Here’s how to do Career Exploration in homeschool co-op.
How to do Career Exploration in Homeschool Co-op
One of many favorite courses to do with homeschool high schoolers in a co-op setting is Career Exploration. We use the Career Exploration Bundle in a group setting. Want a syllabus for teaching this powerful course with your teens? (All the materials in this syllabus are in the Career Exploration Bundle or found for free on the internet.)
16 Weeks of Career Exploration in Homeschool Co-op:
Each week give the students an assignment. The next week they will come back and discuss what they have discovered together. This course produces a LOT of openness and vulnerability for teens (if they are into that). If they are shy, you may have to model the kind of discussion you want or break the them into 2’s or 3’s to discuss.
Week 1:
- Have the kids list the Careers of everyone in their families (including grandparents and other extended family).
- Do they know length of career? Many changes in venue or one corporation all the way through? (Homemaking counts as a career, BTW.)
- Homework: Complete the Career Exploration Questionnaire.
Week 2:
- Discuss the Career Exploration Questionnaire. This questionnaire helps homeschool high schoolers look at the role models God has placed in their lives.
- What have your students learned from them? Have the students share ideas and list on a whiteboard. They will learn from each other.
- Homework: Read articles on Career Exploration in the Bundle to get a good idea of how to make the most of the Career Exploration process.
Week 3:
- Discuss articles on Career Exploration in the Bundle.
- Have your teens list together the most important things they will be looking for as they go through the Career Exploration process.
- Homework: Do Lesson I in the Career Exploration Workbook.
Week 4:
- Discuss Lesson I from the Career Exploration Workbook.
- What do your teens agree with or not in what they read? What do they already know about the will of God for them? (Start easy: Read John 3:16 and discuss what God wills in this verse.)
- Homework: Do Lesson II in the Career Exploration Workbook.
Week 5:
- Discuss Lesson II from the Career Exploration Workbook: Have everyone share what they discovered. This is a BIG section. You may end up spending several weeks on this, if so adapt the syllabus.
- Homework: Do Lesson III in the Career Exploration Workbook.
Week 6:
- Discuss Lesson III from the Career Exploration Workbook. This is a FUNDAMENTAL part of the course. Have the teens discuss this in detail.
- Homework: Do Lesson IV in the Career Exploration Workbook.
Week 7:
- Discuss Lesson IV from the Career Exploration Workbook. This is often difficult for Christian teens, since they want to be humble. Remind them that recognizing strengths and talents is not about bragging but IS about acknowledging that God placed those in them for a reason.
- Homework: Take the Jung Typology Test. This FREE personality test is a short version of the famous Myers-Briggs Personality Test. After answering 70 short questions, you will receive a 4-letter score (like INFJ, for instance). You will then have a chance to click on a box that will give you some suggestions regarding good career fits for that personality type. Be sure to print those suggestions and bring to co-op.
Week 8:
- Discuss the results of their personality test and the job suggestions. For more ideas visit Keirsey.com.
- Homework: Take the MyNextMove interest survey. This is a wonderful, FREE interest survey from the U.S. Department of Labor. Be sure to print your results and bring to co-op.
Week 9:
- Discuss the results of My Next Move.
- Homework: Do Lesson V in Career Exploration Workbook. Print up or write down ideas. This part takes some clicking and exploring, don’t skip it!
Week 10:
- Discuss results of Lesson V in Career Exploration Workbook.
- Homework: Write a 1- to 3-page paper describing your role models, interests, abilities, values, and things you feel God has shown you about career or calling. Base the paper on your Career Exploration Questionnaire, Career Exploration Workbook, Jung Typology Test, and MyNextMove. Bring to co-op. (Take 2 weeks on this if necessary.)
Week 11:
- Share and discuss what students are thinking as they wrote their papers.
- Homework: Write your personal mission statement. This will help homeschool high schoolers refine their career searches and think about the best training for those careers.
- Homework: Based on what they have learned, list several careers that might be possibilities. Look up information about them at MyNextMove’s Browse Careers by Industry box. Be sure to print what you find and bring to co-op.
Week 12:
- Discuss career possibilities. Now brainstorm together ways to get some experience to see if your areas of interests are truly a good fit. (Ask around at church or other organizations with which you are involved. Is anyone interested in a volunteer to help out doing simple tasks? Could you do some shadowing? Or perhaps it would simply be good to get some job experience in any field to help build your resume- and maybe weed out some career areas?)
- Homework: Brainstorm a list of experiences and connections they could do in career interest areas.
Week 13:
- Discuss and add to their brainstorm list. Discuss how to do resumes.
- Homework: Get to work on resume. Be sure to proofread carefully and bring to co-op.
Week 14:
- Share resumes, give suggestions (students should join this discussion). Explain how to do cover letters.
- Homework: Write cover letter. Proofread carefully and bring to co-op.
Week 15:
- Share cover letters, give suggestions (students should join this discussion). Explain interview skills.
- Homework: Have students read the interview skills lesson.
Week 16:
- Practice interview skills.
Remember that any co-op field trip can become a career exploration field trip, too. Ask a few questions about the field trip guide’s training and experiences working in the field.
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