Career Planning
High school is a time when students begin or continue the exploration phase of career development. Career days, field trips, guest speakers, and class research projects are just a few examples of early career exposure. Now in high school, greater focused career exploration begins as expanded opportunities become available for students to "try on" skills and talents:
- Volunteering
- Part-time work
- Job shadowing
- Club, musical, and athletic participation
- Actively seeking out academic classes (high school and college through dual enrollment) that align to future career goals or curiosity
- Internships and summer programs
In addition to engaging actively in hands-on learning and skill-building, self-awareness and research are the key to uncovering potential career paths:
- Career Assessments help students answer questions about their interests, talents, goals and strengths and receive personalized reports with possible "good fit" career paths. Assessments can help start a conversation about how high school can propel students into post-secondary training that supports individual goals.
- Informational interviewing allows students to take on the role of interviewer by reaching out to professionals in various field and asking questions about their profession.
- Career Fairs are typically a trade-show style and offer a "one stop shop" for students to meet with diverse professionals.
- Watching short career videos allows students to learn about different careers from professionals in various fields
- Job site visits help students experience the work environment firsthand.
- College tours allow students to ask questions about which college majors relate to their interests and career aspirations.
The College and Career Center is a great resource for career planning and exploration resources. Students also meet with school counselors to discuss 4-year planning and college and career goals. Conversations about future planning occur in classrooms, among peers, and at home with parents and caretakers.
Career Exploration Links
- Career Exploration and Readiness Resources
- SoCo CareerFest Videos
- CTE Foundation of Sonoma County
- Your Free Career Test
- Find Your Grind
- RoadTrip Nation Video Archive
- What Can I Do With My Major Blog
- California Career Zone
- California Apprenticeships
- CareerOneStop
- O*Net
- California Career Cafe
- CA Career Center
- Jobs Made Real
Job, Volunteer and Internship Links
- Local Volunteer and Internship Opportunities
- Teens Volunteer
- Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership
- Sonoma Job Connections
- Zippia Job Search
Additional Resources
- California Career Center Resources for community members with disabilities, foster youth, homeless/transient, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, migrant, military dependents, pregnant/parenting, probation/court school, special education, and undocumented.