Career Research Slides Top Secret: Career Files
Researching Job
Responsibilities
Your mission: Go beyond the job title and discover what people actually DO all day.
Expectation vs. Reality
The Guess
"Video game designers just play games all day, right?"
The Reality
"Actually, they spend hours coding, attending meetings, and debugging broken software!"
Today, we find the Truth.
The Detective's Databases
01
O*NET OnLine
The "Wikipedia" of jobs. Detailed lists of tasks, skills, and tools for thousands of careers.
02
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Official government site. Excellent for "What They Do" summaries and work environment facts.
🔍 Target these keywords: "Core Tasks," "Work Activities," and "Environment"
The Investigation List
Core Tasks
What are 3 things they do every single day?
Environment
Indoor/Outdoor? Quiet office or loud construction site?
Gear & Tech
What tools, software, or uniforms do they use?
Don't just copy-paste! Explain it in your own words.
Start Your File
Grab your "Job Intel Report" worksheet.
Choose ONE career to investigate.
Log into the provided databases.
Find 5 "High Interest" tasks.
Describe the "Atmosphere" of the job.
SYSTEM READY... BEGIN RESEARCH...
Job Intel Worksheet Official Case File #1
Job Intel Report
RESEARCH PHASE: MISSION 01
DETECTIVE NAME:
DATE:
Subject of Investigation
CHOSEN CAREER:
Task Intel: What do they actually do?
List 5 primary responsibilities or daily tasks for this career. Use your own words!
Work Atmosphere
Where does the work happen? (Inside? Outside? Office? Hospital?)
Tools of the Trade
What software, equipment, or uniforms are required?
Intel Brief: The Big Surprise
What is one thing you discovered about this career that you didn't know before?
VERIFIED SOURCE: BLS.GOV / ONETONLINE.ORG
FILE STATUS: IN PROGRESS
Career Detective Teacher Guide Career Detective Guide
Lesson 1: Researching Job Responsibilities
Pacing
50m
Mission Objective
Students will transition from casual interest to data-driven research. The goal of this lesson is to peel back the "glossy" exterior of careers and help students understand the actual work-product and environments involved.
Briefing Preparation
Ensure students have access to O*NET OnLine (onetonline.org) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov/ooh).
Print the Job Intel Worksheet (one per student).
Bookmark 3-5 "Example Careers" for a quick live demonstration.
Operational Procedure
1. The Hook (5 min)
Use the "Expectation vs. Reality" slide. Ask: "What does a Marine Biologist do?" (Most kids say swim with dolphins). Reveal the reality: "Analyzing water samples in a lab and writing grant reports."
2. Database Training (10 min)
Project O*NET. Show students how to use the "Quick Search" box. Highlight the difference between "Tasks" (what they do) and "Work Context" (how they do it).
3. Independent Investigation (30 min)
Students select their career and complete the Job Intel Worksheet. Circulate and ensure students aren't just copying entire paragraphs; encourage bullet points in their own words.
4. Debrief (5 min)
Ask: "Did anyone find a task that sounded boring? Did anyone find a tool that sounded cool?"
Detective Notes (Tips)
Common Pitfall:
Students often choose "Professional Athlete" or "YouTuber." Allow it, but require them to find the "business" tasks (training schedules, editing, taxes) to keep it realistic.
Differentiation:
For students who struggle with reading, suggest they use the "Work Activities" section in O*NET which uses simplified icons and shorter phrases.
Salary and Outlook Slides Case File: Phase 02
Salary &
Future Growth
Is your chosen career a "Safe Bet" or a "Risky Move"? Let's look at the numbers.
Show Me the Money
Entry Level
The starting pay for someone brand new to the job. You might not afford a mansion yet, but you're in the door!
Experienced
What you can earn after 10+ years of hard work, expertise, and promotions.
"Median Pay" = The Middle Point. Half make more, half make less.
The Job Forecast
Job Outlook Percentage
This tells us if the career is Growing (more jobs available) or Declining (fewer jobs available) over the next 10 years.
3% - 5%
Average Growth
10%+
"Bright Outlook" - High Demand!
The Cost of Living
A $50,000 salary sounds like a lot of pizza, but detective work requires looking deeper into bills!
Rent/Housing
Groceries
Utilities
Will your career support your lifestyle goals?
Data Intel Mission
Find the "Median Pay" for your career.
Check the "Job Outlook" percentage.
Is this a "Bright Outlook" job?
Crunching numbers in 3... 2... 1...
Salary Intel Log Financial Intel #2
The Growth & Gold Log
RESEARCH PHASE: MISSION 02
DETECTIVE:
Salary Intelligence
Median Annual Pay
$
What the average person in this job makes per year.
Hourly Wage
$
Find the "Hourly" rate listed in the BLS or O*NET report.
Future Forecast
JOB OUTLOOK (Growth %):
Check the box that describes your career's future:
Bright Outlook (10% or higher) — High demand, lots of jobs!
Steady/Average (3% to 9%) — Reliable, growing normally.
Declining/Little Change (2% or lower) — Might be harder to find work.
Detective Analysis
Based on this data, do you think this is a "safe" career to enter? Why or why not?
* Data Source Verification Required for Presentation Board *
Daily Routine Slides Synthesis Phase
A Day in
Their Shoes
Turning data into a story. What does the work actually feel like hour-by-hour?
The Synthesis Shift
Lesson 1 & 2 Data
• Salary: $65,000
• Task: Analyze code
• Tool: Laptop
• Environment: Office
Lesson 3 Story
"It's 9:00 AM. I grab a coffee and open my laptop. Today, I'm hunting for a bug in the navigation system that's been bothering the team for days..."
The Shift Timeline
08:00 AM
Preparation & Setup
11:00 AM
Core Peak Tasks
01:00 PM
Social/Lunch/Break
04:00 PM
Final Check/Reporting
Think about Stress Points and Wins.
Mission Briefing
Write
Use your research to fill in a "Journal Entry" from your future self. Use "I" statements!
Visualize
Create 6 storyboard panels that show the progression of your day. Drawing is required!
Processing Narrative... Ready for Synthesis...
Day in the Life Storyboard Timeline of Evidence #3
A Day in the Life
SYNTHESIS PHASE: MISSION 03
CAREER:
Panel 01: Morning Routine 08:00 AM
Panel 02: Arrival & Setup 09:30 AM
Panel 03: Primary Task 11:00 AM
Panel 04: Mid-Day Break 12:30 PM
Panel 05: The "Hard" Work 02:30 PM
Panel 06: Clocking Out 05:00 PM
The Future Journal
Write a 3-4 sentence diary entry about the most interesting part of your day in this career.
OFFICIAL SYNTHESIS LOG
NARRATIVE AUTHENTICITY: HIGH
Presentation Board Slides Design Phase
Visual
Evidence
Design a case board that captures attention and delivers facts with impact.
The 3-Second Rule
Visual Impact
Someone walking by should know exactly what career you studied within 3 seconds.
Evidence Check
Include bold headings, 1-2 powerful images, and your most impressive data point (like salary or growth).
"Clarity is better than Clutter."
Strategic Layout
Career Title
Job Description & Tasks
Salary & Growth Info
Day in the Life (Narrative/Storyboard)
Hero Photo
Blueprint for Success
Detective Design Tips
1
Contrast is King: Use dark text on light backgrounds or vice versa. No yellow text on white!
2
Hierarchy: Make your salary number and career title the biggest things on the board.
3
Visual Symbols: Use icons (like 💰 or 📈) to represent your data quickly.
Operation Build
Collect all "Intel Logs" (Phase 1, 2, 3).
Sketch your layout on scratch paper.
Execute your final design.
CONSTRUCTION COMMENCING...
Case File Rubric Case File Evidence Rubric
Final Project Assessment
Total Value
20 PTS
Criterion Exceptional (5) Proficient (3) Developing (1) Research Intel (Tasks & Environment) Detailed list of 5+ core tasks. Vividly describes the work atmosphere. Lists 3-4 tasks. General description of work environment. Tasks are missing or too vague. No environment description. Financial Data (Salary & Growth) Median pay and Job Outlook % are accurate and clearly highlighted. Salary data is present but outlook % is missing or unclear. Financial data is incorrect or missing entirely. Day in the Life (Narrative Synthesis) Engaging story or storyboard that realistically applies research data. Narrative is present but feels disconnected from research. Story is missing or less than 2 sentences long. Visual Evidence (Design & Layout) Clean layout. Strong contrast. Title is readable from 5 feet away. Information is organized but layout feels cluttered or hard to read. Board is messy, handwriting is illegible, or labels are missing.
Evaluator Comments
Final Verdict
Evidence reviewed and confirmed by:
Total Score
/ 20
Career Explorer Log Operation Expo #5
Career Explorer Log
FIELD OBSERVATION: MISSION 05
EXPLORER NAME:
Your Mission: Visit at least 3 career booths. Interview the "Lead Detective" (the presenter) and record your findings below. Be respectful and curious!
1
CAREER TITLE:
Biggest Surprise Found:
Question You Asked:
2
CAREER TITLE:
Biggest Surprise Found:
Question You Asked:
3
CAREER TITLE:
Biggest Surprise Found:
Question You Asked:
Final Reflection
After exploring all these pathways, which one was the most interesting and why?
Expo Logistics Guide Expo Logistics Guide
Lesson 5: Operation Career Expo
Pacing
60m
Operational Goal
The Career Expo is the culmination of the project. Students transform from researchers into subject-matter experts. The goal is peer-to-peer knowledge transfer and practice in professional communication.
Base Setup
Physical Layout
Arrange desks in a "booth" format around the perimeter of the room. Ensure there is enough space for "Explorers" to walk between booths without crowding.
Materials Needed
Final Presentation Boards
Career Explorer Logs (1 per student)
Teacher Case File Rubrics
Optional: "Visitor" stickers/badges
The Rotation Strategy
To ensure everyone gets to both present and explore, divide the class into two groups (Alpha and Bravo).
Round 1 (25 min)
Group Alpha: Present at booths.
Group Bravo: Explore and fill out Explorer Logs.
Round 2 (25 min)
Group Bravo: Present at booths.
Group Alpha: Explore and fill out Explorer Logs.
Facilitation Notes
TIP
Encourage presenters to use a "Hook" sentence when someone walks up, e.g., "Did you know that software developers actually spend 30% of their time in meetings?"
TIP
The teacher should act as a "Chief Investigator," roaming the room with the rubrics to grade presentations live while students are talking.
Debrief (Last 10 min)
• Which career had the most surprising salary?
• Which career had the most interesting "Day in the Life"?
• How did it feel to be an "Expert" on your topic today?