U100 Career Profile Assignment

This assignment will let you explore a career or field of your choice while at the same time learning how to use the library. You will research a career, write an essay about what you discover and compile a bibliography of the sources you used. Follow the steps below to begin.

1. Search ALCON to find the Occupational Outlook Handbook or a similar source. Use the sections relevant to your career.
2. Use ALCON to locate Onet Online, and use it to gather more information.
3. Go to CareerLink and set up your student account. Pick an alum with a career or degree that you are considering. If you cannot identify an alumni profile that fits the career or major you are considering, select a profile that is interesting or inspiring to you.
4. Write a 2 page paper (double spaced in a 12 point font like Times New Roman) that relates your career research to yourself. You can use the Vocational and Career Collection or Academic Search Complete databases to help you find articles. The essay should be titled "Personal Career Analysis" and should address all of the following:
   • Introduction:
     • Identify and give a brief description of your career.
     • Why is this a field that interests you?
   • Body:
     • What educational requirements and aptitudes are needed for this career?
     • How do you plan to meet these requirements?
     • What personality characteristics and values are commonly found in people who enjoy this career? Do you feel you possess these characteristics?
     • What is the employment outlook for this job?
     • Use journal articles to identify a current trend or a professional issue associated with this career. What is it, and why is it important?
     • Identify a professional association for this field. What is the association and what does it do? Do they have a web site?
     • What was inspiring or motivating about the alumni profile you chose? What did you learn by reading this profile?
   • Conclusion:
     • Is this still a career in which you are interested? If not, why?
     • If it does still interest you, what is one step you can take this year to help prepare yourself for that career?
5. Bibliography
   • Compile a bibliography using the Turabian Citation Style listing each source you used, including Occupational Outlook Handbook, Onet Online, and any journal articles or web sites. For help with the Turabian Citation Style, see Citation Styles (located on the Library Home Page under I Need...) for reference.
6. Keep a copy of this assignment in your Advising Binder for future reference.
7. Turn in your Personal Career Analysis and Bibliography according to the instructions for your University Seminar course.