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Career Connections: Get Ready for Your Career

This multimedia package is directed at middle school and high school students who are considering life choices. One such choice revolves around what career to pursue. What steps will they follow to make this important decision?

Produced: 2011-2015

Subject Area: Career Development; Financial Literacy

Grade Level: Middle and High School

Student Videos

Career Connections 1: Physician

A practicing physician and a student getting ready to become a physician are interviewed. They answer the following questions: What do they do on the job? How do you get ready to become a doctor? How much does the job pay? How many jobs are there? What other jobs are like this? The video ends with a listing of colleges in Ohio that offer this program.

Career Connections 2: Multimedia Journalist

Multimedia journalists gather information, write stories, make broadcasts and use social media to keep the public informed about current affairs and events that are happening in the world.

Career Connections 3: Auto Factory Worker

In an automotive plant, there are three major components that make up the manufacturing of a car: putting together the exterior shell with the interior frame through welding work, painting and sealing of the car bodies, and performing the actual assembly of the vehicle. This is where materials such as plastics, rubber, steel, glass and fabrics all come into play. There are specific assignments to

Career Connections 3: Art Auctioneer

An art auction or fine art auction is the sale of art works, in most cases, in an auction house. An art auctioneer needs to be a specialist in art appraisal, a savvy business person and a “reader” of people. Art auctioneers price and sell a wide variety of art items. They usually work at an auction house and lead the bidding at live auctions.

Career Connections 4: Accountant

An accountant is the person that keeps, audits, and inspects the financial records of individuals or business concerns and prepares financial and tax reports.

Career Connections 4: Farmer

A farmer is a person who owns, works on or operates an agricultural enterprise, either commercially or to sustain himself or his family.

Career Connections 4: Logistics: Shipping and Receiving

A transportation supervisor directly oversees the daily activities, workload and personnel of organizations that rely heavily on vehicle use in the course of their normal operations.

Career Connections 1: Financial Planner

A financial planner answers the following questions: What do you do on the job? How do you get ready to become a financial planner? How much does the job pay? How many jobs are there? What other jobs are like this? The video ends with a listing of colleges in Ohio that offer this program.

Career Connections 2: X-ray Technician

X-ray technicians use special equipment to create images of internal organs, tissues and bones. They use specialized training in the area of manipulating X-rays and other medical imaging equipment so that diseases, conditions or injury can be visualized and diagnosed.

Career Connections 3: Tire Designer

A tire designer uses the science of friction and engineering to create safe, cost-effective tires. Once a design is created, the designer must then plan and carry out research to see if the tire will meet the proposed standards. Communication both during the design phase and the data gathering is another important part of the job of a tire designer.

Career Connections 3: Animator

Animators create graphics and moving web images generally using computer software. Some animators use hand drawings that are then made into moving images. Animators work in a variety of areas including film, television, commercials and video games. They generally work with light, color and shadow when creating three-dimensional products. Animators often create storyboards for longer projects.

Career Connections 4: Auditor

Tony Constantine is a Senior Manager at Ciuni & Panichi. He supervises a group of accountants on the tax side of the company. His job is to take the books after the auditors have worked with them and make changes to make them compliant with the tax laws. He then prepares the tax returns.

Career Connections 4: Food Scientist

A food scientist’s responsibility is to formulate new food products using ingredients that exist or ingredients that have to be created in order to make a product function. The research part of the job is looking for scientific evidence of something that works. The development part of it is taking that product and putting it into something practical like a finished food product.

Career Connections 4: Transportation Supervisor

A transportation supervisor directly oversees the daily activities, workload and personnel of organizations that rely heavily on vehicle use in the course of their normal operations.

Career Connections 1: Meteorologist

A meteorologist answers the following questions: What do you do on the job? How do you get ready to become a meteorologist? How much does the job pay? How many jobs are there? What other jobs are like this? The video ends with a listing of colleges in Ohio that offer this program.

Career Connections 2: Video Game Designer

A game designer is a person who designs "game play," first by coming up with the idea, then setting up the rules and structure of the game. Development teams usually have a lead designer who coordinates the work of other designers. He is generally the person with the idea. He writes the blueprint on how the game works.

Career Connections 3: Automotive Sales Representative

Sales representatives sell products to manufacturers, businesses and private clients. In the automotive industry, the products could include cars, tires and luxury items found in cars. Sales representatives show their products to potential buyers and answer questions about what they are selling.

Career Connections 3: Museum Curator

Museum curators acquire, organize, preserve and oversee collections of art and valuable historical items. It is their responsibility to catalog displays and to create written descriptions of historical or artistic items. Sometimes the curator of a museum is also the director. If that is the case, the curator would then have to handle fundraising and promotion of the museum.

Career Connections 4: Construction Manager

Construction managers have the responsibility of the planning, execution and closing of a project. It is their responsibility to make sure that things are done on time and correctly. Often many people are involved, so clear communication and careful planning are essential.

Career Connections 4: Human Resource Manager

The Human Resources department in a company is charged with finding, screening, recruiting and training job applicants, as well as administering employee-benefit programs. The main job is to act as a liaison between the employer and employees.

Professional Development Videos

Career Connections 1: Physician—Professional Development Vid

This video guides the teacher through planned activities that match a student’s interests and skills with a career. Resource pages are explained. Information is then directed at the career of a physician.

Career Connections 2: Communication Skills

Communication Skills — Any business and career requires an ability to communicate successfully. This unit helps students become aware that they are always speaking, even when they are saying nothing at all. 

Emotional Intelligence — This section guides students through an interview of someone in their field. Along the way, they learn the polite and productive habits of successful communication.

Career Connections 1: Financial Planner—Professional Develop

This video guides the teacher through planned activities that match a student’s interests and skills with a career. Resource pages are explained. Information is then directed at the career of a financial planner.

PBS Western Reserve

Career Connections 2: Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurs

Financial Literacy — The lessons lead students through an understanding of goals and personal budgets.

Entrepreneurship Processes — Students are introduced to the various types of businesses and the characteristics of an entrepreneur. An interview of a successful entrepreneur closes the lessons.

Career Connections 1: Meteorologist—Professional Development

This video guides the teacher through planned activities that match a student’s interests and skills with a career. Resource pages are explained. Information is then directed at the career of a meteorologist.

Career Connections 2: Digital Skills

Digital Skills: Information Management — This unit has an activity titled "You Run the Company." It allows students to learn about handling supplies, pay, profit and loss, inventory and taxes. It opens eyes and increases understanding of business concerns.