Preparing for Career Success, Third Edition

Students have similar career development needs, whether they opt for a post-secondary school or jump right into the world of work: They need to be prepared for the workplace and for finding a career that makes use of their interests, aptitudes, and skills.

Preparing for Career Success (for grades 10-12) provides students with the most current career information and thoroughly covers a variety of social issues affecting today's workers and the workplace, including tech-prep, ethics in the workplace, sexual harassment, and the complex set of problem-solving skills needed to successfully handle the challenges facing two-wage-earner families.

The Student Edition

• Learning Objectives: The first page of each chapter includes a list of expected learner outcomes. Each chapter lists and defines vocabulary terms, and also has a review section with content questions and a vocabulary matching exercise.
• Get Involved: Activities that reinforce the content of each major section by having students actively think and write about what they have learned.
• Take Note: Interesting sidebars that provide information on related topics or highlight important points related to the chapter.
• Find Out More: These established organizations, reliable Web sites, and comprehensive reference materials are good places for students to start exploring topics in depth.
• Key to Success: Tips that will help students avoid common workplace issues and reach their potential.
• Career Fact: Statistics from government data and surveys illustrate key points in the chapter.
• Cluster Links: Connect chapters to the information on the U.S. Dept. of Educations career clusters, which are dealt with in the appendix.
• Quotes: Inspirational and relevant quotes placed throughout the text to engage students' interest.
• Develop SCANS Competencies: Activities that strengthen transferable skills and personal qualities employers look for, based on the Department of Labor's SCANS report.

Case Studies
All case studies relate to the topic in the chapter where they are presented. Students must decide how to handle the real-life situations described in realistic scenarios by answering critical thinking questions at the end of each case study. The following themes are stressed:

• Planning Makes a Difference: Stresses the importance of personal and career planning.
• Being Responsible: Emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility.
• Building Character: Defining the person you are, and choosing to become by clarifying attributes and characteristics of behavior.
• Solving the Problem: Presents a scenario requiring students to use problem solving techniques.
• Life Skills: Illustrates the importance of everyday life tasks such as money management, being a consumer, work and the family, health skills and citizenship responsibilities.

Look For

• Sound career development theory
• Engaging learning activities that help students meet their career goals
• Expanded information on the 16 U.S. Department of Education career clusters
• Supplements that are closely integrated with the textbook
• Practical strategies for all phases of a career, from setting goals and interviewing for jobs to asking for a raise

Table of Contents

Introduction

Unit 1: Getting Ready for the World of Work

1. Preparing for Life’s Many Tasks

2. Knowing Yourself: Interests and Aptitudes

3. Knowing Yourself: Values and Goals

4. Problem Solving: Making Choices

5. Researching and Understanding Career Information

6. Looking Ahead: Education and Training

Unit 2: Finding a Job and Achieving Success

7. Expressing Yourself: Effective Communication

8. Conducting the Job Search

9. Applying and Interviewing for a Job

10. Taking Responsibility for Your Job Success

11. Making Progress on the Job

Unit 3: Understanding the World of Work

12. Defining Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities

13. Managing Career Change and Growth

14. Adapting to a Changing Workplace

15. Connecting Economics and Work

16. Starting a Business

Unit 4: Living on Your Own

17. Managing Your Income

18. Being a Wise Consumer

19. Achieving Wellness

20. Accepting Civic Responsibility

21. Balancing Your Career and Your Life

Glossary

Appendix: An Overview of the U.S. Department of Education Career Clusters

Index

COMPONENTS