EXPLORATION

As you prepare for your future opportunities every student should explore themseleves and their career options. This step in career development will focus on you learning more about your interest, values, personality and career options. 

 

🔍 Self-Discovery

•  Take a career interest inventory (e.g., Holland Code, Myers-Briggs).
• Reflect on your personal values and what matters in a job (e.g., work-life balance, helping others, creativity). Identify your strengths, skills, and personality traits.

 

🧭 Explore Career Options

•   Research at least 3 potential career paths (duties, education required, salary, growth outlook).
• Use online tools (like O*NET, CareerOneStop) or school resources to explore career clusters.
• Conduct an informational interview with someone working in a field you’re curious about.

 

🎯 Participate in 3+ Career-Related Activities/Events
Choose from the list below:

• Attend a career panel or Major Madness
•  Join a job shadowing or mentorship program.
• Visit a workplace or go on a career field trip.
• Participate in a career workshop (resume building, mock interviews).
• Join a student organization or club related to your career interest.
• Complete a volunteer opportunity related to your field.
• Take an elective class aligned with a potential career path.

 

📝 Reflect

•  Write a short reflection or journal entry after each activity.
• Update your career portfolio or resume with new insights or experiences.
• Share what you’ve learned with a teacher, counselor, or mentor.

 

EXPOSURE

As you prepare for your future opportunities every student should expose themseleves to new environments as well as connections. This step in your career development will focus on you utlizing your skills, engaging in networking and various opportunities that help you understand more about yourself in connection with skills, knowledge, and industry.

 

🌍 Engage with New Environments

•   Visit a company, organization, or workplace in a field you're interested in.
• Explore a professional setting through a job shadow.

 

🤝 Build Connections

• Attend a networking event, career fair, or industry panel.
• Connect with a professional mentor or advisor.
• Conduct an informational interview with someone in your field of interest.

 

🧠 Apply & Expand Your Skills

• Participate in a hands-on workshop or skill-building event.
• Volunteer or take part in a community service project that develops transferable skills.
•  Join a school club, competition, or organization related to your career path.

 

🎯 Participate in 3+ Career-Related Activities/Events

📝 Reflect & Connect

• Write a short reflection after each experience.
• Identify what skills you used or developed.
• Consider how each experience connects to your future career goals.

 

 

ELEVATE

 As you prepare for your future opportunities every student should elevate their skill set to ensure they are marketable in the workforce. This step in your career development will focus on you identifying your skills, taking on leadership roles within your interest, and creating a career portfoilio.

 

🔎 Identify & Develop Your Skills

• List your top strengths and skills (both technical and soft skills).
• Take an online skills assessment to discover areas for growth.
• Set a goal to improve or learn a new skill related to your career interest.

 

🚀 Take on Leadership Opportunities

• Lead a project, event, or initiative in a club, class, or group.
•  Mentor or support a peer in an area you feel confident in.
• Apply for a leadership role in a student organization or team.

 

📁 Build Your Career Portfolio

• Create or update your resume
•  Draft a sample cover letter tailored to your dream job or internship.
• Collect work samples, awards, certificates, or photos that showcase your achievements.
• Create a digital portfolio (e.g., Google Sites, Canva, or other platforms).

 

🎯 Participate in 3+ Career Elevation Activities

📝 Reflect & Plan

• Write about a leadership moment that helped you grow.
• Review your portfolio with a teacher, mentor, or career coach.
• Set 1–2 goals to continue developing your leadership and skills.

 

EXPERIENCE 

As you plan for your future, it's essential for every student to engage in at least one experiential learning opportunity—such as volunteering, internships, service learning, or research before graduating. These experiences are crucial for applying your skills and interests in real-world settings and advancing your career development.

 

🎯 Choose an Experiential Opportunity

• Volunteer with a local organization or community project.
• Complete an internship or externship (paid or unpaid).
• Participate in a service-learning project through school or a community group.
• Join a research project or assist a teacher/professional with a study or investigation.

🧠 Apply & Reflect on Skills

• Identify the skills you’ll be using or hope to develop (communication, teamwork, leadership, etc.).
•   Keep a journal or notes about what you're learning during the experience.
• Reflect on how the experience connects to your career interests and goals.

 

📁 Document the Experience

• Add the experience to Handshake, your resume or career portfolio.
• Collect any letters of recommendation, certificates, or photos as proof of participation.
• Prepare a short summary or presentation of what you did and learned.

 

✅ Complete At Least 1 Experience

 

🔄 Follow Up & Grow

• Thank your supervisor or mentor for the opportunity.
• Ask for feedback on your performance.
• Consider how this experience shapes your next steps (e.g., future internships, career interests).

EMPLOYMENT

As you begin your transition into the workforce it is important to focus on several key areas: compiling career materials, refining job titles, networking with employers, and effectively branding yourself as a new professional in your field. This phase of your career development emphasizes enhancing your industry knowledge and interpersonal skills, and applying them in real-world contexts.

 

📄 Compile & Polish Career Materials

• Create or update your resume tailored to your target job/industry.
• Write a professional cover letter for a job or internship.
• Set up or update your LinkedIn or online professional profile.
•  Gather references or letters of recommendation.

 

🧭 Refine Job Goals & Titles

• Research job titles related to your field of interest.
•  Identify required skills, certifications, or experiences for those roles.
• Narrow down 2–3 job titles you would consider applying for.

 

🤝 Network with Employers & Professionals

•  Attend a job fair or employer networking event.
• Reach out to a professional in your field for an informational interview.
• Practice a short professional pitch to introduce yourself professionally.

 

🎯 Brand Yourself as a Professional

• Identify your unique strengths and how they apply to your desired job.
• Practice interview skills (mock interviews, STAR method responses).
• Prepare a professional outfit or interview-ready wardrobe.

 

📝 Apply What You’ve Learned

• Apply for at least one job, internship, or apprenticeship.
• Reflect on the experience and areas for growth.
• Continue to build your confidence and communication in real-world settings.