Earning Money

Extra Lessons and

Discussion Questions
Educator Toolkit
Earning Money

How do you…
1. Map out a plan for your career?
2. Apply for and get a job that you’re interested
in?
3. Understand your work expectations and what
goes into and comes out of your paycheck?
Today’s Lesson

Getting work and earning money

1. Making a career plan: How to map out your
career and build experience while you’re still
in school.
2. Getting a job: How to apply for jobs and be a
successful job candidate.
3. Work 101: What to expect when you start to
work, like understanding your paycheck and
workplace expectations.
1. Making a Career Plan: Review

REVIEW AND DISCUSS EARNING MONEY

SECTION 1: MAPPING YOUR CAREER
● Make a plan: Create a career map and
identify areas of growth.
● Build experience: Compare the pros and
cons of working during college and describe
ways to improve your skills and experience.
1. Making a Career Plan: Discuss

Q: “How do you get to where you want to go?”

● Brainstorm: What do you want to be doing
after school? What is your ultimate goal after
you graduate?
● Reflect and Discuss: Besides taking classes,
what other things can you can do to help reach
that goal? Who can you talk with? What
resources are out there?
● Plan and Write: What are three ways you’ll
seek help to reach your goal? Write them down.
1. Making a Career Plan: Exercise

Q: “How can you start working today on the job

you want in the future?”
● Brainstorm: What are different ways you can
start to connect with employers that you’re
interested in?
● Reflect and Discuss: What are ways you can
start to build skills and experience that those
employers would be interested in?
● Plan: What are three things you can do before
you graduate to make yourself more ready for
the job you want when it’s time to leave school?
2. Getting a Job: Review

REVIEW AND DISCUSS EARNING MONEY

SECTION 2: GETTING A JOB
● Be a strong candidate: Examine the
components of a strong resume.
● Understand a job offer: Identify the
components of a benefits package, explain
how to fill out appropriate tax forms, and
explain the steps for negotiating a starting
salary.
2. Getting a Job: Discuss

Q: “What advice would you give someone

applying for a job?”
● Discuss: What’s the best job application tip
you’ve heard? What have you done in the
past that’s helped you or what have others
done to help them get a job?
● Discuss: What do you think is the biggest
mistake you can make when applying for a
job?
● Reflect: What would make you stand out in
your next job interview?
2. Getting a Job: Exercise

Q “What makes a good resume?”

● Discuss: What do you believe makes a good
resume? A poor one?
● Reflect and Write: Write down a quick
sketch of your resume. Makes sure it includes
your elevator pitch (what you offer and what
you’re looking for), your top 3 work
experiences, and your top 3 skills.
● Discuss and Compare: Trade your resume
sketch with a partner. What stands out to you
about this job candidate?
3. Work 101: Review

REVIEW AND DISCUSS EARNING MONEY

SECTION 3: AT WORK AND GETTING PAID
● Know the workplace: Recognize elements
of workplace culture and behavior.
● Understand your paycheck and taxes:
Identify the components of a paycheck,
including net pay, benefits and taxes. Outline
the process and recognize the importance of
filing taxes.
3. Work 101: Discuss

Q: “How much comes out of my paycheck?”

● Discuss: What comes out of your paycheck?
What kinds of taxes, benefits, and
withholdings could come out of your
paycheck?
● Brainstorm: If you were in the market for a
job, what kinds of benefits would you want
included in your offer? How might these affect
your take-home pay?
3. Work 101: Exercise

Q: “How does starting early add up over time?”

● Calculate: As a class, use an online paycheck
calculator to determine how much money you
would take home each month based on a
$40,000 and a $50,000 a year salary. How
much do you actually get to take home each
month or every two weeks?
● Discuss: What are the pros and cons of having
more taxes withheld from your paycheck today
and getting a refund at tax time?
Take Action

● Create your career map: map out steps you

should take now to get to your ultimate career
goal.
● Proactively plan to balance work and school.
● Create or review your resume: Update or
create a resume that shows your unique skills
and experience.
● Keep your interviewing skills fresh.
● Understand your take-home pay and adjust
your spending plan: Budget what you take
home, not what you think you’re taking home!
Wrap-up

Getting work and earning money

1. Making a career plan: Mapping out your career
now can help you build experience while you’re
still in school.
2. Getting a job: Ask yourself what you can do to
become the best job candidate possible. Then
become familiar with common hiring forms and
paperwork.
3. Work 101: Review your paycheck so you know
what gets taken out and make sure you’re familiar
with your workplace handbook and expectations.