
Summary
Career discovery isn't job hunting—it's designing a life around what you love, not just what pays. This lesson explores the Ikigai framework and connects personal values and lifestyle to salary and career choices.
Bellringer: What Problem Would You Solve?
- Pose the "what if money were no object" prompt.
- Refocus student answers on solving problems or filling needs.
Instruction
- Contrast career discovery with traditional job hunting.
- Introduce Ikigai and its four overlapping categories.
- Connect personal values and lifestyle to salary and cost-of-living.
Discussion: High Salary Tradeoffs
- Prompt students to weigh pros and cons of chasing a high salary.
- Surface risks like burnout, dependence, and living beyond means.
Activity: Soft Skills Pretest & Game
- Students complete the Soft Skills pretest.
- Begin the Soft Skills game, continuing next lesson.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Explain your top career interest.
- Share two of your personal values that align with this career direction.
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: What Problem Would You Solve? |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 8 min | Discussion: High Salary Tradeoffs |
|
| 20 min | Activity: Soft Skills Pretest & Game |
|
| 2 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep

Soft Skills Pretest
Assess student knowledge before the Soft Skills unit.

Soft Skills
Students build professionalism, communication, and teamwork at a summer job.
Class Presentation
Includes a 16-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 9: Career Paths

Career Discovery
Career discovery isn't job hunting—it's designing a life around what you love, not just what pays. This lesson explores the Ikigai framework and connects personal values and lifestyle to salary and career choices.

Building Skills
Total compensation isn't just wages or salary earned—your ability to keep a job hinges on skills most employers can't easily teach. This lesson explores hard versus soft skills, the link between skills and income, and how to grow your human capital.

College Alternatives & Outcomes
A four-year degree isn't the only path to a paycheck—and it's often not the smartest one. Explore how trade schools, apprenticeships, and working directly compare on cost and payoff using the lens of ROI.
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