Building a Successful Career Plan - Essay Example

Career Plan THESIS MENT The essay discusses relevant information essential for building a successful career plan, which might be effective in developing my future career opportunities especially in ‘Family and Consumer Science’ (FCS). There are two career options which include consumer science teacher and fashion retail manager, which I choose to pursue after graduation. In this regard, the essay depicts the necessary requirements based on which I can accomplish my career objectives in the most efficient manner. INTRODUCTION In the present scenario, individuals graduating in the field of FCS are offered with different job opportunities. In this respect, graduates possessing degree in FCS are facilitated with the opportunity of building an effective career in different professional areas relating to dietetics, hospitality, education, communication and interior design among others. Additionally, individuals after the completion of their FCS course are recognized to have high career demand in the present job market. (Iowa State University, “Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies (FCEdS)”). In this context, I have planned to pursue course in FCS with the aim of possessing better career opportunities. DISCUSSION Professionals with FCS graduates have developed their career path successfully with a better competitive position. The FCS professionals are also facilitated with the opportunity of having better career options in their career life owing to diversified specialization options. Presently, graduates on completion of FCS course are able to build successful career path with better job security as well as sustainability. I am an undergraduate student at present and I have planned to pursue graduate degree course in the field of FCS with the intention of having better career opportunities after completion of graduate degree. I have planned to develop a career in FCS, as the course program will aid me in developing skill sets in different areas that include communication, creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Subsequently, the skill sets acquired from FCS course are mostly demanded in job market. The coursework and skill sets will also facilitate me in enhancing life quality of different individuals. Additionally, the course will also aid in building interrelationship amid people within communities in different economic, physical as well as social environment. The report published by the ‘U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) signified that graduates in FCS pursuing profession as nutritionists as well as dietitians are offered with average wage of around $55,920. Moreover, employment ratio in the same career option for FCS graduates is anticipated to augment to around 21 percent between the periods from 2012 to 2022. Additionally, the report also noted that graduates after the completion of FCS course pursuing career as consumer science teacher are seemed to earn an average income of around $54,270. Similarly, career opportunities technical, primary and secondary teacher would rise to around 9 percent in 21st century (Education Portal, “Family and Consumer Sciences”). The two career options that I am willing to take up after completion of FCS graduation program include consumer science teacher and fashion retail manager. Currently, there is a huge demand for consumer science teachers in the job market. Consumer science teachers are required to work for over 40 hours per week. Traditionally, consumer science teachers work for around 10 months in a school calendar year. Consumer science teachers are required to perform different job duties which include developing course materials, scoring assignments and class preparation. Additionally, consumer science teachers are also entrusted with the responsibility of performing administrative tasks in the area of school administration and health promotion (College Foundation, Inc, “High School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher”). Consumer science teachers are also identified to perform different real job responsibilities, which also assist them in accomplishing personal objectives successfully. Consumer science teachers with the assistance of their knowledge as well as skills are able to make effective informed decisions based on which they are facilitated in enhancing their life quality and health. In this respect, consumer science teachers are able to possess life skills as well as career development keys, which aid in accomplishing their personal along with career growth effectively. Subsequently, consumer science teachers obtain high-job employment and life skills aiding them in accomplishing a balanced work as well as personal life accountable for job satisfaction. Contextually, consumer science teachers are able to procure better career opportunity and balanced life, which aid them in retaining a healthy lifestyle (Kelly and Filbeck 1-12). In this respect, I have planned to pursue my career as consumer science teacher, as it will aid in making informed decisions and developing efficient life skills. Moreover, the job profile I choose is appropriate for retaining healthy lifestyle owing to the fact of reasonable working hours and minimum job stress and insecurity. Correspondingly, developing my career as consumer science teacher will facilitate in enhancing my life quality as well as building effective interrelationship with other individuals within a community. In order to put myself in the job of consumer science teacher, I will firmly engage in developing my logical and analytical problem solving skill through continuous interaction with knowledgeable personnel within the community. The second career that I choose after completing FCS degree is fashion retail manager. Fashion retail managers are required to work over 40-hours per week as standard working hours. Fashion retail managers might also be required to work for extended hours for better accomplishment of retail store objectives (QuinStreet, Inc, “Career Information”). Managers are required to perform different job responsibilities that include managing daily operations, ordering merchandise, settling disputes of customers and organizing sale campaigns. Fashion retail manager for successful management of retail activities are required to possess set of skill that include leadership skill, organizational skill as well as customer service skill. Moreover, managers are also required to possess computer skills for different purposes that include tracking progress of employees, managing financial reports as well as inventory and communicating effectively with apparel suppliers (Education Portal, “Salary and Career Info for a Clothing Store Manager”). In this context, fashion retail managers are paid with an average salary of around $60,550 as estimated in May 2012 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents”). In this regard, managers paid with high wage and possessing diversified sets of skill enables them in accomplishing their personal as well as professional goals successfully. Additionally, graduates completing FCS course in fashion retailing are able to procure jobs competitively with better commensurate salary relating to educational qualifications. In this respect, fashion retail managers are able to have better career growth with essential experiences, which are accountable for job satisfaction. Fashion retail managers possessing decision-making and judgment-making skills are able to balance their work life and professional life, which aid them in maintaining their desired lifestyles in harmonious manner (Education Portal, “How to Become a Fashion Retail Manager”). Respectively, developing my career as fashion retail manager will assist me in developing different competencies that include communication skills, team management skills and decision-making skills among others. The development of the aforementioned skills will facilitate me to be competent for the present competitive job market. The job profile will also aid in balancing my professional as well as personal life at large. Subsequently, pursuing career as fashion retail manager will assist me in developing management skills as well as leadership skills to a large extent. Thus, career as fashion retail manager will aid me to be a competent candidate in the job market. In order to accomplish my career goal of becoming fashion retail manager, I will be taking leadership and communication classes for developing and improving necessary skills required by successful fashion retail manager. CONCLUSION It can be comprehended from the foregoing discussion that graduates completing FCS degree are able to have diversified career options in their life. Additionally, FCS graduates are also facilitated with the opportunity of having better career demand and opportunities. In this respect, I have planned to pursue two career options in future which include consumer science teacher and fashion retail manager. I have selected the two careers with the intention of developing my skill and knowledge to be a competent candidate in the job market. Moreover, the career options will also facilitate in balancing my personal as well as professional life in a cordial manner. Accordingly, the two career options will assist in accomplishing my professionals as well as personal objectives successfully. Works Cited “High School Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher.” College Foundation, Inc. 2011. Web. 29 May. 2014. “Family and Consumer Sciences.” Education Portal. 2014. Web. 29 May. 2014. “Salary and Career Info for a Clothing Store Manager.” Education Portal. 2014. Web. 29 May. 2014. “How to Become a Fashion Retail Manager.” Education Portal. 2014. Web. 29 May. 2014. “Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Studies (FCEdS).” Iowa State University. 2014. Web. 29 May. 2014. Kelly, Maureen E. and Marilynn Filbeck. “Career, Community and Family Connections: Implementation in Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher Education.” Journal of Family Consumer Sciences Education 27 (2009): 1-12. Print. “Career Information.” QuinStreet, Inc. 2014. Web. 29 May. 2014. “Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2014. Web. 29 May. 2014. Read More