A Guide on Navigating Career Exploration for High School Students

One of the most important roles of educators and guardians is to help high schoolers understand their options after leaving school. Whether they're college bound or have their hearts set on a job right after graduation, career exploration for high school students is a pivotal part of future planning.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can guide your high schooler in career exploration. We'll also look at how the professionals at New Dawn Charter Schools encourage career exploration for high school students. Let's jump in!

How to Talk With Your Student about the Future

Your student has some big decisions to make, and you might have to walk a tightrope in helping them. You want to signal to them that their future is important to you, but you also want to show you respect their autonomy. To keep the lines of communication open, try to remain engaged and open-minded in the process. Here are some suggestions on how to do that.

Keep communication open

Encourage open and honest conversations with your student. Let them know it's all right to explore various interests and change their mind. Listen to their thoughts and concerns without judgment while validating their feelings and perspectives.

If you and your student find yourselves butting heads or not communicating well, you might seek the involvement of a school counselor as a type of knowledgeable mediator. They most likely have helpful educational resources and experience in career guidance, skill development, and workforce preparation.

Understand their interests, strengths, and values

Many parents and guardians are eager to look at their students' strengths and skills before addressing the most important part of choosing any job: making sure it aligns with their core values. This doesn't have to be an involved, drawn out chore. It can consist of identifying two or three values that they consider most important to their identity.

For example, a student who considers "empathy" to be one of their core values might consider nursing. Someone who identifies "learning" as a core value might do well in a field that involves detailed research.

Now, ask about their hobbies, favorite subjects, and activities they enjoy. Discuss what excites them and why. As you help them identify their skills and strengths, use examples from their academic performance, extracurricular activities, and personal experiences.

Set realistic goals

Goal setting is a critical part of kick-starting and sustaining student success and personal growth. Help them set achievable short-term and long-term goals and identify the steps they can take now to move toward their future prospects.

Emphasize the importance of being flexible and open to new opportunities. The path to any career is filled with twists, turns, victories, and setbacks. Talk to them about how an unexpected opportunity is much more likely to arise if they keep an open mind about potential careers.

Discuss education and training paths

Talk about the different educational paths, including:

• Four-year colleges
• Community colleges
• Vocational schools
• Apprenticeships

Remember, no one path is inherently more "valuable" than another, as long as it appropriately serves their long-term goals. The job market is broad, and many fields offer a variety of specialized employment opportunities.

CareerOneStop.org is a great resource for exploring career options, finding training and education, and planning a job search. You can also find career self-assessments and resources for finding jobs.

Provide emotional support

Career exploration can be overwhelming for high school students. Offer support and encouragement through the ups and downs. Celebrate achievements and milestones along the way, no matter how small. It's great to ask them questions about the process, but be sure to also ask about their thoughts and emotions throughout their journey. Remember, choosing a vocation isn't an easy task, especially for someone so young. Their decision-making skills are still a work in progress, and it's your job to help nurture them.

How to Leverage School Resources

At NDCS, we aim to provide students and their families with quality guidance about their career options so they can be equipped for success right after graduation.

Students with more than 10 credits are especially encouraged to take advantage of our Internship Program. This initiative provides students with the essential job readiness training, learning opportunities, and leadership development needed to transition into a successful career pathway.

New Dawn's internship program also helps students to build long-term professional relationships through vocational training. These hands-on experiences can help develop "soft skills" like critical thinking, teamwork, time management, problem solving, and communication, as well as professional skills. Even if a student decides that their internship isn't a great fit, they still can build valuable connections and explore different career pathways within the same field.

Mentoring programs within the education system can provide excellent student support, too. New Dawn's mentorship program forges staff-senior student partnerships that encourage accountability and academic success. While this relationship’s main purpose is to keep students on track to graduate, it also is a great opportunity for our educators to partner with students in pursuit of workplace or college readiness.

Fostering Career Exploration for High School Students at NDCS

At NDCS, we enroll students who are over-aged and under-credited in grades 9 through 12 and provide intensive resources and programming for students who are the most at-risk and difficult to engage in their education. We believe all students, regardless of where they are academically or personally, have a unique opportunity to hit a reset button and graduate with a New York State Education Department High School Diploma. If you think your student might be a good fit for New Dawn, we're ready to put them on the path toward a successful future. Check out our enrollment and admissions process for our charter high schools in Brooklyn and Queens and get started today!