9-10. Working individually or in groups, choose two occupations (such as management consultant, HR manager, or salesperson), and use sources such as O*Net to size up the future demand for this occupation in the next 10 years or so. Does this seem like a good occupation to pursue? Why or why not?

Managing Your Career & Finding a Job:

1. What was your major area of concentration (if any) in high school? Why did you choose that area? How did you feel about it?

2. What is (or was) your major area of concentration in college? Why did you choose that area? How did you feel about it?

3. What was your first job after school? (Including the military if relevant.) What were you looking for in your first job?

4. What were your ambitions or long-range goals when you started your career? Have they changed? When? Why?

5. What was your first major change of job or company? What were you looking for in your next job?

6. What was your next major change of job, company, or career? Why did you initiate or accept it? What were you looking for? (Do this for each of your major changes of job, company, or career.)

7. As you look back over your career, identify some times you have especially enjoyed. What was it about those times that you enjoyed?

8. As you look back, identify some times you have not especially enjoyed. What was it about those times you did not enjoy?

9. Have you ever refused a job move or promotion? Why?

10. Now review all your answers carefully, as well as the descriptions for the five career anchors (technical/functional competence, managerial competence, creativity and independence, autonomy, security). Based on your answers to the questions, rate, for yourself, each of the anchors from 1 to 5, where 1 equals low importance and 5 equals high importance. Technical/functional competence _____ Managerial competence _____ Creativity and independence _____ Autonomy _____