Career Research Notes

Step 1: Take the Career Cluster Survey

Identify the Career Cluster(s) that best fits your personality, skills and interests by taking
the Career Cluster Survey. Download at
http://www.21things4students.net/downloads/career_prep/careerclustersurvey_2013060
8_142357_1.pdf
My Top Cluster:
Computer Software Engineer
Lodging
Financial business

View the video about your top Career Cluster at Careerinfonet.org

Video Name:Lodging manager
Video Link: http://wpc.2a70.edgecastcdn.net/002A70/CareerVideos/11-9081.00.mp4
Citation Information: "CareerOneStop - Career Videos - Career and Cluster Videos."
CareerOneStop - Career Videos - Career and Cluster Videos. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr.
2016.

Include information about the top Career Cluster that matches your
personality/skills/interests in your multi-media presentation.

Additional information I want to include: There is no additional information I have to

say about

Step 2: Research your Career Cluster

Visit the CareerShip site at http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership/index.cfm and search by Career
Cluster (using results from your survey above). Locate three possible careers within your cluster, including details
about career descriptions, tasks, interests, education, knowledge, skills, and etc. for use in your multi-media
presentation.

Category
Career
Description

Career 1
Plan, direct, or coordinate
activities of an organization or
department that provides
lodging and other
accommodations.

Career 2
Research, design, develop,
and test operating systemslevel software, compilers, and
network distribution software
for medical, industrial,
military, communications,
aerospace, business,
scientific, and general
computing applications. Set
operational specifications and
formulate and analyze
software requirements. Apply
principles and techniques of
computer science,
engineering, and
mathematical analysis.

Career 3
Represent and promote artists,
performers, and athletes to
prospective employers. May
handle contract negotiation and
other business matters for
clients.

Tasks

Greet and register guests.

Answer inquiries pertaining to
hotel policies and services, and
resolve occupants' complaints.
Assign duties to workers, and
schedule shifts.

Modify existing software to

correct errors, to adapt it to new
hardware or to upgrade interfaces
and improve performance.
Design and develop software
systems, using scientific analysis

Keep informed of industry trends

and deals.
Manage business and financial
affairs for clients, such as arranging
travel and lodging, selling tickets, and
directing marketing and advertising

 Coordinate front-office
activities of hotels or motels, and
resolve problems.

Interests

Social - Social occupations

frequently involve working
with, communicating with,
and teaching people. These
occupations often involve
helping or providing service
to others.

Enterprising - Enterprising
occupations frequently
involve starting up and
carrying out projects. These
occupations can involve
leading people and making
many decisions. Sometimes

and mathematical models to

predict and measure outcome and
consequences of design.

Realistic - Realistic
occupations frequently
involve work activities that
include practical, hands-on
problems and solutions.
They often deal with
plants, animals, and realworld materials like wood,
tools, and machinery.
Many of the occupations
require working outside,
and do not involve a lot of
paperwork or working
closely with others.

activities.
Negotiate with managers,
promoters, union officials, and other
persons regarding clients' contractual
rights and obligations.
Obtain information about and/or
inspect performance facilities,
equipment, and accommodations to
ensure that they meet specifications.
Schedule promotional or
performance engagements for clients.
Advise clients on financial and
legal matters such as investments and
taxes.

Social - Social occupations

frequently involve working
with, communicating with, and
teaching people. These
occupations often involve
helping or providing service to
others.

Enterprising - Enterprising
occupations frequently involve
starting up and carrying out
projects. These occupations
can involve leading people and
making many decisions.
Sometimes they require risk

they require risk taking and

often deal with business.

Education

Conventional Conventional occupations

frequently involve following
set procedures and routines.
These occupations can
include working with data
and details more than with
ideas. Usually there is a
clear line of authority to
follow.

Education - Most occupations

in this zone require training in
vocational schools, related onthe-job experience, or an
associate's degree.

Investigative Investigative occupations

frequently involve working
with ideas, and require an
extensive amount of
thinking. These
occupations can involve
searching for facts and
figuring out problems
mentally.

taking and often deal with

business.

Conventional - Conventional
occupations frequently involve
following set procedures and
routines. These occupations
can include working with data
and details more than with
ideas. Usually there is a clear
line of authority to follow.

Education - Most of these

occupations require a four-year
bachelor's degree, but some do

Conventional Conventional occupations

frequently involve
following set procedures
and routines. These
occupations can include
working with data and
details more than with
ideas. Usually there is a
clear line of authority to
follow.

Training - Employees in these

occupations usually need several
years of work-related experience,
on-the-job training, and/or
vocational training.

 Experience - A considerable
amount of work-related skill,
knowledge, or experience is
needed for these occupations. For
example, an accountant must
complete four years of college and
work for several years in
accounting to be considered
qualified.

Knowledge

Economics and Accounting Knowledge of economic and

accounting principles and
practices, the financial
markets, banking and the
analysis and reporting of
financial data.

Administration and
Management - Knowledge of
business and management
principles involved in strategic
planning, resource allocation,
human resources modeling,
leadership technique, production
methods, and coordination of
people and resources.

not.

Training - Employees in these

occupations usually need
several years of work-related
experience, on-the-job
training, and/or vocational
training.

Experience - A considerable
amount of work-related skill,
knowledge, or experience is
needed for these occupations.
For example, an accountant
must complete four years of
college and work for several
years in accounting to be
considered qualified.

Economics and Accounting Knowledge of economic and

accounting principles and practices,
the financial markets, banking and the
analysis and reporting of financial
data.
Mathematics - Knowledge of
arithmetic, algebra, geometry,
calculus, statistics, and their

 Clerical - Knowledge of
administrative and clerical
procedures and systems such as
word processing, managing files
and records, stenography and
transcription, designing forms, and
other office procedures and
terminology.

Skills

Active Listening - Giving full

attention to what other people are
saying, taking time to understand
the points being made, asking
questions as appropriate, and not
interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing - Communicating
effectively in writing as appropriate
for the needs of the audience.
Speaking - Talking to others to
convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking - Using logic
and reasoning to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of

Reading Comprehension Understanding written

sentences and paragraphs
in work related documents.
Critical Thinking - Using
logic and reasoning to
identify the strengths and
weaknesses of alternative
solutions, conclusions or
approaches to problems.

applications.
Psychology - Knowledge of
human behavior and performance;
individual differences in ability,
personality, and interests; learning and
motivation; psychological research
methods; and the assessment and
treatment of behavioral and affective
disorders.
Personnel and Human Resources Knowledge of principles and
procedures for personnel recruitment,
selection, training, compensation and
benefits, labor relations and
negotiation, and personnel information
systems.

Persuasion - Persuading others

to change their minds or
behavior.

Negotiation - Bringing others

together and trying to reconcile
differences.

alternative solutions, conclusions or

approaches to problems.
Other:___________

Step 3: Research Career Outlook

Locate the nature of work, working conditions, education, job outlook, and earnings for your top three careers using
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/ and/or the O*NET
Database at http://www.onetonline.org/
Category
Nature of Work

Career 1

Lodging managers held about 48,400

jobs in 2014. More than half were
employed in the traveler
accommodation industry, which
includes hotels and motels.
Most of the remainder worked in
other lodging establishments, such as
recreational vehicle (RV) and
recreational camps, youth hostels,
inns, boardinghouses, bed-andbreakfasts, casinos, and resorts.
About 1 in 3 were self-employed.
The pressures of coordinating a wide
range of activities, turning a profit for
investors, and dealing with
dissatisfied guests can be stressful.

Career 2

Career 3

omputer hardware engineers held

about 77,700 jobs in 2014. The
industries that employed the most
computer hardware engineers were as
follows:

Financial examiners held about

38,200 jobs in 2014. The
industries that employed the most
financial examiners were as
follows:

Computer systems design and

related services
Computer and peripheral
equipment manufacturing
Semiconductor and other
electronic component
manufacturing
Research and development in
the physical, engineering, and
life sciences
Government

Federal government
19%
Depository credit
18
intermediation
State government, excluding
13
education and hospitals
Securities, commodity
contracts, and other financial
12
investments and related
activities
Management of companies
11
and enterprises

22%
16
15
7
6

Computer hardware engineers usually Financial examiners typically

work in research laboratories that
work in offices. They frequently

build and test various types of

have to travel to inspect a bank
computer models. Most work in high- onsite.
tech manufacturing firms.

Working
Conditions

Many applicants can qualify as a

lodging manager by having a
high school diploma and several
years of experience working in a
hotel. However, most large, fullservice hotels require applicants
to have a bachelors degree.
Hotels that provide fewer
services generally accept
applicants who have an
associates degree or certificate
in hotel management or
operations.

Most entry-level computer hardware

engineers have a bachelors degree in
computer engineering, although a
degree in electrical engineering or
computer science also is generally
acceptable. A computer engineering
major is similar to a major in
electrical engineering but with a
heavy emphasis on computer science.
Many engineering programs are
accredited by ABET (formerly the
Accreditation Board for Engineering
and Technology). Employers may
prefer students from an accredited
program. To prepare for a major in
computer or electrical engineering,
students should have a solid
background in math and science.
Because hardware engineers
commonly work with computer
software systems, a familiarity with
computer programming usually is
expected. This background may be
obtained through computer science

Specific requirements for

financial examiners vary
between federal and state
governments. However, all
financial examiners typically
need a bachelors degree that
includes some coursework in
accounting, finance,
economics, or a related field.
Examiners working for the
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) must have
at least 6 semester hours in
accounting.

courses.
Some large firms or specialized jobs
may require a masters degree in
computer engineering. Some
experienced engineers obtain a
masters degree in business
administration (MBA). All engineers
must continue their learning over the
course of their careers in order to
keep up with rapid advances in
technology.
Job Outlook

Employment of lodging managers is

projected to grow 8 percent from
2014 to 2024, about as fast as the
average for all occupations.
Expected growth in tourism, travel,
and higher occupancy levels will
contribute to the need for managers.
However, as the lodging industry
transitions toward more limitedservice hotels and fewer full-service
properties that have separate
departments to managesuch as inhouse restaurants and laundry
employment growth will be limited.
Some lodging places continue to
streamline operations to cut expenses.
Chain hotels, for instance, may
choose to assign a single manager to

Employment of computer hardware

engineers is projected to grow 3
percent from 2014 to 2024, slower
than the average for all occupations.
A limited number of engineers will
be needed to meet the demand for
new computer hardware because
more technological innovation takes
place with software than with
hardware. However, demand may
grow for hardware engineers as more
industries outside of the computer
and electronic product manufacturing
industry begin to research and
develop their own electronic devices.
Thus, although declining
employment in the manufacturing
industries that employ many of these

Employment of financial
examiners is projected to grow 10
percent from 2014 to 2024, faster
than the average for all
occupations. Employment growth
for financial examiners will vary
by industry group. Implementation
of new financial regulations is
expected to create a need for more
examiners among financial
institutions. However, declining
overall employment in the federal
government will slow growth for
these workers.
Demand for these workers has
risen in the financial industry
because of an increasing number
of new regulations. More financial

oversee multiple properties within a

local geographic area. Still, some
large full-service hotels, including
casinos, resorts, and convention
hotels that provide a wide range of
services to a larger customer base,
will continue to generate jobs for
experienced managers.

workers will impede the growth of

this occupation, computer hardware
engineers should be less affected than
production occupations because firms
are less likely to outsource their type
of work.
An increase in hardware startup firms
and the ongoing increase in devices
with computer chips embedded in
them, such as household appliances,
medical devices, and automobiles,
may lead to some job growth for
computer hardware engineers.

institutions are hiring financial

examiners to help navigate the
new regulatory environment, and
reduce the cost of compliance.
Financial examiners employment
is projected to grow 16 percent
from 2014 to 2024 in the finance
and insurance industry.
At the federal level, the creation of
the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau (CFPB) has increased
employment of financial
examiners in recent years. As this
agency continues to grow, more
financial examiner positions will
be added. However, overall budget
constraints in the federal
government may limit
employment growth. Employment
of financial examiners in the
federal government is projected to
grow 1 percent from 2014 to 2024.
Employment of financial
examiners tends to increase during
periods of financial instability. As
bank losses and failures become
more prevalent during economic
downturns, more examiners are
needed to enforce regulation.
However, during normal economic

times, employment tends to be

steady.
Earnings

The median annual wage for lodging

managers was $47,680 in May 2014.
The median wage is the wage at
which half the workers in an
occupation earned more than that
amount and half earned less. The
lowest 10 percent earned less than
$28,630, and the highest 10 percent
earned more than $94,780.
Most lodging managers are employed
full time. Because hotels are open
around the clock, working evenings,
weekends, and holidays is common.
Some managers must be on call 24
hours a day.

The median annual wage for

computer hardware engineers was
$108,430 in May 2014. The median
wage is the wage at which half the
workers in an occupation earned
more than that amount and half
earned less. The lowest 10 percent
earned less than $66,070, and the
highest 10 percent earned more than
$160,610.

The median annual wage for

financial examiners was $76,310
in May 2014. The median wage is
the wage at which half the workers
in an occupation earned more than
that amount and half earned less.
The lowest 10 percent earned less
than $44,660, and the highest 10
percent earned more than
$146,190.

In May 2014, the median annual

wages for computer hardware
engineers in the top industries in
which they worked were as follows:

In May 2014, the median annual

wages for financial examiners in
the top industries in which they
worked were as follows:

Computer and peripheral

equipment manufacturing
Research and development
in the physical,
engineering, and life
sciences
Computer systems design
and related services
Semiconductor and other
electronic component
manufacturing

Federal government
$110,920
Securities, commodity
contracts, and other
82,090
financial investments
and related activities
Management of
companies and
75,540
enterprises
State government,
excluding education and 65,840
hospitals

$113,900
110,770
109,080
108,040

Government

107,420

Depository credit
intermediation

65,530

Step 4: Compare Your Top Three

Careers
Use the Career One-Stop to compare your top
three careers. Key the career in the search
box, then click the link provided to get more
information and view a video. Create a
spreadsheet and graph that compares your top
three careers on salary. Include the
spreadsheet/graph in your multi-media
presentation. (Click here for a "Help"
document for this task").

Insert a screenshot of your spreadsheet/graph below:

Annual Pay
180000
160000
140000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
0

Annual Pay

Step 5: Create and Share your Multi-Media Presentation

Create a multi-media presentation that includes information from Steps 1-4.
Your presentation should include:
A. Research gathered from Steps 1-4, including Career Cluster, Top 3,
descriptions, skills, nature of work, work conditions, education/skills, job
outlook, salary/graph spreadsheet comparison, and etc.
B. Citations
C. Creative Commons
D. Copyright friendly images
E. Anything else you feel adds to the presentation's visual appeal
Post your presentation to your online presence. NOTE: This presentation may
be used in the "Video Creation" Thing.

Web address where I posted my presentation: