Submitted By: Frank Holthouse

 

Lesson Name: Non-Traditional Careers

 

Lesson Objectives:

1. Students will examine how career choice may be influenced by gender.
2. Students will use the internet to investigate gender issues and career choice.
3. Students will access the USOE/CTE website and access the Nontraditional Career Brochures.
4. Students will use critical thinking and writing skills.

 

Process

Teacher hands out jobs checklist. Students work alone or in pairs and complete the checklist of traditional male jobs and traditional female jobs.

 

 Discussion topics/questions:

• Are there any jobs on the list that a man could not do? 
• Are there any jobs on the list that a woman could not do?
• Why do you think some careers are mostly filled by men? 
• Why do you think some careers are mostly filled by women? 
• Does gender affect education and career choice? Should it?

 

Find the facts:

There are some misconceptions regarding the workforce in Illinois. Using a search engine, type in key

phrases such as the ones suggested below, and find the answers to the following questions.

 

1. What percent of Illinois women work outside the home?
2. How does Illinois’s divorce rate compare to the rest of the nation?
3. For every dollar a man makes in Illinois, how much does a woman make?
4. What percentage of men in Illinois have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher?
5. What percentage of women in Illinois have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher?
6. What percentage of men 18-24 still live at home? What percentage of young adults 18-35 live

at home with their parents? Is this increasing or decreasing? Why?

7. What may be an advantage to choosing a nontraditional career?
8. What may be a roadblock to choosing a nontraditional career?

 

Submitted By: Frank Holthouse

 

Lesson Name: Work Based Learning Lesson – Completing a Job Application

 

Purpose/Objective: Work is for everyone, and getting a job is a very rewarding experience!  In this lesson, you will learn the important steps of the job application process. 

 

Lesson Objectives:

1) Learn the steps of the job application process.

2) Understand the difference between a job application, resume, and cover letter. 

3) Learn how to fill out a job application.

 

Process

 There are several important steps to the job application process.

 

1) Consider your interests, skills, and experience. Think about the kind of job you might be well suited for.

 

2) Search job postings for a position you may be interested in. A great place to start your search is Indeed.com. 

 

3) Identify a job you are interested in applying for.  Thoroughly read the job posting, which typically includes:

 

Job description or list of job duties.

List of qualifications or requirements for the applicant.

Additional information, such as pay range, schedule, and closing date when the employer will stop accepting applications.

An online application may be included in the job posting.

 

4) Prepare Application Materials:  Follow the directions provided in the job posting to start the application process.  The employer may want you to complete the application online or on paper. (You will learn how to fill out a job application later in this lesson.) The employer may ask for a resume and/or cover letter as well as the job application.

5) Submit Application Materials:  When your application materials are completed and have been carefully proofread, submit all of your required materials (job application, and possibly resume, and/or cover letter) to the employer.

 

6) Follow Up:  It is a good idea to follow up with the employer after submitting your application materials to be sure they received them.  Consider calling, sending an email, or stopping by to express your interest in the position and thank the hiring manager for considering your application.  Personal follow-up lets an employer know you are very interested, and may encourage them to consider you when filling the position.  

 

Read the following text.

A job application is an official form that employers ask all applicants to fill out.  A job application is a list of questions that require factual responses.  Some employers may ask you to fill out a paper application, and others may have an online application.

 

 Some of the items you will typically be asked to include in a job application are:

 

• Personal Information: name, address, social security number, email address, phone number
• Education: schools attended, degrees earned, graduation date
• Work Experience: positions held, dates of employment, reason for leaving
• References: name & contact information for supervisors or personal references

 

 

At the end of a job application, you will be asked to sign or e-sign the application. Your signature verifies that all statements on the job application are true. It may also allow the employer to verify the information and give permission for reference checking.  Always remember to sign your job application!

 

Activity: Review Sample Job Application

 

Now you will learn how to correctly fill out a job application to maximize your chances of getting an interview.

 

 

 

Follow these important steps:

 

 

 

1) Read the application thoroughly before filling it out.

Start by reading the entire application, so you understand what information you need to provide.

If filling out a paper application, ask for two copies so you have one to practice on before filling out the final application. 

 

2) Take your time.

Completing a job application neatly and correctly is your first opportunity to show an employer how much you care about the job.

Be careful about misspellings and grammatical errors. Proofread carefully and use spellcheck if available!

Read through your application several times before submitting it. If your application is well written and accurate, the employer will be more likely to view you as a viable candidate for the job. 

 

3) Answer completely and truthfully.

There may be questions that do not apply to you on the application. If that’s the case, do not make up information to fill the blanks. Simply fill in those spaces with ‘N/A’ or ‘not applicable.’   

Always answer questions honestly. Many employers will call your references and/or perform a background check to confirm your information, if they are seriously considering hiring you. 

 

 

4) List prior work experience.

Employers understand that you may not have any prior work experience if applying for your first job, and that is fine!  List relevant volunteer experience that demonstrates qualities an employer might be looking for.

List prior work experience in order, with your most recent job first.  

If you don’t have enough previous work or volunteer experience to fill all the lines provided, list ‘N/A’ in the blank spaces.  

If there is room, list any relevant training or education you have acquired (food handler’s permit, CPR training, etc.). 

 

 

5) Include your resume if requested.

Having a resume is helpful, but not always required, when applying for a job. 

An employer may request your resume along with your application, in order to gain additional information about your experiences and qualifications for the job. 

 

 

6) Put in the extra effort.

Some applications provide a section for you to add additional comments.  This is your chance to  provide an employer with additional information about your strengths, skills, and accomplishments. 

 

 

Source: Adapted from Indeed.com (June, 2021) “How to Fill out a Job Application.”

 

Formative Quiz

 

1). A job application, resume, and cover letter are essentially the same thing.

 

2).A job application is an official form with factual information that employers ask all applicants to fill out. 

 

3).Your parents should always be included in your list of references since they know you best. 

 

4).You should always get permission from people listed as your references before sharing their phone number on a job application.

 

Submitted By: Frank Holthouse

 

Lesson Name: Employability Skills- Communication

 

Purpose/Objective: During this assignment, you’ll complete activities that will help you think about the importance of communication for college, career, and life success

 

Materials Needed: 

• Youtube Video Link
• Projector
• Location / process for students record answers

 

Process:

Opening Question: Do you think you communicate well with others? 

 

When we think about “communication” we often think about verbal communication which is talking with other people. Communication also includes hand signals and facial expression. If you shake someone’s hand or shrug, you’re communicating non-verbally. To be good communicators we need to use both verbal and non-verbal communication skills well. Let’s keep reading and listening to learn more about effective communication.

 

Watch Video on the importance of communication in the workplace.

 

The video you just viewed speaks to the idea that whomever you’re communicating with impacts HOW you communicate. In other words, you may adjust your voice, tone, facial expressions, etc. for unique audiences. Imagine you are presenting a recycling lesson to 3rd graders today and to senior adults at a community center tomorrow. How would your verbal communication style differ for these two groups of people (children vs. senior citizens)?

Read the following text.

 

Communication is talking, listening, and making your ideas heard or known. Whether you talk or write a note, you’re communicating, but you should always be asking yourself if you’re communicating well.  Does the other person understand what you’re saying or writing? There are many ways to communicate with others, from speaking to writing down ideas in a note, to using hand signals to express an idea.

 

Facial expressions and tone of voice are also key parts of communication. You may tell someone you are sorry, but if your face or voice still projects anger while you’re apologizing, you’re sending mixed messages.

 

 

 

Listening is an important part of communication. How you listen to others when they are telling you something is just as important as how you express something. Bad communication happens when we fail to think about our tone, facial expressions, body language, choice of words, or don’t listen to others.

 

 Who communicates well?

 

Every career requires workers to communicate with co-workers whether that’s via email, phone, or in a face to face setting. That means it is critical to think about what we say, how we say it, and whether our non-verbal cues match our words. If you write an email to a fellow employee or customer, send an instant message, call, or text them, it’s critical that you think about what you’re sharing and how you’re sharing it. Some careers require more communication than others. Examples include: air traffic controllers, doctors and nurses, teachers, professional movers, supply chain managers, event planners, and social media managers. Let’s move along to the next activity to consider why communication matters.

 

Written Reflection #2 – What would you do?

Imagine that you’re a dental hygienist. While cleaning a client’s teeth you ask what flavor toothpaste to use and they say “orange,” but you accidentally use cinnamon. The next day the client writes a bad review online, saying you didn’t listen to them. Bad reviews are bad for your business. You need to figure out a way to communicate an apology to the client. How will you reach out and what will you say? Write your response below.

 

Closure:

Find a partner, grab some paper and colored pencils, and complete this activity. You will each draw your dream bedroom. Money is not an issue. What furniture and colors do you want? Take about 10 minutes to sketch the bedroom. Don’t let your partner see what you’ve drawn. When complete, verbally describe your bedroom to your partner in a way that helps your partner draw EXACTLY what you drew. Is this easy or hard? Clear verbal communication is key to complete this activity. Reflect on your experience below and be prepared to share those reflections with the class.

Skills to Succeed Academy By Dawn Erickson