Work-based learning opportunities:
The career learner’s permit

Work-based learning opportunities provide you with a chance to experience what the journey could be like from someone who has already been there. Fortunately, you can participate in these options while still in high school. It’s kind of like getting your learner’s permit for your future career.

Job shadowing
Riding in the passenger seat with a working professional

If you are looking to get a snapshot of what a particular job is like, you may want to consider job shadowing. During this short-term, on-site work experience, you can get a sense of the day-to-day activities of a certain career. Shadowing usually lasts from a few hours to a few days. Depending on the size of the workplace, you could spend the day following one person around, or you could rotate between different people to get a better sense of how a variety of jobs are performed. Job shadowing is a great way to change your attitude about a particular career. You could become really excited and begin to work harder toward that career, or you could realize the job is not what you expected. Better to find out now that you faint at the sight of blood than on the first day of medical school! For more information, check out www.jobshadow.org.

Mentorship
Developing a trusting relationship with a working professional

Mentorship is another way to explore a particular career, but it goes one step further. While spending time in a particular workplace, you have the opportunity to develop a relationship with a competent worker or executive who will provide guidance, support, feedback, and instruction. Often he or she can provide you with personal and career development. Most importantly, mentors can also tell you about the path they took to get where they are and some of the mistakes they made along the way. That way you won’t make those same mistakes yourself.

Internship
Going for a test drive

Getting real job experience looks good on a résumé or college application and can help you decide on a career or even help you land a job right out of high school. Ask your guidance counselor about internship programs in your area. Some are paid and some are not, but the value of an internship comes in understanding what a job is really like and in developing a network of future employment contacts. Internships may be offered by local employers or at your high school, so check there first.

Service learning
Applying your skills to community service along the road

If helping out in the community is your thing, you might consider setting up a service learning opportunity. With guidance from a teacher or counselor, you can identify an issue in the community and help develop a solution. Service learning is also a good way to test your ability to work with other people and to help other people meet their needs.

Cooperative education
Earning money and high school credit while driving

Cooperative education (often called “co-op”) is an opportunity for a student to combine classroom instruction with paid employment. Together, the school and the employer supervise and coordinate instruction time as well as hands-on work so that each contributes to the student’s career objectives. Cooperative education opportunities are available in a variety of career fields. Instead of getting any old part-time job, consider a co-op to earn high school credit and explore a career in a particular area of interest.