C1.0 - Exploration of Career Interests

Image of girls and women using technology.

Level 1 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson.
Exploration – Discovering Interests
At this stage, the focus is on uncovering general interests in tech and exposure to inspiring women in the field.

1. What are some areas of technology that you find exciting or intriguing? (e.g., coding, cybersecurity, data science, design, AI)
2. Can you name a woman in tech who has inspired you or whom you would like to learn more about?
3. Do you enjoy problem-solving or creative tasks? Give an example of a situation where you found this enjoyable.
4. How do you like to learn new skills? (e.g., hands-on projects, reading, online courses, collaborating with others)

Exploration – Discovering Non-Tech Interests
At this stage, the focus is on uncovering general non-tech interests and personal inspirations outside of technology.

1. What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of technology? (e.g., sports, arts, volunteering, cooking)
2. Who is a woman in a non-tech field who inspires you, and why?
3. What kinds of challenges or activities in your everyday life make you feel energized or excited?
4. When learning something new outside of tech, how do you prefer to engage? (e.g., trying it hands-on, watching tutorials, learning from others)

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Lesson 1: Exploration of Career Interests
Objective: Help individuals identify their general interests in technology and non-tech fields and begin exploring career opportunities.
Step 1: Respond to Prompts
Use the following prompts to help guide your initial exploration of interests:

• What areas of technology do you find exciting or intriguing? (e.g., coding, cybersecurity, design, AI)
• What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of technology? (e.g., sports, arts, volunteering, cooking)
• Who is a woman in a tech or non-tech field who inspires you?
• What kinds of challenges or activities make you feel energized or excited?

Step 2: Match Responses with Career Fields
After answering the prompts, review the traditional and emerging fields list. Select two to three fields that align with your answers. For example:

• If you enjoy design and problem-solving, you might be interested in UX/UI Design or Graphic Design.
• If you enjoy creative writing or storytelling, you might be interested in Digital Marketing or Content Creation.

Step 3: ChatGPT Career Exploration
Now that you have your initial answers and chosen fields, use ChatGPT to generate diverse job opportunities. Here’s a prompt you can use:
"Based on my interest in [insert tech field] and my passion for [insert non-tech interest], can you suggest some potential job roles in both traditional and emerging fields? I enjoy [insert an activity or challenge]."
For example:
"Based on my interest in UX/UI Design and my passion for creative writing, can you suggest potential job roles in both traditional and emerging fields?"
Step 4: LinkedIn Research
Use LinkedIn to find individuals currently working in fields that interest you. Start by typing in job titles or career fields you found interesting (e.g., UX Designer, Digital Marketer). Once you find profiles, note down the experiences and skills these professionals have. Ask yourself:

• What are the common qualifications and skills among these individuals?
• How can I begin to acquire similar skills or experience?

Step 5: Career Search
Now that you’ve used ChatGPT to identify some potential career options based on your interests, conduct a search for each of those careers using Google. Look for general job descriptions, the industries they are found in, and typical responsibilities. Then, use another search engine like Bing or Yahoo to compare the results. Do the career descriptions differ? How are the results ranked differently across the search engines?

​Examples of Areas of Technology:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
2. Machine Learning
3. Data Science and Analytics
4. Cybersecurity
5. Blockchain Technology
6. Internet of Things (IoT)
7. Cloud Computing
8. Quantum Computing
9. Robotics and Automation
10. Augmented Reality (AR)
11. Virtual Reality (VR)
12. Extended Reality (XR)
13. Natural Language Processing (NLP)
14. Big Data
15. Edge Computing
16. Computer Vision
17. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
18. 5G Technology
19. Software Development
20. Mobile Application Development
21. Web Development
22. DevOps
23. Digital Twins
24. Bioinformatics
25. Biotechnology
26. Wearable Technology
27. Autonomous Vehicles
28. Gaming Technology
29. Telecommunications
30. Smart Cities Technology
31. E-commerce Technology
32. Financial Technology (FinTech)
33. Health Technology (HealthTech)
34. Educational Technology (EdTech)
35. Agricultural Technology (AgriTech)
36. Green Technology (CleanTech)
37. 3D Printing
38. Nanotechnology
39. Quantum Cryptography
40. Sustainable Technology
41. Geospatial Technology
42. Energy Technology
43. Media and Entertainment Technology
44. Supply Chain and Logistics Technology
45. Digital Marketing Technology
46. CRM Systems and Technology
47. Content Management Systems (CMS)
48. Speech Recognition Technology
49. Collaborative Technology
50. Customer Experience (CX) Technology

Examples of Activities or Hobbies Outside of Technology

1. Sports (e.g., soccer, basketball, tennis)
2. Running or Jogging
3. Yoga and Meditation
4. Hiking and Camping
5. Cycling
6. Swimming
7. Dancing (e.g., salsa, hip-hop, ballet)
8. Cooking and Baking
9. Gardening
10. Photography
11. Painting or Drawing
12. Sculpting or Pottery
13. Writing (e.g., poetry, fiction, journaling)
14. Playing Musical Instruments (e.g., guitar, piano, drums)
15. Singing or Songwriting
16. Knitting, Crocheting, or Sewing
17. Woodworking or Carpentry
18. Volunteering
19. Reading (e.g., novels, non-fiction, biographies)
20. Traveling and Exploring New Places
21. Bird Watching
22. Fishing
23. Rock Climbing
24. Martial Arts
25. Board Games
26. Puzzles and Brain Teasers
27. Fitness Training or Weightlifting
28. Horseback Riding
29. Learning Languages
30. Origami or Paper Crafting
31. Calligraphy
32. Ceramics
33. Scrapbooking
34. Camping and Outdoor Survival Skills
35. Archery
36. Surfing or Paddleboarding
37. Skateboarding or Rollerblading
38. Astronomy (stargazing)
39. Wine Tasting or Craft Beer Brewing
40. Home Improvement or DIY Projects
41. Meditation and Mindfulness Practices
42. Acting or Theater
43. Film or Movie Critique
44. Collecting (e.g., stamps, coins, antiques)
45. Creative Writing or Screenwriting
46. Playing Card Games (e.g., poker, bridge)
47. Making Jewelry
48. Beekeeping
49. Tennis or Golf
50. Photography