Published Jan-25-2006
Active participation in career exploration activities will help your child become aware of the many opportunities available and the steps that need to be taken to reach his or her goals.
Some advantages of career exploration include:
- Understanding the work environments of interesting careers;
- Exposing your child to careers he or she may have never considered; and
- Discovering the various types of post-high school education and training, as well as their costs, so your child does not waste time and money getting training unrelated to his or her career goal.
Hands-on career exploration lets your child "try on" careers. Your child can volunteer for organizations that hire people in his or her interest area. They can also take part-time or summer jobs that relate to their interest. Maybe your child could job shadow (watch what a worker does for a day) someone who works in a interesting career. An internship or work-based learning experience related to their career interest areas would also help with hands-on exploration.
An excellent resource for career exploration is the Oregon Career Information System. CIS is a comprehensive resource that helps people of all ages become aware of work and educational options, connect education and work, and make successful career decisions and transitions throughout their lifetime. You can learn more about CIS at oregoncis.uoregon.edu
Source: based on information from Why Should My Child Explore Careers, ACRN