Career Interest and Readiness

WV Career Exploration Website

This is a valuable resource for you and your child to explore! This site provides information on careers such as training requirements, compensation, and detailed information about tasks and duties involved for each job.  While many sites like this exist, this one is unique for two reasons.  First of all , it has more content than most others, and secondly it is tailored to West Virginia.  We have introduced this site to the students at school and will be working with it more later this year.  Please encourage your child to log on and create a free account.  Then they can begin by exploring the interest inventories which match you to potential careers, two budgeting tools, and a work profiler.  There are also job application tools such as a resume builder, letter builder, and reference list builder.  You can explore the site without an account.  However, with an account all of their results will be saved for the next time you visit the site. 

wv.headed2.com  

Here is another great website to explore career options:  

http://lmi.workforcewv.org/GB/GreenBook.html

Goal setting

Without goals we could not accomplish nearly as much in our lives.  Therefore, goal setting is a very important skill and one that should be taught and practiced.  When setting a long term goal, it is important to also set short term goals to reach along the way.  These should be short term goals that will help you eventually reach your long term goal.  Below is a great activity to do with your child to teach and practice goal setting.

High School and College Alternatives

High school and college are not for everyone.  Mountaineer Challenge Academy and Job Corps are two great alternatives that you may or may not be aware of.  Here is a little more information about them both:

Mountaineer Challenge Academy

The Mountaineer Challenge Academy is designed to give academically challenged teens a second chance at obtaining their basic education. This is a free program with locations in Kingwood and Montgomery, WV.  Participants can transfer to MCA and graduate with a high school diploma from Ripley High School.  

MISSION:

The mission of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is to train and mentor selected at-risk youth to become contributing members of society in a quasi-military environment during a 22-week residential and one year Post-Residential follow-up program.

There are 4 classes offered each year!

Job Corps

Job Corps is a completely free program that helps eligible young people ages 16 through 24 complete their high school education, train for meaningful careers, and assists them with obtaining employment. At Job Corps, students have access to room and board while they learn skills in one of 81 career paths.  Completion of training ranges from 8-24 months.  In addition to helping students complete their education, obtain career technical skills and gain employment, Job Corps also provides transitional support services, such as help finding employment, housing, child care, and transportation. Job Corps graduates either enter the workforce or an apprenticeship, go on to higher education, or join the military.

www.jobcorps.gov/