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Career Exploration/Awareness/Preparedness

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Tyler Morgan

Tyler Morgan

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Career Exploration, Career Awareness, and Career Preparedness — three key stages in helping individuals (especially students or career changers) navigate their professional journey:

1. Career Exploration

Definition: The process of learning about different occupations and what they involve to discover careers that align with your interests, skills, values, and goals.

Activities:

  • Self-assessment tools (e.g., interest inventories, personality tests like MBTI, Holland Codes)

  • Job shadowing professionals

  • Informational interviews

  • Exploring career websites (e.g., O*NET, BLS, LinkedIn Career Explorer)

  • Career fairs

  • Trying out different roles through internships or volunteering

Goals:

  • Discover what types of work align with personal interests and skills

  • Learn about a wide range of career options

  • Understand job duties, education requirements, salaries, and future demand

2. Career Awareness

Definition: Understanding what careers are available, the paths to enter them, and how they relate to the real world.

Activities:

  • Exposure to career talks or guest speakers

  • Workplace visits or virtual tours

  • Classroom activities linking academic subjects to real-world careers

  • Learning about labor market trends

Goals:

  • Increase awareness of less-known but viable careers

  • Understand the relevance of schoolwork to future careers

  • Identify what education and skills are needed for different jobs

  • Challenge stereotypes about careers

3. Career Preparedness

Definition: Developing the skills, education, and experiences necessary to enter and succeed in a chosen career path.

Activities:

  • Creating resumes and cover letters

  • Participating in mock interviews

  • Gaining real-world experience through internships, apprenticeships, or co-ops

  • Developing soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem-solving)

  • Completing relevant certifications or degrees

  • Career counseling and goal setting

Goals:

  • Be ready to apply for jobs or post-secondary programs

  • Build confidence and professionalism

  • Transition smoothly into the workforce or further training