Chapter 1 How Your Choices Affect Income What

Chapter 1 How Your Choices Affect Income

What Is the Job Market? • Job market refers to jobs available for workers. • A skill set is the unique skills and abilities you bring to the job market. o Hard skills are technical. o Soft skills are nontechnical. 1 -1 Personal Skills and the Job Market Slide 2

Job Choices Affect Your Income Fastest-Growing Occupations, 2008– 18 Occupation Expected Growth 2008– 18 Education Required Biomedical engineers 72% Bachelor’s degree Network, systems, and communications analysts 53% Bachelor’s degree Home health aides 50% Short-term training and on-the-job experience Financial examiners 46% Bachelor’s degree Medical scientists 41% Doctoral degree Physician assistants 39% Master’s degree Skin care specialists 38% Post-secondary skills Source: United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http: //stats. bls. gov/emp/ep_table_103. htm#. 1 -1 Personal Skills and the Job Market Slide 3

Learning about Job Requirements • Job title is the name of a job. o Example: Baker • Job description describes what a job would be like. o Includes: education, experience, hours, work site, location 1 -1 Personal Skills and the Job Market Slide 4

How Does Education Affect Your Income? 1 -1 Personal Skills and the Job Market Slide 5

Building Communications Skills Listening • • Face and look at the person who is talking. Focus on what the speaker is saying. Ignore distractions. Turn off the phone. Take notes on the main ideas. In a conversation, give feedback or nod. Mentally summarize the main points. 1 -1 Personal Skills and the Job Market Slide 6

What Is the Economy? • The economy refers to all the activities related to making and distributing goods and services. • A market economy is based on the law of supply and demand. o The price for an item is set at a point that consumers are willing to pay and sellers are willing to accept. 1 -2 The Economy and Your Education Slide 7

The Business Cycle 1 -2 The Economy and Your Education Slide 8

What are the Costs of Education? • Tuition is the expense paid by students for instruction at a school. • Fees are charged to cover special expenses. o Examples: technology, equipment, supplies • Living expenses include food, rent, clothing, transportation, and housing. 1 -2 The Economy and Your Education Slide 9

How Will You Pay for Education and Training? • Loans and grants o Examples: financial aid, Pell Grants, subsidized student loan • • Private student loans Scholarships Work-study programs Work and save 1 -2 The Economy and Your Education Slide 10

Focus On. . . Student Organizations • Explore careers of interest. • Attend conferences. • Apply for scholarships, grants, financial aid. • Take part in community service activities. • Network and form friendships. 1 -2 The Economy and Your Education Slide 11

How Can You Find Job Openings? • • Social networks Job shadowing Cooperative work experience Counselors, teachers, placement centers Websites of businesses Job scout programs Employment agencies 1 -3 Job Application Skills and Tools Slide 12

General Resume Guidelines A resume is a summary of your work experience, education, skills, interests. • • • Have a “master resume. ” Tailor each resume to match job opening. Limit resume to one page. Keep resume simple and attractive. List important information on top. Proofread thoroughly. 1 -3 Job Application Skills and Tools Slide 13

The Cover Letter A cover letter introduces you to a prospective employer. • It is short and direct. • First paragraph says why you are writing. • Second paragraph points out qualifications. • Closing paragraph asks for an interview. 1 -3 Job Application Skills and Tools Slide 14

How Do You Make Yourself Stand Out? • A job application is a form that asks you basic information about your background. • A job interview is a face-to-face meeting with a potential employer to discuss a job opening. • Follow-up is contact with a prospective employer after the interview. 1 -3 Job Application Skills and Tools Slide 15

Success Skills Using Social Networking Sites Advantages include: • Wide-range of sources for job information • Rapid response to job openings • Up-to-the-minute knowledge 1 -3 Job Application Skills and Tools Slide 16