Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
How do I get a good part-time job?
Often the best way to find a good part-time job is to let everyone know you're looking for one. Make sure you have an effective one page resume' available at all times--keep these in a folder in your car. Along with networking, check out these helpful sites below: North Carolina's JobBank: http://www.ncesc.com/individual/jis/jisMain.asp?init=true Career builder: http://www.careerbuilder.com/ Monster Board: http://www.monster.com// Triangle help Wanted: http://www.trianglehelpwanted.com// Triangle Jobs (News & Observer CareerBuilder) http://www.trianglejobs.com/ http://www.newsobserver.com/careerbuilder/ State of North Carolina Jobs: http://www.osp.state.nc.us/jobs/ Career Results: http://www.careerresults.us/Job_Links_.html Yahoo! HotJobs: http://hotjobs.yahoo.com// Church Staffing: http://www.churchstaffing.com// Craig's List http://raleigh.craigslist.org// SPECIAL NOTE: Sometimes you can create your own job or small business by noticing what people need. Do the people in your neighborhood need yard work or babysitting? Dog-walking? Errand-running? Tutoring their young children or themselves in computer knowledge? How about being a personal fitness companion to keep them on track with their running program? "FIND A NEED AND FILL IT!"Back to Top
Why Financial Literacy Emphasis?
Broughton students are expected to be well-rounded in their education. An educated person understands the importance of saving and investing early and regularly in order to build a secure financial future, and the difference between good debt and bad debt.Back to Top
Why is it so important to invest early and regularly?
Compound interest is an amazing phenomenon. Let's say Bill invests x dollars a month at y interest beginning when he's 19, and invests each month until he's 27. Then he lets the money "sit" there, earning interest on top of interest until Bill is 65. Bill will have more money than Bob, who began investing the same x dollars at the same y interest rate at age 27 every month until he's 65! Principle: The earlier you begin investing, the better. Even if you have a small amount to invest, begin early! See the Resources section of this website to have an idea of where to invest small amounts of money.Back to Top
What do you mean, good debt and bad debt?
Generally, good debt means borrowing money for assets that increase in value. For instance, borrowing money for well-researched real estate can be a good idea. So can borrowing money for an excellent business or an education that prepares a person to earn a living doing what he/she wants to do. Debt is considered bad when a person uses the money for a something that doesn't increase in value, such as more expensive cars than one needs, eating out a lot, extra clothing, etc.Back to Top
How do I effectively job shadow?
Use the following Job Shadow Packet information to discover what fields might be for you! (and just as importantly, which ones aren't!) NOTE: This packet is also available under Resources. Job Shadowing Project: NEEDHAM B. BROUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL Job Shadowing Dates: February 6-28 Student Name____________________________ Teacher______________________ Grade_____ Period ______Day____ Course Title____________________________ I. JOB SHADOWING GOALS Project Due Dates: � Utilize effective project management --Completed Packet due: 2/28/08 � Apply IB �Learner Profile� information --Shadowing appointment recorded � Practice professional communication on chart in class: 2/15/08 � Gain specific career knowledge II. CAREER ASSESSMENT TOOLS Use one or more of these tools to help you understand which jobs might be right for you. User name and Password I did use this tool. I did not use this tool. www.cfnc.org Go to Career Center, then Career Key first initial, last name, 4 digit birth year (no 0�s or spaces) Example for Jane Doe born in 1999: Jdoe1999 www.f4k.org Go to Careers, then Matchmaker Quiz first name, first letter of last name, month and date of birth (no zeroes or spaces) Example for Jane Doe, born Nov. 21: Janed1121 III. BRAINSTORMING/NETWORKING/PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION � List careers of interest (use your own ideas/the results from the career assessments above) on a sheet of paper � Talk with family, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, individuals in civic/faith communities to get names/contact info for career people in your interest area � NOTE: If you cannot find a perfect match, job shadowing in almost any field will still benefit you, helping you analyze what is/isn�t a good fit for you. IV. JOB SHADOWING Note: If you cannot shadow, you may complete the Alternative Assignment�see page 4 Once you have reviewed the goals of this project (I), completed the career assessment chart (II), and created your brainstorm list (III), follow the steps below for the actual job shadowing experience: A. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT Make an appointment to shadow someone in your career area (or any career area if you can�t identify a specific career area). Arrange to shadow for at least two hours during non-school hours. There is a workday Monday February 18 and a holiday Tuesday February 19 if you�d like to shadow longer than 2 hours. B. TELEPHONE SCRIPT (*Use this to make an appointment) To make your appointment, feel free to use the following script as a guide: �Hello, my name is __________, and I�m a student at Broughton High School. We�re doing job shadowing this month, and I�d like to visit you at work to learn more about the kind of work you do. Would it be possible for me to shadow you at work for a couple of hours or so? It would? Great! What time would be convenient for you? I have afternoons available Feb. 6-22, or I could come on the teacher workday or holiday Feb. 18 or Feb. 19. (Agree on a time and write it on your calendar) What is your address? (Write it down and Mapquest it) Thank you so much. My number is___________, so you can contact me beforehand if you need to. I�ll also call you a couple of days before the appointment just to confirm it. I�m looking forward to it, and thanks again! Goodbye.� C. PREPARATION Prepare for your job shadowing experience by doing the following: � Practice 3 times introducing yourself (sincere smile, eye contact, proper handshake) � Plan your appearance (appropriate clothes, shoes, neat hair and nails, etc.) � Review the questions you want to ask�take them with you if you like � Gather nice-looking pen, paper, and Verification Form to take with you � Arrange for a ride D. ON-SITE JOB SHADOW EXPERIENCE As you complete your job shadowing experience, do the following: � Be on time, be courteous, and be professional�represent yourself well � Introduce yourself using sincere smile, eye contact, proper handshake � Listen attentively � Ask appropriate questions � Take a few specific notes in order to help yourself reflect later � Have person you shadowed complete the Verification Form (attached) E. REFLECTION: This section is to be completed by ALL STUDENTS, whether you job shadowed or wrote the paper (did the Alternative Assignment on page 4). E-1: IB CONNECTION: What 2 attributes of the IB �Learner Profile� (IB Learner attributes include Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators,Principled, Open-Minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced, Reflective) are most important in this job/career? Why? ________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________ E-2: PERSONAL CONNECTION: Complete the chart below, explaining the specific reasons this career is a good or poor fit for you: (see http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm for more information about these categories) I can see myself in this job because: I have a hard time seeing myself in this job because: Job responsibilities Working conditions: hours, inside/outside, health risks, etc. Training, Qualifications, Opportunities for Advancement Future of the field Earnings & Benefits E-3: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION: THANK-YOU NOTE Write and mail a hand-written thank you note (within seven days of job- shadow) to the person you job shadowed. If you did the Alternative Assignment, write a practice thank you note and attach it to this packet when you turn it in. Please see example of an appropriate thank you note below: Dear Mr. Brown, Thank you for the job shadowing experience at Widget World yesterday. You were kind to explain the specifics of the job so I can make a better career decision. Your company is impressive, and I look forward to hearing more about it in the future. I really appreciate your willingness to help me understand what you do in your work each day, and I wish you much success with the new Wonder Widget coming out this year. Sincerely, June Bailey Have your parent/guardian verify that you wrote and mailed your thank you note below: My child wrote and mailed a thank-you note on this date:_________________ Parent/Guardian Signature:________________________________________ ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENT OPTION The preferred option is to shadow someone who is working in a specific career area. You will gain much just from being at the work site. However, if you cannot shadow, the alternative is to write a research paper using the following criteria: 1. List 3 references, including The Occupational Outlook Handbook, the ONET (http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm), (http://online.onetcenter.org/), and one other. 2. The paper must be a minimum of 1 page, double spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman, addressing the following: --Workers� job duties�what are the tasks and assignments; how do you invest your daily time? --Working conditions�working hours, inside/outside, travel, health risks? --Training, qualifications, opportunities for advancement�reimbursement for higher education? --Employment � number of these jobs available now and in the future --Earnings/Compensation�include starting and mid career pay ranges and benefits --Related Occupations�include careers that use transferable skills, such as teaching to sales --Other sources of information, such as professional organizations related to this career NOTE: Only the actual shadowing is replaced by the paper. You must complete the other parts of the packet to complete the assignment successfully. Job Shadowing Project February 2008 Needham B. Broughton High School EMPLOYER VERIFICATION FORM Thank you for allowing ___________________________ to shadow you today. Broughton High School appreciates your support of our student. Please comment about what the student and/or you gained from this experience: ______________________________ __________ ______ - ______ Signature of Person Being Shadowed Date Times of Shadow Please print your name and title:_____________________________________ Your email address:________________________________________________ Name of Your Company/Organization:________________________________ Address of Your Company/Organization:_____________________________________________ Would you be willing to job shadow again next year? YES______ NO______ STUDENT CHECK-LIST Job Shadowing Project: NEEDHAM B. BROUGHTON HIGH SCHOOL In order to ensure you complete all parts of the job shadowing project, use the following check-list: I have: _____ Reviewed the Job Shadowing Goals (I) _____ Completed the Career Assessment Tools (II) ��_____ Created a brainstorm list after networking with family, friends, etc. (III) _____ Made an appointment to job shadow, using script as a guide (IV-A, IV-B) _____ Prepared by practicing, planning, reviewing, etc. (IV-C) _____ Job Shadowed (IV-D) or Completed the Alternative Assignment _____ Had employer complete Verification Form (Attachment #1) _____ Completed the Reflection (IV-E) _____ Written/Mailed a Thank-You Note (IV-F) _____ Had parent/guardian complete verification that thank-you note was written and sent (IV-F) _____Copied this document for personal records (use for applications, scholarships) _____Turned in Packet to teacher by due date Be sure to make a copy for your own files and record the experience in your resume at www.cfnc.org for future contact and scholarship applications. Congratulations! You�re on your way to the best career for you!Back to Top