Unit One:

Intro to theIntro to theWorld of WorkWorld of Work

By

Dr. David Agnew and

Mr. Jim WendellArkansas State University

Objectives: 1.  Define terms associated with introduction to the

world of work:  1.1Attitude, career, demographics, ethnic, global economy, goal, job,

occupation, orientation, outsourcing, work, workforce diversity 2.  State reasons why a positive attitude is important. 1.2.13.  Explore reasons why people work   1.1.24.  Interpret factors that contribute to a global economy 1.3.15.  Describe the effects of a global economy in relation to the world of work  1.3   

6. Describe how school courses and school work can affect a person’s career and life

Unit 1 Terms: Introduction to the World of WorkIntroduction to the World of Work Attitude–a person’s outlook on life, usually positive or negative Career–the work done over a period of years in one area of interest Demographics–characteristics or make-up of a population Ethnic–relating to races or groups of people with common customs Global economy–worldwide financial management system Goal–an objective that a person wants to obtain and works to achieve Job–work that a person does for pay Occupation–the type of job in which a person is employed Orientation–acquaint or become familiar with a new situation Outsourcing–utilizing external resources Work–a productive activity resulting in something useful Workforce diversity–a wide variety of workers with different

backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and skills in the workplace

Reasons to Have a Positive Attitude

Makes a better impression, makes you more employable

More like to retain job longer People prefer to work with others who have

a PMA You will enjoy work more with a PMA Productive is higher for those who have a

PMA

Attitude - Your Basic Outlook on Your Life’s Work

Perhaps the most important factor in your job success Usually influenced by parents and other adults Helps to develop a good work ethic - a set of values based on

hard work using the belief that work is good, productive, and contains certain joys and benefits.

Could help to avoid a bad work ethic - a set of values based on the beliefs that work is always negative and a “necessary evil” where one must do only the minimum amount of labor to survive.

Self-concept - one’s self image concerning your feelings about your own worth and value

Attitude Attributes POSITIVE ATTITUDE: Smiles constantly Seldom complains Listens to other’s opinions Willing to change for the

better Will admits mistakes Seldom makes excuses Seldom criticizes others Considerate of others Likes working with people

NEGATIVE ATTITUDE: Seldom smiles Complains often They are always right Stubborn - refuses to change Blames others Always makes excuses Criticizes others Thinks only of self Anti-social behaviors

A Career is:

Work you do over a period of years. Total of all the jobs you will ever have.

Example - An Education Career can consist of many jobs such as aide, teacher, principal, superintendent

Job or Career?

Not the same thing Compare to friendships you may have:

• Job - similar to a casual acquaintance that you didn’t care to know very well and won’t spend much time with

• Career - like a best friend; a big part of your life and you want to keep knowing and learning about all your life

Difference Between Job and Occupation

using an example of a grocery store clerk in two separate stores

Both have the same occupation - grocery store clerk

However, these are different jobs because of the different job duties in each position. In one the clerk might be responsible for gathering grocery carts and sweeping the floors and in the other, the clerk might have responsibilities of checking customers out.

Demographics

Characteristics or make-up of a population• Age, ethnicity, gender, income, marital status,

etc.

Ethnic

Relating to races or groups of like people with common customs and attributes

What is a Good Work Ethic?

Being one time Doing your best Using your resources wisely Listening and following directions Thinking through what you are doing

Global Economy

Worldwide financial management system

Goal

An objective that a person wants to obtain and works to achieve

Possible Career GoalsYou might dream of;

Owning a fishing cabin in the mountains Workshop with tools Solving mysteries, understanding scientific

problems, or acquiring knowledge about a specific topic

Inventing new products Writing a novel Owning your own business Going into politics

Orientation

Acquaint or become familiar with a new situation

Outsourcing

Utilizing external resources

Then There That Four Letter Word, Known as:

Work

What is Work…???

Hard to define - over 30 lines one dictionary. Most definitions state useful, productive activity

and the labor by which a person earns a living. On average, one will spend 30 or 40 years

working full time during their adult years. By developing a positive attitude towards work,

you can be someone who has a happy and fulfilling life .

Work is:Productive activity resulting

in something useful.

Why do People Work -besides to make money

People like to be with people.

People want to be fulfilled.

People need direction and purpose.

Source: Text

Working to Meet a Need

Economic $$$ Social Psychological

Work has mixed perception in society today People seem to want to “Get out of work” work smarter not harder Let others work for you Man’s work is from sun to sun but a woman’s

work is never done Eat sleep go fish Work in song…. Take this job and ______,

Working 9 to 5, Make hay while sun shines Work your fingers to the bone

Attitudes toward work has evolved over time

• Industrial revolution first great drain on the traditional rural and agrarian society and it was a different kind of work.

• Electricity of the 1880s led to lighted factories.

• Sabbath Schools for children to learn to read in the early 1800s who were being over worked by factories.

• 1872 National Labor Reform Party formed

• 1878 Socialist Labor Party founded

• Child labor laws begin to emerge mid to late 1800s

Attitudes toward work has evolved over time, Continued….

• Agricultural advancements (Mechanical, Chemical) released workers from the farms.

• The Great Depression 1930s• 1938 Congress passes the Fair Labor

Standards Act, which establishes the forty-hour work week, the minimum wage, and bans child labor in interstate commerce

• Study done in the 60 and repeated in the 80s• Generation X

Survey Answers to Main Reasons to Work

To have money for necessities To have money for luxuries To be with other people and make friends To feel good about myself because I am

accomplishing something worthwhile To feel good about myself because I expand

my skills and knowledge through my work To feel good about myself because work

gives me a sense of identity

Your Work Ethic: Where did it come from?

The protestant reform movements in Great Britain

Came to America with Pilgrims and others. Part of the religious movements of the late

1700s in the U.S. Society—TV, Movies, magazines, etc.. Parents, teachers, church, community

organizations. NEED

In Summary:

What is work? What is a job? and what is a career?

What are the reasons people work? Why is it important to plan a career? Why is it important for one to have a

positive attitude towards life and work? What are the attributes of a positive

attitude?

The End

Advantages of Career Planning

You have more control over your life when you plan ahead Your income may increase faster because each job will be

higher on your career ladder You will more likely be working in your area of interest Each job may give you new skills and experiences for

preparation to the next advancement step You may be able to focus on reaching your most important

goals that you have established for yourself with the least amount of distraction

Planning a CareerRalph Waldo Emerson: The reward for a thing well

done is to have done it.

Set a personal goal - something you want to obtain and will work to achieve.

Has a definite direction Has a thought-out plan Contains many steps Requires hard work Takes time

Planning a Career (Cont.)Comparing Career Planning to Mountain Climbing

Both require planning to advance in the

most productive manner Decisions need to be made for successful

completion of both Aimless wandering in either may result in

much activity with little or no gain toward the desired goal