Luis Cardenas’ Career Possibilities Have you ever been given the chance to pick between a job that will keep you financially set for life or a job that will satisfy you as a career and as a passion? Luis had a passion for teaching ever since he was in high school teaching crafts to 10 year old kids. “He decided to go into teaching nine years ago, between his sophomore and junior years in high school”(Integ, pg 64). Luis was raised in the largest city of the state, where he has deep roots with friends and family. For half a year he had felt like a slave as a paralegal in a large law firm, and another half year as a junior executive has only made him realize his desire to become a teacher. Finally after completing his B.A and receiving his teaching credentials, he decided to apply for a part time substitute teaching position until something came up. Soon because of the many retirements and the good impression he had earned with the school where he worked, they offered him a full-time teaching job. However, Sunset National Bank, a place where he applied, is offering him a job over 15 other candidates, “Sunset National Bank has chosen him over 15 other candidates for the trainee position because of his excellent academic background, fine references from his previous jobs, and outstanding interview” (Integ pg, 64) . This opportunity would give him a slighter better paying salary, starting at $38,000 a year. In addition to his pay at the bank, where he’ll be promoted to loan officer, he will be receiving an additional $3,000 raise. Luis is now stuck in a position where teaching is the dream job he has wanted since High School, but he has also been given the opportunity of becoming a highly recommended banker, two choices that can be a very stressful decision to make. Luis should live up to his dream and become a teacher like he has always wanted, that way he can be satisfied and happy with his life instead of feeling meaningless. A criteria Luis has to consider is how much income is going to be made and what are his chances in promotion. The bank has offered Luis $38,000 a year to start. Luis could move up to a commercial loan officer, but possibly only if he undergoes training and takes courses on the subject which could be very costly. The author states, “it would be wise for him to consider acquiring a masters degree in business administration to improve his chances” (Integ pg, 65). If successful, later on he could get promoted to loan officer and receive an additional $3,000 raise. Bankers don’t have to worry about having limitations on their salary because their pay is based on performance. During the interview the committee bragged about possibilities for promotion being very good. In this case the banking job has a nice advantage for higher chances of salary and promotion. On the other hand teacher’s salaries have a starting rate of about 29,000 a year, but as teachers build up a longer stay with their teaching position, their salary starts increasing slowly. The downside to this is that their salary has a limit of $60,000, making that the top salary a teacher can make. To make matters worst a teacher can get fired if the school goes broke. For this criterion, the banking job would be the best option if he wants to earn a higher income and be wealthier, but he’ll have to do a job he hates and it’ll be meaningless like his old job. The Location and environment is important when choosing a career. Luis has close friends and relatives in his city, so he might regret his decision of working in the bank. If he works in the bank he could stay in the location of his hometown, but eventually Luis will get promoted and reassigned to one of the bank’s offices in any part of the state. It can be five miles away, five hours away, or in the middle of nowhere. Luis would have to leave his family and loved ones and face the fact that he might not see his family for a long time. Luis would then have to start a brand new life and begin a new career which will tear his life apart. However, if he chooses to become a teacher he can work in his hometown where he has lived for a long time. He can stay close to his family and loved ones and be in the same loving environment he grew up in but, If Luis wants to move he has tons of schools around the area that will be flabbergasted to having Luis around because of his great personality and great teaching skills. Luis also seems like the kind who doesn’t mind his privacy, so while working, kids will constantly confront him by asking questions. This would be good for Luis’s confidence because he will know that the kids are learning and he’s doing a good job teaching. Location plays a huge factor in choosing a career, it’s important to keep your family close, so you can be happy. Money doesn’t bring happiness when you are alone. That’s why Luis should be a teacher and stay in his hometown, near the people who love him. Another criterion to think about while choosing a career is knowing whether how will you benefit from it for example receiving paid vacations, health benefits, etc... It appears that Luis does expects rewards for his outstanding performance, so he deserves some benefits and vacation. As a trainee at Sunset National Bank he can only get two weeks of vacation throughout the year, which is very little time for such a stressful job. If Luis gets promoted he could enhance his vacation time to three weeks, that is if he passes the courses and gets the training that is required. Nevertheless, if Luis makes the right choice and decides to become a teacher he could get about three months of sweet relaxing vacation. If Luis thinks about having children and continues to work as a teacher, then he can use that time to spend with his children and have enough time to travel. If Luis doesn’t want to take breaks it’s okay because he can choose to work over the summer if he wants, and he can even look toward higher career opportunities. Later down line, Luis might get the urge of becoming a principal. To get to the level of becoming a principal, Luis would need to earn a higher degree in Educational Administration, but if Luis really wants this then it shouldn’t be a problem. The benefits that a teacher receives are having a union behind them, tenure after many years working as a teacher, and you also get to use your skills, intelligence, and creativity every day; “full time teachers who were kept for three years received tenure that is they essentially cannot be fired unless the school district goes broke” (Integ pg,65). Overall knowing that you’re going to have time for yourself or for your family just to relax and enjoy each other’s company without worrying about having to go to work the next day is a big issue, that’s why vacation and benefits are such important factors for when making a choice, and becoming a teacher just fits that criteria. The main factor Luis should focus on is what really makes him happy, what’s going to motivate him go get up every morning and do his job. That’s why passion and job satisfaction are the main criteria for this article. Luis has always wanted to be a teacher ever since high school, even when working with little kids Luis was always looking forward to teaching every day. After he graduated he went on and got his teaching credentials and B.A. It has been ten years now since he decided to teach and now he has the chance. In contrast, Luis has never worked at a bank, and he admitted that he hates working for big corporations. At Luis’ old job the author stated, “he hated being a slave to a routine and doing work that was meaningless to him” (Integ Pg, 64). And if Luis wants to continue that type of lifestyle, where he is miserable doing a meaningless job, then he can go on and chose the bank as his career. To make myself clear, Luis should follow his heart and do what he loves to do, because he knows that it is not working at a bank, it is waking up every morning knowing that he is going to make an impact in another person’s life by teaching them something new. Overall Luis Cardenas has to keep in mind that all these factors are what matter the most when choosing a career. Even though money is a big issue in our society, it can lead to disasters and nothing but problems, like me I had to choose I job I hated just because of the money and it was the worst experience and worst job I ever had. Unlike doing something you love while getting paid for it, money becomes your least concern; your concern will be on your student’s education and whether they are actually learning everything you are preaching about. The prospect of a long vacation is very high when being a teacher; unlike a banker, the chances of long vacations are very low. This is why I urge Luis to become a teacher, it will satisfy his needs and he will live a very happy life knowing he made a difference in this world by teaching us something new every day.