Skip To Main Content

Career Exploration

EXPLORING CAREERS - WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

  1. Choosing a Career that’s right for you… for now. Most people change careers at least once in their lifetime. Don’t be afraid to have some options for NOW and LATER in your career decisions. Many people make impulsive career choices based on the allure of money or because someone told them they should go in a particular direction. Often they spend years in school and find themselves in a job that they consider unfulfilling or too stressful. Take time to think about what you really want before spending time and money on an education and career that doesn't fit you.
     

  2. Self Evaluation. Knowing your interests, values, skills, and personality will increase your odds of finding a satisfying career.

  • What are my interests?

  • What are my skills?

  • What kinds of things are important to me?

  • What traits do I have?

  1. Career Exploration. What career possibilities are out there? How do you find out what you will like?

  • Talk with your school counselor, teachers, family members, and other role models about careers in which you are interested.

  • Ask the College and Career Coordinator about taking interest, skill, and personality assessments.

  • Investigate careers on the websites listed on this page.

  • Take high school classes relevant to your interests.

  • Explore options through participation in related clubs, activities, community organizations, jobs/internships, etc.

  • Get involved in Washington Business Week. Washington Business Week places students in a dynamic simulation where they role play as industry professionals, launch a company, sharpen their communication skills, and solve real-world challenges.

  • Conduct informational interviews with professionals or shadow them for a day.

SchooLinks- MEAD HIGH SCHOOL’S CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM. 
If you're trying to decide what you want to major in or what career is best for you, SchooLinks can help! SchooLinks helps students build self-knowledge, explore college and career options, create plans, and develop the essential skills for success beyond high school. The program enables students to take a real look at themselves and connect the dots between who they are, how they learn, and their long-term goals. With easy to use, integrated planning tools they turn those goals into actionable plans for the future. That could mean applying to college, entering the military, pursuing a trade, or choosing another pathway aligned to their unique interests, skills, and aptitudes. All students are introduced to SchooLinks in their 9th grade year and will continue to utilize the program throughout high school to prepare for life after high school and complete their High School and Beyond Plan. SchooLinks can be accessed by going to SchooLinks.com and signing in with the student's MHS google account.

EXPLORING CAREERS ONLINE
At Mead High School, we want to provide resources to ALL students to plan for their future.  The below websites provide tools, information, and/or videos on careers that can be useful in their pursuit of a career that will fit them.  While these are not the only ones available online, they are quality sites with accurate information.  Remember to search for careers that will help you find “YOUR PURPOSE.”

SCHOOLINKS - https://www.schoolinks.com/

Washington Career Bridge - http://www.careerbridge.wa.gov/

STEM Jobs - http://www.stemjobs.com/

The Career Project - http://www.thecareerproject.org/

My Plan - http://www.myplan.com (**Don’t pay for assessments...we have them for free.)

BigFuture (Collegeboard) - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers

CAREER WEBSITES

INTERNSHIPS AND PROGRAMS
Take advantage of internships and programs to further your interests and education in various fields. 

JOB SEARCH
Work experience is valuable in learning about yourself, developing skills, and earning an income. The following guides will help you in your search:

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT
The Next Generation Zone is Spokane’s Career Center for young adults, providing job search, job postings, and weekly workshops: https://nextgenzone.org/