Career Portfolio

Jaqueline Benitez
Mrs. Marxhausen

EDUC 1300
May 4, 2017
Parole Officer

Career Research Worksheet

This worksheet is about the career field as a whole. For example, you are researching
“education” and not second grade science teacher.

Please type your answers under the questions below.

1. What is your intended career? If you are not sure of a career right now, choose one of interest to
explore.
Probation officers and correctional treatment (I think)

2. Find a professional website for your career. What is the name of the website? Please provide the
link here. You may find a professional website from the journal that you discovered above or
sometimes by using google.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/probation-officers-and-correctional-
treatment-specialists.htm
http://hcpl2.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/lsc/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fS
D_ILS:661400/ada?qu=Probation+Officers&te=ILS
https://www.careerinfonet.org/occ_rep.asp?next=occ_rep&Level=&optstatus=111111111&jobfam=21
&id=1&nodeid=2&soccode=211092&menuMode=&stfips=48&x=61&y=21

3. Using the library databases or a professional website, find one professional/academic journal related
to your career. What is the name of the journal?
Careers in criminal justice Criminal justice
4. Field/discipline:

a. Identify the career field/discipline. For example, if the career is a teacher then the field
is education or if the career is mechanic then the field is automotive industry.
Criminal justice

b. Identify a specific position or title in the field/discipline (for example, an elementary
school teacher or body work repair mechanic).
Probation Officer

c. Identify two related positions in a similar or related field/discipline in which you may be
interested (for example, a day care worker and college instructor or machine repair and
certified dealer service manager).
*Correctional Officers and bailiffs
*Police and detectives

5. Knowledge /Training:

a. List the minimum education required
Bachelor’s degree in social work, criminal justice, behavior sciences or a related field.

b. List any required certifications or licenses. How often do you have to renew the
certification or license? How many hours of continuing education units (CEU) do you have
to obtain each year to keep that certification or license?
No

c. List the majority of the skills needed to be successful in this job.
Communication, critical thinking, decision making, emotional stability and organizational
skills

d. How many years of experience are required to work in this career?
1

6. Salary/Earnings:
a. List the hiring (starting) salary range. (Use current position listing or job boards.)
34,990
b. What is the average salary (not the highest)?
49,800

7. Future of this career:
a. What is the job outlook for this career? In other words, is this in a growing area? Explain
the growth or decline (in numbers) of this particular career.
4% (slower than average)
b. List the availability of this career in Houston, in Texas, and/or other states in which you are
interested in working.
2014= 7,700
2024=9,030
c. Can this an international career choice? Explain why or why not.
No, different rules apply to different countries
d. What is the market (area) for this career?
91,700

8. Daily Activities:
a. What do people in this field or job do? In complete sentences, (not a list) describe a typical
day
for this position. Be very thorough.
A probation officer evaluates probationers to determine the best course of rehabilitation
and provide them with resources such as job training. They also run the probationers

through drug tests and offer abuse counseling. A probation officer conducts meetings with
the probationers and their family/friends as well as write reports and maintain case files on
probationers.

9. Career and you:
a. How does this career align to your interests and personality? Use your Do What You Are
results to justify your alignment. Explain what your initials mean and how those initials
match or do not match your career choice.

b. Why is this career significant to you? Why did you choose to go into this career? What
inspired you?
I feel like this career is me. I like to help other people and I like to socialize and I feel this
career can give me just that. I can help a troubled kid make better decisions even if they pay
if not high enough.

c. Describe how and why or why not this assignment altered or completely changed your
career path.
This assignment made me reevaluate what it was I truly wanted to be and explore more in
depth a completely new career. I first wanted to be a mechanical engineer but now I don’t
want to be that, sure a probation officer gets paid significantly lower than an engineer but it
seems to be more of what I would like to do in the long run.

10. Please add all works cited entries for information you collected for this worksheet.
* "Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 04 Apr.
2017.
* "Careers in Criminal Justice." Careers in Criminal Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.
* XPAND Corporation: America's Career InfoNet Development Team. "Occupation Profile."
Occupation Profile - America's Career InfoNet. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.
*"Salary Info near 77084 for Probation Officers & Correctional Treatment Specialists at My Next
Move." Salary Info near 77084 for Probation Officers & Correctional Treatment Specialists at
My Next Move. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

Sources may include:
Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/)

Texas Workforce Commission http://www.twc.state.tx.us/

any other professional websites or databases suggested by a librarian

NO Wikipedia

Job Analysis Worksheet

This worksheet is about a very particular type of job in your career field as a whole. For
example, you are researching high school biology teacher and NOT “education” as a whole
career.

Please type your answers under the questions below.

Using the internet or other sources indicated on the list provided by your instructor or librarian, look for a
specific job posting in the area of the state or country in which you want to work. List that job posting as one
of your sources in MLA format. Print or copy the job posting to turn in with this worksheet. Use the job
posting to answer the following questions.

1. What is your intended career? If you are not sure of a career right now, choose one of interest to explore.
Criminal justice

2. What is the title of the position?
Parole officer

3. With what company/organization is this position?
Where is this position located? Try to find a position in the area of the state or country where you actually
think you will be working.

Harris country address:
1310 prairie street, ste. 170 houston, texas, 77002
4. a. What education/training is required for this position?
BA/BS degree from an accredited college/university and one year of full-time paid experience in
casework, counseling, community or group work in a social service, community, corrections, or juvenile agency
that deals with offenders or disadvantaged persons.
Hours combined must total 1750 to qualify for the one year of experience.
b. Describe your plans to accomplish your education/training.
While on the last year of my bachelor’s degree I will look to see if I can find casework any of required
experiences so that when I graduate I will already have my year of experience and be able to begin working.
5. a. How many years of previous experience are needed?
one year of full-time paid experience
b. Describe your plans to gain the experience you need.
Work in casework, counseling, community or group work in a social service, community, corrections, or
juvenile agency that deals with offenders or disadvantaged persons.
Or just study Criminology, Corrections, Law, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or other field of instruction
approved by the Commission to not have the extra year.
6. a. What specific skills required for this position?
Critical thinking, social perceptiveness, speaking, active learning, monitoring
b. Describe your plans to develop these skills.
I already have most of these skills I just need to focus more on using them maybe take sociology to
study more on them
7. Does the position list a salary, and if so…
a. What is the range?

Hourly-$10.86
Yearly-$22,580
b. What is the starting salary?
$34,964.80-$47,257.60 annually

b. What is the average salary?
$46,280- yearly
$22,25- hourly

8. List three STRENGTHS (skills, knowledge and personal qualities) that you currently possess that can help
you be successful in this position. Describe why these are strengths to this position.

I am an active listener, have knowledge in public safety and security, I have mastered the English
language (required) and I can do customer and personal service ( if customer needs assessment and meeting
quality standards for services).
9. List three WEAKNESSES (personal traits that you currently lack) that can hamper your success in this
position. Describe why these are weaknesses for this position AND how you will improve upon these
weaknesses.

I can at times be very emotional especially when it is something sad. My knowledge in law and
government and monitoring myself.
10. Describe the interesting facts did you discover about this career that you did not know before. (“There
are none” is not an acceptable answer.)

Every year people leave this career yet it is 4% growing career (slower than average).
11. Describe how certain you now are about pursuing a position in this career.

I like to help people so I believe I am very interested in pursuing this career.
12. Cite all the sources below in MLA format from which you obtained this information.

* "Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.
* "CareerOneStop." L CareerOneStop. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.
* "Probation Jobs in Houston,+tx within 25 Miles | Sorted by Relevance Ascending." Government Jobs.
N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.
* EasyBib. Chegg, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

Transferable Skills- jaquie

As you begin your job search, it is important that you know your own qualifications. Over the years you
have developed many skills from coursework, extracurricular activities and your total life experiences.
If you have researched topics and written, and edited and presented papers for classes, you have used
skills which are not limited to any one academic discipline or knowledge area, but are transferable to
many occupations. A prospective employer expects you to be able to apply the skills you have learned
in college to the work environment.

Below is a list of five broad skill areas which are divided into more specific, skills. Rate the skills

indicating your ability in each area.

0 = no ability 2 = some ability

1 = enough ability to get by with help from others 3 = strong ability

Communication Research & Planning

The skillful expression, transmission and interpretation of The search for specific knowledge and the ability to
knowledge and ideas. conceptualize future needs and solutions for meeting
---2--- Speaking effectively those needs.
---2--- Writing concisely ---1---Forecasting, predicting
---3--- Listening attentively ---2--- Creating ideas
---2--- Expressing ideas ---3--- Identifying problems
---3--- Facilitating group discussion ---2--- Imagining alternatives
---3--- Providing appropriate feedback ---2--- Identifying resources
---1--- Negotiating ---2---Gathering information
---2--- Perceiving nonverbal messages ---3--- Solving problems
---2--- Persuading ---3--- Setting goals
---3--- Reporting information ---3--- Extracting important information
---2--- Describing feelings ---3--- Defining needs
---2--- Interviewing ---2--- Analyzing
---2--- Editing ---3--- Developing evaluation strategies

Human Relations Work Survival

The use of interpersonal skills for resolving conflict, The day-to-day skills which assist in promoting effective

relating to and helping people. production and work satisfaction.

---2--- Developing rapport 2--- Implementing decisions
---3--- Being Sensitive 3--- Cooperating
---3--- Listening 3--- Enforcing policies
---3--- Conveying feelings 2--- Being punctual
---3--- Providing support for others 1--- Managing time
---3--- Motivating 2--- Attending to detail
---3--- Sharing credit 2--- Meeting goals
---2--- Counseling 3--- Enlisting help
---3--- Cooperating 3--- Accepting responsibility
---2--- Delegating with respect 2--- Setting and meeting deadlines
---3--- Representing others 1--- Organizing
---3--- Perceiving feelings, situations 2--- Making decisions
---2--- Asserting

Organization, Management & Leadership Career Specific (REQUIRED SECTION)

The ability to supervise, direct and guide individuals and The specific skills required for an entry-level job in my

groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals. chosen career. See job posting for ideas.

2--- Initiating new ideas 0______ BA/BS degree __________________________
2--- Handling details 0______ Paid experience in counseling _____________
2--- Coordinating tasks 0______ Paid experience in case work _____________
2--- Managing groups 2______ Being an active learner___________________
2--- Delegating responsibility 3______ Being able to speak more than one language _
1--- Teaching 1______ Emotional stability ______________________
1--- Coaching 2______ Critical thinking_________________________
3--- Counseling 2______ Communication skills ____________________
2--- Promoting change 3______ Decision making skills____________________
1--- Selling ideas or products 2______ Organization skills_______________________
2--- Decision making with others
3--- Managing conflict

Ways I can develop my skills (REQUIRED SECTION):

I can take classes for communication and sociology to improve my speaking and to learn to control my emotions as well as

Learn others behaviors. __________________________________________________________________________________

Objective Jaqueline Benitez

(713) 517-6576 [email protected]

Dedicated, motivated with 3 years of client-facing and public speaking skills.
Probation officer graduate seeking entry level as a bilingual juvenile probation
officer in the Juvenile Probation Department located in Harris County.

Education Lone Star College- 19710 Clay Rd, Katy, TX 77449
Experience
Sam Houston State University- 1905 University Ave, Huntsville, TX 77340
References
Skills and Kitchen Staff, Studio Movie Grill
Abilities
June 2015- July 2016
January 2017- Today
• I was responsible for working both the salad and pizza station, filling up

the lines with anything that needed to be done, sending the food on time
while making it look presentable as well as closing the line(s) at the end
of the day. They’ve also placed me to help out as a dishwasher from time
to time and for closing time I’ve helped “urn” theaters, pick up dishes left
in theaters and bring them to the dishwashers to clean.

Cashier, Chick-fil-a

September 2016- March 2017
• I greeted guests when they walked through the door and took their food

order. At times I worked in drive thru handing out the food and beverage
to the costumer. I was also put to take orders outside in drive thru to help
during busy hour. I’ve also cleaned dining room area.

Emanuel Suaste

Kitchen manager, Studio Movie Grill
(832) 867-2894

Nate Vera

Manager, Chick-Fil-A
(281) 250-1832

Bilingual - fluent in spoken and written Spanish

Jaqueline Benitez
April 26, 2016

Harris County Juvenile Probation
9120 Katy Hockley Rd, Katy, TX
(713) 222-4600

Dear Political Organization and Office,

I have recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree as a Probation officer from Sam Houston
University. I am writing to acquire the position as a Bilingual Juvenile Probation officer in Harris
County.

I came across the application through Monster.com and I believe I fit all the e requirements. As
an extrovert, I am great with people and I can connect to how others may be feeling or going
through. My coursework included psychology and sociology to analyze both people and why they
made the choices they did. I believe that my skills and personality would be a great addition to the
department.

Please feel free to contact me any day from Monday-Friday 9am-9pm at (713) 517-6576. I would
welcome an interview at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Jaqueline Benitez

Benitez 1

Jaqueline Benitez
Mrs. Marxhausen
EDUC 1300
April 27, 2017

Parole Officer
Probation officer… who would have thought that I would even turn my head in that
direction? All I have ever known I wanted to be since the 6th grade was a civil/ mechanical
engineer, but all that changed once I began looking into the career more in depth. I decided to
look into government jobs after realizing that I did not really want to be an engineer, it also
helped that I was writing my friend a letter to prison. It got me thinking about how I would like
to help him start over, help him out that pit he fell into. I find satisfaction in helping others deal
with life situations and I am a great listener, it is easy for me to put myself in other people’s
shoes. My DWYA matched really good, I am an extrovert and it seems like I feed of others when
I am around others. However, my results implied that I make decisions based on feeling which is
not completely true. In this line of work, I am trying to get into I can not make decisions based
on how I feel but based on facts and evidences provided to me. When I began to investigate this
career, I had very little knowledge about it, honestly, I believed that they just kept tabs on the
“out of jail” people. This was quick to change once I was able to see how they truly operate. Part
of their job IS to keep tabs however being a parole officer implies that they have to act like a
counselor in a way to probe into their lie to check up on them. I also learned there is a lot of
paperwork and reading involved.
In order to become a parole officer, I would be required to have earned at least a
bachelor’s degree. It would also be very beneficial to have participated in a work case taken

Benitez 2

some counseling community or group work in a social service. According to this class schedule I
would have had been involved in the community or have had taken a correction or just study
criminology classes. And there is also the obvious like corrections work, law social work some
psychology and sociology… these classes would help me understand why my parolee did what
they did and how to further help them. Apart from all that it would be very good to have other
field of instruction approved by the commission to not have the extra year and get to work right
away.

As a parole officer, I can expect a day at work to be very much like a roller-coaster with
its ups and downs. My area of work happens to be a dangerous line of work lots of people quit
every year. However, personally I believe I can contain my emotions and meet with my parolee’s
and talk to them find out how they have been holding up. Discuss jobs and G.E.D opportunities
they might be missing out. Filling out paperwork recording all the information I gathered that
same day about their progress or lack thereof at the end of the meeting.

As of now in order to obtain this career I would have to graduate from Lone Star with an
associated degree in criminal justice and then transfer into a four-year university to obtain my
bachelor’s degree. The university I plan on attending after Lone Star would have to be Sam
Houston due to their affordability and their location. In Sam Houston I would have o continue
taking criminal justice classes and I might even participate in a criminal justice club. Of course,
during my junior or senior year I will begin to look into working cases and maybe get an
internship to have a feel for the type of career I’m going into. Now in this career I don’t think
there are “big employers” because it is a government job however, the parts which have lots of
criminal activity in Texas would have to be, just to list a few, cities like San Antonio with a total
of 65.80 crimes per 1,000 residents, Beaumont with 59.06 crimes reported per 1,000 residents.

Benitez 3

Houston reported 60.32 crimes per 1,000 resident’s chances of becoming a victim falls in 1 in
17. Yet the most dangerous city of Texas falls in Weslaco with a crime rate of approximately 87
per one thousand residents. These heavily crimes areas are where parole officers are needed the
most so I would have to say they these cities are some of the “big employers” of my career.