Is a Computer Career In Your Future?

Introduction
Information technology is an exciting field and can offer people rewarding careers for those with the right “stuff”. Your task is to explore a computer career that you would consider pursuing. Your search for information should include the following areas: job requirements & description, beginning salary estimates and benefits, job futures and advancement opportunities, education and training requirements, institutions that offer training in the field, and cost of that training or education, etc. The following are some general career interest sites which may help in getting started, as well as writing resumes and preparing for your report.

·         Career Exploration - Ministry of Education and Training

·        Career Development Manual - University of Waterloo

·        CanadianCareers.com - Your Virtual Canadian Career Centre

·        Welcome to Job Futures

·        Youth Resource Network of Canada

Task
You will use the links under the various sections to gather career information.  With that information, you will write a report that will include each of the headings found below.

 

A)     Personality and Interests
 There are a number of websites devoted to helping you discover the type of person you are and the type of career(s) you are best suited for.

Describe your personality and what interests you?  After using the links below, summarize the personality type some of these tests say you have.  Were they on the mark?

·        Military Possibilities

·        Personality Job Types

·        Career Game

·        Keirsey Character Sorter

·        Career Quizzes Link

·        Canada Prospects What do You Care About Most?

·        Evaluation Tests

·        Career Cruising

 

B)  Employability Skills
Do you have what it takes to pursue a career in the Information Technology Field? What skills are employers presently looking for?  What skills are going to needed in the future?

·        Skills for the New Economy

·        Skills

 

C)  My Computer Career
Once you have located several careers that sound interesting to you, conduct research on your career of choice. 

Provide a job description, listing any job requirements or special skills.  What is the starting salary?  What can you expect to earn after 5 years?  

·        HRDC – Job Profiles

·         HRDC – Jobs, workers, training & careers

·        CanadianCareers.com: IT Career Resources

·        Salaries for IT professionals in Canada

·        Computer World Careers

 

D)  Job Futures
What are the job prospects for your chosen careers?  Are your career choices on the list of those that are growing or declining?  What are the opportunities for advancement like?

·        Job Prospects

·        Career Training - triOS Training Centres Limited

·        Labour market Trends

·        Top 50 Jobs

·        JobWeb Outlook

·        Fastest Growing Occupations, USA

 

E)     Training
Select at least three colleges or universities that offer degrees and or training in your chosen field.  Set up a table showing your information.

What is the name of the institution?  Where is it?  What is the name and length of the program?  What is the cost for a year of tuition? Are there any fees listed for books or other extras?  What are the requirements for admission to these institutions?

·        Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities - Postsecondary Education

·        Ontario School Counsellor’s Association

·        Computer Training Schools

·        College Choice

·        University Links

·        College Net

·        Catapult -Visiting Colleges and Universities on the Web

Process
Prepare a report using the following criteria. 

  • Centre your main title. Use CAPITALS, larger font, and bold.
  • Side headings are on a separate line, underlined in either bold or italics.
  • Double space the report.
  • Submit a resource list using APA style.
  • Prepare a formal title page with Title, Name, Course Code, Teacher Name, and Due Date

Evaluation
 

Content

Mark

Content

A       Personality and Interest

o        Personal details with support material referring to on-line quizzes

B       Employability Skills

o        Outline of skills

o        Future skill demands

C       Computer Careers

o        Description of your prospective career

o        Salary information

D       Job Futures

o        Outline of trends with support material

E        Training

o        Outline of at least 3 post secondary facilities

o        Cost comparison

TOTAL

 


/3 

 

/3 
 

/3 
 
/3 

/3 

 

/15

Format

  1. Title page
  2. Neatly Typed/Word processed, double spaced
  3. Centred title, subheadings used - organized
  4. Contains information from a variety of sources
  5. Reference list and sources in proper APA style
  6. Spelling, grammar and sentence structure

TOTAL

 

 

/1

/2

/2

/1

/2

/2

 

/10