Assignment: Hospitality Business Professional Development
Guidelines
Career Exploration Project (CEP)
Purpose
This assignment is intended to help you learn about a career(s)/occupation(s) that you are interested in pursuing upon graduation. You will have the opportunity to explore one or two occupations, gather information pertinent to that occupation, and integrate this information into a paper in which you profile your selected occupation(s). This will be your final project for the class; it is worth 40 pts.
Options
You may choose one of the following options for your written profile (project paper). They are:
Option A:
Select one occupation for an in depth study, using at least 3 different sources of information and including 14 sections/topics. See page 2 for complete instructions for Option A.
OR
Option B:
Select two occupations; using at least 3 different sources of information and including 7 sections/topics for each occupation. See page 4 for complete instructions for Option B.
Format
Type-written, prefer Arial 11 font, double spaced, 8 - 10 pages. Follow the outline under Sections/Topics EXACTLY in the order in which they are listed in the instructions for this assignment (Option A or Option B) Provide one - two paragraphs for each point under Sections/Topics as noted in the instructions below. Example:
1. INTRODUCTION:
One - two paragraphs of information/discussion
2. TYPICAL CAREER PATH:
One - two paragraphs of information/discussion
Be sure to cite your sources and include a list of references. Either APA or MLA style is acceptable.
Include at the top of each page: your name, PID, Option A or B (you can include all of this in a header that will appear on each page). STAPLE the pages of your paper.
If you have questions about formatting, please ask me.
Hospitality Business Professional Development
Career Exploration Project (CEP)
Option A
- Select one occupation for an in depth study.
- Sources of Information. Use and cite at least 3 different sources from the list below.
- Informational interview with a resource person(s). (Strongly recommended)*
- Computer assisted career guidance systems.
- Reference books, e.g. Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Employer literature.
- Internet sources (career; employer; industry).
- Governmental reports, Dept. of Labor, Jobs Commission.
- Professional association reports.
- Professional magazines or journals.
- News reports, e.g. Hospitality Business News, Wall Street Journal, Fortune.
- Professional subscription service occupational briefs.
- Video/audio recordings
- Job announcements (print, electronic, audio).
- Others (e.g., job shadowing)
- Sections/Topics. Include all of the following 14 section/topics listed below.
1. INTRODUCTION: Provide a brief, basic description of the occupation, such as typical work settings and kind of work done, etc.
2. TYPICAL CAREER PATH: Describe the typical career path for someone in this occupation from entry to the highest-level position.
3. TRENDS: Describe how technology, new organizational structure, diversified training, and other management or economic trends are affecting the occupation.
4. SALARY INFORMATION: Provide salary range information for different types of positions in this occupation; indicate differences for entry level and experienced workers, and if there are geographic differences in salary.
5. SKILLS USED: Describe the skills or abilities typically used by persons in this occupation.
6. EMPLOYING ORGANIZATIONS: Explain what kinds of organizations hire persons in this occupation; what industries are involved; are persons self employed in this occupation?
7. BECOMING EMPLOYED: Describe how persons find employment in this occupation; are internships, volunteering, job fairs, faculty referrals, and other means used; how long does a job search last?
8 TYPICAL JOB POSTINGS/NOTICES: Review and describe a typical job posting/employment ad in this occupation that is of personal interest to you.
9. WORK CONDITIONS: Describe the physical environment, stress level, type of supervision, customer/client contact, hours, work related travel, etc.
10. EDUCATION/TRAINING: Describe the majors or fields of study related to preparation for working in the occupation. Are any certification programs available and/or required?
11. AFFILIATIONS: Specify professional or union organizational memberships typically held by persons in this occupation; are the organizations international, national, regional, state, local?
12. OUTLOOK: Describe the current and projected job openings in the occupation, regional influences, industry changes, etc.
13. LIFESTYLE IMPACT: Discuss how working in this occupation affects family roles, marriage, leisure options, and vacations.
14. CONCLUSION. Write a summary or review of your general findings and conclusions as a result of your research. Address at least the following questions:
- How do your personal values match-up with what's required of someone doing the work you looked at?
- Does your current skill set meet the requirements for this occupation - which (if any) skills will you need to develop/improve and how will you accomplish this?
- How does your personality seem to fit with the requirements of the occupation(s) you researched?
- Compare your "ideal job description" to all that you've compiled about the occupation you explored - is there a potential "fit" here?
- Given all these questions -- what will you want/need to do next?
*Informational Interview (as a Source of Information)
An informational interview with a resource person(s) is a primary source of information that can be very useful to you as your explore your career/occupation interests. It is strongly recommended that you conduct an informational interview and incorporate it into your paper. To incorporate the interview into your paper, you should include in the body of your paper relevant descriptions or quotes from the interview, cite the interview under the references page of your paper, and include as an attachment to your paper a copy of the interview questions
Interview Tips
- Be sure to contact the interviewee in advance to schedule a time for the interview.
- Interviews can be conducted in-person, by phone (land-lines are best; if you use a cell phone be sure you have good reception and a charged battery), or via e-mail.
o If you interview in person, arrive on time and end the interview at the pre-arranged time period.
o If the interview will be conducted by phone, offer to phone the interviewee and be punctual. If the interviewee prefers to call you, be available and ready to start the interview on time.
o If the interview will be conducted via e-mail, include an easily recognizable subject in the subject line; use professional language (no slang or shorthand or abbreviations); present your questions in an orderly and succinct format; allow the interviewee time to respond and specify a reply by date; follow-up with a reminder; acknowledge receipt of the interviewee's response.
- To make the most of your interview, prepare a list of relevant questions and be familiar with the questions and the order in which you are going to ask them.
- At the end of the interview, thank the interviewee for his/her time and make sure to get a business card if possible.
- Although you are not required to send a "thank you" letter, it is very appropriate to do so and highly encouraged!
Hospitality Business Professional Development I
Career Exploration Project (CEP)
Option B
- Select two occupations for an in depth study.
- Sources of Information. Use and cite at least 3 different from the list below.
- Informational interview with a resource person(s). (Strongly recommended)*
- Computer assisted career guidance systems.
- Reference books, e.g. Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Employer literature.
- Internet sources (career, employer; industry).
- Governmental reports, Dept. of Labor, Jobs Commission.
- Professional association reports.
- Professional magazines or journals.
- News reports, e.g. Hospitality Business News, Wall Street Journal, Fortune..
- Professional subscription service occupational briefs.
- Video/audio recordings
- Job announcements (print, electronic, audio).
- Others (e.g., job shadowing)
? Sections/Topics. Include for each occupation all of the following 7 sections/topics listed below.
1. INTRODUCTION: Provide a brief, basic description of the occupation, such as the kind of work done, typical work settings, typical career path (e.g., entry level position, first promotion, and so forth).
2. SKILLS USED: Describe the skills or abilities typically used by persons in this occupation.
3. WORK CONDITIONS: Describe the physical environment, stress level, type of supervision, customer/client contact, hours, etc.
4. EDUCATION/TRAINING: Describe the majors or fields of study related to preparation for working in the occupation. Are any certification programs available and/or required?
5. AFFILIATIONS: Specify professional or union organizational memberships typically held by persons in this occupation; are the organizations international, national, regional, state, local?
6. OUTLOOK/SALARY: Describe the current and projected job openings in the occupation, current and future salaries, regional influences, industry changes, etc.
7. CONCLUSION. Write a summary or review of your general findings and conclusions as a result of your research. Address at least the following questions:
- How do your personal values match-up with what's required of someone doing the work you looked at?
- Does your current skill set meet the requirements for this occupation - which (if any) skills will you need to develop/improve and how will you accomplish this?
- How does your personality seem to fit with the requirements of the occupation(s) you researched?
- Compare your "ideal job description" to all that you've compiled about the occupation(s) you explored - is there a potential "fit" here?
- Given all these questions -- what will you want/need to do next?
*Informational Interview (as a Source of Information)
An informational interview with a resource person(s) is a primary source of information that can be very useful to you as your explore your career/occupation interests. It is strongly recommended that you conduct an informational interview and incorporate it into your paper. To incorporate the interview into your paper, you should include in the body of your paper relevant descriptions or quotes from the interview, cite the interview under the references page of your paper, and include as an attachment to your paper a copy of the interview questions
Interview Tips
- Be sure to contact the interviewee in advance to schedule a time for the interview.
- Interviews can be conducted in-person, by phone (land-lines are best; if you use a cell phone be sure you have good reception and a charged battery), or via e-mail.
o If you interview in person, arrive on time and end the interview at the pre-arranged time period.
o If the interview will be conducted by phone, offer to phone the interviewee and be punctual. If the interviewee prefers to call you, be available and ready to start the interview on time.
o If the interview will be conducted via e-mail, include an easily recognizable subject in the subject line; use professional language (no slang or shorthand or abbreviations); present your questions in an orderly and succinct format; allow the interviewee time to respond and specify a reply by date; follow-up with a reminder; acknowledge receipt of the interviewee's response.
- To make the most of your interview, prepare a list of relevant questions and be familiar with the questions and the order in which you are going to ask them.
- At the end of the interview, thank the interviewee for his/her time and make sure to get a business card if possible.
- Although you are not required to send a "thank you" letter, it is very appropriate to do so and highly encouraged!