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Changing Jobs: Why?
The student will identify several reasons why people change jobs.
There are lots of reasons why people change jobs -- it may be due to work environment,
boredom with the job, additional training that qualifies one for a new job, or change in location. Most
people do not keep the same job (or even career) for their entire working life. It is important to keep
options open and if the opportunity to move to another job that is in some respects better presents
itself, it is perfectly acceptable to do so. In this lesson, students are given examples of people who are
ready or desiring to change jobs.
- Ask students to give examples from personal experience of their parents or relatives of times
when they changed jobs.
- Ask students to give reasons why people might change jobs.
- After listing reasons, have students try to categorize them; e.g., personal reasons,
professional concerns, etc.
Answers: 1. c; 2. b; 3. d; 4. a; 5. f; 6. e
Discussion: After students have completed the worksheet, see how the reasons compare with
the reasons students listed in the introductory activities. What other reasons did they give that
were not on the worksheet?
- Some people keep the same job for their whole lives. Why? (no other options, enjoy the work, work for family, etc.)
- What are some good or positive reasons for job changes?
- What are some negative reasons for changing a job?
- What else might change with a new job that demands more responsibility? (more money,
power, respect, time demands, etc.)
- What stresses might be involved in a job change? (moving, getting to know different people,
learning a new job, etc.)
- Have students interview at least five adults who have had job changes. Find out the
sequence of jobs -- have most been improvements? Were they the same types of jobs? What
contributed to making a job change?
- Have students prepare a bulletin board entitled Climbing the Ladder of Success (or similar
theme) showing how an entry-level position can lead (with additional training, skills, and some
luck) to different positions. For example, a principal may have started out by being an assistant
to a teacher, then became a student teacher, teacher/coach for a high school, and eventually a principal. Have students find out other paths that careers can follow.
- List three to five reasons why a person may want to change jobs.
- Write a paragraph explaining at least
one negative aspect and one positive aspect of
Uploaded by: Jessica Soltesz/Kent State University/Deaf Education Major