A career essay can be a research piece about a career that you are interested in or a short composition about a certain job for which you are training and studying. When you create such an essay, keep the specificity to the topic and make sure you include valuable information about job opportunities, potential for growth and benefits.
Such an essay is required by many graduate and undergraduate programs, and even colleges might require one along with your student’s application. This way they will know what your aspirations are.
Through your paper you should prove that you have a general understanding of the career’s requirements. An outline will help you get your ideas organized, and you will make sure you cover all the aspects of the career you are researching. Include details such as skills needed for this job, educational requirements, specific details about the job and background requirements.
Do not solely focus on the steps that are necessary to acquire the job. You can also talk about how to do this specific job and what you will have to do if you get it.
Research
Before writing your essay, you will have to do some research. Ask people working in that field to give you accurate information about the job. Prepare some questions to ask them, in order to make sure that you do not forget anything.
A career essay has the same format as any other essay: an introduction, 3-4 paragraphs to support your ideas and a conclusion. If you need this paper for a class assignment, ask the teacher if he/she prefers a specific format. Some teachers are quite particular about this aspect.
Introduction
You do not have to give detailed biographical information about yourself. Write only the parts that relate to the career which you have chosen to write the essay about. This first paragraph should include the main reason you have showed interest in this particular career. You should also mention the knowledge you possess and unique skills that make you fit for this job.
The body
The body includes three or four paragraphs, each 5-6 sentences long. Their purpose is to emphasize the main points of the essay, such as the responsibilities and duties of this career, the potential for growth and advancement, its importance to society, etc.
Conclusion
The conclusion should give the reader a strong impression about your career intentions. Mention how you plan to achieve your goal and also your plan for the next 10 and 20 years. The conclusion should not have more than two paragraphs. Make the job sound interesting, fun and appealing. Be careful not to go to the other extreme and make the reader think about the job as one big party.
The purpose of this paper is to contain information that is credible. Include also the negative aspects of the career as well. This will give the impression that you are realistic in your plans and that you know what you are getting into as a future employee.
Proofread the essay several times. Make sure that there is no spelling or grammar mistake and that it is easy to read and understand. Ask a family member or a friend to read it too to check for clarity and tell you if there are any parts that need improvement. Stay true to yourself and write only the things that you are sure about. If someone would ask you a question related to your essay, would you answer with ease? Do not add words and expressions just because they sound good or because you think that this is what people want to read.