career research

Introduction: The introduction will be comprised of two paragraphs. In the first introductory paragraph do the following:  “Hook” the reader with a detailed, personalized paragraph (writing only what you feel comfortable sharing with others) about how you became interested in the career field.  Use a specific rhetorical strategy, such as narration (a single story) or process analysis (the steps that led to your current interest in the career). In the second introductory paragraph, do the following:  First, tell us your interviewee’s name, title, organization, highest level of education, and any other relevant background information.  Next, provide basic information about the interview. If face-to-face, tell us where and when the interview took place. If not face-to-face, tell us when and how it was conducted, that is, via Skype, phone, etc.  In the last sentence of the paragraph, provide the thesis statement. The subject is the career field and the focus is aspects of the career relevant to a job seeker.

Body: The body of the essay is comprised of the following three sections (if you have a lot of information for a section, divide the information into several paragraphs): (1) Nature of the Work—this refers to tasks, duties, and responsibilities of the job. (2) Working Conditions, Benefits, Pay, and Retirement—“Working conditions” includes amenities, physical environment, stress and noise levels, degree of safety or danger, etc. (3) Training, Employment, and Job Outlook—“Training” includes on-the-job training and also any education or certification required to apply for the job. “Employment” refers to who is hiring and where jobs are available. “Job Outlook” is the forecast of the future demand and availability for a job or career. The specific content for the body paragraphs will come from your research of library and online sources and the informational interview. As you add specific supporting details to your essay, keep in mind the following:  Include information from at least three unique library/online research sources.  Effectively integrate your sources into your text (do not just “drop” information in).  Properly cite your sources (paraphrases and quotes) using MLA formatting.

Conclusion: In the concluding paragraph, do the following:  First, signal the end of the essay; that is, start with a sentence that makes it clear to the reader that you are wrapping up.  Next, in just one (or, at most, two) sentences, remind the reader of your main points either by summarizing the subtopics and/or paraphrasing the thesis.  Lastly, present your final thoughts, such as new insights, new attitudes, and/or predictions about your future career. For example, you could describe your next steps for pursuing the career. Alternatively, if you have decided not to pursue the career, you could state the reasons for your decision. Your final thoughts are up to you; however, keep them related to the essay and make them interesting for the reader.