Module 7: Career Outlook

Introduction: Progress is a key word in today's changing world. The global market increases competition and challenges us to progress each day. Due to this growth, jobs change rapidly and wages and current/future trends are important topics to consider when choosing an occupation.

Objectives:

• Explore a web site with various information on specific career trends and wages.
• Find out what experience and education is needed for various occupations.
• Research an occupation of your choice.

Activities:

• Go to: http://www.acinet.org
• Click on the "General Outlook" button. This tells you the future outlook for various careers. Look through this site and answer the following questions:
  • What's the fastest growing occupation for individuals with work experience only?
    _____________________________________________________________

  • What's the fastest growing occupation for individuals with post-secondary degree or advanced degree?
    _____________________________________________________________

  • What's the top occupation with the most openings overall?
    _____________________________________________________________

  • What's the top occupation for the largest employment requiring work experience only?
    _____________________________________________________________

  • How much do fire fighters make per year? (See "High Paying Occupations")
    _____________________________________________________________

Now go back to the home page by clicking the "Back" button on the upper left hand corner and click the "Wages and Trends" button.

Using the Drop-Down Menu in Job Families box, use the down arrow to scroll down to: "Sales". Click it once, and then hit the red and white SEARCH button on the right of the box.

Next, click "Travel Agent" under "First, click one occupations" box.

Scroll down to the "Next highlight one state" box and click the state of Minnesota. Then click the red and white SEARCH button.

• What is the typical education level?
  _____________________________________________________________

• What are 3 typical tasks of a travel agent?
  _____________________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________________

• Scroll down to the "Wages" chart. What's the median yearly salary range for a travel agent in Minnesota, as of 1996?
  _____________________________________________________________

• Next, look at the "Trends" chart. What's the number of average annual job openings for travel agents in MN?
  _____________________________________________________________

Now it's your turn. Go back to the home page: http://www.acinet.org (or hit the "Back" button three times.

• Click on "Wages and Trends"
• Choose your own job family and write it here:
  _____________________________________________________________
  1. What specific occupation did you choose?
  _____________________________________________________________

  2. What did you find out?

  a. ____________________________________________
  b. ____________________________________________
  c. ____________________________________________