Title: Research career options within the family and consumer sciences (FCS) career clusters/pathways.
Course: Independent Living (22904-36) > Section: Investigating Career Development Opportunities

Research should include using valid sources to find information about

- career opportunities and the benefits or disadvantages of chosen occupations
- job descriptions
- working conditions, including salary expectations, requirements for employment, advancement opportunities, and workplace policies that help employees balance work and family life
- training, education, and certification requirements and the costs and benefits of various training options
- workplace trends and needs (e.g., skilled trades).

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- What are the four career pathways within FCS?
- Why is it important to research a variety of interested careers?

Communication

- Which communication skills are necessary to gather and evaluate information for career research?
- What resources are available for researching career options? Which are most reliable?

Leadership

- What skills can be most effective for career attainment?
- How can networking be used effectively in career selection or attainment?

Management

- How can researching a company or career before an interview benefit your chances of getting hired?
- How can career selection affect future goals?

Teacher Resources:

- O*Net Online, U.S. Department of Labor
- Virginia Employment Commission
- Virginia Education Wizard