Career Exploration Should Begin This Year
By now, your freshman has hopefully settled into the high school rhythm and feels more comfortable with the expectations that have been set. It may be an ideal time to begin exploring career options.
Why Now Is the Right Time
- Plan high school course progression.
Helping your student explore career options is important for planning course progression and in building a foundation for the education or training that’s needed beyond high school. - Use a career assessment tool.
Your student has most likely already completed some type of career assessment tool in school. Iowa schools are mandated to implement a career information system (CIS) to determine a four-year individual career and academic plan (ICAP) for every student. What were your student’s results? Did it prompt a discussion with you? It’s beneficial to continually review and discuss the ICAP as your student progresses through high school.
What Your Student Can Do Now
- Do the research.
Discuss your student’s various attributes and capabilities and find out if your student already has a future career in mind. The options are unlimited, but it’s important for your student to connect the skills and strengths that certain careers require and objectively evaluate the possibility of being successful in them. - Consider electives.
High school offers an ideal setting to explore careers by taking elective course offerings, such as art, engineering, web design, mechanics, computer science or business. Having this experience can provide a sampling of a career that speaks to your student’s interests and skills. - Don’t forget to show up.
It’s been proven there is a direct link between class attendance and earning good grades, but there is also a link between attendance and future job performance. Daily class attendance builds a lifetime habit of commitment.
What Your Student Can Do Later
- Take another assessment.
Find out how frequently a career assessment can be completed throughout high school and involve you as the parent or mentor in the process. If assessments are not offered within your preferred timeline, try the CareerOneStop website. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors this all-encompassing website for career exploration, assessments, and training and job searches for all ages.
What You Can Do
- Determine a course of action.
As you guide your student through this decision-making process, help your student find several different resources and use them to help identify the career option that’s most suitable. We’ll send you future emails with multiple resources and guidance along the way. - Know what options exist.
Attending a four-year college is frequently viewed as the only pathway to a successful career when, in fact, it may not be the answer for everyone. Many skilled trade jobs require training instead of a degree and offer a competitive wage. Career and technical education (CTE) programs are getting noticed and are well worth exploring.
Next Steps
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Additional references, handouts and talking points are available in the right sidebar to use at your leisure. They may prove beneficial to reference now or after receiving future emails — we’ll leave it completely up to you. Use our emails like a recipe for a successful outcome — assemble the recommended ingredients and then follow accompanying directions to add flavor and depth.