Running head: ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

Assessing a Career in Business

Camilla Cook
Salt Lake Community College Redwood Campus
BUS 1010 Introduction to Business
July 30, 2016
K.C. Jensen

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

Assessing a Career in Business

Introduction
My dream job and goal is to become a grade school teacher, as a child I used to line up
my stuffed animals in front of my little chalkboard and teach them math, English, social studies
etc. I had forgotten about this long ago until I sat down and thought about what I wanted to do
with my life and was reminded of my childhood dreams. I had been laid off from my job of 10
years and received the opportunity to go back to school, I needed to make a decision on what I
wanted to do next. With my layoff my job was sent overseas so I qualified for the trade act for
school which means 2 years of my school would be paid for, but they pay for a degree you can
get within 2 years so I chose Business Management. Its a great opportunity to get a backup
degree in something that is universal. My past jobs have been in management but I am looking
forward to this change in my life. I am choosing to write my paper on teaching since that is my
ultimate career choice.

Job Description
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the
students for whom they are responsible. Observe and evaluate students performance, behavior,
social development and physical health. Prepare materials and classroom for class activities,
adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students varying needs and interest.
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time
that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. Instruct students

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

individually and in groups, using various teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and
demonstrations. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate
those objectives to students. Assign and grade class work and homework and read books to entire
classes or small groups. Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments in order to evaluate
students' progress; confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators in
order to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems. Meet with parents and guardians to
discuss their children's progress, and to determine their priorities for their children and their
resource needs. Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district
policies, and administrative regulations. Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to
explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks as well as guide and
counsel students with adjustment and/or academic problems, or special academic interests.
Prepare and implement remedial programs for students requiring extra help and prepare
objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of
states and schools. Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting
learning, following approved curricula as well as meet with other professionals to discuss
individual students' needs and progress. Perform administrative duties such as assisting in school
libraries, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading and involve parent
volunteers and older students in children's activities, in order to facilitate involvement in focused,
complex play. (www.job-descriptions.careerplanner.com)

General Career Path/General Education Experience

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

Becoming a teacher requires compassion, dedication, hard work, and a lot of patience.
Prospective teachers must be accepted into an education program and complete bachelors
degree. During this time you are required to take several different courses in a range of topics.
These topics might include educational literature, specific math and methods courses and
classroom field experience. Each education program requires specific classes on how to teach for
all the subject areas that a teacher would cover. Student teaching is a crucial part of the education
program. This is where students are required to gain hands on experience by completing a certain
amount of hours in a classroom. This allows the aspiring teachers to learn how to prepare class
lesson plans, manage a classroom, and get an overall idea on how it is to teach in a classroom.
Although the requirements vary from state to state, each state does require that individuals must
take and pass a general teaching exam and a content specific exam on the subject they wish to
teach. Candidates that want to acquire a teaching license must hold a bachelor's degree, have had
a background check, and completed the teaching exams. All public schools require teachers to be
licensed, but some private schools only require a college degree in order to teach.
(http://k6educators.about.com)
Average Salary
The beginning salary for an elementary school teacher in a Utah public school is around
$33,081 and the average salary is $49,393. Pay will increase with a masters degree. The highest
paid teachers are college professors. (www.teacherportal.com)
Career Outlook
There are and always will be a need for teachers and it is not just a local job, you can
teach anywhere which only means higher job security. Some other surrounding states pay better

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

than Utah so you have opportunities to make more if that is something that you are looking for.
Teachers are so important for our children and education and should be paid a higher salary
along with our police and service forces. There are many positions available throughout the year,
Ive been checking local jobs for the past 2 years to keep up on how the economy is doing and I
dont foresee a problem in finding employment when I am through with my degree.
(http://www.jobs2careers.com)
Bio of someone in the Profession
I interviewed my daughters teacher Mrs. Johnson and had a wonderful time talking with her and
asking questions. Spending time in class was a great experience, she has such a great attitude and
is so caring that her students love and respect her. Everyone in class was so engaged in what they
were doing. She was great and gave me so much information, her interview I had planned on
spending about a half hour on but we ended up together for an hour and a half. She was very
friendly, honest and helpful and has such a passion for her job and her students. I asked her why
she wanted to become a teacher, she explained that teaching chose her. Before teaching she was
interpreting for one of the school districts and wasnt very happy. She had this feeling that she
should just stay in her job for now and not do anything until after fall, someone came up to her
and said I dont know why you dont just become a teacher and she had heard that before as
well. This particular time a light came on and she thought exactly, that is what I am supposed to
be doing. She already had her bachelors degree and so she signed up to get her teaching
endorsement.
What are some of the challenges she has faced in regards to the job? I asked. It was funny
because she didnt even have to think about it, the answer was the parents. There are some

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

parents that are supportive and understand why their kid didnt get an A on certain things. Then
there are those parents that will just come out and attack you screaming that their kid is a straight
A student, and why are you picking on my child and giving them bad grades. Even when the test
results prove that this is the grade they tested at. They treat you like you are the devil, and you
are why their child failed the class and it has nothing to do with their perfect child. Being that
type of parent is not helping your child out at all. And sometimes teachers cave in and just dont
want to fight about it any longer. With that, you as a parent are teaching your child if you kick
and scream long enough you can get what you want. She is really thankful for the administration
she works for because they understand how parents can be and really back their teachers up.
I asked her if she had flexibility in her way of teaching or if she was stuck to a strict
syllabus. She explained that she has total flexibility, the way she explained it is that between the
quarters its like you planned to get to Denver. It doesnt matter how you get there you just have
to make it, everyone has their own style and should be able to use their strengths in teaching the
way that works best for them and the students. What she liked about the job is, when she is
teaching the students and she can see that all of a sudden they get it, its like seeing a lightbulb
go off in their head and that is such a wonderful thing to experience. She is a very happy bubbly
type of person but is very sensitive to parent complaints, so that is one thing that she struggles to
work on. One thing she mentioned is she keeps a folder in her class of nice notes that her
students have written to her, so when she has an awful time with a parent she can open that up
and remember why she is doing what shes doing. Its all about the students and her love for
teaching them. She knows that students are struggling with who knows what outside of school
and she just wants to be someone that they feel safe with, and know that they are loved.

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

One of the things she hates about the job is also one of the things she loves, and again it
comes to the parents. When she is working with great parents that are really engaged and
involved in a positive way helping her and speaking with her on how much they appreciate what
she does for their child, which makes her day. Also, as I talked about before there can be those
parents that cant be pleased no matter what you do, and that she finds difficult. She also talked
about how she hates making sub plans, she also doesnt like having to come in to work so early.
But she likes it a lot more then she doesnt like it, which makes for a wonderful job and
experience.
The last question I asked was. Is there anything you would advise someone thinking
about a career in teaching? Her advice to me was, that no matter what I do, remember that even
though it feels like you are so busy just teaching them, it isnt just about the curriculum its about
the students as well. Yes they need to learn stuff but its so much more than just that. With
student there is so much of here is what you missed on the test, and here is what you did
wrong. And not enough of them hearing that they are special, or important, or that they are
loved, and they have potential. So tell them you know what? youre doing a great job and
youre learning and this is a process and even though you didnt get it this time it doesnt matter
because youre working on it and be a positive person in their lives. And again she stated not to
take my work home with me. She said the first year will be the hardest of course, and not to be
afraid to stay at the school until 6:00pm if needed, that way I would be confident in what Im
doing, and I would know for sure that I had my stuff ready for the next day.
This interview has only excited me more about my decision to become a teacher and I
cant wait until I am able to do so.

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

Pros and Cons

The pros are helping children and being able to watch them grow as they learn new things
and also having a career in a job that I will find satisfying. Education is such an important part of
our lives and we should never stop learning, being able to teach will be such an exciting job. I
think that having summers off is both a pro and a con as you need to be smart with the money
you get throughout the year and put some away so that you are able to survive during the
summer months, but its also a nice vacation from work. Its also not a 9-5 job some days you
might be working longer hours to get homework graded or parent/teacher meetings along with
other meetings but I think its worth the time you put in. A con would be the pay, I would like to
make more and think that teachers should be paid a higher wage but this isnt something that will
make me turn away from the passion I have to become a teacher. And both as a pro and con as
stated by Mrs. Johnson during my interview would be the parents. I already know from just
going to different school events that some of the parents just want things done their way and do
not listen to anything anyone says. But you get that in any job working with different
personalities, there will always be someone that doesnt agree with you, but that doesnt mean
you shouldnt work that particular job.
Your fit with this career
I am a very caring and companionate person, I love helping others and thrive on their
success. I am also a patient person and a great listener, in my past job as a leader I was asked to
also help in a training position because of how comfortable people are when they are with me

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

and how patient I am with them. I understand that people learn in different ways and at different
rates and I am great with helping them to get where they need to be. I know that my leadership
and training skills will transfer over nicely into my teaching career, just as teachers learn a lot of
the skills that are also necessary in the business world. I dont have any doubt that this is the
career I was born to do, I know that it is something I will enjoy and excel at due to my
personality and skill set.

ASSESSING A CAREER IN BUSINESS

10

References

(1997-2016). Retrieved from CareerPlanner.com: http://jobdescriptions.careerplanner.com/Elementary-School-Teachers-Except-SpecialEducation.cfm

(2016). Retrieved from About Education:
http://k6educators.about.com/od/becomingateacher/a/Elementary-TeacherQualifications.htm?utm_term=school%20teacher%20requirements&utm_content=p1main-1-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=msn_s&utm_campaign=adid-04a4afd2fad3-4400-afa9-9191e7bbb3ed-0-ab_msb_o
(2016). Retrieved from Teacher Portal: http://www.teacherportal.com/salary/Utah-teacher-salary
(2016). Retrieved from Jobs2Careers: http://www.jobs2careers.com/index1.php?
c1=4&c4=131&c5=683&c3=Teaching&c2=41153&q=Teaching&l=Ut&matchtype=e&b
mt=be&qs=teaching%20jobs%20in
%20utah&kid=12166698076&adid=1519565785&device=c&utm_source=bing&utm_me
dium=cpc&utm_campaign=ST%20-%20ETS%20-%20BYS&ut