CM8: Career Explorations

“Get A Life!” - Career Exploration Project

Brief Project Overview:
In this project, students will assess their personality type to help determine if they are suited for a career in finance or business. This may be done by going online or by using assessments available through the school. Using this information, students will select and research two finance or business careers that interest them. They will begin to develop a job portfolio that will include a current resume and cover letter that they could use immediately to get a job. Students will also be guided in collecting appropriate job application information and how to request letters of recommendation.

Appropriate Subjects and Grade Levels
For high school freshman through seniors, in the following classes:
English
Social Science
Economics
Technology
Business
Public Speaking

Length of Project
One 55-minute class period for each of the 5 lessons. Additional days may be utilized for student presentations or other optional project enhancements.
Lesson #1 -- Personality Type and Career Choices
Lesson #2 -- Write a High School Resume
Lesson #3 -- Cover Letters
Lesson #4 -- Letters of Recommendation
Lesson #5 -- Job Application
NOTE: The length of this project is an estimated minimum time needed for completion that may easily be expanded upon. The length of time will naturally increase as the project is expanded upon by the teacher as it is adapted to meet classroom and curriculum goals.

Recommended Background Materials
No-Brainers on Resumes and Cover Letters video
Winning Cover Letters, 2nd Edition book by Robin Ryan (Author)
Cover Letter Magic book by Wendy S. Enelow, Louise M. Kursmark
e-Resumes: Everything You Need to Know About Using Electronic Resumes to Tap into Today's Hot Job Market book by Susan Britton Whitcomb, Pat Kendall
Building a Great Resume book by Kate Wendleton, Mark Gonska
The Everything Resume Book (Everything Series) book by Burton Jay Nadler
Your First Resume: For Students and Anyone Preparing to Enter Today's Tough Job Market book by Ronald W. Fry, Ron Fry
Resumes for First-Time Job Hunters book by VGM Career Horizons (Editor)