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Career Planning Process

juggling career hats

Self-Assessment

Take interest and skill assessments to discover likes and dislikes and marketable skills.

Exploration

  1. Use career exploration tools such as:
    • Futures for Kids
    • Career Explorer
  2. Pay attention to jobs indicated by your assessments
  3. Compare salaries, education required, and the future demand for each job.
  4. Attend career fairs, job shadowing, and business tours. Talk to the business people about possible careers.
  5. Listen to guest speakers who talk about their career. Connect what they say to what you are now learning.
  6. Get an Internship or Apprenticeship in order to see how jobs really work.
  7. Decide on a job or jobs that look promising.
  8. Talk to employers and employees about those jobs. The employer knows what they are looking for in new hires.
    • Ask them what education is needed to get into that job.
    • Ask about education needed to get to the next level.
    • Does the employer provide additional education? (some might pay for bachelor's or master's degree)
    • Ask them what school to go to and what classes to take. Ask about high school electives to take.
  9. Join a career-oriented club
    • Explorer Post
    • CTSO
    • Junior Achievement
    • Boys and Girls Clubs

Employability Skills

Employability Skills activities that can contribute to your education/career plan:

Education/Career Plan

Create a Ten-Year Education/Career Plan that includes the following. Share this plan with your teachers, parents, and business persons in your chosen career field.
  1. My vision at 25. What will my life be like when I am 25 years old?
    • Family
      • Married?
      • Single?
      • Children?
    • Housing
      • Living with parents?
      • Living by self?
      • living with roommates?
      • Living with spouse and kids?
      • Renting house/apartment, or own house?
    • Transportation
      • Own car (what kind?)
      • Use public transportation?
      • Company-owned vehicle?
    • Career
      • Working full-time as______?
      • Own my own company?
  2. What will it take to get reach that vision?
    • High school courses
      • Core courses
      • Elective courses
    • extra-curricular activities
    • school clubs/organizations
    • Postsecondary Education
      • four-year college?
      • community college?
      • trade school?
      • apprenticeship?
      • On-the job training?
    • Part-time jobs
    • My first full-time job
    • My second full-time job
  3. What secondary and postsecondary education do I need
    • Elective courses
    • Dual enrollment
    • AP or Articulation credit
    • CFNC
    • College Fairs
    • Military Information
    • Xtreme Beginnings
    • College Planning Workshop
    • Financial Aid Workshop

NC DPI Career Development Guidelines