this career path?
 What interests you in this career path?
 Think about the values you hold and how those values tie into your career choice. Did
your values influence your career choice? If so, how? Be specific. If your values and
career choice don’t match, then why did you choose this career?
 Why do you think you can work in this career and be happy?
 Get custom essay samples and course-specific study resources via course hero homework for you service – Include the results of the Career Exploration Assignment (the results of the inventories
you took in Career Cruising) and an explanation of how these results match what you
think you would like to do. If your career cruising results vary wildly between
assessments, address why you think this is happening.
 Make sure this section is well-written and cohesive. In other words, don’t just go through
and answer the questions above and string them together in a paragraph. Write a unified
response to the question of why you have chosen this career.
Paper: Part 2: Job Description/Education Requirements
Write a 1-2 page description of your chosen career and its educational requirements.
This should include:
 the career’s title
 job description (what you will do and where)
 required education
 expected salary
 job growth rates and unemployment rates for this career
 personality characteristics helpful for this career
In this section, describe your career in terms of career demands, requirements, and
expectations. Get custom essay samples and course-specific study resources via course hero homework for you service – Include a description of the physical environment, time schedule, location, salary
and benefits. What is the typical pay? (Try to find the most up-to-date local information.) What
is the job outlook? What are the growth opportunities? Be as specific as possible. (A good
source for this section of your paper is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook
Handbook).
You should also include a discussion of the education required for entry level to this career.
Do you have to have a degree? Special certification? Internship? Pass a test? Will you need to
continue your education even after you are hired? What majors are recommended? What are
related occupations for this career? Are there different career paths you might take?
Paper: Part 3: A Day in the Life
Write a one-page description of “a day in the life” of someone in this chosen career.
Knowing about a career is one thing, but do you really understand what you would be doing
from day to day? This section helps you put yourself in the “shoes” of someone working in this
line of work. Interview someone currently employed in this field. What do they like and dislike
about their job? What advice would they give you? What do you think you will like and dislike
about this occupation?
 What will you spend your time doing all day?
 Will you be in an office or outside? What will your work environment look like?
 Will you be expected to travel?
 Will you be expected to take on extra duties or work overtime?
 Will you work with a team or work independently?
 Most of this information will be obtained through your personal interview (see personal
interview guidelines). Many people who prepared for a particular career later find they
did not like the job after all. This is your chance to gain an understanding of what will be
required of you daily so that you can see if this is the best fit for your time. Remember,
on most days of the week, your engagement in work tasks will take up most of your time.
Is this really how you want to spend it?
Paper: Part 4: Positives/Challenges of the Profession Today
Write a one-page analysis of the positive changes and challenges facing your chosen
profession.
Consider the following: (draw from your research and your interview).
 What are some current issues or changes in this field?
 What are the concerns of people in your career today?
 Does your career have a good occupational outlook?
Paper: Part 5: Personal Assessment
Write a one-page analysis of your personality type as it relates to your career.
Consider the following:
 Are specific personality types, intelligences, styles, or skills required for this career?
 Are you and your career a match? Using the results of the Myers Briggs (Personality), the
Learning Preferences, and the Multiple Intelligence assessments and the skills, interest
inventories you did on Career Cruising, and ACES inventory, outline why you think this
career is a match for your personality, learning preference, multiple intelligences,
interests, and skills? Make sure you refer to your assessment results in your discussion.
Paper Part 6: From Here to There
Write a one-page assessment of whether your research has concluded in your affirmation
of this career, job, or vocation choice.
Consider the following:
 Will you be continuing along this planned course or will you now have to make a different
plan?
 What do you need to do to get from NCTC to this career?
 Outline the steps you will take next, including specifics on transfer institutions and possible
employers. What colleges offer the required major? Who are the big employers in this
field? Will you have to move?
 What are the major obstacles you anticipate and how will you overcome them? What are
some resources you can use to assist you in overcoming those obstacles?
 Mention some professional associations you could join while still a student.
 Another part of this section should include your assessment of skills introduced in this
class and how they will help you better achieve your goal. You must name three skills
we have covered this far in class and discuss how you will use them to achieve your
goal. For example, it could be a specific time management approach that will allow you
to better focus on classes and work so that you can complete your degree.
Paper: Reference Page
 For every resource you use, provide a citation in APA format. (Author. Book. Place of
Publication: Publisher, Date.) Each source should be cited in the body of your paper
also.
 You will need at least five resources. Many of these will be online databases, but at the
very least one should be a book (You have your textbook, right?). Another should
consist of a professional journal in your field and one source may be your interview with
an individual currently employed in your area.
 Do not use Wikipedia!
 Your paper will be returned without a grade if you do not include a reference page as it will
be highly suspect of plagiarism.
 Remember you are using the APA Style and not I need help with my homework – MLA or Chicago. The following link
will provide you with citation examples and comparisons to other styles if that helps you.
The link is:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/citation_style_chart.ht
ml
Good Luck! I hope you gain some valuable insight into the career of your choice. If you need
help, please use your resources! These include me, the Counseling or Career Center, the Library,
the Writing Center and your classmates.
Career Research Grading Rubric
Criteria Excellent Above
Average
Average Below
Average
Poor Missing
Paper
Format
APA
style/Length
(10 pts)
Excellent
formatting
with very few
and minor
mistakes;
length is 7-10
pages total
Very good
formatting with
above average
attention to
formatting and
detail; length is
just short of the
requirement
8 pts
Average attempt to
follow APA
formatting- spacing
and font is correct;
paper is 1 page short.
6 pts
Below
average
attempt to
follow APA
formatdoublespaced not
used and 12
point font not
used; paper is
short at least
2 pages
4 pts
Sloppy and
inconsistent
formatting; paper is
at least 3 pages short
2 pts
No attempt
toward APA
formatting;
length is
short more
than 3 pages
0 pts
Citations
Internal and
Reference
Page
(10 pts)
5 or more
sources are
used
internally and
on the
reference
page at the
end of the
paper with
very few
mistakes
5 or more sources
are used
internally and on
reference page
with aboveaverage attention
to detail
8 pts
5 or more sources used
and documented with
average detail; sources
may be documented on
reference page but not
all are used internally
6 pts
4 sources
documented
internally and
on reference
page
4 pts
Less than 4 sources
documented
internally or on
reference page
2 pts
No sources
documentedpaper is
returned
ungraded or
for a zero
0 pts
Grammar
(10 pts)
No
significant
grammatical
errors
1 significant
grammatical
error is present
8 pts
2 significant
grammatical errors are
present
6 pts
3 significant
grammatical
errors are
present
4 pts
4 significant
grammatical errors
are present
2 pts
5 or more
significant
grammatical
errors are
present
0 pts
Part I:
Introduction
(10 pts)
Excellent
understanding
of this
attributestudent traces
decision well
and compares
with Career
Cruising
inventories
10 pts
Above-average
understanding of
this attributestudent traces
decision but
doesn’t include
comparison with
Career Cruising
inventories
8 pts
Average understanding
of this attributestudent traces decision
but leaves out specific
details or relevant
reasons
6pts
Below
average
understanding
of this
attributevery little
explanation
or detail is
provided
4 pts
Incomplete
evidence/explanation
for this section of the
paper.
2 pts
This section
of the paper
is missing
0 pts
Part 2: Job
Description/
Education
(15) pts
Excellent
understanding
of this
attributestudent
provides very
specific
information
about each of
the required
categories;
very wellresearched
15 pts
Above-average
understanding of
this attributestudent provides
information
about each of the
required
categories; wellresearched
12 pts
Average understanding
of this attribute;
student provides
information about the
categories but may be
missing one category
or the research may be
lacking
9 pts
Belowaverage
understanding
of this
attribute;
several
categories in
the job
description
are missing or
not wellresearched
6 pts
Incomplete evidence
for this section of the
paper. Many
categories of the job
description are
missing and research
is not present.
3 pts
This section
of the paper
is missing
0 pts
Part 3: A
Day in the
Life
(10 pts)
Excellent
understanding
of this
attributestudent
provides very
specific
information
regarding
daily tasks
performed in
this career;
very wellresearched
10 pts
Very good, but
not exceptional
understanding of
this attribute;
details and
research are
present
8 pts
Average understanding
of this attribute; details
are general; research is
present but not
substantial
6 pts
Below
average
understanding
of this
attribute;
details are
limited and
general;
research is
not present
4 pts
Incomplete evidence
for this section of the
paper. Daily tasks
are not listed; no
research is present.
2 pts
This section
of the paper
is missing
0 pts
Part 4:
Positives and
Challenges in
the
Profession
Today
(10 pts)
Excellent
understanding
of this
attributestrong
analysis of
the
challenges
and the
positive
changes of
the profession
today
10 pts
Very good, but
not exceptional
understanding of
this attributeanalysis of the
positives and
challenges are
present
8 pts
Average understanding
of this attribute;
Positives and
challenges explained
but analysis is general
6 pts
Belowaverage
understanding
of this
attributePositives and
challenges
are presented
but there is
no analysis
4 pts
Incomplete evidence
for this section of the
paper; few or no
positives or
challenges are listed
and no analysis is
supplied
2 pts
This section
of the paper
is missing
0 pts
Part 5:
Personal
Assessment
(15 pts)
Excellent
understanding
of this
attribute with
ACES
inventory,
multiple
intelligences,
personality
type and
learning
preference all
included;
research is
present and
used to
support
analysis
15 pts
Very good, but
not exceptional
understanding of
this particular
attribute- all three
inventories/career
connections
included;
research is
present and used
to support
analysis
12 pts
Average understanding
of this attribute; one of
the three
inventories/connections
is missing; weakly
supported with
research
9 pts
Average
understanding
of this
attribute with
discussion of
two or the
attributes
missing, OR,
discussion is
more like a
journal entry
with little
research base
6 pts
Incomplete evidence
for this section of the
paper. No discussion
of any of the
inventories and/or
the career.
3 pts
This section
of the paper
is missing
0 pts
Part 6:
From Here
to There
(10 pts)
Excellent
understanding
of this
attribute with
detailed
explanation
of next steps
to achieve
career/job;
includes at
least 3
attributes of a
successful
student; very
wellresearched
10 pts
Very good
understanding of
this attribute with
a detailed
explanation of
the next steps to
achieve
career/job; wellresearched
8 pts
Average understanding
of this attribute;
explanation was
lacking in detail or too
short; research is
present but lacking
6 pts
Poor
understanding
of this
attribute;
explanation is
lacking in
detail;
research is
lacking
4 pts
Incomplete evidence
for this section of the
paper. No specific
plan was explained,
no research was
presented.
2 pts
This section
of the paper
is missing
0 pts
Learning Objective Mastery Meets Expectations Doesn’t Meet
Expectations
No Submission
LO 1: Identify the key components of
a successful student.
LO 2: Articulate career goals in an
academic setting through selfawareness and research.
LO 3: Critique the quality and results
of the current research in the content
areas of learning, cognition, or
motivation.
LO 6: Compose writing assignments
using Standard American English and
basic computer skills.
PO 1: Critical Thinking
PO 2: Communication
PO 6: Personal Responsibility

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