Career Exploration
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
1. Choosing a Career that’s right for you… for now. Most people change careers at least once in their lifetime. Don’t be afraid to have some options for NOW and LATER in your career decisions. Many people make impulsive career choices based on the allure of money or because someone told them they should go in a particular direction. Often they spend years in school and find themselves in a job that they consider unfulfilling or too stressful. Take time to think about what you really want before spending time and money on an education and career that doesn't fit you.
2. Self Evaluation. Knowing your interests, values, skills, and personality will increase your odds of finding a satisfying career.
- What are my interests?
- What are my skills?
- What kinds of things are important to me?
- What traits do I have?
3. Career Exploration. What career possibilities are out there? How do you find out what you will like?
- Talk with your school counselor, teachers, family members, and other role models about careers in which you are interested.
- Investigate careers on the websites listed on this page.
- Take high school classes relevant to your interests.
- Explore options through participation in related clubs, activities, community organizations, jobs/internships, etc.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals or shadow them for a day
CAREER WEBSITES
- California Career Cafe
- California Career Zone
- Jobs Made Real
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- ONET Online
- 101 Career Paths for Every Personality
- Don't Want to Go to College?
- Roadtrip Nation Career Exploration
INTERNSHIPS AND PROGRAMS
*Note: WHS, nor any of its affiliates, are responsible for the legitimacy or quality of internships/programs below.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF INTERNSHIPS AND PROGRAMS TO FURTHER YOUR INTERESTS AND EDUCATION IN VARIOUS FIELDS!
- How to Find a Paid Internship
- Summer Learning Programs: What, Why and How?
- Why an Internship Rocks!
- Summer Programs for High School Students (Click Here for a list of over 30 different summer programs)
- Marketing Research Internship - K-12online (apply now)
- Bank of America Charitable Foundation's Student Leaders Program (eight-week paid internship with a nonprofit organization) apply now
- Opportunity with the Peace Corps!
- STEM Internships - DoD STEM internships allow high school and college students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research, solving real-world problems at DoD laboratories and facilities.