Career Planning Activities for High School Students

When it comes to planning for their future, high school students can feel overwhelmed, especially in today’s competitive job market. It’s important to provide them with opportunities to explore different career paths and plan for their future after graduation. Here are some fun and engaging career planning activities for high school students.

WHY ARE CAREER PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IMPORTANT?

Career plans are important for high school students because they provide the foundation and structure to explore different options and make informed decisions about their future. Career plans can help students think more deeply about their skills, interests, values, and goals. It is also a great way to create meaningful connections with colleges and employers that can lead to internships or potential jobs.

Since there is such a variety of careers out there, it is important to help students research and explore the different possibilities. This can be done through books, websites, or resources from their school’s guidance counselor’s office.

INTEREST INVENTORIES

If you’re looking for an excellent way to help students narrow down their options and decide on a career path, consider an interest inventory. Students complete surveys, questionnaires, and visualizations about their preferences, interests, passions, and lifestyle. This allows them to understand themselves better, and investigate potential careers that could be a good fit. Read this for more on interest inventories.

completing an interest inventory for students. This can help each individual student identify potential careers and hobbies.

CAREER APTITUDE TESTS: CAREER PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

These help assess a student’s skills, interests, and working style in order to recommend potential occupations. Many online versions of these tests can be found for free or low cost.

INTERVIEWS WITH PROFESSIONALS

Talking with someone who actually works in a career of interest can be an eye-opening experience in learning about a certain future career for students. Interviews with professionals can help students gain a better understanding of the job, including the responsibilities, tasks, schedule, flexibility, and pay. Career exploration interviews provide insight into what it is like to be in that particular occupation, and give students a certain career awareness.

JOB SHADOWING

Job shadowing gives high school students the opportunity to observe an individual in a particular job. It helps them gain insight into what a job entails, allowing them to make more informed decisions about their future. Students can find job shadow opportunities through Career Centers, Career Fairs, or even directly from a company.

INTERNSHIPS

One of the only ways kids can get hands-on experience in a particular field is through an internship. These are an excellent method for students to explore different careers and gain necessary skills needed for their desired profession. Internships can also help build a student’s resume and create important connections within the industry.

WORD SEARCHES AND PUZZLES: CAREER PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Fun activities in the classroom can be a fun way to help students explore different career options. Place Career-related words, phrases, skills, or tools in the word search or puzzle for them to find. Looking to accomplish this with no prep? Try this career word search and activities packet. This activity will not only help them learn about different careers but also improve their problem-solving skills.

MOCK INTERVIEWS

Mock interviews are a great way to help high school students learn how to answer job interview questions. Career centers, local businesses, and even guidance counselors as great resources to set up mock interviews. Through this activity, students will be able to practice their interviewing skills and make sure they adequately prepare for the real thing!

RESUME AND COVER LETTER BUILDING

Creating an effective resume is an important step in the career planning process. This can be done by gathering information on accomplishments, awards, volunteer experience, and skills. Career counselors can also offer guidance in formatting resumes and cover letters as well as providing tips on how to best present oneself to potential employers.

CAREER PANEL DISCUSSIONS

While they might be a lot of work to set up, career panel discussions provide an excellent opportunity for high school students to learn about various career paths from professionals in the field, and get some career guidance. Career panel discussions can also be a great way for students to network and build meaningful connections with professionals in their desired area of study or career.

NETWORKING ACTIVITIES

Networking, whether in person or online, is extremely important in today’s competitive job market. Finding networking activities will help students to establish connections with potential employers or mentors. Career fairs, internships, and informational interviews can all help students network and build valuable relationships in their industry of interest.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: CAREER PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Skills development activities can help students build the skills they need to be successful in their chosen career paths. Your school should offer classes, seminars, and workshops that allow students to explore different career fields and gain hands-on experience.

SMART GOALS

SMART goals are a great way for students to turn their career plans into reality. Encourage them to set measurable and achievable short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals that will help them reach their desired destination. Here are some great SMART goals examples for your students.

CAREER FAIRS FOR CAREER PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

When students attend career fairs, they can network with potential employers and gain insight into different career paths. They allow students to make important connections, research job opportunities, and learn more about their field of interest.

CAREER EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES AND CLASSES

Find activities and classes that focus on exploring different career pathways. These courses can introduce students to their field of study and help them develop the necessary skills needed to be successful in their chosen career path. They can also provide guidance on resume building, job search strategies, and other important soft skills.

CAREER SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

Investing in career seminars and workshops will provide an opportunity for students to gain insight into different career paths. These events can help them learn more about the field they are interested in, network with professionals in the industry, and develop important job search strategies.

These activities can be a great way to help high school students plan for their future. Career planning activities can help students discover what they’re passionate about, establish connections with potential employers, develop relevant skills and knowledge, create a plan of action, and set smart goals to turn their career plans into reality. Provide these opportunities for your high school students to support them in their journey toward success.