Career Exploration Reviews

Careers If You Like Problem Solving ISBN 978-1-68282-589-1 / eBook: 978-1-68282-590-7
Careers If You Like Research and Analysis ISBN 978-1-68282-591-4 / eBook: 978-1-68282-592-1
Careers If You Like Social Interaction ISBN 978-1-68282-593-8 / eBook: 978-1-68282-594-5
Careers If You Like the Creative Arts ISBN 978-1-68282-595-2 / eBook: 978-1-68282-596-9
Careers If You Like to Travel ISBN 978-1-68282-597-6 / eBook: 978-1-68282-598-3
Careers If You Like Working with Your Hands ISBN 978-1-68282-599-0 / eBook: 978-1-68282-600-3
School Library Journal, November 1, 2019

This season, “Career Exploration” (Reference Point) stands out from the crowd for its unique organizational approach and format. Career options are presented in a way that will resonate with readers who might be undecided about their future career, who are choosing a college major or vocational degree, or who want to explore choices based on their existing skills. The series intended for late middle and high school students will also reach first-year college or vocational school students as they begin to map out a more focused course of study.

Gr 6 Up—Both traditional and alternative options in arts, science, engineering, law enforcement, education, and cultural fields are outlined in detail, including sound engineering, camera operation, medical illustration, farming, logistics, and more. This series’ advanced approach to thinking about how skills and interests influence career decisions makes it most relevant to high school students and perhaps young adults who are deciding on an undergraduate course of study. Content is comprehensive and lists specific examples of how to acquire the necessary education and experience to enter each field. This series is text-heavy, but men and women are shown in each role in the books’ photographs. Educators and readers will appreciate that the median salary, working conditions, minimum education requirements, and personality attributes are given for each job, adding to its practical appeal. VERDICT Guidance counselors and school libraries will definitely want to consider this series for students and their families as they chart their future career goals.

The six books in the series are arranged by interests instead of grouping occupations by specific fields, such as medical or construction. Within this format, disparate occupations such as surgeons and mechanical engineers are listed alongside electricians and plumbers in the same book with the idea of appealing to people who like working with their hands. Such juxtapositions are found in every volume. This format will make it easier for people working with students, and for the students themselves, as a means of discovering which occupations match their interests and the educational levels required for the field. Each volume is comprised of eight chapters that explore different occupations related to the interest stated in the title. The chapters cover skills needed for each career, general working conditions, potential income, and education and training needed to pursue a career in each profession. At the end of each chapter is a list of organizations with addresses and websites where students can locate more information about the field. At the end of each volume is a section titled “Source Notes” that lists the footnotes used in each chapter. An interview with a person in one of the eight fields covered is included at the end of each book and a list of other occupations in the field not covered in detail within the eight chapters. This series is ideal for libraries wanting to increase their holdings in the area of careers or other departments in schools helping students plan their future careers.
Augie Beasley, Educational Reviewer, Charlotte, North Carolina
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