Career guidance is an important educational and development program that helps students chart their future career options and determine their academic requirements.
A number of career guidance activities for high school students can help them develop a better sense of their strengths, interests, and lifestyle.
Career guidance program involve the use of worksheets that can be customized with images and keywords. Students can be asked to record their answers.
A worksheet for lifestyle preferences can also help students decide what lifestyle they would like to have in the future.
Whether you are a career counsellor, a parent, or both, you can find a worksheet to help students develop their goals.
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Helpful Career Exploration Web Platforms
SchooLinks
SchooLinks offers a web platform for high school students to explore careers and explore educational opportunities. This resource also includes a career interest inventory that supports students’ initial career research and helps them identify careers within broader fields.
CareerOneStop
CareerOneStop also provides a toolkit to help youth find resources, job opportunities, and unemployment benefits.
In addition, students can use the website’s electronic tool to browse interviews with professionals, from those with roles working with animals to those with a unique set of skills.
Naviance
The Naviance platform works by asking students to complete a short self-assessment that takes 15 to 30 minutes.
The platform then uses this information to suggest career options and academic paths.
The website stores the student’s information, including assessments, so parents and counselors can access it.
They can also use the platform to track their progress. The website also offers tools to help students develop a personalized plan for future college and career goals.
Career exploration is an ongoing process, and it’s important to keep the process interesting for students. This will increase interest and motivation.
Incorporating innovative practices into the curriculum will help educators and counselors embed new methods of career exploration into the curriculum, allowing students to explore careers and postsecondary options.
They will feel more motivated to study harder and be more successful. With the right tools, students will be more engaged in their education and are more likely to graduate from high school.
The Career exploration web platform present a great way for high school students and professionals in different fields to connect interactively.
Students can pose questions to professionals and get responses from them. The platform also features over 400 videos and hundreds of “Day in the Life” stories written by professionals in various fields.
The interactive platform also provides a validation of the student’s achievement. The app also supports counselors and teachers’ interactions with students.
Multiple Intelligences Assessment
There are dozens of ways to engage students’ multiple intelligences.
While worksheets and tests are a convenient way to test student learning, they tend to lose attention over time and students may become bored or tune out.
Multiple intelligences assessment allows teachers to create an environment that is stimulating for each student, while also appealing to the different types of intelligence.
A bridge approach can also be used to increase understanding for students who are stronger in one or more areas.
Using the Multiple Intelligences Theory in the classroom has a variety of benefits. For example, it can help teachers differentiate instruction by helping slow learners excel in a particular subject area.
It can also improve a teacher’s approach to working with students who display difficulty in a particular subject.
A teacher can then use a child’s natural strengths to teach a difficult concept.
While some students may display one type of intelligence more than others, this approach may be the best fit for the teacher to use in the classroom.
The Multiple Intelligences Theory was first put forward by Howard Gardner in 1983. Since then, the theory has expanded and is now referred to as eight or nine intelligences, but this article will stick to the original seven.
A number of free multiple intelligences tests are available online. There are manual and self-calculating MS Excel formats. These tests are helpful in guiding educators and career counselors to determine a student’s strengths and weaknesses in each of these areas.
Career Card Grab Game
If you are looking for an activity to introduce career information to high school students, consider the Career Card Grab Game. It is a spin on the popular game Fishbowl, which creates lots of laughter and memories.
Players take turns matching up their cards with corresponding career descriptions.
Students can use words and actions to describe their chosen careers, while others can only use one word.
The goal is to match up as many cards as possible.
Career Exploration Workshops
High schools can create a variety of activities that promote career exploration for students.
Several of these activities are woven into the curriculum, from science to social studies.
Career exploration is also compatible with other activities that foster social and emotional learning.
By providing a context for students to imagine what career they want to pursue, schools can help them find a meaningful career path.
In addition, career exploration activities can help students set goals and develop strong self-esteem.
During a career exploration workshop, students can brainstorm possible careers that start with the letter of their choice.
Then, they can brainstorm skills they might need to become successful in each of these careers.
For an extra-curricular activity, students can present their interests in apprenticeship programs or non-degree fields.
A student can even uncover five hidden jobs that are not necessarily teacher, engineer, or baker.
Students can work together to find others who share these characteristics and make posters of them.
Many career exploration resources exist online, including the Career Interest Inventory.
These tools can help students identify their passions and interests, as well as explore broad career fields. They can also be used to assess the feasibility of particular career options.
These tools can be used by the career team or by CTE at the school level. A few useful resources are described below. And don’t forget to consider the future employers of your students.
The more diverse your school is, the more likely students are to take part in career exploration activities.
During a career exploration workshop, a counselor will provide a list of job options for students based on their natural skills and those they are developing.
Career awareness is an essential skill to develop in high school, but many students are unaware of the numerous careers out there.
While a student can rattle off 20 different careers, there are many more to choose from.
It is essential to understand that career exploration is not about the number of available jobs, but the best career options that match the students combination of interest, personality and capabilities.
The reality is that the world is huge and there are literally millions of different jobs in the world. Therefore, career guidance activities for high school students are crucial for helping the students to streamline and focus.
Conducting Effective Career Days And Fairs
For high school career days and fairs, consider inviting presenters from local businesses, schools, and organizations.
These organizations often have free giveaways for students and are a great way to encourage them to attend.
Once they have confirmed their presence, email them a map of the school and a list of parking information.
If you have a few presenters, consider preparing a few talking points for them to share.
For example, if a presenter is a medical professional, consider asking students to guess three facts about their chosen career and a believable lie.
Make sure to thank the presenters and volunteers by sending out follow-up notes after the event.
You can also collect information about what students learned at the event. Make sure to update contact information regularly and thank all of the exhibitors.
Keep students engaged and on task. Encourage them to follow up with exhibitors and prepare for their interviews.
Lastly, follow up with students and volunteers to let them know what they can do to make the career day and fair even better next year.
While planning career days and fairs for high school students, the organization of the event is equally as important. The organizer should ask for input from the students, counselors, and teachers. Then, develop an invitation list and invite participating colleges and employers.
This step can be time-consuming, but it can help them to interact with potential employers.
In addition, the organizer should develop questions to ask the exhibitors about what the job entails, the skills required, and what they do not like about it.
Additionally, they should set up student transportation, document the event, and acknowledge the sponsors and exhibitors.
Hold a Vocational Dress-up Day
Another idea for a career day is to hold a Vocational Dress-up day.
This day is an excellent opportunity to share information with other students in their class or grade level, or you can create a Vocational Dress Up Day and decorate the halls with pictures and articles about jobs related to the profession.
If you are planning to hold a career day, make sure to include this activity in your curriculum.
Whichever model you choose for your career guidance program, choose activities are fun and effective. All the best.