UNIT 14: Monitoring One’s Career

Path
Table of Contents
Introduction 2
Lesson 1: Factors Affecting Career Choices
Jump Start 4
Learn about It! 5
Check Your Understanding 12
Explore Your World! 15
Lesson 2: Career Decision-Making through Personal Development
Jump Start 20
Learn about It! 21
Check Your Understanding 30
Explore Your World! 32
Lesson 3: Tracing Career Path Towards Success
Jump Start 35
Learn about It! 36
Check Your Understanding 49
Explore Your World! 51
Real-world Challenge 54
My Refection 55
Wrap Up 56
Answers to Check Your Understanding 58
Bibliography 66
Glossary 69

1
GRADE 11/12 | Personal Development
UNIT 14

Monitoring One’s Career Path

“If you plan on being anything less than anything you are capable of being,
you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.”

- Abraham Maslow, On reaching one’s full potential

Having and maintaining a good career is most possible when your career path is
planned out. Many managers, bosses and executives at present started out as
lower-ranking employees who showed passion and dedication to their jobs. Some
were born to take on professional careers that are more inclined to charity and
goodwill while some others are keen on helping companies succeed. Whatever
career path a person chooses is influenced by many personal and environmental
factors. In this unit, you will discover the importance of personal development in
guiding one’s career.

A Fresh Graduate’s First Job

Lemuel recently graduated with honors

from a top university. And because of
this, finding a job became easy for him.
He was hired as a human resource
management trainee in one of the
country’s leading corporations. Great
pressure burdened Lemuel as he was
handpicked by the company president to
take on the role.

2
Unfortunately, adjusting to the new corporate environment became challenging for
him. As a quiet person who liked working alone, it became difficult for Lemuel to
interact with his co-workers. He had a hard time accomplishing his daily tasks
because he found difficulty in asking questions from others. He was also unable to
effectively adapt to the company culture and work practices. Because of this,
Lemuel was often scolded by his boss and his co-workers.

After four months of working, Lemuel decided to resign from his post. He realized
that working in human resource was not for him and that he needs to find a job
that is more suited to his personality and working style.

Essential Questions:

 What factors affect a person’s career choices?

 How does personal development affect a person’s career?
 What strategies could be done in order to build a successful career?

Learning Targets
In this unit, you should be able to:
 explain the factors in personal development that may guide in making
important career decisions as adolescents;
 share insights that make you realize the importance of personal
development in making a career decision as an adolescent; and
 construct a creative visualization of your personal development in various
stages through, stressors, influences, and decision-making points, and a
personal profile analysis.

3
 Lesson 1: Factors Affecting Career
Choices
As part of being an adolescent, you will be faced with a lot of situations when you
need to make decisions and choices. This scenario has a great effect especially
when you will choose which career to pursue. The decision to choose your career is
one of the most crucial things to make that will have a lifetime effect in your life.
How do you choose which career path to take?

Jump Start
Materials: paper (minimum size is ½ sheet of paper), pen (colored pens, ballpens,
pentel pen).

Instructions:

Divide the paper into four parts. On top, write a profession that you want to have in
the future. For each section of the paper, write a corresponding response to the
following questions:

 What personal strengths could you use in your chosen career?

 What personal weaknesses could hinder your professional growth?
 What challenges could you encounter in your chosen career?
 What population are you specifically targeting to help (e.g. adults, children,
people with special needs)? Why?

4
 Learn about It!
Since elementary school, parents and teachers were already asking you about your
career path: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Even as a child; the
impact of having a good career has been imparted to you. With your personal
characteristics and environmental factors, you will eventually grow up to discover
what you really want to do in the future.

In this lesson, you will discover the factors that lead you to decide on a specific
career path as well as some qualities needed in doing so.

Factors Affecting Career Choices

Professional careers are personal choices

driven by environmental, socio- PAUSE FOR A THOUGHT
emotional, behavioral, and cognitive If you will be asked today, what
factors. Oftentimes, people take career career or profession would you like
aptitude tests in order to discover career to pursue?
options that may suit them best, based
on their thinking and adaptation styles,
behaviors, and leadership and learning styles. In the Philippines, the National
Career Aptitude Examination (NCAE) is annually administered to high school
students in order to assess their competencies and appropriate professional
career. Senior High School programs in the country are also offering students three
study tracks to facilitate professional growth in the future.

According to research, students start to decide on their future careers at around

sixth grade. Making career-related decisions is not difficult for these students
because they are motivated by the following factors that affect their career choices:

5
1. Family, School, and
Community Culture

You primarily interact with your

family as well as with the people
from your school and community.
Through your interactions, you
learn to appreciate and view career
options in relation to the
perspectives of your social
relationships.

For example, a community which

promotes a good educational
system may interest you to choose
career paths related to teaching.

Additionally, research shows that parental influences are among the top factors
that enable adolescents to decide on a career path. Parents provide great insight to
their kids about specific professional careers and challenges. They become role
models and living representations of certain professions to their children. Because
of this, some children choose careers similar to their parents’. Have you ever
encountered a family of doctors or a family of lawyers? While environmental and
community factors play equally important roles in career aptitude development,
family insights are far superior in influencing children to choose a specific career.

6
 EXAMPLE

Nestor’s parents are good cooks. They own a catering business. Growing
up, Nestor watched his parents work in the kitchen. Eventually, he helped
peel and chop vegetables. During career selection in their school, he picked
hotel and restaurant management as his primary course. Here, Nestor was
able to develop his passion in cooking and restaurant service.

2. Economic Factors
Practicability and good-paying jobs also drive students towards a specific career
path. Not all students are well-off, thus a good education and a good career
choice are used by many students in order to overcome financial hardships or
poverty. Also, career choices are greatly affected by a practical mindset and the
need for financial stability. Therefore, despite differing personal choices or
career options, an adolescent may choose a career path that is more practical
and better paying than what he originally intended to have.

EXAMPLE

A relevant example of this was the increased demand for Filipino nurses
abroad back in the early 2000s. During that time, Filipino students—some
of whom were greatly influenced by their parents—chose to shift courses
and attend nursing school in order to avail opportunities in foreign
countries which have better pay and benefits than what was offered
locally. The boom of nursing was a phenomenon that greatly affected the
Philippine nursing industry in both positive and negative ways.

7
3. Personality Factors

Personal qualities and interests also play a role in choosing your career. For
instance, to assess your interest based on personality types, Holland's Career
Typology is widely used all over the world. Personality tests are also helpful
determinants of career preference. Being aware of your personality type, based
on various personality tests, will enable you to understand your working style,
leadership qualities, potential challenges, and strengths that will enable you to
choose an appropriate career.

In many cases, people whose personalities do not fit their work environment
find it difficult to adjust and grow in their workplace. In some instances, these
people choose to take on careers that are different from what they studied in
school but more suited to their personalities and working styles. Talents, skills,
and capabilities are also influential in choosing a career. These characteristics
and personality factors shape career choices, sometimes even more so than
any social or environmental factor.

8
 EXAMPLE

Mark is interested in looking at houses. Often, he rearranges the order of

the furniture at home. At his free time, he looks at design of houses over
the internet. Mark’s interest towards houses, designs and architecture may
lead him to select interior design or architecture.

4. Socio-demographic Factors
Gender and location are also important factors in choosing a career. While no
job is limited by gender, some people and companies would still stereotype
people based on their genders. However, because adolescents are now being
brought up in an era where gender equality is prioritized, some students would
choose careers that will allow them to break stigmas and prove the stereotypes
wrong. A prime example of this was Dr. Fe Del Mundo, the first woman to
graduate from the UP College of Medicine. She was a proof that women also
have the skills and abilities to become
successful doctors.
TIP!
Location also influences people in choosing
careers. Nowadays, a phenomenon called Factors affecting career
out migration is starting to take rise. Out choices:
migration is a phenomenon when young
1. Family, school, and
professionals choose to move out from their
community culture.
rural environments in order to take in more
2. Economic factors.
career opportunities in more urbanized
3. Personality factors.
locations. This activity happens all over the
4. Socio-demographic
world, including the Philippines, where
factors.
young professionals become centralized in
metro business districts where opportunities
for career growth and financial stability are abundant.

9
The Four Stages in Choosing a Career

There are various factors that you should consider in selecting a career. These
factors may have various impacts to you. In choosing a career there are four stages
that should be considered. The four stages are as follows:

1. Self-Awareness. The first stage of choosing a

career is self-awareness. Self-awareness here
pertains to your ability and capacity to
recognize and acknowledge your skills,
values, interests, personality, strengths and
areas for improvement. Being able to be
aware of these facets of the self is important
to your success.

2. Opportunity Awareness.

This stage of choosing a career pertains

to the process of accumulating
information about the possible
opportunities such as availability of jobs,
information of the degree or subject,
possible post-graduate opportunities,
areas of specialization and job
responsibilities that can be available for
you in a selected field.

10
3. Decision Making.

This stage of choosing a career pertains to the

development of your decision. Decision making
process in this stage refers to the consultation
with family, peers, school counsellors and others.
One can also weigh down the pros and cons in
pursuing other options.

4. Taking Action.

The final process of choosing a

career is taking action which is
usually done at the latter stage
of your study. This implies on
finding available employers
and job position possibilities.
Another part of this stage is
creating applications and
attending interviews. Since
this process implies that you
are ready to enter the
professional world, one possibility to improve and take action during earlier
years in college is to volunteer in an organization where your field of interest is
being practiced.

11
 REMEMBER ME!

Out migration is a phenomenon when young professionals choose to move

out from their rural environments in order to take in more career
opportunities in more urbanized locations.

Check Your Understanding

A. Recall / Comprehension Questions. The following items are multiple choice type
of question. Answer the following questions by choosing the letter of the best
answer.

1. This is the factor in which the people one interacts with influences one’s
career choice?
a. Family, school, and community culture
b. Economic factors
c. Personality factors
d. Socio-demographic factors

2. This is the factor in which the aspects such as gender and location influences
one’s career choice?
a. Family, school, and community culture
b. Economic factors
c. Personality factors
d. Socio-demographic factors

12
 3. This is the factor in which the characteristics of a person and interests
influences one’s career choice?
a. Family, school, and community culture
b. Economic factors
c. Personality factors
d. Socio-demographic factors

4. This is the factor in which the practicability and good-paying jobs influences
one’s career choice?
a. Family, school, and community culture
b. Economic factors
c. Personality factors
d. Socio-demographic factors

5. This is the stage of choosing a career that pertains to a person looking for
possible work opportunities and career development?
a. Decision making
b. Self-awareness
c. Opportunity awareness
d. Taking action

B. Application. Write your answers on the space provided below the questions.
1. Why is self-awareness an important stage in choosing a career?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2. How is decision making stage done in choosing a career?

________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

13
 3. During the final stage of choosing a career, taking action, which is usually
done during the final year of collegiate year of a person, what are the other
suggested ways to prepare a person during the earlier stage of a person’s
collegiate years?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

C. Synthesis, Analysis Questions. Write your answers on the space provided below
the questions.
1. Lou will soon graduate as a senior high school. What tips can you give Lou?
Apply the first stage of choosing a career which is self-awareness.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

2. Gino has applied the first stage of choosing a career which is self-awareness.
In the process, he discovered that he is interested and is passionate about
music. After this stage, apply the second stage of choosing a career which is
opportunity awareness. What is the next thing to do?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

3. Maxine has applied the three stages in choosing a career: self-awareness,

opportunity awareness, and decision making. Apply the final stage of
choosing a career which is taking action. Currently, Maxine is still in her first
year in her college education. She is aware that her passion lies in teaching.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

14
 Explore Your World!
Task 1: Strengths Mapping. You know yourself better than anybody else. As an
individual you know what makes you happy; what makes you nervous; your fears,
your goals and your ambitions.

In this activity, you will get to know yourself better career-wise. Listed in the table
are facets that you may encounter when you will start your career. In the next set of
rows, list your main strength that could help efficiently handle the specific factor. If
available, list also the other strengths in relation to the career factors. On the last
column, write down the strategies by which you could retain and enhance such
strengths.

Strengths Mapping
Career Factors Main Other Retention and Enhancement
Strength Strengths Strategies
Professional
relationships
(e.g. interaction
with the boss)
Personal career
goals
(e.g. promotion)

Assigned tasks
and works
(e.g. difficulty and
load of
assignment)

15
Environmental
adaptation
(e.g. adapting to
company culture)
Social
relationships
(e.g. life outside
of work)
Physical needs/
requirements
(e.g. commute to
the office)

RUBRIC FOR SCORING

Copying of content and answering 20%
Content response 30%
Ability to justify response 50%

Task 2: Areas for Improvement. In monitoring your career path, you should also
be aware of the mechanisms, skills, and behavior that you could improve on.
Knowing such and being able to address them this early on will be beneficial to you
when you take on new roles for your job. On the left-hand side of the table, list
down skills or behaviors that you could still improve on. On the opposite side, list
down strategies and techniques on how these mechanisms could be improved. You
could also check books, researches, and other valid references to know the best
and most appropriate strategies in addressing your concerns.

Areas for Improvement Assessment

Areas of Improvement Improvement Strategies

16
 RUBRIC FOR SCORING
Copying of content and answering 20%
Content response 30%
Ability to justify response 50%

Task 3: Career Path Goal Setting. By now, you probably know what career you
want to engage in. However, reaching specific milestones in your career is
something that could be done best when planned. In this activity, list down specific
career goals that you want to achieve in various time periods. Put the specific
company or industry where you want to work and the specific position that you
want to attain by that time.

After this, list down all your personal goals for the next ten years. This may be as
simple as “putting food into our table” or as specific as “buying a luxury car.” In the
next section of the table, list down behaviors, strategies, and activities that you
could do in order to help you attain your ten-year goal.

Monitoring My Career Path

In five years, I see myself working at __________________ as a ____________________.

In ten years, I see myself working at __________________ as a ____________________.

In fifteen years, I see myself working at __________________ as a ____________________.

17
 1. ________________________________________
2. ________________________________________
My personal goals in ten years: 3. ________________________________________
4. ________________________________________
5. ________________________________________

1. ________________________________________
What could I do right now in 2. ________________________________________
order to reach my ten-year 3. ________________________________________
goal? 4. ________________________________________
5. ________________________________________

RUBRIC FOR SCORING

Copying of content and answering 20%
Content response 30%
Ability to justify response 50%

18
A research by Code, Bernes, Gunn, and Bardick (2006) among Canadian
adolescents aged 7-12 years old revealed that students also feel
discouraged about choosing a career. Using the Comprehensive Career
Needs Survey, it was found that students feel discouraged due to concerns
in training and education, security, failing, commitment, satisfaction, wrong
career choice, and deciding on their career paths. Because of these
concerns, the researchers proposed that a career planning curriculum be
made available for children in order to address their needs and concerns in
their prospective careers.

19
 Lesson 2: Career Decision-Making
through Personal Development

The external factors that affect career decisions are some of the obstacles that you
face. Nevertheless, personal development can help in dealing with both the
expected and unexpected circumstances that you can encounter at any point in
your life. Personal development is not just a subject to be taken, but a tool or a
means to help you adjust to the world around you. It is a process that effectively
makes you stronger and focused.

Jump Start
Materials: a piece of paper, pens

Instructions:

You will be given with five unfinished sentences that you must complete. You must
write the first thought that comes to your mind upon reading each statement. After
several minutes, you can share your answers to the class and explain why you
chose to end those sentences in such a manner. You can also share your insights
and feelings while completing the sentences.

These are the sentences:

I know I can accomplish my dream career because ____________________________.
In spite of the odds, I can accomplish many life goals because _____________________.
I believe that the skills I need to become successful are _______________________.
When things go bad, I _______________________________.
I am aware that I am not perfect, but ____________________________.

20
You may share your thoughts and feelings about the activity and new mindsets or
point-of-view you have developed during the entire process.

When this is done, you will be posed with a question: “Do you agree with this
equation? Career + Money + Status = Happiness? Why and why not?

Learn about It!

Personal development is a lifelong process. It is not stationary but is in constant
motion. In the past, employees concentrate on their specific tasks alone, these
days, however, they must also have adequate knowledge of how their company is
being run. Employees are now being trained to see and understand how their jobs
contribute to the growth of the entire organization. They are made to see not only
the details but also the whole picture.

Personal Development and Career

Decisions
PAUSE FOR A THOUGHT
Choosing a potential career is tough
Is it enough to have the dream job you
but living life is tougher. In Lesson 1,
are aspiring for? Is it possible that
the factors that shape your career
satisfaction is not always about
decisions may supersede your natural
earning a big amount of money and
inclination for a certain profession.
getting prestige?

Important points were made during

the course of the discussion. The assistance that significant people provide may
prove to be invaluable. The skills that you have are weapons for success in a chosen
field. The personality factors that provide insight as to what you are capable of are
early determinants of a career. The economic demands set forth the knowledge
about the material and intangible rewards of a chosen career.

21
It is said that in choosing a career, follow your passion or your heart’s desire. This is
an age-old wisdom that has been the basis of many career decisions. However, a
recent study also stressed that there are other pitfalls to this mindset.

In a study done by 80,000, a non-profit organization, it was found out that people
are always advised to follow their passion when pursuing a career so they can
achieve job satisfaction. However, this may not always be a sound advice since
making this a top priority means not paying attention to other factors that also
contribute to career satisfaction. Significant findings include:

 The belief that you must follow your passion can make you believe the
success stories of those who followed their dreams. Nevertheless, others
also followed their dreams but this did not necessarily result in a happy
ending. People have the tendency to hear one side of the story and remain
oblivious to the other one.

 The belief that you must follow your passion makes you focused on one
factor of job satisfaction. Unfortunately, there are multiple factors that make
a job satisfying.

22
 EXAMPLE

Fortune.com enumerated five things that make people happy at work:

1. Challenging work
2. A sense of progress
3. Work security
4. Autonomy
5. Belongingness

Moreover, studies related to the positive psychology of Seligman explored two

theories that can predict job satisfaction. The PERMA theory of Seligman
enumerated the factors of a fulfilling life and a satisfying career:

Figure 1. Factors Affecting Well-Being

Positive Relationships Meaning

Engagement Achievement
emotion
•It is a feeling •The act of •It is the •It is having a •This is being
of consistent being connections higher accomplishe
happiness. immersed in you make purpose. d, skilled, or
•This is a challenging with others. This purpose successful at
reflection of and •Strong and is greater something.
optimism absorbing loving than •Attaining
which work or relationships yourself. goals gives a
develops the tasks. help you in •Knowing and sense of
perspective •Doing overcoming understandi fulfillment
of seeing the different tough ng how your and pride.
past, activities situations. task impact
present, and help a others brings
future with person grow, happiness.
positivity. It enhance and
has an effect nurture
on the happiness.
overall
happiness of
a person.

23
 EXAMPLE

Lena was terminated from her job. Instead of sulking and crying all day, she
maintained a positive attitude by reminding herself that all people
experience temporary setbacks. This made her determined not to give up in
finding a new job. This is positivity.

These factors are considered as important components that contribute not only to
your well-being but also to your satisfaction about your career. These components
are applicable in other areas of life like the relationship with others including
romantic ones, your contributions to communities and the pride of fulfilling your
potentials.

In direct connection with this theory is the Self-

Determination Theory. It names three components TIP!
of human well-being:
To remember the
theory of Seligman,
Figure 2. Components of Well-Being think of PERMA.

• This describes the feeling of

Competence being in control and having  P - ositive
mastery of skills. emotion.
 E – ngagement.
• This is the connection of an  R – elationships.
Relatedness individual with others.  M – eaning.
 A - chievement.
• This is the knowledge that a
Autonomy person has a choice and is in
control of his activities.

24
These two theories collectively suggest that well-being, and even job satisfaction,
are not just reliant on having a successful career. Rather, it is the overall quality of
your relationship with others, your belief that you can practice your right to choose,
your engagement with tasks that reinforce your feelings of pride, your purpose in
life, your contribution in making a better society and your belief about your abilities
and success.

REMEMBER ME!

Self-Determination theory stressed three components that help in

developing well-being: Competence, Relatedness, and Autonomy.

Reviews Made Regarding the Factors

The factors mentioned have been studied as a whole. These factors showed a
positive relationship with job satisfaction. Simply put, experiencing them is related
to being satisfied at work. Also, it was learned that in terms of engaging work,
people like doing interesting jobs as compared to having a high pay or status.

It was also found out that skill

mismatch is negatively related to
job satisfaction. This means that
if your skills do not match your
job, then you will feel less
satisfied.

The work that gives someone

the chance to help others is a
surprise. Adolescents take into
consideration the amount of
potential salary that they will get

25
once they finish college, but it turns out that having a high salary is not always
equal to job satisfaction. In a series of job rankings done from 1972 to 2006 in the
United States, General Social Surveys listed the clergy, physical therapists,
firefighters, education administrators, and painter and sculpting related jobs are
included in the top occupations that give the highest job satisfaction. These are not
necessarily high-paying jobs.

EXAMPLE

Moneymax.ph named the most fulfilling jobs in the world which includes: Red
Cross Volunteer, UNICEF Ambassador, Social Worker, Teacher,
Environmentalist, and Human Rights Officer. All these jobs are related to
helping others.

Given this proposition, it is not always about having the best paying job or career.
Personal development is not limited to this area alone. It is for the overall well-
being of a person.

Benefits of Personal Development

Personal development is a crucial factor in career decisions and overall successful

living. Along with its development are the benefits that one gets. Here are some
fruits of personal development.

26
A. The Left Brain/Right Brain Dominance Theory
Benefits of Personal Development

Self -Awareness Developing self-awareness means that you are conscious of

your identity, values, beliefs and the reason why you pursue
different endeavors or undertakings.

Direction Once self-awareness is developed, you can now distinguish

the objectives you need to achieve. The things that do not
contribute to the achievement of goals are not given
attention and time.

Motivation The achievement of goals (both short-term and long-term)

strengthens the push to achieve other objectives. This makes
future goals easier to set and attain because you see the
benefits. This pushes you to put more energy in what you
are doing and hurdle hindrances.

Focus Personal development promotes focus or sustained

attention. You are always bombarded with choices and
situations that can make you lose direction and pay attention
to something else. However, maintaining your focus is equal
to the determination of achieving life goals.

Improved Social and Relationships are not always easy. There are some that are
Personal worth keeping and others that are not. A successful personal
Relationships development makes you able to tell the sincere from the
insincere. Moreover, you are able to take care of the
relationships by being sensitive not only to your needs but to
the needs of others as well.

27
Resilience The ability to adapt to changing situations is the core of
resilience. You who can adjust to the ever-evolving
environment show mental toughness and hardiness.
Personal development, with its many dimensions, provides
the wisdom that everything will not always be beneficial to
you. The ups and downs of life serve the purpose of teaching
you how to be flexible and optimist in times of triumphs and
tragedies.

These qualities make you capable of overcoming the rough patches of living. Life
does not revolve around a career. It is about constant change, a never-ending
process of making choices, setting-up goals, earning triumphs and experiencing
defeats. The qualities or traits that are developed when you are constantly
evaluating your actions, behaviors, and point-of-views make personal development
a work in progress. Nothing is final as long
as you are living.

What do the Studies Reveal?

In 2015, the Journal of Studies on Alcohol

featured a pilot (or initial) study regarding
the prevention of alcohol misuse through
the application of personal and social
competence. A program that develops
decision-making skills, anxiety coping, social skills and assertiveness was
implemented to selected seventh graders. After nine months, the results showed
that it reduced the frequency of alcohol use among the selected participants.

28
 Another study featured in Taylor and
Francis Online pointed out that service
learning helped in developing political and
diversity awareness, civic engagement, and
community self-efficacy. The National
Service Learning Clearinghouse defined
service learning as “a teaching and
learning strategy that integrates
meaningful community service with
instruction and reflection to enrich the
learning experience, teach civic
responsibility and strengthen communities.” The participation of students
improved their academic learning, social and personal development.

REMEMBER ME!

Service learning is the teaching and learning strategy that integrates

meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the
learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.

These studies clearly show the relationship between the characteristics that are
built up by continuous personal development and the internal and external
rewards that a person reaps. Again, adequate career decisions are not the sole
beneficiary of personal development. The quality of life is also elevated.

29
 Check Your Understanding
A. Read each statement carefully. Identify the words/concept to complete the
statement.

1. Most workers prefer jobs that give them a sense of _____________. It makes
them believe that these jobs serve a higher purpose.

2. _____________ is the connection of an individual with others.

3. A person who is suddenly transferred to another branch shows _____________

by immediately adjusting to his new environment.

4. Personal development promotes ______________ or sustained attention.

5. The teaching method that combines community service, teaching, and

learning is called _____________.

B. Answer the following questions in a brief but concise manner.

1. How can your personal development contribute to your productivity as a

student?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Think of your dream job, what motivates you to aspire for this kind of profession?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

30
3. Among the two theories discussed, which one is applicable to you?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

C. Read each situation carefully and answer the questions for each item.

1. Compare your dream job to the factors in PERMA Theory. Are they aligned?
Please explain your answer.

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. How do you explain “challenging work”?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. How do you relate personal development to job satisfaction?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

31
 Explore Your World!
Task 1: Photo Essay

Materials: paper, pen, photo

Instructions:

In this activity, you will be asked to write one part of the lesson that made an
impact on you. With this lesson in mind, you have to take a photo of anyone or any
situation that is related to what you want to discuss. Write a reflection paper about
this particular lesson and the accompanying photo. The output must include your
mindsets, formed attitudes and changes that may have happened to you upon
understanding the lesson.
Criteria for Scoring Points
Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant details and photo, 3
accuracy
Impact and creativity 2
Grammatically correct sentences 2
Total 10

Task 2: Word/Phrase Association

Materials: pens, paper

Instructions:

Pick a partner. Find an area in the room where the two of you can talk. Once this is
done, prepare 5 words or phrases that are related to the lesson. Decide who will go

32
first. Begin by showing your word/phrase to your partner. He/she must say the first
thing that comes to mind upon reading them. It should be an honest answer. Write
down the answers. Switch places and do the same steps.

Discuss your answers with each other. Share your thoughts and feelings. Find a
common ground between your answers. Prepare a short essay regarding this
activity and the things you have learned from it.

Criteria for Scoring Points

Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant details 3
Creativity and impact 2
Grammatically correct sentences and 2
confidence level
Total 10

Task 3: Milestones

Materials: pen, paper, Powerpoint presentation

Instructions:

Form a group of five. Interview each other about the achievements that you and
your group mates have earned. The achievements can be a mixture of simple and
grand achievements like learning how to swim or winning a singing contest. Once
the interview is over, prepare a Power point showcasing the achievements of every
group member.

33
 Criteria for Scoring Points
Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant and accurate details 3
Creativity and uniqueness of the presentation 4
Total 10

Wealthy nations tend to have higher average life satisfaction than poor
nations, but the United States has not experienced a rise in life satisfaction
over the past decades, even as income doubled.

34
 Lesson 3: Tracing Career Path

Towards Success
Planning is not just about a set of goals. It requires deliberate actions and constant
re-evaluation of outcomes. You are always torn between several opportunities and
several options to choose from. In this lesson, you will study an effective way of
making sure that the goals and career plans you set up are attainable. Is it enough
to be skilled or are there supplementary factors to consider?

Jump Start
Materials: paper, pen, video

Instructions:

You will watch a video of a successful person. You will be asked to list down the
steps that this particular professional did to make himself/herself successful. Share
your list with the class and your reactions or insights about the things you
discovered.

Once the sharing is done, you will be asked the question: “How do you see
yourself ten years from now? What are the goals that you want to achieve within
this period?”

35
 Learn about It!
Finishing senior high school is a step further to achieving your dream career.
Choosing the course to take up in college is also another step in achieving goals.
For a student, the endgame of studying is to have a fulfilling career or establishing a
small business that a student can call his/her own. On the other hand, a fulfilling
career is not developed in one or even two years. The most successful people took
their time to train their craft and perfect it.

In the past topics, you were asked to create a simple timetable for a career plan. In
this lesson we will add details that can be included in a comprehensive and
attainable career plan. In addition, past lessons will also be included since personal
development is comprehensive and involves all aspect of one’s life.

Career Growth: Vertical and

Horizontal

Vertical and horizontal growths are PAUSE FOR A THOUGHT

terms used in business. However, the
What do you value? Getting better
descriptions of these two related
with your talent or acquiring plenty
concepts are also applicable to
of varied skills?
students. They refer to professional
growth and how it can be achieved. To
differentiate, look at the meaning of vertical growth first.

Vertical Growth. This is described by Forbes as seeing your career path in a

straight line up the corporate ladder. In this type, growth is seen as becoming
better and better in a chosen career, handling additional tasks as one goes up from
one promotion to another (e.g. supervisory jobs that progress into managerial
jobs). Vertical career growth is, in essence, a way to master handling other people
like subordinates. It focuses on job titles or positions.

36
Horizontal Growth. In direct contrast, horizontal growth is focused on creating
value. Horizontal growth means that you see your career moving not only upwards
but sideways. Careertipster described horizontal growth as not sticking to a single
expertise for a long time, rather, it is about working from one department to
another with the same status or responsibility.

REMEMBER ME!

Vertical growth is concerned with the upward movement of career while

horizontal growth is the acquisition of new skills and dealing with different
types of people.

What is significant about these two types of growth is that in a vertical trajectory,
you risk the possibility of reaching your limit to corporate mobility. This type of
movement limits your perspective of yourself on how your job is done because the
availability of other strategies or technologies was not highlighted.

In the meantime, moving in a sideway manner allows you to pick up new skills, new
perspectives, new techniques that give rise to your versatility and flexibility. In the
current job market, you who is equipped with multiple skills is considered as
precious. It’s like having a talent for singing but also excelling in dancing.

37
 EXAMPLE

Terry has been in her job for 15 years. She is the most senior among her
colleagues in the department. She has been promoted several times and is
now the manager of their department. This is vertical growth.

Allan is an actor. He has been in the business for ten years. However, he also
served behind the scenes because he is also a scriptwriter and helped in
revising dialogues in his movies. This is horizontal growth.

In addition, the chance of working in other departments with other people

broadens the perspective of how the company or work is done. As compared to
vertical growth, horizontal growth is focused on creating value as opposed to
controlling people. It is worth remembering, however, that these two types can
work together to make you not only an expert in your field but a versatile person as
well who can handle different aspects of work with ease.

Stepping on the Ladder of Success:

Important Aspects

Among students, it is expected that your main

focus is to land a fulfilling career. But there are
bits and pieces of skills and characteristics that
are needed to make a solid impression on the
companies or the people who will hire you.
Consider these factors and try to work on them
as early as now so by the time you graduate
from college, you have already mastered or
developed them.

38
A. Physical Appearance

Making a good impression means

that you are presenting the best
version of yourself. This is shown
through the manner of dressing,
hygiene, posture and grooming.

Image. Masters and Wallace

defined image as the set of
qualities and characteristics that
represent perceptions of a person
as judged by others. People
observe other people day-in and
day-out. They notice the clothes,
the hair, the body language, facial
expression, fingernails, attitudes and conduct of another person.

One step in creating a good impression is to be mindful of your physical

appearance. Practicing hygiene should not be a requirement because it should be
done naturally. Taking a bath regularly, brushing the teeth, combing the hair,
changing clothes are just some of the things that you do every day to maintain not
only a good impression but also a healthy body.

In terms of clothing, dressing up casually is okay if one is going out with friends.
Dressing up professionally is a sign of respect. Imagine going to an interview with a
prospective employer who is all dressed up while the applicant is wearing jeans and
a tank top! This can be mistaken as a sign of disregard for the job and disrespect to
the people who took their time to be presentable before meeting the applicant.

39
 For women, a professional dress is mostly consisting of
dresses, skirts, blouses, slacks, and shoes with heels.
These days, companies are becoming lenient in terms
of shoes since some are allowing female employees to
wear flat shoes. Wearing make-up is also a good way of
presenting the professional side.

For men, the classic suit and tie never go out of style,
but companies also approve of wearing polo.

REMEMBER ME!

Image is the set of qualities and characteristics that represent perceptions of

you as judged by others.

B. The Manner of Speaking

One significant factor to consider is how you

speak. A professional speaks in a manner that
conveys his/her skills and expertise. This also
indicates respect for co-workers and clients.
Depending on the nature of the job, the voice
quality is also considered.

Pitch. It is the highness or lowness of sound.

When people are emotionally aroused, their
pitch turns up. However, lower-pitched voices

40
are more pleasant to hear as compared to high-pitched voices.

Volume. This is the loudness or softness of the voice. Adjusting the volume based
on the requirements of the job is always necessary. A person working in a hospital
must not always talk in a loud manner so the patients can rest and recuperate
properly.

Inflection. This is the rising and falling of the voice. A person who speaks with no
inflections sounds monotonous. The voice is flat, as if there is no feeling. Having
this kind of voice can convey a feeling of boredom so make the voice animated. This
means that use the voice in a way that a feeling is expressed.

Enunciation. This refers to the proper pronouncement of the sounds of a word. If

a word is “fat”, then it should not be said as “pat”.

Pronunciation. This refers to the proper pronouncement of a word. A good

pronunciation is a sign that a person is well read and articulate. For instance, the
word “read” can be pronounced as “reed” or “red” depending on the
message of the sentence.

Vocabulary. It is defined by Masters and Wallace as the sum total of the words
used by and understood by the speaker. The vocabulary of a person adds to the
impact of the message. Stating ideas in a clear and tactful manner is always
preferable.

C. Attitude and Behavior. The attitude and behavior of a person make people
approach or avoid him/her. Showing a positive attitude is a sign of an optimistic
and cheerful person. In the workplace, a good attitude is contagious. It fosters good
will and a healthy interaction with others.

41
 EXAMPLE

Good Work Habits for Every Job:

1. Be mindful of the supplies and do not waste them.

2. Listen carefully to instructions and follow them willingly and with a smile.
3. Be respectful to everyone.
4. Share kindness and help to others.
5. Follow “unwritten rules” or those that are self-explanatory like
unplugging the computer after use.
6. Learn to admit mistakes and try not to repeat them.
7. Ask questions and keep note of the answers.
8. Be friendly to everyone.
9. Ask questions if instructions are not clear.
10. Practice objectivity in dealing with others.

D. Posture.

Confident people walk in a straight manner and

stand erect. This shows self-confidence. Entering a
room in a slouching manner or stooping over
suggests insecurity and lack of confidence.

42
E. Professional Approach.

A professional approach takes into account many aspects. For example, letter
writing in a formal setting requires observance of rules in technical writing. Creating
a resume or curriculum vitae also follows strict guidelines. Misspelled words,
improper use of words, grammar and punctuation lapses must be avoided at all
cost.

Setting Your Roadmap: The Importance of Planning the Career

Career planning is a method of ensuring that

your career in on track. This helps in
facilitating the career goals with definite
actions. A career plan makes you identify the
gaps that need to be filled in so the dream job
is achieved.

A career plan is an always changing and

improving. The constant modifications in
lifestyles, career opportunities, social
relationships and environmental demands
make a person adapt to the nuances of daily living. It features the following:

 Current bank of experience and skill.

 Career and Life goals.
 Current interests.
 Current priorities.
 Actions.

43
Making a Career Plan

A person who wants to reap the fruits of his/her labor must plant the seeds of
success now. Any concrete goal must be coupled with definite actions. Writing them
one-by-one can give a person an overall picture of what he/she wants to be or to
have in the future. Any alterations can be made anytime.

 What is your current circumstance?

This question reflects the current state of TIP!

your life. Your living conditions, external To Make a Career Map, use
factors, needs, wants, values, skills, talent, these questions to guide you:
interests, personality traits, life goals, level  What is your current
of self-confidence and self-efficacy, are all circumstance?
included under this general question.  What are the
opportunities available
today and in the future?
 What are the opportunities available
 Who should I consult?
today and in the future?  Are my plans in line with
my personal values?
This can be answered by regularly  What is my personal
researching for trends, supply and demand mission and vision?
of particular professions, the best schools
that specialize in specific careers, and the predicted changes in the career
landscape. It must be noted that there are careers with a short life-span.
Modernity can make certain jobs or careers extinct within a few years.

Check the websites of CHED and TESDA. These sites contain priority courses that
are being promoted or developed. This is one help in determining the career that
you want to take in the future.

44
 Who should I consult?

There are many people who are more than willing to help you in forging a
definite path. The parents, closest friends, teachers, counsellors and other
professionals are the people who can provide different perspectives. Asking for
their opinions can actually provide a wealth of information from different
sources and varying ages. Consulting both the young and older people help in
forming a choice that is not just based on your current emotional state, but also
on the potential outcome of the current undertakings.

 Are my plans in line with my personal values?

This can be a tricky part. Decisions that are not based on personal values can
have a vital effect on your well-being. Your career can be in direct contrast to the
values that you have been brought up with and this can lead to future stress
and conflict. It is like wanting to become a physician to help other people but
taking up a career that does not promote the welfare of others. The careful
analysis of the matching among the value system, the personality profile and the
potential career needs guidance. An insightful exchange of ideas can lessen the
possibility of a conflict in the future.

 What is my personal mission and vision?

Having a mission and vision is the backbone of a successful undertaking.

Creating a statement that echoes your goals make you focused on what must be
done to achieve these statements. From out of this mission and vision, the
specific SMART goals are created that will be observed and achieved.

In the past units, you were taught how to create goals and mind maps. These
two can be used to craft minute or specific career undertakings that can be
combined to the overall career development. Take note, though, that these can
also be applied in personal goals.

45
Figure 1. A Sample of Career Planning Mind Map for College Students

46
Figure 2. A Sample Career and Life Planning Mind Map

47
In these illustrations, you can use precise steps in accomplishing your academic
goals that can be used as stepping stones for the next plan that concerns your
career development. Taking a closer look, the illustrations also show other factors
that are related to the overall personal development like social and intimate
relationships and mental health or well-being. This reiterates that personal
development is a life-long process that is constantly evolving. You who is able to
achieve specific goals can tick them off and replace them with current needs and
future prospects.

A timetable can also be used in which the goals are stated, with a specific
timeframe and feedbacks.

Figure 3. A Sample Timeline

Goal Steps Timeframe Comments/Feedback

It is not to be forgotten that there are unforeseen circumstances that may hinder
the linear progression of the career or life plans. Therein lies the beauty of personal
development; you are able to adjust or discard actions and goals that are no longer
viable and replace them with new ones that are still in line with your personal
mission-vision.

Personal development is a means of empowering a person. It provides insights on

how you can cope with positive and negative outcomes. It makes you resilient to
challenges and grateful to victories. Life may not be always kind, but you cope and
remain optimistic about what lies ahead.

48
 Check Your Understanding
A. Read each statement carefully. Identify the words/concept to complete the
statement.

1. A ____________ is a method that ensures that the career is on track.

2. The highness or lowness of sound is called ____________.

3. The rising and falling of the voice is referred to as ______________.

4. This _____________ growth is concerned with the upward movement of the

career.

5. An _____________ is the set of qualities and characteristics that represent

perceptions of you as judged by others.

B. Answer the following questions in a brief but concise manner.

1. Glen is seen as a rebel. He is brooding and always seems to be mad something.

He clothes are mostly inappropriate for the occasion. He wants to become a bank
teller someday but the impression of others is unfavorable. If you were Glen how
will you change your image?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

49
2. How would you differentiate enunciation from pronunciation?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. What makes a career plan a valuable tool in mapping your future?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

C. Read each situation carefully and answer the questions for each item.

1. How can one’s personal values affect career planning?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. How relevant is a personal mission-vision in career planning?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Which is more important? skills or attitude?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________

50
 Explore Your World!
Task 1: Bucket List

Materials: paper, pen

Instructions:

Write a bucket list of five things you want to achieve in your professional life.
Include the steps that you need to do in order to achieve the items. Include a
timeframe for each item.

Answer the following questions after doing the bucket list:

1. Are your items easy to achieve? Why and why not?
2. What was your basis when making a timeframe for each item?
3. How confident are you that you can achieve these items one-by-one? Explain
your answer.
4. Who or what inspires you for each goal? Explain your answers.

Criteria for Scoring Points

Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant and logical details 3
Impact and creativity 2
Grammatically correct sentences and 2
confidence during presentation
Total 10

51
Task 2: Mission-Vision

Materials: paper, pen, Power point presentation

Instructions:

Pick a partner. Create a mission-vision about a specific career. Brainstorm for ideas
and do a research on sample mission-vision statements. Share your output to the
class. Mentions the difficulties you have encountered while making the mission-
vision statement and the solutions you used to solve these difficulties.

Criteria for Scoring Points

Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant and logical details 3
Confidence level and use of grammatically 2
correct sentences
Impact and creativity 2
Total 10

Task 3: Pathway to Success

Materials: paper, pen, Power point presentation

Instructions:

Form a group of four members. Create an imaginary person and make a road map
for him/her. The roadmap should be similar to a mind map. Include the journeys
(steps) that this person will take by the time he or she is 60 years old. Write the
milestones and other personal events that will happen to him/her. Share your
output and explain your roadmap.

52
 Criteria for Scoring Points
Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant and logical details 3
Creativity and impact 2
Grammatically correct sentences and 2
confidence during the presentation
Total 10

These are the most common interview questions:

 Tell me about yourself.

 Tell me what you know about this company.
 Why do you want to work for this company?
 What jobs have you held?
 Why did you leave those jobs?
 Do you prefer working alone or with others?
 How well do you work under pressure?
 Why should I hire you?

53
 Real-world Challenge

A Look into the Future

Materials: paper, pen

Instructions:

 This task requires research and cooperation among the members.

 Form a group of four people. One will act as the facilitator, one as the secretary,
one as the Power point maker, and one as the reporter.
 Look for recent information and findings about the priority industries and
priority courses from the year 2005 and beyond. Include both the TESDA and
CHED listings in your report.
 Present your findings.
 You will be asked how you felt upon seeing or not seeing your prospective
course on the list. Share your feelings and thoughts on the topic at hand.

Criteria for Scoring Score

Clarity , accuracy and logical presentation of 3
ideas
Impact and creativity of the output 2
Use of grammatically correct sentences and 2
level of confidence
Relevance of information presented
Total 15

54
 My Reflection

Why is it important to make a good impression? How does this affect your chances of
getting and maintaining a job? Share your thoughts by writing a short paragraph
about the advantages of making a good impression? Include the lessons taken up in
explaining your answers and limit your output to two paragraphs with a minimum of
six sentences each.

Criteria for Scoring Points

Clarity of ideas 3
Presence of relevant, accurate, and logical details 3

Impact and uniqueness of the presentation 2

Use of grammatically correct sentences 2
Total 10

55
 Wrap Up

 Monitoring your career path is an essential move to ensure that the goals are
created; that they are met and that proper actions are done. However, there are
also other factors that can affect the career decision. These factors are: family,
school and community culture; economic factors, personality factors and socio-
demographic factors.

 There are also four stages in choosing a career:

Opportunity
Self-Awareness Decision Making Taking Action
Awareness

 Two theories about job-satisfaction were also discussed:

A. PERMA Theory of Seligman discussed the factors that impact job satisfaction
which include positive emotion, engagement, meaning, relationships, and
achievement

B. Self Determination Theory that discussed competence, relatedness, and

autonomy as the components that affect job satisfaction.

56
 There were traits or characteristics that serve as offshoots of having personal
development. These are self-awareness, direction, motivation, focus, improved
social and personal relationships, and resilience.

Types of Career Growth

• The vertical growth which is the career path in a straight line up the
corporate ladder. This growth is focused in becoming better and better
in your job while picking up promotions along the way.

The horizontal growth is a career path that is going sideways. In this type,
you can work in different departments and with different people that hyou
can pick training in more than one task, thus multiple skills are formed
and developed.

 The important aspects when climbing the success: physical appearance,

manner of speaking, attitude and behavior, posture, and practicing professional
approach are some of the dynamics that must be developed by any student.

57
 Answers to Check Your Understanding
Lesson 1: Factors Affecting Career Choices

Part A

1. a. Family, school, and community culture. Adolescents primarily interact with

their family as well as with people from their school and community. Through their
interactions, they learn to appreciate and view career options in relation to the
perspectives of their social relationships.

2. d. Socio-demographic factors. Gender and location are also important factors in

choosing a career. While no job is limited by gender, some people and companies
would still stereotype people based on their genders.

3. c. Personality factors. Personal qualities and interests also play a role in

choosing a career. Being aware of your personality type based on various
personality tests will enable you to understand your working style, leadership
qualities, potential challenges, and strengths that will enable you to choose an
appropriate career.

4. b. Economic factors. Practicability and good-paying jobs also drive students

towards a specific career path. Not all students are well-off, thus a good education
and a good career choice are used by many students in order to overcome financial
hardships or poverty. Also, career choices are also greatly affected by a practical
mindset and the need for financial stability. Therefore, despite differing personal
choices or career options, an adolescent may choose a career path that is more
practical and better paying than what he originally intended to have.

5. c. Opportunity awareness. This stage of choosing a career pertains to the

process of accumulating information about the possible opportunities such as
availability of jobs, information of the degree or subject, possible post-graduate
opportunities, areas of specialization, and job responsibilities that can be available
for a person in a selected field.

58
Part B

1. Self-awareness here pertains to the ability and capacity of a person to recognize

and acknowledge one’s skills, values, interests, personality, strengths, and areas for
improvement. Being able to be aware of these facets of the self is important to the
person’s success in pursuing a career.

2. Decision making process in this stage refers to the consultation with family,
peers, school counsellors, and others. One can also weigh down the pros and cons
in pursuing other options.

3. The final stage is taking action which is usually done at the final year of one’s
study. Since, this process implies that one is ready to enter the professional world
one possibility to improve and take action during earlier years in college is to
volunteer in an organization where one’s field of interest is being practiced.

Part C

1. Lou should need to point out his abilities and capacities. He also needs to
distinguish his skills, values and interests. Also, it is important to mark his strengths
and areas to improve.

2. Gino can look at possible schools where he wants to study. He could also reflect
whether he wants to major on a specific instrument and what kind of aspect in
music he wants. On the side, he can also look at the possible job opportunities a
person in his field of interest could have. He can use this stage to research these
various aspects in this stage.

3. Maxine is still in her first year in her studies. She still has 3 or more years of
collegiate years. She has already decided that she will become an educator. There is
an estimated 3 or more years where she can hone her craft as a teacher. Maxine
can observe and volunteer to organizations where she can be exposed in her field.
She can assist and observe an experienced teacher on her free time.

59
 Answers to Check Your Understanding
Lesson 2: Career Decision-Making through Personal Development

Part A
1. meaning
2. relatedness
3. resilience
4. focus
5. service learning

Part B
1. How can your personal development contribute to your productivity as a
student?

Personal development helps me adjust to different circumstances that affect my

level of productivity. When fully developed, this sustains my motivation, my
attention, my healthy personal relationships that give me strength and positive
attitude in spite of obstacles. As a student, my tasks are completed because of my
overall attitude and the belief that they are necessary for the development of my
career and the quality of my living.

2. Think of your dream job, what motivates you to aspire for this kind of profession?

I am motivated by this job because of several factors, this is my personal interests,

my skills are a good match to the demands of the job, it will also give me a chance
to help my family in terms of financial matters and lastly, this will allow me to help
other people.

Please take note that the answers of the students are subjective, it is up to the
teacher to gauge the appropriateness of the responses and to grade accordingly.

60
3. Among the two theories discussed, which one is applicable to you?

The answer to this question is subjective. The teacher is given the freedom to
decide the proper answer as long the student makes it a point to relate the theories
to his answer. Please take note of the clarity of the message and the relevance of
the details that are mentioned by the student when grading the answers.

Part C

1. Compare your dream job to the factors in PERMA Theory. Are they aligned?
Please explain your answer.

Again, this requires subjective answer. The teacher decides on the appropriateness
of the answer. The student must be able to cite specific instances that will prove
his/her point. It is necessary to mention the exact components that are related to
this explanation. Clarity of the message and relevance of ideas presented are again
considered.

2. How do you explain “challenging work”?

A challenging work makes use of my abilities and skills. This work allows me to
handle tasks that may be difficult but achievable. It is a rewarding job because it
elicits pride. It also makes me think critically in solving problems. A challenging
work is also one that makes me reach out to other people and how my tasks help
them do their work efficiently and effectively.

3. How do you relate personal development to job satisfaction?

Personal development is an ongoing process that teaches me patience, resilience,

positivity and other characteristics that are needed in accomplishing my career.
Developing a career takes time and a well-developed person can handle difficulties

61
along the way. There is an acceptance that success achieved if the person is patient,
happy, motivated, and determined. These are qualities that personal development
teaches.

62
 Answers to Check Your Understanding
Lesson 3: Tracing Career Path Towards Success

Part A
1. career plan or career planning
2. pitch
3. inflection
4. vertical growth
5. image

Part B

1. Glen is seen as a rebel. He is brooding and always seems to be mad something.

He clothes are mostly inappropriate for the occasion. He wants to become a bank
teller someday but the impression of others is unfavorable. If you were Glen how
will you change your image?

If I were Glen, I would start with my manner of dressing. I would dress depending
on the occasion. I will also smile often and reach out to people. I would start eating
with my classmates and be pleasant to others. My manner of speaking will be
improved. I will speak in a tactful manner and show a positive attitude.

2. How would you differentiate enunciation from pronunciation?

Enunciation. This refers to the proper pronouncement of the sounds of a word. If

a word is “fat”, then it should not be said as “pat”.

Pronunciation. This refers to the proper pronouncement of a word. A good

pronunciation is a sign that a person is well read and articulate. For instance, the
word “read” can be pronounced as “reed” or “red” depending on the

63
message of the sentence.

3. What makes a career plan a valuable tool in mapping your future?

Career plans make sure that my future career is on track. In a career plan, I can
check my progress and find out if I am meeting my goals. Any revisions can be done
since a career plan is fluid and subject to change. This is so because I, as a person,
is also always changing. My career plan is my blueprint or my bucket list. Seeing my
plans pushing through one-by-one gives me a sense of accomplishment that
strengthens my motivation to pursue my goals.

Part C

1. How can personal values affect career planning?

Personal values are inculcated in any person. The origins of values are from the
family and society. Since they are ingrained, a career that opposes the personal
values of a person can have a negative effect. It can cause anxiety, discomfort, and
even becoming an outcast among family members and friends. A career that is not
in conflict with personal values can make a person confident in his/her career since
it is understood that the decisions or tasks that the person has to accomplish in
relation to the career are in accordance to the guiding principles with which the
person has been brought up with.

2. How relevant is a personal mission-vision in career planning?

The personal mission and vision are considered as the backbone of any institution
and endeavor. These statements serve as the anchor that guides a person into
choosing and doing the steps that are aligned with his/her life goals. If there is no
personal mission-vision, a person might lose focus on the things are needed to be
accomplished. Mission-vision statements make a person aware of the areas that
need to be improved, skills that have to be developed, and philosophies or

64
perspectives that he/she needs to understand and promote in order to make
his/her dreams a reality.

3. Which is more important? skills or attitude?

This question requires a subjective answer from the student. The teacher should
look out for the ability of the student to defend his answer convincingly since both
are equally important in any profession. Stress on the logical reasoning, accuracy of
answer and clarity of the message while grading the paper.

Also, the student can defend one or both. The student should include proofs to
make his argument solid therefore he/she can state facts and real-life situations
when answering.

65
 Bibliography

80,000 Hours. Job Satisfaction Research. https://80000hours.org/articles/job-

satisfaction-research/

Carandang, M.L., Ventura, E., Parr, R.A. and Carandang, C.F. Personal
Development.Mandaluyong:Anvil, 2016

Careertipster. Career Advancement Tips: Want to Move Vertical or Horizontal in Your

Career? http://careertipster.com/careerdev/career-advancement-tips-want-to-move-
vertical-or-horizontal-in-your-career/

Central Statistics Office Ireland. Factors affecting career choices of secondary school
students.
http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/newsevents/documents/johnhooperresults2014/
whenigrowup.pdf.

Coaching Positive Performance. 6 Core benefits of personal development.

https://www.coachingpositiveperformance.com/6-core-benefits-personal-
development/

Code, M., Bernes, K., Gunn, T., and Bardick, A. Adolescents Perceptions of Career
Concern:Student Discouragement in Career Development.

Canadian Journal of Counselling, 40 (2006): 160-174

“Factors affecting career choices of secondary school students.” Central Statistics

Office Ireland. Retrieved February 2018 from http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/
newsevents/ documents/johnhooperresults2014/whenigrowup.pdf.

Ferry, Natalie. Factors Influencing Career Choices of Adolescents and Young Adults in
Rural Pennsylvania. Journal of Extension, 44 (2006)

Forbes. The Benefits of Horizontal vs. Vertical Career Growth.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamcraig/2016/02/13/the-benefits-of-horizontal-
66
vs-vertical-career-growth/#4c1fa2ed7547

Fortune. Research shows you need these 5 things to be happy at work.

http://fortune.com/2015/09/26/happy-work-tips/

Garcia-Cox, Maria Gina. Personal Development. Manila: JFS, 2016

Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Prevention of alcohol misuse through the development

of personal and social competence: a pilot study.
http://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsa.1984.45.550

K. Swinhoe. “Factors affecting career choice among full-time students in a college of

commerce.” The Vocational Aspect of Secondary and Further Education, 19 (1967): 139-
154.

Management Study Guide. Role of Personal Development in Career Growth

https://managementstudyguide.com/role-of-personal-development-in-career-
growth.htm

Masters, A., and Wallace, H. Personal Development for Work and Life. Pasig City:
Cengage, 2011

Melissa Venable. “What Factors Affect a Career Choice?” Ohio State University.
Retrieved February 2018 fromhttps://osumarion.osu.edu/assets/marion/uploads/
What_Factors_Influence_a_Career_Choice.pdf.

Michael Code, Kerry Bernes, Thelma Gunn, and Angela Bardick. “Adolescents’
Perceptions of Career Concern: Student Discouragement in Career Development.”
Canadian Journal of Counselling, 40 (2006): 160-174.

Natalie Ferry. “Factors Influencing Career Choices of Adolescents and Young Adults
in Rural Pennsylvania.” Journal of Extension, 44 (2006).

Ramos, Maria Lourdes. Personal Development: A Journey to Self-Awakening.

Quezong City: C & E, 2017

67
Reed.How to Make a career plan.
https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-make-a-career-plan/

Santos, Ricardo. Personal Development.

Manila: Rex, 2016

Swinhoe, K. Factors affecting career choice among full-time students in a college of

commerce.
The Vocational Aspect of Secondary and Further Education, 19 (1967):139-154

Taylor and Francis Online. The Influence of Service Learning on Students’ Personal and
Social Development.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/CTCH.54.4.307-319

University of Kent. “Introduction to How to Choose a Career.”

https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/choosingintro.htm

Vanderbilt University. What is Service Learning or Community Engagement.

https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/teaching-through-community-
engagement/

68
 Glossary

Achievement. This is described as being accomplished, skilled, or successful at

something.

Autonomy. This is the knowledge that a person has a choice and control.

Career planning. This is a method of ensuring that a career in on track

Competence. This is the feeling of being in control and having mastery.

Decision making. It is the development of the decision of the person by consulting

with family, peers, school counselors, and others.

Engagement. It is the act of being immersed in challenging and absorbing work or

tasks.

Enunciation. This refers to the proper pronouncement of the sounds of a word.

Focus. It defined as sustained attention.

Horizontal Growth. It means that we see our career moving not only upwards but
sideways.

Inflection. This is the rising and falling of the voice.

Meaning. It refers to having a higher purpose.

Opportunity awareness. It is the process of accumulating information about the

possible opportunities such as availability of jobs, information of the degree or

69
subjects, possible post-graduate opportunities, areas of specialization, and job
responsibilities.

Out migration. A phenomenon when young professionals choose to move out

from their rural environments is order to take in more career opportunities in more
urbanized locations.

Pitch. It is the highness or lowness of sound.

Positive emotion. It is described as a feeling of consistent happiness.

Pronunciation. This refers to the proper pronouncement of a word.

Relatedness. This is the connection of an individual with others.

Relationships. It is defined as the connections we make with others.

Resilience. This means the ability to adapt to changing situations.

Self awareness. Pertains to the ability and capacity of a person to recognize and
acknowledge one’s skills, values, interests, personality, strengths, and areas for
improvement.

Vertical Growth. This is described as the seeing our career path in a straight line
up the corporate ladder.

Vocabulary. It is defined as the sum total of the words used by and understood by
the speaker.

Volume. This is the loudness or softness of the voice.

70