Part of deciding on a college program depends on career awareness, starting in high school. With the right tools, students can explore their career prospects and make an informed decision about their future.
To help high schoolers get started on their career exploration, we’ve compiled a list of 10 of the best websites for career exploration for high school students.
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Giving High School Students Enough of What They Need to Make an Informed Career Decision
The goal is to help high schoolers gain an understanding of their career prospects, as well as the necessary steps for reaching those goals. Reaching their career goals will likely take the better part of their college years, so the sooner they start exploring what career paths options exist, the easier it will be to make an informed decision about their college program.
Career Exploration Sites for High School Students
Below are 10 career exploration sites for high school students.
CareerOneStop
This US government site is a comprehensive career exploration and job search resource. Let’s face it, even if students know what they like doing, determining which career path they want to follow can still be challenging. This site has a skills matcher to help students match their real-life skills to the appropriate job roles and career paths.
The Forage
The Forage partners with actual companies that have virtual internships. At the end of each certification/experience program, there are instructions on how to include it on your resume. Recruiters typically prioritize job candidates who have completed these programs. We love that they offer the following four intern programs to high school students for free:
- Kennedys Virtual Experience Programme
- Global Introduction to Law Program
- Global Hub
- ANZ Job Ready Virtual Experience Program
MyCareerTech
This site has a wide range of career exploration activities for high schoolers. It includes resources that allow students to explore their aptitude, interests, and resources that help them research job opportunities.
Each topic contains video lessons, tests, a certification, and lesson plans. Students can learn about agriculture, food & natural resources, energy, education & training, business management & administration, and architecture & construction.
My Future
My Future is an incredible resource that gives students information on the jobs available in each industry. For example, if your child loves working with their hands and searches for construction, the site will return job titles and salary ranges for that industry. We know that doing what you love isn’t always about the money, but having this information can help guide students in their career exploration.
Vault’s Day in the Life
This site is a goldmine because of the information it provides. You’ll get real-life stories from individuals who actually work in the field. If you want detailed information on working in a specific role, this is the site you need to check out. It will reassure you the career you’re pursuing is right for you.
Department of Labor Employment Websites
Every state has a Department of Labor website, and this is an excellent resource for students who want to find out what jobs are available in their state. Every job posting contains the minimum qualifications, so students can see if they meet them. Once you find your state, you can learn things like the minimum wage, available jobs, and even apprenticeship offices.
Mapping Your Future
Mapping Your Future is a great resource for students who need help deciding what career path to follow. It has interactive career exploration tools that help students discover careers that match their interests and strengths. They also have real-world advice from people currently in those careers so students can learn what the day-to-day job is like.
Roadtrip Nation
Roadtrip Nation has a documentary series where they interview people from various career fields. These interviews are a superb way for students to learn what someone’s day-to-day job is like and what they did to achieve their career goals.
Students embark on an exploratory journey by answering three pivotal questions about their interests and goals. This intuitive process then unveils an array of tailored career options, each accompanied by crucial insights into growth opportunities and paths others have taken to achieve success in that field.
By navigating to the “Leaders” and “Majors” sections, students can further enrich their research by learning how influential figures in various industries launched their careers and what courses of study proved most helpful in preparing them for their professional roles.
This roadmap resource empowers students to make informed decisions and chart a course for a rewarding future.
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Browse through Impressive Teens to discover a wide range of impressive extracurricular activities for your kids, tweens, and teens. Whether your child has major interests in sports, music, art, or STEM, we have something for everyone. Our website is straightforward to navigate, and you can filter activities by age, location, and interest.
Job Shadow
Job shadowing is a fantastic way for students to learn about a career by watching one of their 400 videos from professionals currently working in that role. The site is similar to Vault’s Day in the Life.
Some professions included on the site are firefighter, veterinarian, bail bondsman, and sports agent. Students will get a glimpse into a typical day and learn if the career is right for them.
Career Village
Career Village connects high school students with real professionals to answer their profession-specific questions. Students can submit their questions and wait for a response from a professional. The professionals provide honest answers making this an invaluable resource for students exploring different career options.
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Explore a vast range of impressive extracurricular activities for your kids at Impressive Teens. We have meticulously curated a comprehensive list of activities to help your child develop new skills, explore their interests, and stand out to college admissions officers. Use our search engine to find activities near you and filter by activity, location, and interest.
Career Exploration Resources for High School Students
Many free resources are available to help high school students explore various career options. By utilizing these resources, students will be better equipped to choose a career path that matches their skills and interests.