While many of our students have a pretty clear idea of what they would like to pursue for a career, yet many others are uncertain, and looking to explore and experiment. And even for those with a vision of who they want to become, the steps and stages to get there remains a mystery. A key part of our mission to help these students find direction and chart a career plan.
Career and Tech courses, along with their vocational class go a long way, but it is equally important to have the parents engaged in this conversation.
The Massachsetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development maintains a Career Development service called the Career Information System or MassCIS to assist individuals with all phases of career planning, from discovery to job search. The service has three separate components - middle school, high school, and adult. Follow the link, then click on "Massachusetts Resident" tab on the page. You can create a user account, but it is not required.
The US Department of Labor also maintains a career planning service. It is a very comprehensive service, although it is not specifically targeted to high school or college students. The O*NET, as it is called, has self assessment surveys, career search tools, and important data on occupations such as typical salaries/wages, educational requirements, other certifications or qualifications.
Best Career Match is a free service which looks at finding and pursuing a career as a 4 part process. Although the site is hosted by a Canadian career counselor, much of the information is applicable anywhere, and the planning process steps are universal.
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