PACT, Inc. - Career Planning

With all the career possibilities, it is important to head in a general direction that fits your interests. Currently, there are over 25,000 different ways to make a living.

The key to job satisfaction is to be interested in what you are doing. Think about your skills and interests. Explore your personality and temperament. Would you prefer to work with people, things, or data?

Explore different types of jobs and careers. Your career determines what your life and lifestyle will be like. Don't forget that the job market is changing every year. Review major trends that will affect the future.

Be sure to research the career you're considering will be around when you're ready to start. Talk to your parents, your PACT counselor, to people with jobs that interest you.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook and The Occupational Outlook Quarterly published by the US Dept. of Labor provide detailed information on many careers and are available in college and public libraries as well as online.

The Handbook describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.

You can find the handbook's site at: www.bls.gov/bls/occupation.htm

Self Assessment

A good place to begin your research is at your college's Career Center or the public library. Most colleges offer career guidance tools like JOB-O, Strong Interest Inventory, EUREKA or Holland's Self-Directed Search.

You can also check out: http://www.mois.org/moistest.html

Your Major and Your Career

www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/majors/majors.htm

Other Links

http://www.ipl.org/teen/pathways
jobstar.org/tools/career

Where are the Jobs?

Salary Employment Growth, 1998-2008
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics
(The numbers here are in thousands of jobs)

Industry	Employment		Change
	1998	2008	Number	%
Computer and data processing services	1599	3472	1872	117
Health services, not elsewhere classified	1209	2018	809	67
Residential care	747	1171	424	57
Management and public relations	1034	1500	466	45
Personnel supply services	3230	4623	1393	43
Miscellaneous equipment rental and leasing	258	369	111	43
Museums, botanical and zoological gardens	93	131	39	42
Research and testing services	614	861	247	40
Miscellaneous transportation services	236	329	94	40
Security and commodity brokers	645	900	255	40

Career Paths

Fastest Growing Jobs, 1994 - 2005
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Systems analyst
Computer engineers
Occupational therapists
Physical therapists
Special education teachers
Paralegals
Medical records technicians
Dental hygienists
Respiratory therapists
Radiologic technologists and technicians