5.+Career+Essay

CAREER ESSAY Past, Present, & Future Now that you have been in the Nursing Assistant program for half a year, it is a good time to look back and to look forward and reflect on the connection between your education and your future career. The frame for this essay is PAST – what influences and experiences made you choose this program, PRESENT – what have learned now and what surprises (pleasant and unpleasant) did the class reveal, and FUTURE – what will you have to do to achieve your aspirations.

The essay has three main body sections, not necessarily paragraphs. Use the questions below to help structure your essay. You are not limited to these questions and you do not have to answer each of them literally.

SECTION 1: **INTRODUCTION ** Do some research on the job opportunities and future openings in your field. Where are the openings: hospitals, clinics, community health centers? What type of person would do well in this area? Why do you want a career in healthcare? What will it take to get there? What is nursing / medicine / medical assisting? What are the future job prospects in this field? SECTION 2: **What, When, Who, Why? **   **(PAST) ** Think back to last year when you came to our open house. Why did you chose this program and not cosmetology, auto mechanics, or culinary? What is most important to you about a career choice?

When did you first know you wanted to be a nurse (for example)? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What influenced you to pursue this career? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Is there anyone in your family that works in the field? How have they influenced you? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What experience convinced you this was a career for you? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What traits or talents do you have that you would think serve you well in this career? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What other careers / jobs have you done or considered in the past? Why have you chosen not to pursue them? **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">BE SPECIFIC ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">SECTION 3: **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">(PRESENT) ** **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Expectations / Surprises ** <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">This year you have been exposed to some of the coursework and practical skills required for your career. How has this training influenced your perceptions?

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Before taking this class, what did you expect working in healthcare to be like? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What do you like most about working in healthcare? What do you like least? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">After taking the class, what is the biggest surprise / challenge? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What is the most important thing you learned this year? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Have your views or opinions of healthcare changed over the course of this year? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Would you advise your friends to pursue a career in healthcare? Why or Why not? **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">BE SPECIFIC ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">SECTION 4: **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">The Path Ahead ** **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">(FUTURE) ** <span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Before we have realities, we must have dreams and visions. Where do you see yourself in the next decade? It is OK to dream big, but we should consider how our dreams for our careers work with the other things we want to do in our life: family, schedules, and interests. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What steps will you need to obtain the job you want? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What education does the position you want require? (Do some research) <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What schools have good programs to further your education? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Where do you see yourself in 5 / 10 / 15 years? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What type of career is best suited for you? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">What type of situation (urban / suburban, etc.) would you like to work in? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">How will your work career interact with your family and social life? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px; text-align: center;">Paragraph 5: **<span style="font-family: 'Constantia','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Conclusion **