Activity 2.2.12 Refining Career Goals

Purpose

To gain a realistic and clear understanding of work-related goals

Materials

Handout–My Priorities and Exploration for Work Questionnaire

Time

2 hrs

Method

1. Instruct participants that they will be required to fill out a questionnaire to gain a clear understanding and perspective of work-related goals.
2. Facilitators should first give examples of occupations within the same field, e.g., the medical field has several related occupations such as nursing, health care aide, home care sitter, lab technician, etc.
3. Ask participants to brainstorm other fields and explore occupations within those fields.
4. Instruct participants to fill in the questionnaire as best as they can. Facilitators can decide how much time will be needed for participants to complete the questionnaire. Stress that it is not important to know all the answers at this time, but thinking about them is important.
5. Participants fill in the attached questionnaire.
6. After participants have completed the form to the best of their ability, discuss the questionnaire giving examples as required and allow participants to fill in areas they may have missed.
7. Ask if they know of other links to finding resources regarding training, employment opportunities, occupational skills, etc. List these on the blackboard or flip chart.
8. Discuss relevant barriers to obtaining their career goal, e.g., a participant may want to become a veterinarian but the high standards of education are intimidating or not easily attained. The whole class could offer alternative solutions such as visiting a local pet store for employment opportunities, contracting yourself out to become a dog walker or pet sitter, volunteering at a local animal shelter, etc.