CECmisc.72


TITLE:  PERSONAL INTERESTS AND CAREER TRAITS

AUTHOR:  Harold "Skip" Adams, William P. Lord High
         School; Woodburn, OR

GRADE LEVEL:  10-12

OBJECTIVE(s):  Students will:
*  get to know you and the other students in class.
*  find common and different interests among their fellow
   classmates.
*  identify personal strengths and interests and match
   them to a career and its related skills.

GOAL/CONCEPT:
Students will develop an awareness of their personal
interests and relate them to career traits.  The students
will match their traits to various jobs to help them see
beyond their immediate future.

Students will be better prepared to make career choices if
they are aware of their personal interests and strengths.
These exercises can build student self-esteem, identify
strengths, and predict future skills.  This unit provides an
opportunity for you to introduce yourself and to get to know
the students.

If students have difficulty reading the materials, have them
work with a partner.  You should always draw on your own
experiences to promote better understanding.  Model the way
the activities should be done before the students start.

MATERIALS:
1.  Magazine pictures of various careers. Masking tape.
2.  Copies of the "Personal Interests Inventory" and
   "Find Someone Who. .." worksheets.

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

1.  GUESS THE CAREER
     Discuss with the class the fact that this unit is
     designed to increase their personal skills
     awareness.  Students need to realize that different
     skills are needed for various jobs.  This exercise
     will introduce them to a variety of different jobs
     as they get to know the teacher and one another
     better.
  STEP ONE:
     Introduce yourself and have a student tape to your
     back one of the magazine pictures that you have
     collected.  (Make sure that you collect pictures
     that will easily identify careers.  Ask the students
     one by one to stand up and introduce themselves.  As
     they do, tape a picture to each student's back.
     Everyone needs to keep the pictures secret.
  STEP TWO:
     Explain to the students that they will try to guess
     the career pictured on their back by asking others
     yes\no questions such as:

     * Do you need a college education?
     * Does it require strong reading and or math skills?
     * Do you work with other people?
     * Do you need computer skills?
     * Does the job require physical strength?

     If further clues are needed, give them by stating
     what skills are necessary to the career, without
     naming it:  For example:

     * You would need to read to do this job.
     * Typing skills are a must if you do this job.

Students remove the pictures as they correctly guess the
career.


2. FIND SOMEONE WHO...

Explain to the students that one way people choose a career
is based on their personal interests.  The goal of this
activity is to find out each other's interests.

  STEP ONE:
     Have the students identify their personal interests
     by completing a Personal Interests Inventory.
     Students will then circulate through the room
     getting signatures for their "Find Someone Who..."
     sheet.  (See Worksheet).

  STEP TWO:
     After the activity is finished, hold a discussion
     about their findings and point out common and
     different group interests.

                    FIND SOMEONE WHO...

Circulate through the room and ask classmates if they have
any of the interests listed below. when you find a match,
have your classmate sign the blank next to the statement.
Make sure all students in the class are represented,
although not all blanks need to be filled. You can have more
than one signature on a line, but the object of the activity
is to discover the wide variety of interest among your
classmates.

Speaks another language _________________________________

Plays a musical instrument ______________________________

Is good at sports _______________________________________

Is interested in science ________________________________

Likes to tinker with anything mechanical ________________

Enjoys working with animals _____________________________

Is interested in aviation _______________________________

Likes performing in public ______________________________

Seems to be able to teach others ________________________

Has artistic ability ____________________________________

Enjoys helping others ___________________________________

Is interested in math ___________________________________

Reads and writes well ___________________________________

Likes constructing or building things ___________________

Likes or would like to travel ___________________________

Likes to debate issues __________________________________

Likes to sing ___________________________________________

Enjoys working with money _______________________________

Likes working with computers ____________________________

Types well ______________________________________________

Is good at growing plants _______________________________

Is a good salesperson ___________________________________

Likes talking to people _________________________________

Gets along well with others _____________________________

Likes to organize things ________________________________

Wants to go to college/trade school _____________________

Wants to join the military service ______________________

Would like to be on TV or radio _________________________

Likes history ___________________________________________

Prefers the out-of-doors ________________________________

Enjoys working alone ____________________________________

Likes talking on the telephone __________________________

Enjoys personal grooming and clothing ___________________

Is concerned about the environment ______________________