The student researched a career in floral design and found that it would allow them to express their creative side. Their research showed that floral designers work hard cutting and arranging flowers for various events and customers. While employment in the field is slowly declining due to competition from grocery stores and online retailers, becoming a floral designer is still possible with a high school diploma and on-the-job training or vocational certification. The student plans to research certification programs and interview an experienced florist to learn more about entering the career.

1. Name 1
Student Name
Graduation Project
March 16, 2012
Career Research Reflection
Lady Bird Johnson once said, “Where flowers bloom so does hope”
(www.inspirationalstories.com). What Johnson was trying to say about finding hope, spoke to
me about my future. During my research on a career Floral Design, I was able to see my future.
With the help of the official government site, Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.com), I was
able to find reliable information about a career in Floral Design. Overall, my electronic research
on Floral Design has helped me see that my career can be something that shows my creative side.
In order to be in the Floral Design business I will have to work hard, lift heavy arrangements,
cut and arrange flowers for customers in need. Everyday demands of a florist are ever changing.
They can work for individuals or corporations creating large and small orders, such as weddings,
funerals, arrangements for caters or interior designers. Florists have to work during the week,
weekends, and even on holidays. Most florists used to work for individually owned floral shops,
but today many are now working in grocery stores or for internet businesses. Many shops hire
employees with a high school diploma and then learn skills on the job. Also, they will hire
someone with certification in floral design from private floral schools, vocational schools, and
community colleges. These courses can be accomplished in one or two year of study. When first
hired, a new employee will start working at the cash register, sweeping floors and delivering
flowers. Advancing in this career is limited. After a few years of being in the business many
designers will move up to chief floral designer or will choose to open their own shop.
Employment in this field is slowly declining, but this also opens up more jobs for those looking

2. Name 2
to moving into this field. One of the reasons many people are leaving this field is the low pay.
Also small businesses are suffering due to the competition of the low prices at grocery stores and
internet florist. The average wage for an experienced florist, in May 2008, was $23,230. In the
state of Pennsylvania, the pay is one of the highest in the country for a florist, but there are not as
many job openings in this state. Related jobs that I could look into are Fashion Designer,
Graphic Designer, Interior Designer, and Landscape Architects. Organizations to look into for
more information about Floral Design are American Institute of Floral Designers and Society of
American Florists.
With the help of the official government site, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.com), I
am able to get dependable information that will help me understand the Floral Design Career.
My next step is to research more on certification in Floral Design and I hope to get to meet and
interview an experienced florist. Now with the research fresh in mind I am able to have a closer
idea of what career could be perfect for me.