Career Guidance & Counseling

PART ONE

Introduction
The world of work today is rapidly changing and persons considering entering into a career need to have a clear understanding of the dynamics, mainly with regard to Information Communication Technology (ICT).

In Kenya today, it is possible and common to see an individual employed in an area that is neither in line with their professional training nor with their career interests. This is primarily because people go for what is available rather than what is in line with their personal interests, values, abilities and skills. Many also lack the ability to re-orient their interests to the available training and employment opportunities.
Career & Guidance Expert
This situation results in job frustrations and low job satisfaction. This is characterized by low work morale and reduced productivity which inevitably has far reaching social and economic consequences. This situation reflects a need for efforts to harmonize individual's natural abilities and interests with their education and training, in line with changing needs of the job market. This can be achieved mainly through Career Guidance and Counseling.
Deciding on the future career is not quite easy. It is even more difficult when you lack the necessary information on the different types of careers. In an ideal situation the process of career development stretches through one’s lifetime with a greater emphasis during the secondary and tertiary years.
This is because the information on career choice and development requires adequate understanding of oneself in terms of academic potentials, attributes, talents, interests, personality, values, expectations and available resources. This basic understanding is useful in identifying a suitable career option. When this is properly done, young people are motivated through preparation, study, competition and self-confidence. Good career planning envisages a match between requirements of a job, aptitudes, interests, personality and expectations.
The young person must be aware of his/her motivations, aspirations, strengths, dislikes, limitations and weaknesses. This awareness must be backed by actual achievement and behaviours as well as one’s expectation from the job such as power, money, status, discipline, command or challenge. Interest in the job is completely vital for growth.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) policy documents point out that Career Guidance and Counseling should be part of the Guiding and Counseling support services provided to learners. The MoE has periodically produced career books to support learners in the career development process. Many schools have Guidance and Counseling teachers appointed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) while a few others have career teachers in addition. It is positive to note that learners have continued to receive some relevant information on careers from these teachers.
The government recognizes that there are a number of emerging global issues which impact significantly on career choices today. Learners making career decisions or teachers involved in career guidance need to be aware of them. These issues include:
1. Life Skills
These are skills that will enhance one’s employability as well as one’s chances of succeeding in self employment. They are also referred to as generic skills in the world of work. They include skills such as creativity, innovativeness, team playing, organization, goal orientedness, problem solving, decision-making and leadership among others. Career guidance and development entails the inculcation of such skills and related attitudes in learners from an early age.
2. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has reduced the world into a global village where one can access any part of the world anytime and from anywhere. ICT has infiltrated practically all areas of life including Health, Agriculture, Engineering, Education and Fashion. This implies that career development needs to incorporate the applicability and role of ICT in special fields.
The emerging trend is to integrate it into various fields rather than view it in isolation. This calls for learners to be encouraged from an early age to embrace ICT and develop appropriate attitudes towards science and technology-related areas. In addition, individuals will need to continuously update themselves with new skills to match the needs of the dynamic world of ICT.
3. Community Involvement and Volunteerism
Career development today needs to incorporate the concept of community involvement and volunteerism. This entails helping learners to initiate, plan and implement relevant activities within their own communities.
This in turn helps one to develop appropriate skills and attitudes relevant to the world of work. In addition, it provides an opportunity to the world of work in diverse fields. This helps them begin to identify
their natural inclinations towards possible career options.
4. Environment Consciousness
Virtually all learning and work related activities have an impact on the immediate environment. Some challenges posed by environmental degradation have far reaching social and economic consequences. Learners are encouraged to appreciate the value of environmental care, protection and conservation through the inculcation of appropriate knowledge, skills and attitudes.
5. Equity
Learners need to be aware of issues that prevent equal access to career opportunities. Career guidance therefore aims at encouraging all learners, irrespective of gender, age, race, religion and socioeconomic status, to pursue all available careers in line with their abilities and interests.
Learners who are vulnerable or have special needs are encouraged to identify their strengths, talents and interests and tailor them towards appropriate and available careers. The government appreciates that those
infected and affected by HIV/AIDS have abilities, talents and interests just like anybody else. They are encouraged to exploit their potential to the fullest.
6. Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship refers to the ability to identify opportunities and resources in the environment and through creativity and innovativeness, use them to generate wealth. The dynamics of the world of work today requires that learners develop an entrepreneurial mind. Learners are encouraged to initiate and embrace clubs and activities that nurture creativity and innovativeness. Examples include; 4K club, Tutee, Science Congress, Geographical, Environmental clubs among others.
7. Employability
As learners you probably know of someone who has been trained but has never found a job. You may also be aware of one who was once in a job and lost it and has never been re-employed. Such situations may be reduced if learners are encouraged to acquire a variety of related and relevant skills (multiskilling). In addition, learners need to develop an attitude of flexibilty to enable them switch roles in line with changing job demands.
8. Work Ethics
In the present day situation where corruption remains a major challenge, work ethics such as honesty, integrity and credibility are virtues that have a far-reaching socio economic consequences. Learners therefore need to embrace these virtues.
9. Life Long Education
Education is not just for employment, it is a tool for economic and social development. Learners and those already in the field of work are therefore, encouraged to pursue continuing education throughout their life. This is possible with the ever-increasing flexibility of our education system. Today it is possible to enter the job market and re-enter into the education system. 
A needs assessment survey was carried out by MoE (2006). Among other things, it revealed that, learners receive inadequate career guidance, career choices are made out of ignorance, and much emphasis is laid on subject performance with little information on the link between subjects and careers. There also exist gender disparities on career preferences with more females preferring Art related subjects while males preferred Science related subjects. In addition, both genders indicated little interest in technology related subjects, attributable to limited information and inappropriate attitudes.
The survey also revealed that there is often conflict of interests amongst parents, teachers and learners in terms of choice subjects. It emerged that teachers are best placed to provide career guidance to learners although they are inadequately equipped.
The purpose of a career guide therefore is to:

a)   Enlighten the learners and other stakeholders in the education sector on the contemporary and emerging trends in the world of work.

b)   Provide a list of career opportunities for the purpose of helping the learner gain a better understanding of possible career options, their requirements and possible employment opportunities.

c)   Provide the learners with information on the various training institutions available to further their education and training along various careers.

d)   Provide learners with information on entry requirements for various courses.

e)   Help the learners to identify the relevant careers in relation to one's abilities, interests and values.

f)   Facilitate the acquisition of appropriate attitude towards learning and the world of work.

PART TWO

What is a Career?

A career is a job or profession that gives one an opportunity to progress in some ways that are important to a person.

In summary a career:

• Is very important to you.

• Constitutes your purpose.

• Is a process of your self-discovery, self expression and self assertion.

• Defines your lifestyle.

Your career should answer the following questions about yourself:

• Who am I?

• What am I capable of doing?

• What do I want to become?

A career involves transforming your dreams and wishes into achievements and believing in yourself and your unique talents and characteristics. It also means turning your aspirations into achievements and believing that you can become anything you aspire to be.

Why do you need a career?

You need a career to:

• Earn a living

• Fulfill a demand for skilled labour

• Enhance your skills

• Propagate your knowledge and skills

• Create wealth

• Keep fit and healthy

• Make personal contribution to society

• Fulfill your purpose in life

Mentor - A mentor is an experienced person who advises and helps somebody with less experience over a period of time.

Focusing on Career Goals

Unlike the hyena, the lion is a super predator. It often selects its prey from a herd. It does not necessarily choose the

weakest animal. Once it has locked its vision on one animal, it gives a chase to the very end. It does not change its mind even if it by-passes a slower animal. This is how focused people chase their dream careers by shutting out all distractions. So, how do you chase your dream?

Have a specific goal

People who succeed know exactly what they want in life. They do not entertain any distraction or confusion. A specific goal ensures that you do not waste your time, efforts and resources.

Visualize your goals

Create a mental picture of what you want to be. That which can be easily visualized, can be easily actualized. In your vision, address the following questions:

• Whom will I be 10 years from now?

• Where will I be?

• Who will be with me?

• Where will I be living?

• Where will I be going for holidays?

• What type of a car will I be driving?

• How much will I be earning?

When you talk about your goals, they begin to take a vivid shape. Be cautious of pessimists who will always reduce the size of your goals and show you problems in every situation. Seek guidance from your parents, teachers, sponsors, mentors and professionals. There is no short cut to hard work. It is not enough to dream and do nothing. You must wake up and work out your dreams.

Be Determined

Determination is the source of momentum in your studies. You can only overcome challenges and obstacles in your career path with determination. Nobody ever became a champion without obstacles. Some people give up easily when faced with obstacles. Success is judged by how you finish and not how you start.

Value yourself

This is your sense of personal worth. Be convinced of your ability to achieve your career goals. People with low self esteem don’t set high goals. Your self esteem is the source of motivation and confidence that are necessary for you to achieve your career dreams. God created you for a purpose. Build certain values around yourself such as diligence and hard work.

Have a good mentor

Mentors are people who have succeeded in the field you want to pursue. If you admire good mentors, they will influence you positively towards your goals. Mentors are a source of inspiration. By sharing with your mentors, it becomes easy to know the challenges and opportunities in your chosen career.

Think positively

If you think positively about your career path you will attract positive results. Think big. Avoid prophets of doom who thrive in discouraging others.

Career Types and Personalities

You may have realized that certain people never fit in certain jobs no matter how qualified or hard they work. For example, some people find it difficult to sit down in offices the whole day. They are at their best and happiest working outdoors with their hands. This is because we all have different traits which determine whom we actually are. There are six broad career types in which different people fit. These are the realistic, investigative, artistic, social careers, enterprising and conventional careers.

Realistic careers

These are the skills and technical-oriented jobs. Work here involves tangible and practical skills where people work with tools, machines, plants and animals. The people in these jobs are highly practical and physically strong. They often enjoy dealing with things rather than people.

They are good in technical subjects such as:

Agriculture, Metalwork, Woodwork, Homescience, Technical Drawing, Drawing and Design among others.

They excel in:

• All kinds of engineering such as electrical mechanical and Agricultural engineering

• Wildlife management

• Wood science and technology

• Armed forces and related careers

Investigative careers

The professionals here are scientific and laboratory-oriented. They have a high curiosity, intellectual input and empirical approach to issues. Their work involves analyzing facts, solving puzzles, dealing with charts, numbers, formulae, graphs and data processing. These people enjoy observing, studying, analyzing, interpreting and solving complex challenges. They do well in leadership positions, social gatherings and activities.

They are good in:

• Mathematics and the sciences

• Business studies

They excel in:

• Medicine

• Architecture

• Microbiology and related courses

• Criminal investigations

• Accounting, statistical analysis, money, financial and related fields

• Veterinary, zoology and related fields

• Computer science and information communication technology

Artistic careers

Those who excel in these careers are arts-oriented, creative, expressive and aesthetically conscious. Their jobs involve a lot of imagination. Consequently, those who excel here are highly original, emotional, nonconforming, unconventional, independent, idealist and introspective. They take risks and like producing distinct products.

They are good in:

• Languages

• Literature

• Drawing and design

• Music

They excel in:

• Drama and theatre arts

• Graphic designing

• Literary studies

• Writing, painting and poetry

• Acting

• Home decorating, fabric designing

• Photography, singing, drawing cartoons

Social careers

These involve working with people. Those who excel here have an inner urge for helping others. They like training, informing, enlightening, arbitrating and organizing other people. They are sociable, friendly, understanding, empathetic, generous, helpful, cooperative, responsible and hard Working. Often, they are sober, welfare - minded and articulate.

They are good in:

• Languages

• Literature

• Humanities

They can also be good in the sciences if they put more interest and effort in them.

They excel in:

• Administration

• Education

• Law

• Theology

• Journalism and mass communication

• Human and public relations

• Political science and related fields

• Counseling

Enterprising careers

These careers involve influencing and persuading other people. There is a lot of goal and profit orientation in these

jobs. Those who excel are enterprising, ambitious, talkative, argumentative and domineering people. They are also

energetic, self confident, optimistic, sociable, competitive, impulsive and persuasive. They enjoy chairing meetings and committees. Often they run for elected offices, head important functions and motivate others.

They are good in:

• Mathematics

• Business studies

• Science

They excel in:

• Business management

• Sales and marketing

• Hotel management

• Politics

• Industrial consultancy and related fields

Conventional careers

The careers here involve highly orderly, routine and practical jobs. Often, there are some inflexible activities. Those who excel have a common denominator of being obedient, practical, calm and orderly. They are also efficient and conforming.

They are good in:

• Business studies

• Computer and office practice

• Home science

• Sciences

They excel in:

• Accounting

• Bookkeeping

• Auditing

• Statistics

• Inventory control

• Store keeping

• Secretarial

• Office management and

• Computer operations

Steps in Choosing a Career...

To make a good career choice, start with yourself. You need to consider your interests, abilities, preferences and then plan your career choices accordingly.

There are five steps that you can follow:

Identify careers related to your interests, abilities and preferences

Planning  your career depends on the quality of career information available to you.

As you begin to explore your career options, consider the following resources and strategies:

• Ask the librarian or the school career office about books and pamphlets on careers.

• Join a club that undertakes activities in the line of what you want to be. For example, wildlife club can be a good entry into agricultural and environmental sciences.

• Visit a place where people do the kind of work you are interested in.

• Use the Internet to research for fields of your interest.

• Try out a hobby or volunteer to work in areas related to the kind of careers you are interested in.

• Contact professional groups such as the Law Society of Kenya, Association of Kenyan Insurers, Architectural Association of Kenya etc for more career information.

Narrow down your choices to a few careers for further exploration

As you narrow down your list of potential careers, think of the following questions:

• What careers are likely to provide me with short-term and long-term satisfaction?

• Are there careers that seem to reflect my interests, abilities and preferences better than others?

• What is the future of the careers that I am considering?

• Am I willing to get the education background and training to get into the careers I am interested in?

• What are the positive and negative factors associated with each career that I am considering?

Get the right preparation for your career

Consider now how to get the right preparation to your dream career. Preparation includes choosing the right subjects at form three that institutions of higher education require to train you in a particular career. Some jobs require apprenticeship, vocational technical training, two-year college training or four years at university. These are in addition to the KCSE level of education.

Increasing demand for specialization

It is important to realize that some jobs are on the decline as you make your career choices. For example, clerical and other secretarial jobs are fading away fast as a result of computerization. From the traditional ‘’specialized professions ”like doctors, and accountants, information technology and engineering, business management and consultancy are the professions in demand now.

Universal skills

Irrespective of the career you choose, there are universal skills and qualities that you need. And the earlier you develop them the better. These are:

• Computer literacy

• Presentation skills (written & oral)

• English language skills

• Basic mathematics and numeracy skills

• Intelligence

• Self confidence

• Willingness to accept responsibility

• Innovation- can you bring new ideas and suggestions?

• Inter-personal skills- can you get along with other people?

• Ability to handle conflict.

• Honesty

• Organisation

• Career ambition

• Persuasiveness

From the foregoing, your career choice is a process, not an event. It takes time and many amendments and reconsideration.

Your Career choice is an Individual choice

It is you alone who will live with your desired career and not other people. But other people can be of great help to you.

They include:

• Your teachers who can guide you and give you information.

• Your parents who can help you make up your mind and introduce you to career.

• People in the fields you desire to join.

• At times you can be wrong and your teachers and parents right.

Frequently Asked Questions about careers in Kenya

Question: What is the cut-off point in admission to university?

The cut-off point refers to the least points required for one to be admitted to public universities under government

scholarships. The points are fixed by the public universities’ Joint Admissions Board. In the last two years, the cut-off points have been 67 for boys and 65 for girls. The points, however, vary depending on the government-sponsored slots available in the specific year and the performance in the KCSE examination for the year.

Question: Can I get university education if I don’t meet the Joint Admissions Board cut-off points?

Anybody who scores grade C Plus and above qualifies to join either private or public universities under the self sponsored programme.

Question: What is bridging?

A bridging course is a short preuniversity programme in which students uplift their cluster subjects that they did not do well in KCSE prior to joining the self sponsored degree course. For example, the four cluster subjects for enrolling in any degree course. The minimum score in each of these four cluster subjects is C Plus. Bridging will be recommended in a subject where the score is less than C Plus.

Question: Can I ever get into university if I score less than C Plus in KCSE?

Yes, you can but you will follow a different route from those who score the minimum university entry grade. Some professionals with the highest level of university education today started with certificate courses. They then upgraded their skills by going through diploma and degree courses. If you may have to follow this route, the only limitation in getting into a university is you.

Question: I want to be a doctor. I am good in science subjects but very poor in mathematics. Can I qualify?

You have a big task ahead of you. The cluster subjects for doing medicine are Maths / Physics, Biology and Chemistry. Other subjects are English or Kiswahili or any other that you will have performed well, but to get admitted to university in the first place you need some minimum aggregate points from the seven subjects that will be counted in your KCSE. And the counting takes into consideration the following seven subjects:

• Mathematics

• English

• Kiswahili

• Two science subjects

• One humanity subject

• Any other subject you have done well (a second humanity or a third science or business studies or a technical subject or a foreign language).

Note that the score in Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, two science subjects and at least one humanity subject must be counted even if you score grade E in them. These are the core subjects. This is how a low score in Mathematics can harm you and deny you the raw cluster points for pursuing Medicine. Dedicate yourself whole heartedly to Mathematics and score at least a C Plus grade in it and in the other three subjects of the cluster.

Question: Which subjects are known as boosters?

These are the non-core subjects in your KCSE grading. Actually a booster

is the seventh subject that is counted while the Kenya National Examinations Council is computing your mean grade. So, work hard in that booster subject for it to improve your overall mean grade.

Question: When choosing a career, am I supposed to base it on my Interests or on the subjects that I do well?

You need to consider both your interests and the subjects that you do well in your career decision. But at times your interests may be at variance with the subjects required to pursue certain courses. In such cases, you have to change your mind and go where your academic abilities lead you.

Question: I am fairly good in all subjects but the problem is that I have never been able to pinpoint what I can do. What career should I follow?

At this level of secondary school, you can think of a few careers. Make an honest soul search and write down at least four careers you think you can do. Examine each in turn by speaking with people in it, visiting the actual workplace and reading all information about the job. This way, you can narrow down your choices to one or two.

Question; Can I study Medicine with Physics and Chemistry only without Biology?

No! All careers dealing with living things, such as Medicine, forestry and fisheries require one to have studied Biology at secondary school level. In the same way, all kinds of engineering require Physics.

Question: Can I pursue two careers at the same time in university?

Why would you need to do so? To study two careers, for example, Law and Bachelor of Commerce would be a hard and an unnecessary task.

Question: I have realized that to study history or a foreign language in university a good grade in Mathematics is always a requirement. Why is this so?

The law of demand and supply is in operation here. Scores of students qualify to join institutions of higher learning every year yet the vacancies are always few. So, the institutions have devised methods of elimination so that they can only enroll the very best every year. It is a requirement to score highly in core KCSE subjects, which include Mathematics.

Competitive career fields to choose from...

There are numerous career opportunities in the various social-economic fields. Students are advised to choose a career from the field they are interested in. They should also ensure they are good in the subjects relevant to the field. To cover a wide range of careers, we have classified them into broad categories as follows;

1. Agriculture and Related Careers

These include careers related to plant and animal science. It also includes careers in crop and animal production, pest and disease control and animal science. Careers in horticulture and floriculture are also included. Examples

are agribusiness management, agricultural and bio-systems engineering, agricultural business management, agricultural economics, agricultural economics and resource management and agricultural education and extension.

2. Architecture, Building and Related Careers.

These include careers in the field of building and construction. Other areas include land economics, landscaping, urban and regional planning, civil and structural engineering, construction management, landscape and architecture.

3. Beauty, Fashion and Related Careers

They include careers in fashion, textile, interior and exterior designs. It also includes careers in beauty, hairdressing and modeling. Other jobs are fashion design and marketing, clothing, textile and interior design and apparel and

fashion technology. Interior designers need a combination of both science and art related skills, which include the ability to work with technical details as well as keenness on fashion, style and trends.

4. Business Related Careers

These include careers in commerce and industry such as marketing, insurance, finance, investment, banking and

entrepreneurship. Other related jobs include accounting, actuarial science, banking and finance, business management, business administration, cooperative management, micro-finance and marketing.

5. Community Development Related Careers

These include careers in sociology, social work and community development, cutting across a variety of settings that include schools, hospitals and the general community. The jobs here include social studies, gender studies, social work, population studies, justice and peace, participatory project planning, disaster management and community development.

6. Creative Arts and Entertainment Related Careers

These include careers in fine art and related areas, cartoon industry, photography, music and theatre. Other

jobs include sports technology, recreation and management, physical education, fine art, creative arts, theatre arts, cultural studies, drama and theatre studies. The work environment includes advertising, publishing (books, newspapers, magazines) and electronic media (television, radio) industries.

7. Diplomacy and Public Relations Related Careers

These include careers in public relations as well as in diplomatic assignment, international relations, justice and peace and political sciences. One needs to have the ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds, good communication skills and patience.

8. Education Related Careers

These include careers in teaching at all levels. The careers also include education administrators such as education officers and teachers in special education programmes.

9. Engineering Related Careers

These include careers in the different areas of engineering cutting across diverse fields such as electrical, mechanical, civil, agricultural, chemical and environmental and computer engineering.

10. Environmental management and conservation related careers

These include careers in air, water, land management and conservation, forestry, wildlife and fisheries. Other jobs are land economics, urban and regional planning, science and technology, wildlife management, environmental health, environmental science and wetlands management and conservation.

11. Entrepreneurship and Related Careers

Entrepreneurship cuts across all fields where there is need to look at organizations and institutions as business enterprises. They also include careers in entrepreneurial development, commerce and business administration.

12. Geography and Related Careers

These include careers in geology, survey and mapping, cartography, meteorology, oceanography, remote sensing and astronomy. Others are natural resources, eco-tourism, mining, geography, and environmental science.

13. Guidance, Counseling and Related careers

These include careers in guidance, counseling, psychology in religious, industrial and community related fields. The work includes guidance and counseling, counseling psychology, education and counseling, pastoral counseling and social work.

14. Health Related Careers

These include medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, medical technology, radiography and physiotherapy. Careers in this field require students with good mental ability and aptitude to think logically, keen, alert and quick in interpretation, warm personality, patient and commitment to serve mankind.

15. Home Science, Food Technology and Related Careers

These include careers in nutrition, dietetics technology and fashion design and textile technology.

16. Hospitality and Related Careers

These include careers in the various departments in the hotel industry, travel and tourism related areas. The jobs include hotel and restaurant management tourism management, home economics and food science and nutrition. Others are foreign languages, hotel and institutional management, hotel and hospitality management and travel and tours operation management.

17. History and Related Careers

These include careers related to archaeology, anthropology and political science, among others. Those with interest

in this area need to have interest in getting information, are curious and have deep interest in the past.

18. Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and Related Careers

These include careers in computer industry including computer hardware and software. The category also includes careers in library and information science, computer technology and computer science. Others are information sciences, information systems technology, computer applications, web design, networking and communication systems.

19. Journalism Related Careers

These include careers in print journalism and electronic journalism such as information sciences, communications

media technology, journalism and media studies and communication technology.

20. Law Related Careers

Careers in these area deal with governance and justice which ensure people’s stability and confidence in their country. This category includes careers relating to matters of law in the mainstream as well as those in the para-legal field such as court clerks.

21. Management and Administration Related Careers

These include careers in different specializations of management in such areas as sales and marketing, finance, human resource management, production among others. The jobs here include business administration and management, international operations management, purchasing and supplies management, human resource management, tourism management and marketing management.

22. Manufacturing and Processing Related Careers

These include careers in manufacturing and processing industries in both food and nonfood related areas. The jobs here include industrial and production planning and management, manufacturing engineering technology, industrial chemistry, food science and technology, chemical processing engineering, production engineering and analytical chemistry.

23. Research and Statistics Related Careers

These include careers in research and statistics related areas which cut across different and dynamic fields such as education, health, business, marketing, information communication technology (ICT) among others.

24. Security Related Careers

These include careers in defence, (army, navy, air force) paramilitary, police and intel ligence services. It also includes jobs in private security firms as well as careers related to provincial administration.

25. Sports and Physical Education Related Careers

Career in sports is still in its early stages of development in Kenya. There is a lot of potential and opportunities sports can offer. Currently, there are many Kenyans earning a living from athletics, football and other sports. All you require is energy, drive, passion, enthusiasm , agility and perseverance.

26. Transport and Communication Services Related Careers

These include careers in the shipping, aviation, railway and road transport sectors. One requires alertness, courage, determination and physical fitness. The person should be self-confident, reliable, calm and able to take charge in an emergency.

Subjects and Career Choices

The subjects that you take in school form an important basis for your career choices. Training for particular careers requires specific subject combinations. Below are several categories of careers grouped according to their subject

requirements. Some careers appear in more than one category because they require different subjects. See how your career ambitions relate with the subjects you are studying in school.

Mathematics

A vast range of careers need Mathematics and a good grade in the subject will open doors for you. These include:

• Architecture

• Building and land economics

• Construction management

• Design

• Economics

• High school Mathematics teaching

• Medicine

• Nursing

• Dentistry

• Database administration

• Geology

• Catering

• Horticulture

• Information technology

• Agriculture

• Accounting and auditing

• Biomedical sciences

• Biotechnology

• Insurance

• Business management

• Engineering

• Information sciences

• Statistics

• Actuarial science

• Agribusiness management

• Computer science

• Entrepreneurship

Physics

You need a good grade in physics to pursue the following:

• Electrical & electronics engineering

• Aeronautical engineering

• Mechanical engineering

• Civil and structural engineering

• Computer science

• Medical engineering

• Building economics

• High school physics teaching Physics

• Telecommunications

• Surveying

• Geology

• Physiotherapy

• Aviation/pilot

• Radiography

• Systems engineering

• Information technology

English Language

English is a core subject in our education system. It is a prerequisite subject in understanding all the other subjects except for Kiswahili and foreign languages. The following careers need good qualifications in English:

• Drama and theatre arts

• Advertising

• Air hostess/cabin crew

• Banking

• Beauty therapy

• Broadcasting

• Business management

• Computing and information sciences

• Correctional services

• Medicine

• Economics

• Entrepreneurship

• Estate management

• Design

• Hotel and hospitality

• Insurance

• Journalism

• Library and information sciences

• Law

• Management consultancy

• Music

• Human resource management

• Pharmacy

• Aviation/piloting

• Policing and law enforcement

• Psychology

• Public relations

• Publishing

• Sales and marketing

• Secretarial

• Social work

• Teaching

• Tour operations

Business Studies

Though business studies is not strictly specified as a qualification to pursue many courses in college and university, it is an added advantage for those who have studied it. You get a big boost when you have done business studies and are pursuing the following:

• Accounting

• Actuarial science

• Advertising

• Banking

• Management

• Database administration

• Building and land economics

• Planning

• Design

• Entrepreneurship

• Hotel and hospitality

• Human resource management

• Information technology

• Computing

• Insurance

• Journalism

• Leisure management

• Logistics

• Library and information science

• Sales and marketing

• Public relations

• Surveying

• Retail management

• Social work

• Teaching

• Economics

Humanities

Humanities include Geography,History and Religious education (Islamic, Hindu and Christian). The following careers require a good grade in humanities:

• Advertising

• Architecture

• Law

• Building economics

• Food science and technology

• Horticulture

• Hotel and hospitality

• Journalism

• Aviation/piloting

• Surveying

• Social work

• Teaching

• Tour guide and operations

• Soil science and conservation

• Planning

• Child welfare

• Business administration and management

• Publishing

• Counseling

• Correctional services

• Sales and marketing

• Administration

• Consultancy

• International relations

• Diplomacy and community affairs.

Biology

There are many careers that require a good grade in Biology. They include:

• Medicine

• Pharmacy

• Nursing

• Dentistry

• Botany and zoology

• Food science and technology

• Biochemistry

• Biomedical science and technology

• Biotechnology

• Environmental and public health

• Forestry

• Wildlife and range management

• Horticulture

• Veterinary medicine

• Dairy science and technology

• Agriculture

• Environmental sciences

• High school Biology teaching

• Sports science

• Health education

• Physiotherapy

• Beauty therapy

• Chemical engineering

• Dietetics

• Occupational therapy

• Psychology

• Radiography

Chemistry

The following careers need a good grade in chemistry:

• Systems analysis

• Biochemistry

• Biomedical sciences

• Biotechnology

• Chemical engineering

• Chemistry

• Civil engineering

• Dentistry

• Dietetics

• Medicine

• Food science and technology

• Geology

• Health service management

• Mechanical engineering

• Metallurgy

• Pharmacy

• High school chemistry teaching

• Veterinary medicine

• Forensic chemistry

• Agricultural sciences

• Soil science

• Laboratory technology

• Medical technology

• Environmental health

Some common myths on careers you should ignore

Otieno, a young man had just completed Form Four. His heart was in journalism but his father, a successful professional would hear none of it. He used his contacts and secured a place for his son in a Medical Training College to pursue pharmaceutical technology. Reluctantly, this young man joined. Armed with a pharmacist certificate Otieno confronted his father with a resolve that had been building up over the two wasted years. “This certificate is all you wanted and you can have it. I am going out now to pursue my career!”.

He found his dream career as a journalist and today he boasts to be the only pharmaceutical technologist who has never dispensed medicine to anybody!.

Otieno’s father believed that a career in pharmacy was better paying than one in journalism. If you are not careful, career myths can be misleading on what one perceives to be a good career from an adviser’s point of view. There are many incompetent career advisers who have easily misled students on their career understanding based on myths.

Myth 1: Some jobs make people rich and others make them poor.

Don’t listen to the many ignorant people who see life in terms of profit and loss. A career helps you to develop your skills, talents and self-fulfillment in a special way that benefits society. It is only incidental that you make money in the process. Often, a job well done attracts good rewards but you cannot start with rewards before doing a job.

Myth 2: There are “men’s jobs” and “women’s jobs”.

Ignore such outdated thoughts and simply follow your interests when choosing your career. There is no scientific

evidence to show that men and women are not equal to all careers. In fact, some women excel in law, medicine, architecture and other jobs alongside men. Equally, some men do well as nurses and receptionists where some of these jobs were traditionally considered to be men’s or women’s careers.

Myth 3: Some careers run in families and there is nothing you can do about it.

Perhaps nobody seeks career guidance or ventures out in such families. But you don’t have to be held back by the family career if your interests are elsewhere. Indeed, if you train in a different career you may bring in some skills that the family needs to prosper.

Myth 4: My parents know the career that is best for me.

This is not always so. Sometimes your parents can be dead wrong. Expect some opposition to your career choice and learn to show everybody your point of view. You are the one who will live with the career choke, anyway!

Myth 5: You can make more money as a lawyer, doctor, architect or a tour guide than in any other Job.

Remember the definition of a career is a job that makes you grow in an important way !. Just pursue your dream and riches are merely incidental. Strictly speaking, you get paid for the value that you add to people’s lives through your career. In any case, a career is about self-fulfillment first and money later.

Myth 6: Teaching and nursing are not as good as other careers.

Well, some people get into jobs which are the envy of everybody but they don’t do much there. Others get into careers that may not be so socially visible and they redefine these jobs by setting new standards. Florence Nightingale and Geoffrey Griffins were a nurse and a teacher respectively who made their way into history by excelling in their careers. Whether you join nursing or teaching or whichever career, what matters is the zeal that you take to such jobs and the new heights you will scale in personal development.

Myth 7: Going into the entertainment industry is a waste of time.

Don’t take such comments seriously. The new generation of Kenyan rappers, some of whom boast university degrees, are among the highest paid people around! The advent of many FM radio and television stations in Kenya has greatly opened up the field for those who want to join the entertainment careers.

Myth 8: Higher education and career training are useless nowadays.

The fact that there is a high rate of unemployment should not discourage you. First arm yourself with some training and explore the opportunities even beyond our borders. You can never benefit from an opportunity without the right papers.

Myth 9: Some courses are merely for filing up vacancies and are not marketable at all.

All institutions of higher learning regularly review their training programmes to keep them in line with the job market. It would defeat the purpose of a college or university to train people who have no prospects of getting jobs.

There is no useless course if you have the passion for it.

Myth 10: Getting into business is better than pursuing a career.

You can pursue business even better after getting a career than engaging in it straight from school. Besides, when you have trained for a job you can make better decisions and have a bigger network of contacts to do business with. You can also acquire skills and attitudes that enhance your business.