Why is career exploration important?

Career exploration is key to helping your teen discover and get excited about potential professions. The earlier you can encourage exploration for your teen, the sooner they can discover their dream job. Career readiness education allows students to explore pathways before graduating high school. Finding a dream job takes trial and error, which is why career readiness education can be very useful. By allowing students to figure out what they like and don’t like in middle school and high school, they can narrow their path before entering the workforce or college.

How do I help my teen find a career they love?

The best way to help your teen find a career they love is through exploration. Exposing them to the many options available to them can help spark interest and passion for a particular profession. Focus on their interests and strengths, so they can dive deep and feel confident in associated paths. Be supportive of whatever this might be. There’s no better job than the one you love being in.

What is involved in career exploration?

Career exploration can take many forms, but mostly follows the same format: learning about a wide variety of jobs, exploring a particular area deeper, then trying a hand at the job itself. Through K12’s career readiness education program, Destinations Career Academy, high school students choose classes that follow this plan. All pathways start with exploration classes to see the variety of occupations in a field. Then students can take courses that dive into a particular path and can start to learn the hands-on skills needed in that profession.