Career of a session musician

The Paper Section By Section
Title Page
Your paper should include a title page in APA style. You do NOT have to include an Abstract.
View this slideshow from the Purdue Writing Lab for general APA formatting information for
your title page and the entire paper.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa
_powerpoint_slide_presentation.html
Paper Part 1: Introduction: Why Did You Choose This Career?
Write a one-page explanation of why you chose this career. Consider the following questions
to help you write this part of the paper:
 Did someone inspire you to follow this career path?
 What interests you in this career path?
 Think about the values you hold and how those values tie into your career choice. Did
your values influence your career choice? If so, how? Be specific. If your values and
career choice don’t match, then why did you choose this career?
 Why do you think you can work in this career and be happy?
 Include the results of the Career Exploration Assignment (the results of the inventories
you took in Career Cruising) and an explanation of how these results match what you
think you would like to do. If your career cruising results vary wildly between
assessments, address why you think this is happening.
 Make sure this section is well-written and cohesive. In other words, don’t just go through
and answer the questions above and string them together in a paragraph. Write a unified
response to the question of why you have chosen this career.
Paper: Part 2: Job Description/Education Requirements
Write a 1-2 page description of your chosen career and its educational requirements.
This should include:
 the career’s title  job description (what you will do and where)  required education  expected salary  job growth rates and unemployment rates for this career  personality characteristics helpful for this career
In this section, describe your career in terms of career demands, requirements, and
expectations. Include a description of the physical environment, time schedule, location, salary
and benefits. What is the typical pay? (Try to find the most up-to-date local information.) What
is the job outlook? What are the growth opportunities? Be as specific as possible. (A good
source for this section of your paper is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook
Handbook).
You should also include a discussion of the education required for entry level to this career.
Do you have to have a degree? Special certification? Internship? Pass a test? Will you need to
continue your education even after you are hired? What majors are recommended? What are
related occupations for this career? Are there different career paths you might take?
Paper: Part 3: A Day in the Life
Write a one-page description of “a day in the life” of someone in this chosen career.
Knowing about a career is one thing, but do you really understand what you would be doing
from day to day? This section helps you put yourself in the “shoes” of someone working in this
line of work. Interview someone currently employed in this field. What do they like and dislike
about their job? What advice would they give you? What do you think you will like and dislike
about this occupation?
 What will you spend your time doing all day?
 Will you be in an office or outside? What will your work environment look like?
 Will you be expected to travel?
 Will you be expected to take on extra duties or work overtime?
 Will you work with a team or work independently?
 Most of this information will be obtained through your personal interview (see personal
interview guidelines). Many people who prepared for a particular career later find they
did not like the job after all. This is your chance to gain an understanding of what will be
required of you daily so that you can see if this is the best fit for your time. Remember,
on most days of the week, your engagement in work tasks will take up most of your time.
Is this really how you want to spend it?
Paper: Part 4: Positives/Challenges of the Profession Today
Write a one-page analysis of the positive changes and challenges facing your chosen
profession.
Consider the following: (draw from your research and your interview).
 What are some current issues or changes in this field?
 What are the concerns of people in your career today?
 Does your career have a good occupational outlook?
Paper: Part 5: Personal Assessment
Write a one-page analysis of your personality type as it relates to your career.
Consider the following:
 Are specific personality types, intelligences, styles, or skills required for this career?
 Are you and your career a match? Using the results of the Myers Briggs (Personality), the
Learning Preferences, and the Multiple Intelligence assessments and the skills, interest
inventories you did on Career Cruising, and ACES inventory, outline why you think this
career is a match for your personality, learning preference, multiple intelligences,
interests, and skills? Make sure you refer to your assessment results in your discussion.
Paper Part 6: From Here to There
Write a one-page assessment of whether your research has concluded in your affirmation
of this career, job, or vocation choice.
Consider the following:
 Will you be continuing along this planned course or will you now have to make a different
plan?
 What do you need to do to get from NCTC to this career?
 Outline the steps you will take next, including specifics on transfer institutions and possible
employers. What colleges offer the required major? Who are the big employers in this
field? Will you have to move?
 What are the major obstacles you anticipate and how will you overcome them? What are
some resources you can use to assist you in overcoming those obstacles?
 Mention some professional associations you could join while still a student.
 Another part of this section should include your assessment of skills introduced in this
class and how they will help you better achieve your goal. You must name three skills
we have covered this far in class and discuss how you will use them to achieve your
goal. For example, it could be a specific time management approach that will allow you
to better focus on classes and work so that you can complete your degree.

Paper: Reference Page
 For every resource you use, provide a citation in APA format. (Author. Book. Place of
Publication: Publisher, Date.) Each source should be cited in the body of your paper
also.
 You will need at least five resources. Many of these will be online databases, but at the
very least one should be a book (You have your textbook, right?). Another should
consist of a professional journal in your field and one source may be your interview with
an individual currently employed in your area.
 Do not use Wikipedia!
 Your paper will be returned without a grade if you do not include a reference page as it will
be highly suspect of plagiarism.
 Remember you are using the APA Style and not MLA or Chicago. The following link
will provide you with citation examples and comparisons to other styles if that helps you.
The link is:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/citation_style_chart.ht
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Good Luck! I hope you gain some valuable insight into the career of your choice. If you need
help, please use your resources! These include me and your classmates.