Activities to help you learn more about different careers

Difficulty: Explorer (Level 1)

It is always fun to think about your dream job! But remember that some jobs look very different from what you might think.

For example, many men and women worldwide are stay-at-home dads or stay-at-home mums. This means they stay home to take care of their children. While this job is not paid, it is still a very important role for many families.

In Hong Kong, having a domestic helper to look after children is common. This makes it possible for both the mother and the father to work outside the home.

But domestic helpers are uncommon in most of the world. Having someone watch a child while both parents work can be costly, so one person might stay home instead. It might not pay money, but it’s an important job.

Shadow an older family member at work

Job shadowing can help you learn more about your relative and explore possible career fields. Photo: Shutterstock

Materials

• an older family member who works outside the home

• a note pad and pen or pencil

Instructions

1. Find an older family member who is OK bringing you to work for a day – perhaps during the summer holiday when you are not in school.

2. Follow them around throughout the day as best as you can. Pay attention to what happens. Are they having meetings? Do they need to make a lot of phone calls? What are their main tasks for the day? It is OK if you do not understand everything!

3. Keep a pen and paper with you. Make sure to ask five questions throughout the day. Wait for appropriate times – don’t bother your relative while they are speaking to someone! Write down five observations you have made about their job. Share these with your relative at the end of the day.

4. If none of your family members are able to bring you to work, then ask them to take you through their day step by step. You can still ask questions and make observations!

Career exploration

What do you want to do when you grow up? Photo: Shutterstock

Choose one school subject and one hobby you enjoy, then use questions below to research different jobs you could do in the future.

• What is a job I could try with this subject or hobby?

• What would I do in this job?

• Why is this job important?

• What other skills or degrees would I need to do this job?