In today's world, the whole arena of work is different than it used to be a few decades ago; so it requires a different preparation to cope with that world. Young people have their whole lives ahead of them and as exciting as that may seem, it can also be a very scary, uncertain thing. The youth of today will almost assuredly make several job and/or career changes during their lifetime. The better a person is at doing that, the less stressful those transitions become.
Depending on the student's current grade level, there are things that could be done to begin preparing for the world of work. Students in the 7th or 8th grade could be learning more about occupations that exist. Even if they are not sure that college is in their future, it can help to include some college preparatory work in high school. The middle grades are also a good time to begin exploring the world of work, the kinds of activities they enjoy, and their hobbies.
High school students should consider including a foreign language, if available at their school; additionally, four years of math and English are required for admissions to most baccalaureate programs and many associate degree programs. Students entering high school who have identified their career preferences will want to learn the other courses they should be taking to position themselves for their preferred major. Even if the student decides not to pursue college right after graduation, they will still have that in their background. All indications are that in the workforce in the next 5 to 10 years, a baccalaureate degree or specialized training will be required for workers to have any chance of earning a decent wage; so it is best to do whatever is possible in preparation for that.
Another thing to keep in mind is that interests and priorities do change, so the best plan is to have a flexible plan - ideally one that would allow the student to go more than one direction or into more than one job, or alternative career from the same major.
The basic thing is that students should not wait until their senior year to begin thinking about what the next stage of their lives may include.
Mary Ann Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice providing coaching and counseling for life's transitions; including career change or job search, as well as loss of job, retirement planning, grief work and other life planning issues. She is certified as a Master Career Counselor by the National Career Development Association; a Life/Work Counselor by the National Employment Counseling Association; and is a Distance Credentialed Counselor. Check out her web site at www.YourCareerPlan.com.
To contact Ms. Davis, please call (513) 665-4444 x3 or send an email to YourCareerPlan@cinci.rr.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment