Part 3—Career PlanningPart 3—Career Planning

Chapter 15Chapter 15Making Career Making Career

DecisionsDecisions

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives

ExplainExplain the decision-making process. the decision-making process. ApplyApply the decision-making process to the decision-making process to

developing a career plan.developing a career plan. IdentifyIdentify other applications for the other applications for the

decision-making process.decision-making process.

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Using the seven steps of the decision-Using the seven steps of the decision-making process helps you make major making process helps you make major decisions carefully and logically.decisions carefully and logically.

Developing a career plan will help you Developing a career plan will help you succeed in achieving your career goals.succeed in achieving your career goals.

A career ladder shows a sequence of A career ladder shows a sequence of related jobs that are available at different related jobs that are available at different educational levels.educational levels.

Using decision-making skills can positively Using decision-making skills can positively affect your personal life, the decisions you affect your personal life, the decisions you make at work, and your purchasing make at work, and your purchasing decisions.decisions.

The Decision-Making The Decision-Making ProcessProcess

Decision-making Decision-making process:process: A seven- A seven-step process for step process for making important making important decisions carefully decisions carefully and logically.and logically.

You make decisions You make decisions every day. Some every day. Some decisions are decisions are routineroutine and others and others are are majormajor.. continue

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The Decision-Making The Decision-Making ProcessProcess

Routine decisions:Routine decisions: Choices that you make Choices that you make automatically about everyday matters, automatically about everyday matters, such as what to eat and wear.such as what to eat and wear. These decisions are generally very easy to These decisions are generally very easy to

make and do not affect your life to a great make and do not affect your life to a great extent.extent.

Major decisions:Major decisions: Tough choices requiring Tough choices requiring careful thought because they affect your careful thought because they affect your career and personal life.career and personal life. These decisions are significant because they These decisions are significant because they

take considerable resources and tend to have take considerable resources and tend to have long-lasting effects.long-lasting effects.

Decision-Making StepsDecision-Making Steps

When you make big decisions, follow the When you make big decisions, follow the seven steps of the decision-making process.seven steps of the decision-making process.

1.1. Define the problem.Define the problem.

2.2. Establish goals.Establish goals.

3.3. Identify resources.Identify resources.

4.4. Consider the Consider the alternatives.alternatives.

5.5. Make a decision.Make a decision.

6.6. Implement the decision.Implement the decision.

7.7. Evaluate the results.Evaluate the results.

Career DecisionsCareer Decisions

Your career choice will Your career choice will determine your entire determine your entire future.future.

Career decisions need Career decisions need to be made carefully to be made carefully with thought and with thought and planning.planning.

The way you live, The way you live, people you meet, people you meet, money you earn, and money you earn, and satisfaction you get satisfaction you get from life will be from life will be determined by the work determined by the work you choose.you choose.

Making a Career PlanMaking a Career Plan

Career plan: Career plan: A list of steps to A list of steps to take to reach your career goal.take to reach your career goal.

Before you can make a career Before you can make a career plan, it is important to know plan, it is important to know the following about yourself:the following about yourself: Interests, aptitudes, and abilities.Interests, aptitudes, and abilities. Strengths and weaknesses.Strengths and weaknesses. Significant personality traits.Significant personality traits. Values.Values. Short- and long-term goals.Short- and long-term goals. Resources.Resources.

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Making a Career PlanMaking a Career Plan

Within each step a Within each step a career plan career plan examines:examines: Extracurricular and Extracurricular and

volunteer activities.volunteer activities. Work or job Work or job

experience.experience. Education and Education and

training training requirements.requirements.

As you plan your As you plan your career, keep in mind career, keep in mind what will be most what will be most satisfying to you.satisfying to you.

Creating a Career LadderCreating a Career Ladder

Entry-level job:Entry-level job: Work for beginners who Work for beginners who lack experience or specialized training.lack experience or specialized training.

Advanced-level job:Advanced-level job: Work that requires Work that requires special skills, knowledge, and experience.special skills, knowledge, and experience.

Career ladder:Career ladder: A sequence of related jobs A sequence of related jobs—from entry-level to advanced—available —from entry-level to advanced—available at different education levels.at different education levels.

There is no single route to achieving your There is no single route to achieving your career goal. career goal.

Using the Decision-Making Using the Decision-Making ProcessProcess

The decision-making process is a skill you The decision-making process is a skill you can use throughout your life to make can use throughout your life to make major decisions.major decisions.

This skill can have a positive effect on your This skill can have a positive effect on your personal life, work decisions, and personal life, work decisions, and purchasing decisions.purchasing decisions.

Making Personal DecisionsMaking Personal Decisions

Major decisions you Major decisions you will have to make in will have to make in your personal life your personal life include choosing a include choosing a college, dating, college, dating, getting engaged, and getting engaged, and choosing a marriage choosing a marriage partner.partner.

Other decisions may Other decisions may involve your lifestyle involve your lifestyle and health.and health.

Making Work DecisionsMaking Work Decisions

Decisions you make at Decisions you make at work can be simple, work can be simple, but sometimes you but sometimes you may have to gather may have to gather facts and make a facts and make a choice.choice.

Decisions could Decisions could include accepting a include accepting a promotion, promotion, transferring to another transferring to another department, asking for department, asking for a raise, changing your a raise, changing your schedule, and finding schedule, and finding a new job.a new job.

Making Consumer DecisionsMaking Consumer Decisions

You will make You will make consumer choices consumer choices throughout your life throughout your life about food, clothing, about food, clothing, transportation, transportation, energy, and housing.energy, and housing.

Financial decisions Financial decisions you make may you make may include budgeting, include budgeting, saving, or investing.saving, or investing.

Thinking BackThinking Back

Give an example of Give an example of when you have when you have used the decision-used the decision-making process.making process.

What is your What is your career plan?career plan?

How have you How have you used the decision-used the decision-making process to making process to make personal, make personal, work, and work, and consumer consumer decisions?decisions?