Research should include using valid sources to find information about

• career opportunities and the advantages or disadvantages of chosen occupations
• job descriptions
• working conditions, including salary expectations, requirements for employment, advancement opportunities, and workplace policies that help employees balance work and family life
• training, education, and certification requirements and the costs and benefits of various training options
• workplace trends and needs (e.g., skilled trades).

Teacher Resources:

• Careers in FCS, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS)
• Family and Consumer Sciences in the National Career Clusters Framework, Advance CTE
• FCS Career Spotlight, AAFCS
• Career Connection, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
• O*Net Online, U.S. Department of Labor
• Virginia Employment Commission
• Virginia Education Wizard, Virginia’s Community Colleges

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

• What are the career pathways within FCS?
• Why is it important to research a variety of interesting careers?

Communication

• Which communication skills are necessary to gather and evaluate information for career research?
• What resources are available for researching career options? Which are most reliable?

Leadership

• What skills can be most effective for career attainment?
• How can networking be used effectively in career selection or attainment?

Management

• How can researching a company or career before an interview benefit one’s chances of getting hired?
• How can career selection affect future goals?