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Career Preparation 101 for High Schoolers

5 Min Read
November 03, 2022
EduALL

As a high school student, the age-old question you've probably been getting is, 'What do you want to be in the future?'. Oftentimes, you're not even sure what to answer, and that's totally normal! Before landing into the employment realm, you have to make sure to have a clear picture where you want to arrive in the future. Career planning is a process that helps you navigate your career interests and, ultimately, helps you choose a career path. You can start your career planning and preparation from now! If you're still confused, here are some tips to kickstart your career preparation and give yourself a competitive edge!

Know yourself

Self-assessment is the starting point for any major and career preparation and planning. It's the time to get to know your passions, skills, interests, and personality so that well-informed decisions can be made. It's not often when high school students are aware of their interests but not of their strengths.

Taking self-assessments and scheduling an appointment with a mentor to discuss the results could be among the ways to discover and get to know your strengths and skills. Remember, rather than trying to fit into a major or career, start with understanding yourself!

Research about possible career options

Once you are aware of the activities and subjects that catch your heart, take some time to think. Discover job fields and majors or minors that resonate with your interests, talents, values, and personality. But of course, always keep an open mind as there may be other occupations that you are unaware of.

In spite of everything, always stick with the big picture: identifying your career options! If you have set your heart on a professional path, the next step is to shortlist the university majors. This is crucial, since the major you take will help you excel in that career. 

Be mindful that your career will be defined with the intersection between your strengths, areas of interests, as well as where you want to make an impact. Hence, your major will not always define your career path!

Gain Practical Experience

Once you successfully complete your research about possible career options, it's vital to gain an in-depth outlook in the real world.

Try to acquire experiences through internships, volunteering, freelance work or part-time jobs. Whether it's paid or unpaid, gaining experience while in high school will pave the way for your future employment and help you to uncover more about the work environment. 

Taking part in various internship programs will further assist you to figure out what you like and don't like. Doing internship makes you experience a 'day in the life' of various careers. Keep in mind that nothing beats a hands-on experience! 

Connect with people outside of your classroom 

To find out about different careers, you could ask people around you such as your neighbors, family, teachers. Get them to storytell their career and college experiences. Consider asking if you can shadow him or her at work on a temporary basis to determine if you will thrive in the particular career environment.

Another way of obtaining connections with professionals is through LinkedIn, also known as the professional Facebook page! Connecting with others in your potential field of interest might enhance your educational and professional networks. This way could extremely be beneficial for you in the future.

Prepare your resume and cover letter

In today's employment market, CVs and resumes have risen to the top of the list of the requirements sought by potential employers. An employer wants to meet you - on paper - before investing valuable time in an interview. You really need to pay attention on how you will craft your CV in your career preparation plan.

A CV or resume typically cover details of your work experience, education, qualifications, and the accomplishments you've made. It's similar to an advertisement in that it sells you, your skills and qualifications, and the benefits you have to offer!

Develop and refine your skills

With the advancement of the digital world, you could literally learn anything on the internet! While still in high school, you can build and improve your technical or digital abilities such as basic programming, basic design or data analysis which could equip you while you're on the  way into the 21st-century profession. 

Not only your technical skills, developing fundamental skills are also vital! Without realising it, fundamental skills such as teamwork, analytical thinking, as well as problem solving could be found in your daily high school routine. Group projects for instance could promote teamwork skills, while problem solving could be found when you're doing your math homeworks!

Start early

One common misconception is that your career preparation plan begins during college. Nonetheless, one thing to bear in mind is that it's never too soon to begin preparing for your future. In this way, you can fill up any gaps that you have through getting better grades, gaining experience, or even earning community-service hours. 

As you know high school marks an entrance towards adulthood and the more grown up problems. It could be your last hurrah before entering the real world, but don't be discouraged to craft your future that might bring you contentment and delight. Remember, the key to success is being prepared!

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