Career portfolio

Zackary Ayres
Professor Marxhausen

1300 EDUC
April 3, 2018

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 add spacing to this document and type your answers under the questions below. Be sure to
highlight your answers in yellow so I can identify your information quickly.

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

My intended career is pretty much anything business related. Though I am most interested in
Human Resources or administration.

2. Find a professional website for your career. You can find this on the OOH (Occupational Outlook
Handbook). Go to the “more info” tab and then click on the name of a professional website for that
career. The OOH is NOT the professional website for a specific career. What is the name of the
website? Please provide the link here. As a last resort, if you cannot find a professional website on
the OOH, you may find a professional website sometimes by using google. (Please show me first in
class if you had to use google.)

https://www.shrm.org/

2. Using the OOH (“more info” tab), a professional website specific to your career, or the library
database, find one professional/academic journal (something that comes out periodically either
in print or web form) related to your career. What is the name of the journal?

Society for human resource management

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.
The career field is Human Resources
b. Identify a specific position or title in the field/discipline (for example, an elementary
school teacher or body work repair mechanic).
Human resources specialists.
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).
Human resource manager and compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists

5. Knowledge /Training:

a. List the minimum education required
Bachelor’s degree in human resources or business related degree
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?
Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
certifications. They are one time certifications that do not require renewal
c. List the majority of the skills needed to be successful in this job.
Communication skills. Listening and speaking skills are essential for human resources
specialists. They must convey information effectively, and pay careful attention to questions
and concerns from job applicants and employees.
Decision-making skills. Human resources specialists use decision-making skills when reviewing
candidates’ qualifications or when working to resolve disputes.
Detail oriented. Specialists must be detail oriented when evaluating applicants’ qualifications,
performing background checks, maintaining records of an employee grievance, and ensuring
that a workplace is in compliance with labor standards.
Interpersonal skills. Specialists continually interact with new people and must be able to
converse and connect with people from different backgrounds.
d. How many years of experience are required to work in this career?

None. Experience helps but there are entry level positions that do not require
experience. However, they still require a four year Bachelor’s degree in Human resources or a
business related degree.

6. Salary/Earnings:
a. List the hiring (starting) salary range. (Use current position listing or job boards.)
36,801 dollars per year at a starting salary
b. What is the average salary (not the highest) ?
The average salary for human resource specialists is 59,554 dollars a year.

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.
There is an expected ten percent growth in this field over the next ten years. This is a
growing field and isn’t expected to decline.
b. List the availability of this career in the market area of Houston, and Texas in general,
and/or other states in which you are interested in working.

Within Houston, over the next ten years there is an expected 17 percent growth in the
human resources field. I am not interested in living anywhere else. I have lived in another
state, don’t plan on going through that hell again.

c. Can this an international career choice? Explain why or why not. Do YOU want to work
internationally, and if so, why?

Yes. It can be an international career due to the fact that business is a global thing and the
world economy relies upon it. Any industrialized nation will have the need for human
resource specialists that can help with the operations of their business, whatever it is.

8. Daily Activities:
a. What do people in this field or job do? In at least 10 complete sentences in your own
words, (not a list) describe a typical day for this position. Be very specific and thorough.
(For example, for a teacher you do not want to JUST say that a teacher teaches students all
day. WHAT does that look like? What else does a teacher do?)
A human resource specialist/manager assists management and or the employer in
identifying employment needs. It is their job to interview prospective future employees to
access their skills, personalities, and experience in related to the position that they are applying
for. They perform back-round checks and call referrals to find out more about the person that is
applying. They explain details about the job to the person that is applying for the position. They
hire and refer people to prospective employers. They conduct and help new employees with
the orientation process and keep employment records. They also process paperwork and deal
with complaints made by employees about other employees.

9. Career and you (in complete sentences):
a. How does this career align to your interests and personality? Use your Do What You Are
results to justify your alignment.
i. List your four initials.
INTJ
ii. Explain what your initials mean
Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and judging
iii. Explain how those initials match or do not match your career choice.
My personality tests shows that I would excel in a business related field because of
innovation.
b. Why is this career significant to you? Why did you choose to go into this career? What
inspired you?
Nothing has necessarily inspired me to be a human resource specialists. I have many
activities that are significant for me and things that I enjoy. I chose Human resources
because while that might not be a passion of mine, it isn’t something I am repulsed by.
Initially I followed my passions in the past by getting an automotive technician degree. I
have worked that since after high school and found myself becoming miserable and
wearing my passion for cars thin. It was making me not want to even touch my own
vehicle or projects that I had going. I decided to move out of that career field because it
was destroying something I enjoyed to do. I have owned my own business as well, while
I would love to do that again, the risks are monumental and I do not know if I have the

time or the money to invest in something like that again. So I chose Human resources
because I don’t hate the idea of that career but it is something that can keep paying for
my hobbies, bills, etc. Also, having a bachelors in business I can be flexible with my
career choice. So if Human resources doesn’t work out (for whatever reason) I can move
into different fields.
c. Describe how and why or why not this assignment altered or completely changed your
career path.
Honestly, this assignment didn’t help nor did it make anything worse. I already know
which direction that I wanted to move to. However, it did make me feel more
comfortable with my choices being that there is an expected 17 percent growth in this
field over the next ten years.

10. Please add all works cited entries for information you collected for this worksheet.
Sources might include:
Occupational Outlook Handbook (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/)
Texas Workforce Commission http://www.twc.state.tx.us/
My Next Move https://www.mynextmove.org/
America’s Career Info Net http://www.jobbankinfo.org
O*NET http://online.onetcenter.org
USA Jobs http://usajobs.gov/
Dictionary of Occupational Titles http://www.occupationalinfo.org
Sloan Career Cornerstone Center http://www.careercornerstone.org
…and any other professional websites or databases suggested by a librarian, professor or career
counselor

16 personalities https://www.16personalities.com/intj-careers
OOH https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm#tab-2
Projection central http://www.projectionscentral.com/

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, librarian, or career
counselor 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. Make a screenshot of 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.

My intended career is a human resource member.

2. What is the title of the position?

Human resource specialists or Human resource manager.

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.

The company or organization that I could hypothetically work for is the city of Houston as a Human
resource generalists (Entry level). It is located in the city of Houston. I am looking for work here because me
and my wife do not plan on moving anywhere else as of right now.

4. a. What education/training is required for this position?
b. Describe your plans to accomplish your education/training.

The education needed for this position is a bachelor’s degree in human resources. I plan to accomplish
this goal by finishing my 4 year degree.

5. a. How many years of previous experience are needed?
b. Describe your plans to gain the experience you need.

This certain position does not require any experience. This is an entry level position which I would use to gain
experience and have the opportunity to move up within the city of Houston, or to use the experience to move
into a different company in the future.

6. a. What specific skills required for this position?
b. Describe your plans to develop these skills.

The only described skills that I would need to perform this position is to understand how to use programs like
Microsoft office, word, and excel. Of which I already am efficient in. I could always learn more about the
programs, but I am sure I will get plenty of practice with these programs throughout my learning experience
here in college.

7. Does the position list a salary, and if so…
a. What is the range?
18.75 to 20.76 dollars an hour
b. What is the starting salary?
18.75 to 20.76 dollars an hour
b. What is the average salary?
51,376 a year.

8. What are three STRENGTHS (skills, knowledge and personal qualities) that you currently possess that can
help you be successful in this position? In at least 5 sentences, describe why these are strengths to this
position.

My main skills that would qualify me for this position are my decision-making skills, efficiency with technology,
and my interpersonal skills (when I want to have them) I believe I can succeed in this type of work
environment. With my decision-making skills I feel that they are good due to the fact that I am quick and
decisive when making decisions. If decisions I made in the past can be used to measure my skill, then I believe
that I can be called successful. I am efficient with technology such as: the various Microsoft programs that are
used throughout human resource offices. While I could hone my skills to a degree, I believe that they are a
good starting point. As far as my interpersonal skills, I believe they can also be held to a high standard. I have
the ability (When needed/wanted) to have very successful interactions with co-workers or individuals outside
of work. I understand how to develop a professional relationship with people when it is needed.

9. What are three WEAKNESSES (personal traits that you currently lack) that can hamper or prevent your
success in this position? In at least 5 sentences, describe why these are weaknesses for this position AND how
you will improve upon these weaknesses.

My weaknesses include: Procrastination, cutting corners, and low empathy. I do tend to procrastinate in any
work that needs to be done. I like to wait until the last minute to finish deadlines, which I feel could hurt me in
the work environment (and has in the past). That is something that I need to work on. I put “cutting corners”,
and it is a problem in a sense. However, I don’t “cut corners” but rather find different ways to finish my work
or complete projects. I find MY way of doing things at the speed in which I feel like doing them, some would
call that cutting corners. My biggest problem in the workplace, and outside of it, is my lack of empathy. My
empathy doesn’t extend very far outside of my family, especially not with strangers. In a hiring/firing
atmosphere I feel that I could end up coming off as very rude and mean. However, I would almost say that is a
strength because it will be hard for a person to influence my decision making.

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.)

One interesting fact that I found about this career is the fact that everything that I have to do within this
career I have done before. My family owned our own clothing business for 5 years and while we owned I
worked as the assistant manager/human resources. Hiring, firing, reprimanding, etc. of our employees was
done by me. I feel that I already have done this and have experience in it and enjoyed it.

11. Describe how certain you now are about pursuing a position in this career.

I am very certain about pursuing this. This is something that over the course of my life since high school I have
pondered many different career choices and have worked a few different jobs/career types. I feel that with my
different experiences in the work force that my decision is pretty grounded.
12. Cite all the sources below in MLA format from which you obtained this information.

“Human resource Generalist” Indeed, https://www.indeed.com/q-Human-Resources-Generalist-l-Houston,-
TX-jobs.html?vjk=34207333958eca75. Accessed 5 May. 2018

Transferable Skills

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
3______ Speaking effectively those needs.
3______ Writing concisely 2______Forecasting, predicting
3______ Listening attentively 3______Creating ideas
3______ Expressing ideas 3______Identifying problems
2______ Facilitating group discussion 3______Imagining alternatives
2______ Providing appropriate feedback 3______Identifying resources
3______ Negotiating 2______Gathering information
3______ Perceiving nonverbal messages 3______Solving problems
3______ Persuading 2______Setting goals
2______ Reporting information 3______Extracting important information
1______ Describing feelings 3______Defining needs
3______ Interviewing 3 ______ Analyzing
1______ 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.

1______ Developing rapport 3______Implementing decisions
1______ Being Sensitive 2 ______ Cooperating
3______ Listening 3______Enforcing policies
1______ Conveying feelings 3______Being punctual
2______ Providing support for others 1______Managing time
1______ Motivating 2______Attending to detail
3______ Sharing credit 3______Meeting goals
2______ Counseling 2______Enlisting help
2______ Cooperating 2______Accepting responsibility
2______ Delegating with respect 2______Setting and meeting deadlines
3______ Representing others 1 ______ Organizing
3______ Perceiving feelings, situations 3______Making decisions
3______ 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.

3______ Initiating new ideas 3______ Decision making skills____________________
2______ Handling details 3______ Efficiency with technology ________________
3______ Coordinating tasks 2______ Interpersonal skills ______________________
3______ Managing groups 3______ Punctuality ____________________________
3______ Delegating responsibility _______ ______________________________________
2______ Teaching _______ ______________________________________
2______ Coaching _______ ______________________________________
2______ Counseling _______ ______________________________________
3______ Promoting change _______ ______________________________________
3______ Selling ideas or products _______ ______________________________________
3______ Decision making with others
3______ Managing conflict

Ways I can develop my skills (REQUIRED SECTION):

I would not hurt for me to develop my interpersonal skills. I can do this by getting more involved in people’s lives outside of

my direct family and learn how to communicate better with them. _______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ayres 1

Zackary Ayres
Professor Marxhausen
EDUC 1300
26 April 2018

Human resources
I decided on a business degree for my career choice, but tailoring towards human
resources. I was inspired to do this career through my experiences in the workforce up until this
point. Being associated with entrepreneurship, a business degree stands out to me. It is also a
degree that has a wide range of career possibilities. I want to emphasize in human resources due
to the growth that career field offers in the next 25 years. In my personality test I got an INTJ.
For this personality type the number one career choice for that personality. Which does not
surprise me being that this is a field I have chosen to be in and associated with long before taking
this personality test.
There was not much I learned about how this career operated from my research in the
class. That is because I have already researched this degree field and career choice extensively
before attending this class. Being in business for myself highly interest me, and has since I
entered the workforce. The main reason for me going for this degree is simply as a back-up plan.
I am currently already enjoying what I do, but being an entrepreneur is volatile, highly stressful,
and can end at any moment. I need something that I can fall back on in case I need it, and human
resources is something that is pretty simple and is a career that allows me to be a climate
controlled environment, makes good money, and does not suck away a lot of my time. It allows
me to not only afford, but gives me time to enjoy hobbies outside of work. It also allows me time
for my family, which is most important.

Ayres 2

To get an entry level job in this career field all that is actually needed is a two year
degree. However, obviously one can go much further much faster with a bachelor’s degree.
Having a bachelor’s degree also allows you to enter the field at a higher level than one would
reach with only an associates. There are a few certification programs that are available for one to
take in order to raise their potential in this career path. Some of the certifications such as the
SHRP and SPHR can be obtained while one is still in school. These are certificates that I fully
plan to pursue during the last year of my education.

On any given day in a human resources position duties would include, according to job
postings on Indeed: Consult with employers to identify needs and preferred qualifications,
interview applicants about their experience, education, and skills, contact references and perform
back-round checks on prospective employees, and many more duties. In most human resource
settings, much of the main duties consists of helping employers by assisting them with the
everyday needs associated with employees. (Indeed)

As far as the other positions that one could move up into with this degree field pertaining
to human resources is not much. One could move into a management position for human
resources but will not rise much higher. Someone with a bachelor’s business degree however,
even one that is tailored in human resources, can use his/her business degree to enter into fields
like sales, administration, management, etc. These are all different career fields that a bachelor’s
in business can be used towards. What could I possibly like about the idea of this career choice?
Time. Comfort. Less stress. Obviously any career choice that I make will have a certain level of
stress involved, that is a given. However, unlike the past positions that I have had the stress level
is far less. I also enjoy the idea of sitting behind a desk in a climate controlled atmosphere. Other
than my current employment I have never had the opportunity to be in an environment other than

Ayres 3

high stress level or dealing with the elements. This is one major reason why I am choosing this
degree field and career path. It is something that I not only know I can do, but something that I
wouldn’t mind doing. For example: Throughout high school and even a few years afterwards one
of my jobs was clearing and falling trees. That is one of the most physically demanding jobs that
I can think of. I did this for years, in the elements, around tools and situations that could not only
posed serious health risks but created a high element of stress. If I can do this and did not mind
doing it, then human resources is a proverbial walk in the park.

The idea of human resources is something that I enjoy as a back-up plan in my life goals.
It is something that I go to sleep at night knowing that I have an option to do. That this option is
not only going to make more money on average than any other career field that I have been a
part of, but will allow me a relatively low stress situation than I have been in.

This is why I am attending Lonestar with the plan to transfer to Sam Houston State. I had
an opportunity that I have never had in my life before to attend higher education. My entire life
has been about digging the bottom of the dregs in the attempt to survive, and only survive. This
affords me the opportunity to do something more if I want too. If I should ever want to give up
on trying to build mine and my wife’s business, I have that option. While this career path seems
less important or less meaningful to most, it does for me what I want in life. Comfortability, less
stress, a good paycheck, and the opportunity for me to spend more time with my family than
what I am currently able to do.

Ayres 4

Work’s Cited
https://www.16personalities.com/intj-careers
“ Human resources Specialists” BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-

resources-specialists.htm#tab-2 Accessed 5 May 2018
“Human resource Generalist” Indeed, https://www.indeed.com/q-Human-Resources-Generalist-

l-Houston,-TX-jobs.html?vjk=34207333958eca75. Accessed 5 May. 2018