Vocational Education. Plans
for the Future
LIST OF SOME COMMON OCCUPATIONS:
airplane pilot, attorney, bank-worker, barber, bricklayer, Certified
Public Accountant (CPA) – аудитор, chiropractor – массажист, clerk –
служащий, computer-worker – программист, dentist, draftsman –
чертежник, elected official, electrician, fire fighter, fisherman, geologist,
government worker, insurance salesman, ironworker – металлург, librarian,
mechanic, military man, musician, nurse, nutritionist, optometrist – окулист,
painter, pharmatist, photographer, plumber, postman, printer – типограф,
railroad engineer, repairman – специалист по ремонту, salesman,
secretary, surgeon, telephone operator, translator (linguist), veterinarian, zoologist.
I. Answer the questions:
Why do people work?
Man works to earn a living.
The work that a man does to earn a living is called by various names:
occupation, vocation, business, job, trade, service, ministry.
What is essential in any occupation?
Working with others and doing your best is essential in any occupation.
What may happen if the tasks you perform do not satisfy your
employer?
The employer will not have money to pay, or raise, wages, or do
necessary research for improving products, to make building repairs; so you won’t have
opportunities there.
What elements should be present for an activity to be considered
work?
The essential elements of work are: effort, energy, goal, physical
activity, mental activity, initiative, creativity, productivity, profit.
What is work?
Work is any effort put forth to complete a particular goal.
What motivates a person to select a particular vocation?
It can be money, position, benefits, interest, companionship, desire to
serve others or a have sense of identity?
II. List these motives in the order of priority.
Since a salary paid is based upon the value of the services performed,
higher paying positions come with increased experience, knowledge and skill.
With every position come privileges, but with those privileges also come
greater levels of responsibility.
Benefits may include such things as vacation time, paid medical
insurance, and sick pay. If you’re motivated mainly by the benefits of a particular
occupation, you’ll keep moving from position to position as more benefits are offered to
you.
There are two basic types of workers: self-employed and those who work
for others. The person who is self-employed becomes totally responsible for his work and
services, or his production.
III. Imagine you choose to go into business for yourself. Ask
questions to get the information you need.
First, you decide what consumers need. You decide what you will
produce, how many employees you will need, and what price you will charge for your
products.
A market is an opportunity to meet people’s needs through the
making, buying, and selling of goods and services.
The main economic principle at work is the law of supply and demand
(the desire and ability of consumers to purchase your products).
As producers attempt to please consumers, competition is created,
which results in the highest quality at a price acceptable to the consumer.
The profit motive and competition build initiative and motivate
producers and workers to become productive.
It’s time to enhance your own self-confidence. Here is a quiz to help
you identify your motivational gifts. The neat thing about knowing your gifts is that it
can help you choose a career, hobby, and/or ministry you’ll find most fulfilling
personally.
IV. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
Circle the answer that best describes your reaction to each
situation.
1. You’re asked to run for student body vice president.
You...
a. Go for it
b. Decline the nomination
c. Let someone talk you into it.
2. Animal movies make you...
a. Laugh
b. Cry
c. Bored.
3. After you’ve assisted in an elementary school class, the leader
teacher calls in sick and asks you to take the class.
You...
a. Jump at the opportunity
b. Quickly refuse
c. Reluctantly agree.
4. Your little brother has worked hard all summer to buy new skates but
is still 10 roubles short.
You...
a. Give it to him anonymously
b. Casually hand it to him
c. Ignore the whole situation.
5. During an important test at school you notice one of your classmates
cheating.
You...
a. Decide it’s none of your business
b. Immediately inform the teacher
c. Wait till after class to confront him or her with the issue.
The key to the quiz:
Question |
Answer |
Your gift |
1
2
3
4
5 |
A
B
A
A or B
B or C |
Leadership
Showing mercy
Teaching
Contributing
Giving insight |
You may have more than one gift; however one usually dominates. Now
look at the typical characteristics of people who have these motivational gifts.
Leadership
Enthusiastic, joiner, ambitious
Well-liked, on the go
Systematic, curious, outspoken
Showing mercy
Lovable
Tender, sensitive, cries easily
A follower, not a natural leader
Loves people and pets
Teaching
Contributing
Friendly, affectionate and sensible
Likes to share or give wisely
Successful, achieves goals
Giving insight
V. We have come to job hunting. One attempt to find a job is to go to
the employment agency. Role-play the situation.
Role-card № 1
1) You are looking for a job, but haven’t decided yet, what kind of
job you want.
2) You are advised to fill in the questionnaire. Read the questions aloud and answer them.
3) Say, that you are close to a decision about your future occupation. Ask to show the
list of vacant workpositions.
4) While looking through the WEB-site “Markets” choose “Computer Services”,
speciality-consulting.
5) Thank for the help. Take the list of vacancies and explain what you are going to do
next (select an occupation and send an application). |
Role-card № 2 (Employment agent)
1) Ask your partner if he has decided where to work.
2) Then give information about the variety of occupations: some people like to work with
things, others – with people; many occupations involve much thinking, while some
occupations involve less thought and more physical labour; some people are leaders and
desire vocations that build their leadership potential.
3) Suggest that your partner should fill in the questionnaire.
4) Advise him/her to use the WEB in searching for a job.
5) Wish him/her good luck, and advise them not to leave home without their resume. |
Role-card № 3
1) Find the WEB-site “Work Exchange”
(http//: www.bestjobsusa.com
http//:www.bestjobsusa.workexchange.com
)
4) Read the “Markets”, ask what the partner would prefer.
5) Choose “Computer-Service”, speciality-consulting.
6) Wish him or her good luck. |
VI. The other way of looking for a job is reading
newspaper ads. Find the most interesting advertisement in “The National Ad Search”,
present it, telling about its benefits and requirements.
1. Engineers
Cambridge Automatic, a small fast growing manufacturer of automatic
insertion machinery is seeking several individuals to join our engineering team. |
2. Machine Designer
Qualified candidates should have 3-5 years experience with high speed
machinery handling and feeding of small parts, precision mechanisms and pneumatics.
AutoCAD required. |
3. Mechanical Engineer
Responsibilities will include product improvement and support of our
standard products. Knowledge of machine shop practices, pneumatics and experience with
hands-on machinery debug are required. AutoCAD required. |
4. Attorney
Immediate opening for a Trust Attorney in our Financial Counseling
Division. This position requires technical skills and knowledge in estate taxation, income
taxation and investments, excellent interpersonal and communication skills. This position
entails discussing trust services with customers, preparing and presenting seminars, and
working with estate planning attorneys. Competitive salary and excellent benefits package.
Respond in confidence with resume and salary history to UMB Bank. |
5. General Manager trainee
Growing food company. Needs 2 General Manager trainees. 3-5 years of
experience required. Total unit operation, training, marketing, P&L responsibility,
cost control.
Need immediately! Call or fax resume. |
VII. Look through the list of character qualities.
Choose your best qualities; also think of what you should learn and be good at in order to
be successful in your jobs. Make your own short, promotional self-portrait. Imagine that
you’re preparing for an interview with an employer.
Over 35,000 different vocations are available. Surveying each vocation
may take many long hours, weeks, and even years. Here is some advice concerning your
future:
- Do not hurry to select a vocation. Don’t rush a decision.
- Pay attention to these:
Learn new skills
Increase the range of your interests
Focus on the broad picture
Obey those in authority over you
WISE SAYING ABOUT WORK, SUCCESS, AND THE FUTURE
Your future begins with whatever is in your hands today.
Focus on the opportunities, not the obstacles.
A successful life is often expensive. It will cost you something to
become a champion. Time. Energy. Focus.
Sometimes you have to do something you dislike to create something
you desire.
Accept work as God’s gift, not punishment.
Do not despise small things, remember: a small lantern can do what
the great sun can never do – it can shine in the night.
Planning cures disorder.
Knowledge is power. The difference between failure and success is
information.
Decisions create destinies.
Only fools make permanent decisions without knowledge.
God made you to climb, not to crawl.
Champions simply make an extra attempt.
He who masters his time, masters his life.
“The first duty of a human being is to find your real job and do
it.” (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)
“The formula for success is simple: Do your best and someone might
like it”. (Marva Collins).
“Doing your best at this moment puts you in the best place for the
next moment”, (Oprah Winfrey)
“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for
every dream precedes the goal”, (Pamela Starr)
“Let all your things have their places; let each part of your
business have its time”. (Benjamin Franklin)
By Svetlana Beletskaya
School No. 17, Vladimir
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