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Middle School / High School
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What Do You Want to Be?
Deciding on a career is difficult. To do it successfully, you need to know:
- your interests and abilities
- your life goals
- the job market in your area
The career exploration process is similar for both youth and adults. It requires a carefully researched and implemented plan. Here is how you can start:
Take a minute to answer the following questions.
Career Exploration Process
- What are you interested in?
- What are your characteristics, personality traits?
- What careers match your profile?
- What careers are likely to be most appropriate for you?
- What careers are in demand and have future opportunities?
- What are the career advancement opportunities?
- What education is needed for those careers?
- Where can you get the training needed for your career of choice?
- What are the costs of education or training?
- How can you fund your education?
- Do you need to work while getting your education?
- Do you know how valuable your summer and part time work during high school is to your future employment?
- Begin to develop your resume while in high school to include all of that experience.
General Career Exploration
You can learn more about yourself and appropriate careers through a variety of general career exploration sites.
I want to learn more about general career exploration.
Career Exploration for Middle School and High School Students
Because of the importance of manufacturing to the economy of southwestern PA, there are many programs that enable middle and high school students to explore manufacturing career options.
For example, PRIME introduces young people to engineering technologies through fun summer camps and programs. Other programs such as
Manufacturing Pathways Intiative, Adventures in Technology
,BotsIQ, Robotics Lego League , California University of PA summer camps, The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette's Manufacturing exploration camp , or job shadowing opportunities build partnerships between schools and local companies to provide hands-on experience and generate interest and curiosity about manufacturing careers.
I want to find out more about regional youth career exploration programs.
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Education Options
79% of graduating high school seniors in southwestern PA plan to attend college.
However, a 4 year college education may not be needed for the career of your choice. Check this out:
When exploring potential careers it is important to understand the education requirements and to select the education option that best fits your interests, time plan and financial situation.
Educational Options
- Technical and career education
- Trade-specific training
- Military service
- 2 and 4 year degree programs
- Specialized certificate programs
See:
Careers
Career Pathways
Manufacturing Jobs
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Education/College and Workplace Realities
Although a college education provides many benefits other than simply skill and job preparation, it is important to keep the following reality check in mind as you plan for the future:
- 79% of graduating high school students plan to attend college
- 50% of students who enter college drop out before receiving their Bachelor's degree (they often have to repay student loans, but are not well trained for a job or career)
- Only 20% of the jobs available in the region will require a Bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Department of Labor statistics
- Many college graduates are underemployed
- Many college graduates return to the community colleges to receive specific skill training
Career Exploration: The Value of Experience is Priceless.
Here is a good example:
You may ask, how can I apply for an entry level job when they are asking for 2+ years of experience? Or, how can I get experience if nobody will hire me without experience? You are not alone. Ask any recent college graduate who is beginning his/her own job search. It is the number 1 major frustration of trying to find employment.
Take a minute to review a job posting in your local newspaper or online (i.e. http://www.monster.com/ ) and you will see what we mean.
Did you know???
Employers are very interested in applicants that show they are multi-tasked, and who have proven they took the extra step while in school to gain real time work experience.
Take a minute to answer the following questions.
- Do you have a part time job after school or in the summer?
- Have you ever volunteered or worked as an intern in a field of your choice?
- Do you belong to school clubs and or community groups that provide valuable hands on experience in a work environment?
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, consider yourself experienced. And here is why:
Part-time jobs
Part-time jobs let you learn what kinds of things you like or dislike about a job, such as working with customers, working in a small team or in an office all day. Often finding out what you don't enjoy is as important as finding out what you like! Part-time jobs can also provide references to show that you are a good, reliable employee and can provide you with the valuable experience needed to qualify for a open position after graduation.
Volunteer Work or Internships
Paid or unpaid internships provide another opportunity to really experience the workplace and to learn about different types of jobs and companies. In some school districts, school-to-work partnerships are available for students to work within corporations on real time projects side by side with their employees. Talk to your teachers/counselors about what opportunities are available for you. Or go to Regional Youth Exploration Programs.
School Clubs
School clubs allow you to focus on areas that might be of special interest to you. They often provide tours or speakers or arrange for participation in competitions and conferences.
Community Agencies and Organizations
Agencies like the YWCA / YMCA or organizations such as scouting often provide exposure to a variety of real time work opportunities that might spark an interest in a particular career area.
Temporary Help Firms
Working as a Temp, gives you the opportunity to learn about a company first hand. It also provides an opportunity to learn about other positions and careers that might be of interest to you.
Career Exploration Tip
Make sure to include all of this valuable experience on your resume and be prepared to explain what you gained from your real time work experience at your job interview.
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