Post 7: Chapter 8

Brown’s (2012) chapter on facilitating career development was both interesting and practical.  I thought that the information and different uses outlined in the chapter were easy to understand.  It was nice that the two important sources of information; the O*NET and the Occupational Outlook Handbook were explained in detail.  Before reading this chapter, I have really only heard about those without really knowing too much about them. 

I feel that the part that I liked best about the article was under the other types of occupational information.  I found Brown’s (2012) sections on simulations, games, interviews with experts, direct observation, job shadowing, career days, career conferences, work experience programs, and career fairs to be useful applications of introducing different occupations to children, adolescents, and adults.  I also remember participating in some of these while in school.  In 8^th grade, we had the opportunity to career shadow someone.  Brown states that preparation for career day activities is important for students; “they should be provided with ample opportunity to read material about occupations of interest before the career day program, which should put them in a better position to ask appropriate questions” (Brown, 2012, pg. 187).  I do wish that my teachers prepared us better for our career shadowing experience.  We did however; have to do a follow up project about the experience.  Although I appreciated the experience of a career shadow day, I feel that it would have been more appropriate later on in high school.  In 8^th grade, students normally do not know exactly what they want to do when they are done schooling and enter into the professional world.

Another practice which is a great tool for exploring different occupations is allowing students the opportunity to participate in an internship experience.  The school district that I currently work for allows high school seniors to have these experiences.  They spend half the day in regular classes, and then they spend the afternoon shadowing someone in their desired occupational field.  I compared this to the work experience programs that were discussed in the chapter.  According to Brown; “Exploratory work experience programs aim at helping students understand various types of work, work settings, tools and equipment used by workers, demands placed on workers, and similar factors” (Brown, 2012, pg. 188).  These experiences should be a time of learning and exploring; and it should be a positive experience.  However, I have witnessed the opposite.  One of the teachers in my building had a student shadowing them.  I asked the teacher one day how it was going and she responded with, “It’s really great; I have her doing all of my copying for me”.   This comment really bothered me.  I feel that there needs to be a lot more preparation for the individuals who are allowing students to shadow them.  What if that student is now turned off from being a teacher because of a negative experience?  These opportunities can yield great life changing results if the student is able to have the full range of the experience.

Brown, D. (2012). Career information, career counseling, and career development. (10th ed.). New York: Pearson Education, Inc.