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UNIT 7: Career Planning
Key unit competence: To be able to explain the importance of careerplanning.
Introduction
Career planning is an essential skill in life. The career that one takes on in life
is based on the plans that one made or failed to make earlier in life. In this
unit, we shall study the various strategies that one needs to employ in orderto actualise his/her career aspirations.
7.1 The link between education, training, job and income
Activity 1
Introduction
Career planning is an essential skill in life. The career that one takes on in life
is based on the plans that one made or failed to make earlier in life. In this
unit, we shall study the various strategies that one needs to employ in orderto actualise his/her career aspirations.
7.1 The link between education, training, job and income
Activity 1
1. Discuss the most liked jobs in Rwanda in the current situation and
explain why.
2. What would you say is the difference between training and education?
Education differs from training in that training aims at imparting specific
skills necessary for performing a particular job task while education is aimed
at inculcating knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits to an individual.
Education is therefore broader than training as it covers a wide range of
aspects and takes a longer time. It influences how an individual thinks and
acts in different situations. To some extent, education continues throughout
a person’s life.
Both education and training, however, are related. They are both processes
of imparting knowledge and skills necessary for effectiveness either in daily
life or in defined tasks. Even after undergoing education, one may need to
train in a specified field in order to efficiently perform in it. Education and
training can therefore be termed as complements.
So how do job and income come in?
Education and training, to a large extent, determine the job or career an
individual persues. This in turn determines the amount of income an
individual earns. Education for example, covers various fields. The school
curriculum gives an opportunity for learners to be exposed to a wide range
of fields at the basic level. Once they have basic knowledge on virtually all
fields, they are then able to choose areas of interest in which they can pursue
a career later in life. These choices determine what type of education an
individual gets and the kind of job he/she is likely to do.
Training is done prior the employment to enhance good performance of the
job already chosen. While working, training is also done to maintain and
improve on skills of doing a particular job. Training can be professional,
physical or developmental.
Good education and good training lead to a more skilled and productive
labour force. Skilled individual is at a better position to acquire a job that iswell paying.
Exercise 1
Discuss how education and training can influence a person’s promotionat work.
7.2 Types of jobs and the expected income
Activity 2
1. In your groups, identify two common jobs in your community.
2. Try to brainstorm on the income and incentives that the people
performing them may be getting. Would you like to perform such
jobs in future? Give reasons.
As discussed earlier, jobs can be categorised using different criteria. Themost common one is formal or informal employment.
1. Formal jobs
Formal jobs are professional career that involves an official agreement
between an employer and an employee.
A formal job has a set salary and benefits , a stable working location, regular
working hours and some contributions for taxes and social security.
The formal jobs have a higher remuneration as compared to the informal jobs.
Terms of employment is mostly permanent, full time and regular. Examplesof formal jobs include: teaching, medical practice and accounting.
2. Informal jobs
Informal jobs are mostly short term engagements between an employer and
an employee. The agreement is to do a certain task, usually casual work.
There is no written contract between the employer and the employee.
Informal jobs examples are: mechanical jobs, household employment,
painting, offloading trucks, quarrying and stone work etc.Terms of employment can either be temporary, part time or seasonal.
3. Seasonal jobs
Seasonal jobs are jobs that are available at certain periods of time and
are dependent on other factors. Such factors include school holiday jobs,agricultural seasons, peak tourism periods etc.
4. Temporary jobs
Temporary jobs are jobs that are to be done within a specified period of time.A good example is a contract job.
5. Self employment
Self employment occurs when an individual has a personal business from
which he/ she derives profits.
There is a wide range of fields that one can study in especially for formal
employment. They include the following:
1) Architecture and engineering
2) Community services
3) Computer and Maths
4) Construction
5) Criminal justice/ law enforcement
6) Education training
7) Farming, fishing and forestry
8) Food service: Food preparation and serving can earn a good wage with
little or no formal education.
9) Health and medical: The health and medical industries offer the most
stable and highest paying career fields. They offer competative pay and
benefits.
10) Management and administration: Managers and administrators are
always in high demand and are valued for their management expertise.
11) Natural sciences (physical and social sciences): There are many career
opportunities in natural sciences that offer very attractive incentives,
wages and salaries.
12) Production and manufacturing: These also offer a wide range of job
opportunities.
13) Sales and marketing
14) Transport and material moving
These are some of the various job possibilities that one can have in mind
when planning for a career.
Expected income from different jobs
The difference in the amount of income in the formal sector however, depends
on various aspects. One such aspect is the level of education required for
one to work in a particular job. Some professions require a tertiary college
certificate others require a university degree, while others require a post
graduate degree. The higher the level of education required for a job, the
higher the income.
There is also a variation in the length of time required to gain certain skills
and qualifications. Some degrees such as medicine, engineering and law for
example, take a longer period of time to acquire as compared to other degrees
such as arts. This rates them higher in the amount of income obtained from
them.
Scarcity of a skill is also an aspect that distinguishes careers. The more
scarce a skill is, the higher the income it is likely to generate. Scarcity is
caused by among other factors, the cost of training and qualification to
pursue the career. This is because levels of education are transitional and
there are certain qualification requirements in moving from one level to
another and also choosing the careers to pursue. Different careers require
different qualifications.
The choice of a career, is not only determined by the amount of income orqualification required but also by one’s interests and talents.
Exercise 2
Using examples, demonstrate how various jobs differ in the amount of
pay.
7.3 Career planning process
Activity 3
1. What do you understand by the term ‘career’?
2. In pairs, share your areas of interest in terms of job aspirations. How
did you develop interest in that area? How do you plan to achieve it?
A career can be defined as an occupation undertaken for a considerable
period of a person’s life and with opportunities for progress.
It is the process and actions taken by a person throughout their lifetime in
relation to his or her occupation. One’s career is described by the jobs held,
titles earned and the work accomplished over a long period.
A career plan, on the other hand, can be defined as an individual’s choice of
occupation or career path. It is a life-long process in selecting an occupation,
locating career opportunities, developing oneself professionally and possibly
changing one’s career.
Career planning may happen once in one’s life. However, it can also happen
several times as one gains more experience and re-defines his or her potential
and interests.
Career choice is very important because it guides an individual in decision
making. For example, in deciding what courses to study. Career planning
takes a number of steps as discussed below.
The steps in the career planning process are:
(a) Consider your interests and talents. People have different interests. An
interest is something that draws someone’s attention and that which
one enjoys doing. Talents, on the other hand, are things that one does
exemplary well without much effort. When making a choice on the career
goals to set, these two aspects are very important. This is because doing
a job which one has interest in is fulfilling and the ability to do it without
much effort makes one much more productive even after education and
training. One’s strengths and weaknesses are also important in assessing
what form of career is suitable.
(b) Consider the available options that would suit your interests and
abilities. Here, one should find out the job opportunities that make
the best use of his/her interests and abilities.
(c) Find out the academic and other requirements needed to secure the
job.
(d) Set goals to achieve those requirements. For example, aspiring to
pursue a career in economics will require one to study courses on
that field. To be able to achieve this, one has to do well in business
and entrepreneurship subjects.
Goal setting in planning for a career is very essential. This is because it is
important to have an end towards which all efforts must be directed. This
end is the goal to be achieved.
Career planning is therefore very important as it:
1. Enables an individual to focus his/ her abilities, opportunities and efforts
towards one major goal.
2. Enables individuals to maximise their potential with an aim of achieving
their aspirations.
3. Places individuals at their most suitable career hence enhancing
productivity.
4. Helps individuals develop skills.
5. Enhances productivity in one’s field.
6. Brings the uniqueness of individuals together therefore enabling
complementarity at work.
7. Career planning reduces staff turnover. Staff turnover is the number of
people losing jobs.
Exercise 3
Why do you think it is beneficial for educated people to carry out career
planning? Explain in detail.
7.4 Importance of career choice in achieving personal
financial goals
Activity 4
Discuss in groups why you think your dream career will stabilise you
financially and help you achieve your future goals.
As discussed earlier, different careers offer different rates of income. Career
choice therefore can either facilitate achievement of financial goals or limit
their achievement.
A financial goal is a plan for the future that involves spending money. This can
be living comfortably, providing quality education to one’s children or even
supporting one’s aging parents. For one to achieve these goals, he/she has to be
financially prepared. To be financially prepared means that one has the means
of earning enough money to cater for these needs. The choice of career directly
impacts on the financial ability of an individual to achieve the financial goals.
Career choice enhances achievement of personal financial goals in the
following ways:
1. When choosing a career, one is likely to choose a career that is financially
rewarding as opposed to an unplanned job that one lands out of lack of
another alternative.
2. Choosing a career and directing all efforts in pursuing it results in
remarkable skill and a high level of competence in the field. This places
an individual in a high ranking position in the field of practice and thus
he/she gets a higher income.
3. Career choice and planning provides for upgrading of skills in one’s area
of specialisation. This leads to professionalism which allows for increment
of income as more and more expertise is gained.
Exercise 4
1. Analyse the career journey of any successful person you know of.
Write an essay highlighting the major steps involved in building his/
her career.
7.5 Extended work
Prepare a career plan for a career of your choice in future. Remember to
include all the details.
7.6 Unit summary
Types of jobs
1. Formal jobs
2. Informal jobs
3. Seasonal jobs
4. Temporary jobs
5. Self employment
Steps in the career planning process
1. Consider your interests and talents.
2. Consider the available options that would suit your interests and
abilities.
3. Find out the academic and other requirements needed to secure the
job.
4. Set goals to achieve those requirements.
Importance of career planning
1. It enables an individual to focus his/ her abilities, opportunities and
efforts towards one major goal.
2. It enables individuals to maximise their potential with an aim of
achieving their aspirations.
3. It places individuals at their most suitable career hence enhancing
productivity.
4. It helps individuals develop skills.
5. It enhances productivity in one’s field.
6. It brings the uniqueness of individuals together therefore enabling
complementarity at work.
7. Career planning reduces staff turnover. Staff turnover is the number of
people losing jobs.
Importance of career choice
1 It helps one to choose a career that is financially rewarding.
2. It enables one to direct all efforts in pursuing the career leading to
remarkable skill and a high level of competence in the field.
3. It provides for upgrading of skills in one’s area of specialisation
.
7.7 Test your competenceWrite an essay explaining the importance of career planning.