St.

Paul University Philippines

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

BASIC EDUCATION UNIT

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

LEARNING PLAN 4: CAREER PATHWAYS

INTRODUCTION

Our life circumstances depend largely on the decisions and choices we make each day.
Every day is an opportune time for us to apply all lessons learned and to work well to achieve a
better future. During our formative years as students, we are equipped with the necessary
knowledge and skills to decide wisely and carefully on what career we want to pursue. Whether
you want to be a nurse, a lawyer, and an artist etc., it will all start with your decision to strive and
persevere to attain your career goals.
In this lesson, we will explore about career pathways and determine factors which can possibly
affect your career choices. We will also discuss different ways on how to develop the certain skills
and knowledge necessary for the career you choose to pursue.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This module is designed for you to:

1. identify external factors that can influence career choices
2. realize the pros and cons of various career options with guidance of a parents, teacher,
or counselor.
3. draft a career plan based on your personal goal and external factors influencing career
choices.

LESSON PROPER

August Turak, author of a book, wrote an article about what leaders must know about personal
development. His intention was that the purpose of developing ourselves is not just for a successful
career in the future, but for us to become the best person that we
ever can be. Moreover, Turak proposed to create a mind-shift in
our understanding of personal growth, he speaks more a vocation,
rather than a career. Whether one agrees with Turak’s proposition
about the object of personal development, that it is not merely for
success but most specially to fulfil one’s fullest potentials as a
person, is everyone’s personal decision to make. In the end,
success is how it is defined by the person and no one else.

Career is a profession that a person may get into, either because

he has found a good match between his life goals, skills,
personality, and interest with a dream job, or it may just be a means to earn a living. While career
can change through time.

There are some possible external factors that may influence one’s career choice are:

1. Parental preferences - Parents serve as a major influence in their

children's career development and career decision- making. Research also indicates that when
students feel supported and loved by their parents, they have more confidence
in their own ability to research careers and to choose a career that would be
interesting and exciting. This is important because studies show that
adolescents who feel competent regarding career decision-making, tend to
make more satisfying career choices later in life. (Keller 2004).

2. Family considerations - Certain life situations such as single parenting,

domestic violence, and other stressful events can contribute to the likelihood of
maltreatment, particularly when parents are isolated socially or lack sufficient
emotional or financial support.

3. Financial constraints – this is usually a major consideration among families. Your parent’s
financial standing is determinant of whether you will even go to college or if
the course of your choice might be feasible for them to support. Financial
contains are manageable challenge.

4. Job market preference (Immediate Employment) – the local job market demand drives
employment. The competition of in the job market is quite hard, so you may want to consider
taking up a master’s degree first before proceeding to your fist job. A lot
of times, those graduating from college get into their first job that is not
directly relevant to the degree they finished. Often, the first job may not be
one’s first choice, but to gain experience and immediate employment.

5. School location – this is another practical problem that may arise when you choose your college
course or career choice. For example, students who live far from UST, especially
if they come from far places outside of Metro Manila, stay in boarding houses
near the campus.

6. Peer pressure - Peer pressure can swing both the negative and the positive side. It has a deep
impact on one's decision-making ability, especially when it comes to
choosing a course or a career path. Peer pressure at times leads to the
‘herding concept', wherein one follows the group blindly, without
having a clear understanding of the consequences and assessing his or
her strengths and weaknesses.
7. Gender bias - The perception of gender bias plays a significant role
in many women's choice of a major and career path, according to a
new study published in the American Educational Research Journal in
which researchers compared students' perceptions of certain majors
with government data regarding young peoples' career choices.

8. Language limitation - Language proficiency is also related to

career-and job-related skills and knowledge (Itani et al., 2015). Lack of
language proficiency will limit opportunities anyhow, regardless of
whether one has information on such opportunities. Language can be
learned, so if you have this challenge before you, do not be the faint of
heart just go ahead and pursue your dream.

9. Academic performance – your academic performance in high school is

also an important factor in your career selection. One should obviously finish
high school before proceeding to college or a technical-vocational course.

Planning one’s career takes several steps. It includes an awareness of many

things about one’s personal core values, passion, life goals, strengths, and challenges, including
limitations.

Here are some questions that will guide you in planning your career:

Values Clarification: What are your personal core values?

What are your passions?
What are your personality traits?
What are your strengths and challenges?
What are your limitations?
What are your life goals?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4in-hK8-BU

In a nutshell (Synthesis)

o In making your Career Plan, it is important to know and understand the key factors that
influence your career options.
o It is also important to know and understand the different occupations, and the skills and
interests necessary to fit in the job.
o Always remember that careers can be change because your life circumstances also
change.
 Values Integration

Determining the career, we want to pursue is a challenging and often, a frightening task
especially to the adolescent. It requires intensive thinking and planning and a large amount of
guidance and mentoring from our parents, teachers and other support groups. In choosing a career,
we must not only consider our interests and passion but more importantly, we must align our
choices with our core values. Let us be reminded to make decisions not only for the good of
ourselves but also for the betterment of our society.
COMMISSION (COMPETENT))
I am a conscientious, adept performer and achiever competently sharing Christ’s mission.