Awareness and Exploration
Take a look at tools to explore different jobs and narrow down what specific jobs could be the best fit for students.
Looking into jobs can be daunting for even the most prepared students. However, practitioners have many options to make this process easier as students get closer to taking on their first job. The first step is figuring out what is out there and which of the options fits best.
If you are looking for a quick and easy resource to start with, C3 has created a resource for exploring different career clusters:
Career Journey MapsCareer Interest Websites
Here are different exploratory programs to help practitioners, families, and students investigate careers. Some sites may work better for your needs than others. All of these options provide information on personal interest, professional licensing, estimated earnings, and more. Find one that's right for you and your students.
These resources do not require account sign-ups to function best. They are great for independent research and short-term classroom activities.
These resources work best when students make accounts. Best for long-term projects or lessons that require reviews.
A lot of results (even good) can overwhelm students. Here are four questions for students to consider while narrowing down career options:
- What topics are interesting to you?
- What types of activities feel easy for you?
- What jobs have you already connected with?
- What job offerings have you seen around?
Even if a student isn't able to get a dream job as their first step, these can help direct them to a job that can be a step in the direction they want.
Are students wanting to see what official job application sites look like? Here are links to popular job search sites. Keep in mind that these are intended for workforce professionals and users currently looking for jobs. Many of these sites require logins, job profiles, and other resources that students may not have yet.
Indeed LinkedIn Monster ZipRecruiter HigherEdJobs Glassdoor State of Oregon Jobs Federal Jobs