Career Exploration for College-Bound Teens

Here are tips for Career Exploration for College-Bound Teens.

Career Exploration for College-Bound Teens

We 7Sisters have a mix of homeschool graduates. Some went right into the workforce and many went to college. In fact, among the offspring of the six of us, there are those with Phds, JDs, MEds, MAs, BFAs, BAs, BSs, and BSNs. (BTW- there are six of us 7Sisters, so who’s the 7th Sister? YOU are! Thanks for being part of this sisterly community!)

You can see from the variety of degrees our graduates have earned, that there were a variety of interests and goals. We found out early on that every teen is unique. We wanted each teen to find their way in life, to discover their callings… and to choose a college major that worked for them.

In fact, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, around thirty percent of college students change majors at least once. While this is not a disaster, it is costly in time and finances!

What can help prevent that kind of loss? Career Exploration during homeschool high school.

What does Career Exploration look like for college-bound homeschoolers?

There are three important facets of Career Exploration for college-bound teens:

• Self-awareness
• Career-related experiences
• Networking skills
• Prayer

Self-awareness

According to the principles of Human Development, one of teens’ tasks is learning who they are: self-awareness. Here are some steps that we 7Sisters have found useful for helping our college-bound teens understand themselves so that they make good career choices.

Interview several people in different careers and perhaps a few college students, too

Even if your teen does not have a clue about which career they may be interested in, interview several different people about their jobs. Recent college graduates can give some real advice and expertise about their career opportunities.

Have teens create a document of any useful information they pick up from the interviews.

Take the Myers-Briggs Personality Test and/or other personality tests

Read together the report about that personality. Discuss what they suggest for careers fit well with your teen’s personality type. Here is a freebie list links to personality tests (that are free or low-cost). 

Take the Interest Assessment at MyNextMove.org

This is a wonderful, free resource from the US Department of Labor. What careers does it suggest fit well with your homeschool high schooler’s interests?

Complete 7Sisters’ Career Exploration text

I cannot recommend enough having your teen completing a Career Exploration course. Of course, I am a fan our our 7Sisters Career Exploration textbook. That is because I developed it specifically for our homeschooling teens based on my training as a counselor (and as a homeschool mom, of course).

7Sisters Career Exploration Textbook helps teens build self-awareness

Teen learn to clarify their:

• Strengths (strengths are a clue to a good career fit)
• Weaknesses (weaknesses clarify career choices to avoid)
• Interests (what’s the use of a career that is not the least bit interesting?)
• Values (understanding career values are vitally important in career choices)

Another nice investment in your teens is “helping them find their star”, so check out this interview with our friend, Anita Gibson.

Let me give you an example. I have always had a wish to be an entrepreneur. Therefore, my first college major was business. However, I found that I was absolutely NOT gifted in finances, bookkeeping or accounting- all necessary for the major (and if I was going to be a solopreneur).

I eventually found that I had a calling as a counselor and have had a decades-long career in a field that I love. God also blessed me with the opportunity to use my homeschooling expertise and experience as an part of an entrepreneurial team along with my 7Sisters. Being part of the team means, I get to do the parts I love while my 7Sisters Sara, Marilyn and Kym take care of the finances! (Everything in God’s time.)

Your homeschool high schooler has strengths, gifts, talents AND weaknesses. It is a good idea to clarify these!

Have career-related experiences and networking

To find internships, it sometimes takes some “resource development”

In other words, who are the resources in your area who might be working in your teen’s field of interest?

• People at church
• Neighbors
• Family
• Google local businesses and have the teen drop by an experiential resume and proposal
• Check out the local community college for dual-enrollment courses
  • Sometimes college teachers can offer some research projects or some networking opportunities
• A high schooler at our friends at FundaFunda Academy wrote this article that covers Career Exploration topics like Job Shadowing.
• Homeschooler Becomes a Veterinarian, with Dr. Sarah Varnell
• Check out this interview with homeschool graduate, Samantha Shank, for more ideas

Go to Career One Stop

This is another wonderful, free tool from the US Department of Labor. With your teen, look up as several careers that are catching their interests.

• Read about:
  • Job market outlook
  • Salary ranges
• Read descriptions and watch videos for
  • Necessary education level
  • Job descriptions

Prayer

While teens usually do not have a “voice of God moment” about career or college-major choice, prayer helps keep them open to the leading of God. (7Sisters Career Exploration text has a light hearted discussion about ways to understand God’s will.)

With this information, what career choices and college majors makes sense and feel right to your teen?

Your teen should be able to narrow their career and college choices to one or two majors. Remember this is a journey. All they need to do is be on the journey. God will direct their paths.

Also, keep in mind the changes in the job markets. Homeschooling with Technology Podcast has these helpful episodes:

Preparing our children for jobs in the future

Many teens do not have any idea what they want to do after graduation. That is okay. They do not need to know everything about the future during high school. However, it is wise to help them explore. Here are some ideas: Career Exploration for Teens Who Don’t Have a Clue.