Description

The happiest employees are the ones who have found careers that match their skills, talents, and ambitions—but, finding the right match is often difficult. Many students feel lost just imagining what their future career might be! Using the experiences of real-life teens and young adults, this program coaches viewers on how to pinpoint their talents and aptitudes, evaluate qualities they would like to find in a “dream” job, and match up those characteristics to find a career uniquely suited to them. Showcases four young people as they embark on their careers as chef, pilot, photographer and stand-up comedian. Clearly demonstrates the connection between each career choice and the personalities, skills, and talents that match up for success.

Includes: 16-minute video, teacher’s resource book, and student handouts with pre/post tests.

Sample Video Clip:

Reviews:

Highly Recommended Employers are not only interested in employees who can do the job, but they are also concerned about candidates’ enjoying what they do and their ability to develop longevity with the company. Matching Your Skills, Talents and Ambitions to a Dream Career provides young adults with a step-by-step process that can be used to determine the career that is right for them. It is not sufficient enough for young adults to select a career choice that sounds impressive, instead, in this program; they are guided in conducting an honest self-examination and then researching career choices that they find interesting, challenging and rewarding. Viewers have an opportunity to examine real young adults and the steps they took in order to obtain careers they love. This program allows students to assess where they currently are by reviewing courses that they have already taken and noting those classes that they found particularly interesting. They learn how to examine their skills and talents, how to relate these skills and talents to a job and how to outline the means to achieve a career in this area.
The Matching Your Skills, Talents and Ambitions to a Dream Career program includes a VHS, Teacher’s Resource Booklet and student activities handouts. These tools outline strategies that young adults can utilize as they create their personal career map. Students will be guided into realizing their specific skills and talents and using these attributes to make their dream career a reality.

– Betty J. McCormick-Johnson, Cumberland County Schools, NC
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)

Four ethnically diverse individuals engaged in interesting careers—a female doctor, a male elementary school teacher, a female photographer, and a male pilot—describe their careers and the training needed. A six-step procedure is presented to help students decide on their career path by pinpointing their talents, ambitions, and those characteristics they think constitute a “dream” job. Narration, graphics, and descriptions of each job environment offer important information to viewers about the connection between career choice and individual skills, personality, and talents. Pacing is succinct, highlighted by captions and interesting on-the-job footage. The teacher’s resource book provides well-organized activity sheets to work through the six-step procedure. A recurring theme is that jobs should be enjoyable as well as fulfilling. An interesting introduction to careers for the vocational curriculum.

– Robin Levin, Fort Washakie School/Community Library, Fort Washakie, WY
School Library Journal