How to choose a career

Planning for college and a future career is an important step in preparing for your future.

Here are some suggestions for how to plan for life after high school.

1. It's a good idea to learn what jobs are in demand before investing your time and money to prepare for a career. If you are considering technical careers, you are making a smart move to look into this area. Technical careers are where the majority of job opportunities exist.

   Two helpful sites are:

   • Occupational Outlook Handbook
   • O*NET Online
2. Find out about career guidance activities offered at your high school. Having a plan for where you want to go in your career will give you a boost in school. Your ambition and grades may be higher with added direction and purpose.
3. Interest assessments are a great way to see what careers would make your interests and talents shine. The career counselor at your high school is happy to give you more information about the careers that get you doing what you enjoy. There is a big contrast in the amount of training and education different careers require. You are ahead of the game if you know what skills you need to prepare for a career before you get to college.
4. Continue exploring career areas that interest you whenever you get an opportunity. Know all you can about your dream career. Talking with people in the profession or visiting a company to see someone doing the job firsthand is one of the most fun and most informative ways to learn more. Career fairs give you a chance to talk with multiple employers who have gathered together to offer information about careers at their company.
5. Select courses give you some of the skills needed to get into a career and seek out job opportunities related to those areas. Any job experience you can get now may be invaluable to you in the future. You may be surprised how previous job experience may fit into what another employer is looking for. Skills are the keys to opening a door to job opportunities.
6. Good attendance is an important habit to develop for a dependable employee. Respect school as your job.