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Unit: Career Assessment

Lesson #1: Career Interest Inventory


Grade: 10
Time: 30-45 minutes
School Counselor: Lisa
Content Standards:
Content Standards:
Mindset Standards
1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and
physical well-being
2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed
3. Sense of belonging in the school environment
4. Understanding that postsecondary education and life-long learning are necessary for long-term
career success
5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes
6. Positive attitude toward work and learning
Behavior Standards: Learning Strategies
1.
5.
7.
9.

Demonstrate critical-thinking skills to make informed decisions


Apply media and technology skills
Identify long- and short-term academic, career and social/emotional goals
Gather evidence and consider multiple perspectives to make informed decisions

Behavior Standards: Self-Management Skills


3. Demonstrate perseverance to achieve long- and short-term goals
Behavior Standards: Social Skills
1. Use effective oral and written communication skills and listening skills
2. Create positive and supportive relationships with other students
3. Create relationships with adults that support success
Performance Goals:
Students will be able to:
1. Gather, analyze and apply information to different career choices
2. Communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom through oral and written skills
3. Demonstrate critical thinking and decision making skills regarding necessary skills to achieve
future goals
Goal of the Lesson: Students will choose one career from each of the 8 career paths areas. Students will
then research and present the educational requirements, average salary, and job outlook for each of
their career choices.

Materials: Career Cluster Handout, Career Paths Handout, Outlook for Jobs in the Future Handout,
Computers for students, Career resource websites (e.g. www.bls.gov/oco; www.acrnetwork.org;
www.occupationalinfo.org)
Procedures and Discussion:
1. The counselor will begin the lesson by handing each student the Career Cluster Handout, Career
Paths Handout, and Outlook for Jobs in the Future sheets. Students will look at the list of career
clusters and possible career paths for each cluster. The counselor should go through each of the
8 career paths to ensure students are able to understand the different options for careers.
Students will then choose one career of interest from each career path (total of 8 career
choices) to research.
2. Students will then use the computer to research the educational requirement, average salary,
and job outlook for each career choice. Counselors can assist students with research, help
students with choosing careers, and answer any questions students need clarified as needed.
Students will use the information they find to complete the Outlook for Jobs in the Future
Handout.
3. Students will choose their top career choice of interest to present to the class. Students should
explain why they are most interested in this career, if salary played a role in their decision, the
job outlook for that particular career, and any other research they found.
Lesson adapted from:
Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Center
http://missouricareereducation.org/curr/cmd/guidanceplacementG/elearning

Evaluation:
Process Data: Take note of how many students participated in this lesson
Perception Data: Attitudes: % of students who believe it is important to have many interests and think
those interests will impact their future selection of classes and careers; Skills: % of students who are
able to identify potential career choices based on their individual interests and interpreting their results
from previous tests; Knowledge: % of students who understand how their interests and future plans are
related and recognize the role that education plays in successfully achieving their goals
Outcome: 100% of students will identify at least 1 short-term and 1 long-term goals for future plans.
Increased understanding of why it is important to have short and long-term goals in place for future
plans. Increased awareness of individual strengths/abilities as well as potential challenges/obstacles to
obtaining future goals.

Achievement: Students will be able to utilize effective research skills to complete an interest inventory
worksheet that shows the relationship between interests, education, and career fields and present their
findings to the class.

Note which students were able to choose a career from each career cluster they are interested in, and
which students struggled with this lesson. The students that struggled with choosing careers of interest
may need individual or small group work to do more individualized career/personal interests lessons.
Follow-Up: Counselors could have each student pick a couple of possible careers of interest they would
like to job shadow. Counselors could work with students to find individuals/organizations that would
allow students an opportunity to job shadow and gain hands-on experience.

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