“We get students who walk in and say, ‘Tell me what classes I need to take.’”’
This quote came from a community college counselor we spoke to last year. Chances are, you’ve heard similar requests from some of your students. It’s understandable. Not only do students need to decide on an overall career path, they need to make multiple decisions about which major and classes to select. For counselors of high school students, there’s the added pressure to decide which kind of higher education option is the right choice. Students are often afraid they’ll make the wrong decision, or worried about their lack of direction. It’s a lot of pressure.
You know it better than anyone: students need personalized guidance. Here’s a list of some of our best resources so you can continue to help your students make the most informed, intentional career decisions and you can download the resources here:
eBook: Inspiring Career Development for High School and College Students
This is a great resource to have on hand, especially because it includes two helpful activities for you to do with students to get them thinking more deeply about their ideal career. The ebook also includes some fascinating research about self-awareness, the importance of understanding student interests, and what the current skills gap could mean for students’ futures.
Podcast Episode: Finding a Career with Purpose
In a recent episode of The Myers-Briggs Company Podcast, we invited college and career expert Julie Raynor Gross to discuss the tools she uses to help students determine their ideal career paths. She makes a compelling case for why career decisions should be based on interests and personality type, not just one or the other. Julie also shares some enlightening examples from her own counseling work with students. This is a must-listen for both students and educators.
Tip Sheet: Help Your High School Students with Career Exploration
Many school districts now require career readiness to be incorporated into the curriculum. That’s a good thing, but it comes with some challenges – like determining how to define career readiness and what to include in the curriculum. This tip sheet is full of practical ideas for high school teachers and counselors as they develop career readiness programs.
You can download the three resources listed above here.
Below are a few more resources to check out:
Webinar: Lead Students Toward Guided Pathways Success
This webinar offers an intriguing look into the “Chart Your Path” program Mike Nowicki created as director for the Educational Opportunity Center at the Community College of Denver. He developed the program to engage undecided students in their career exploration process, and it’s been incredibly helpful. Mike also discusses how to implement a similar program at your institution – and highlights some opportunities for improvement.
Booklet: Type and Career Development
This booklet walks educators and other leaders through some critical (and often missed) steps of the career development process, including self-assessment, research, decision-making, and intentional action. Add it to your bookshelf and increase your effectiveness as a career development professional.
Blog: Student Interests Can Predict Career Success
According to research from Dr. James Round and Dr. Rong Su, interests are powerful enough to predict education/career choices, job performance, and overall success. This means that if students are truly interested in the career path they’re on, they’re more likely to succeed. The key is to determine genuine interests as early into career exploration as possible. This blog offers some insight about how to connect student interests to viable career paths.
Blog: Employers Say College Grads Aren’t Prepared for Work. Here’s Why.
According to a Gallup Poll, 92% of educators believe college grads are prepared for the workforce. But only 11% of employers believe college grads are prepared. That’s a major discrepancy between educators and employers. The missing link? Soft skills – things like adaptability, and empathy. This blog post contains ideas educators and counselors can use to guide students in the right direction.
Blog: Top Ten Soft Skills College Grads Need for Career Readiness
Because soft skills can significantly improve professional interactions, true career readiness requires development of these skills. As higher education institutions determine ways to implement this into curriculum, we identified the top ten soft skills college students will need to succeed in the workforce. It’s helpful to refer back to this list as you prepare students for the real world.
Need more career development resources? Find them here.