Career Exploration and Internships

If you are taking college classes, you are considered a student at Arapahoe Community College and you can access ACC's valuable career services! ACC offers career assessments, resume and interview help, and "Handshake," a job search tool. 

ACC Career Services

ACC Career Assessments

ACC Career Research

Listed below, are other tools you can use on your own. 

PERSONALITY AND STRENGTHS ASSESSMENTS

Big 5 Personality Assessment  -The "Big Five" or Five Factors refers to the five major personality dimensions that psychologists have determined are core to our individual makeup. 

Gallup Strengths - Identify your top 5 strengths. Knowing the areas you naturally excel in can help you find careers where you can stand out and shine. ($30 fee)

CAREER ASSESSMENTS 

Things to keep in mind when using assessments: 

• Do not think of the results as a defined list of occupations you must pursue.

• Assessment results are meant to be a guide to steer you to potential careers that you might like and could be a good fit.

• If a strong occupation suggestion comes up that seems odd to you, think deeper about the answers you gave. Try to determine what in your answers might have caused the outlier occupation to be suggested.

• Try taking a variety of assessments to see what new suggestions come up and which ones are reoccurring.

ASA Futurescape (Free) - Explore a virtual world in which you decide what you would do in a fictional scenario. You are then launched into a universe to explore careers based on your personality and passions.

O*Net Interest Profiler (Free and available in English and Spanish) - a career exploration tool to discover what work activities and occupations you would like and find exciting.

The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) High School Edition with Interpretive Report ($16.95) - summarizes occupations and educational programs linked to your interests, and incorporates your personal work, learning, leadership, and risk-taking style preferences. Complete with an action plan, this profile offers a tool kit for exploring choices and planning for the future.

CareerOneStop Training Finder - enter the type of job or training and the city, state, or zip code to find schools in the area of your interest offering programs in the area of your choosing.

Learn about careers, salaries, job outlook, and explore other related occupational options with the following websites: 

• CareerOneStop

• O*Net

• Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)

• Career Videos

• Roadtrip Nation

• Job Shadow - Explore your Career Options by shadowing real jobs online

Explore occupations by interest, industry, or key words on My Next Move.

My Colorado Journey is a statewide platform designed to personalize your career pathway and connect you to work, education, and support services. Additional free assessments are available online in addition to information on current occupations, videos of careers, pay ranges, employers who hire in the occupations, and scholarship information. Select "Tools" at the top of the page to see a menu of options to help you explore. 

Douglas County Youth Employment Program - If you meet the following eligibility requirements you can apply for this program which helps with:

• Career Exploration

• Workforce Preparation/Job Readiness

• Tuition Assistance for Short-Term Certifications

• GED Completion – Tutoring & Testing

• Paid Work Experience (Internship)

• Financial Literacy Education

• Supportive Services

• Job Search Assistance

• Resume Building

• Interview Techniques

• Hiring Events and Career Fairs

Eligibility

• Youth ages 15-25   

• Douglas County resident  

• United States citizenship or lawful presence 

• Minor in household (if youth is not under 18)  

• Household income under $75k per year 

• Search for jobs using HANDSHAKE - a local job hunting platform available to students using their ACC S#.

• Connect with ACC to find an available apprenticeship program. Apprenticeships through ACC are paid jobs, structured to give you well-rounded training, and most of the program fees are covered by ACC and the employer. Apprenticeships through ACC need about 1.5 to 2 years to complete and lead to well paying jobs with a future for career growth.

• Search for apprenticeships using Apprenticeship USA 

• Summer programs through CU Anschutz

• Caminos al Futuro is a fully funded, pre-college and residential 3-week summer program led by George Washington University's Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute. To be eligible, you must be a rising senior at a U.S. high school with a high-level of academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to leadership in service of the Latino/Hispanic community. 

• Summer Neurodiversity Advocacy Camp - High School Students

Stanford Neurodiversity Project - Research Education Advocacy Camp for High School Students SNP-REACH | NNEA  

• Women in Business Case Competition compete in a free, women-focused business case competition with a chance to win a $1000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business. Live on Campus for two days!

• Business Leadership Program: Take on real business challenges, work with a team, and itch your ideas to top companies-- all while living on the CU Boulder campus for a week (for free!)

• Lockheed Martin High School Internships are available in the summer as part of its efforts to educate and inspire tomorrow’s scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Candidates must be at least 16 years old, still enrolled in high school, and able to commute to the Lockheed Martin location in Littleton, CO. 

  • American Legion Colorado Boys State is a six-day hands-on experience in the operation of the democratic form of government, the organization of political parties, and the relationship of one to the other in shaping Colorado government. The American Legion Colorado Boys State program is sponsored by the Colorado American Legion. The program cost is paid for by The American Legion.At Boys State, young men learn about city, county, and state government through a non-partisan objective education approach. The young men also form friendships which will last a lifetime! Application deadline is May 1, 2026

  • American Legion Auxilliary Girls State is a summer program to provide an outstanding, unique, and coveted educational opportunity for the young women of our nation that instills the basic ideals and principles of American government through the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation citizenship training programs. Students are assigned to mock cities where, divided into the Federalist Party and Nationalist Party, they are immersed in learning about the political process from dedicated volunteers, along with some fun. To qualify to participate in ALA Girls State, girls must be in their Junior year of high school. The Colorado Girls State program is provided to qualified girls free of charge.

• The Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR) offers a summer intern program for high school and college students to tour local aerospace companies (including Ball Aerospace), network with professionals, and learn about aerospace careers.

• The SpaceTech Scholars program at Metropolitan State University in Denver is committed to developing a pipeline for MSU Denver students into the growing Colorado aerospace industries. SpaceTech Scholars is for students pursuing a degree in the aerospace, aeronautics, and/or engineering systems fields with the goal of becoming a technician or similar industry professional. Part of the SpaceTech Scholars program is VUELO, a free 5-day summer camp that is open to high school Juniors, Seniors, and incoming MSU Denver 1st year students.

• Summer programs at CSU Denver Spur campus. These are one week programs at the Colorado State University (CSU) Spur Campus in Denver 

• The ENvision Summer Program (June 2 - 6, 2024) is a collaborative effort with Campos Engineering, Procurement, and Construction, LLC. It aims to serve rising juniors and seniors in high school from the state of Colorado to experience the various areas of engineering. There is no cost for attending this program. Students must complete all sessions to finish the program. Priority is given to applicants from historically excluded populations. Students who participate in the EPC ENvision Program become eligible for a scholarship towards an engineering degree at CSU. Applications will be accepted on a rolling admissions basis so students will receive a decision after their materials have been thoroughly reviewed. All decisions will be released by May 3rd, 2024. 

• Teen Science Scholars (PAID Internship) - Learn valuable professional skills and gain experience in a science field, while interning at the Denver Museum. Students receive a $1,700 stipend and paid lunch in the DMNS cafeteria. Eligible applicants are students entering their Junior or Senior year in the fall of 2024; interested in the sciences as a possible career; available Monday-Friday, June 10 - July 25, 2025; no prior science experience is expected or required.

• Create a Tallo account to connect to internships in STEM and the medical field.

• Paid Summer STEM Internship for High School Students -

From the website N3: NASA's Neurodiversity Network (sonoma.edu):

Each year through 2025, NASA's Neurodiversity Network will accept applications for summer interns to work on projects with NASA scientists. The goal of the N3 program is to provide experiences for neurodiverse students, specifically those who identify as autistic, that will spark their interest in careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). All interns will be paired with a Subject Matter Expert (SME) from NASA's network.  The work schedule will be mutually agreed upon by the intern and the SME. Internships will be completed remotely during Summer 2024 and N3 interns will receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion of their internship. Students are expected to complete approximately 100 hours of work over the internship period. 

• Girls Who Code offers a summer program to girls who are interested in coding and Computer Science.

• Upcoming graduates (18 years +) might find paid apprenticeships, with free training and education, that can lead to high paying jobs through the Colorado Registered Apprenticeship Program Directory.

• Career Wise - Paid apprenticeships in a variety of industries. A minimum of 2 year commitment. Recruitment usually begins in February and companies hire in April/May. Students receive funding for postsecondary credentials/college courses 

• Healthcare Academy - a summer program that exposes students to different careers in the healthcare field, connects them to employers, students earn a BLS (Basic Life Support) certification, job shadow local hospitals, and earn a $500 scholarship upon completion of the academy. 

• • Journalism Camp - This is a national multicultural journalism program for high school students. The six-day training camp brings together culturally diverse students from across the nation to learn from veteran journalists and leading media executives. JCamp participants will receive hands-on training and produce multiplatform news packages for the program’s news site, JCamp Live. Since 2001, over 700 high school students have graduated from JCamp. Every year, AAJA receives hundreds of applications from all regions of the country.

• The United States Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a youth employment program that engages young people in meaningful work experiences at national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries while developing an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. YCC programs are generally 8 to 10 weeks and members are paid at least the state or federal minimum wage (whichever is higher) for a 40-hour work week. YCC opportunities provide paid daytime work activities with members who commute to the Federal unit.

• Search for internships and volunteer work in historical preservation, archaeology, museums, national parks, and forest service through the National Preservation Institute.

• The Explorers Programs help teens gain insight into law enforcement or fire services with hands-on career activities.

  • • • Global Teen Police Academy with Aurora Police Dept.

      • Parker Police Explorers Program

      • Aurora Police Explorers Program

      • Douglas County Sheriff's Office Explorers Program

      • Castle Rock Fire Rescues Explorers

      • South Metro Fire Rescues Explorers

• Teen Court - is an educational diversion program that operates in the Municipal Court. The program provides an alternative response for the juvenile justice system for first-time, misdemeanor juvenile offenders, in which teens determine the appropriate sanctions for the offender. Teen Court allows youth in middle and high school after admitting guilt to have a “sentencing hearing” with students acting as prosecutor, defense attorney and jurors. A teen court judge presides, and a teen jury of peers determines the sentence. 

  • • • Castle Rock Teen Court

      • Parker Teen Court

      • Lone Tree Teen Court

Post Graduation Opportunities

Electrician Apprenticeship program with Encore Electric

Independent Electrical Contractors Apprenticeship

The CECCR Advising staff is continually building a list of professionals in various industries who are willing to do informational interviews or job shadowing with students.  Please speak with your academic advisor to see if we have a resource for your field of interest. Your Academic Advisor will facilitate an introduction with the professional. 

When doing an information interview, select some questions off this list to get the conversation started. 

There are several options if you are interested in enlisting in the military. The following information will provide you guidance and web links to explore further.  The information in this section was collected from www.military.com.  

If you are interested in ROTC click here. 

If you are interested in Military Academies, click here. 

Difference between enlisting and becoming an officer

Enlisting: Enlisted members do the hands-on work of the military. They need at least a high school degree (a GED may or may not suffice).

Officer: Officers are the managers of the military. Most officer programs require a college degree at minimum and are very competitive. Many officers have master’s degrees or higher. Each branch of the military offers different paths to becoming an officer.

• The four paths to becoming an Army Officer can be found here. Please note that the ROTC scholarship path might not be available to students who have an Associate's degree. Confirm with Army Recruiter.

• The three main paths for enlisted members to earn an officer commission in the Air Force are listed here.

• Information about paths in the Marines to becoming an officer can be found here and here. 

There is a difference of thinking when considering enlisting verses becoming an officer. When enlisting in the military, the mindset is more in line with “what can the military do for me”. With the officer path, the mindset is more in line with “what can I do for the military”.

Before you visit your local recruiter, be sure you meet the minimum qualifications for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Visit the websites of the military branch you wish to join and do your research. Some qualifications are required by all five services:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien.

• You must be at least 17 years old (*17-year old applicants require parental consent).

• You must (with very few exceptions) have a high school diploma.

• You must pass a physical medical exam. Common disqualifying medical conditions can be found here. Speak to a recruiter about any specific concerns.

For each branch, there are slightly different enlistment requirements (click on the branch or academy name to connect to their official website):

To join the...

Air Force:

You must: 

• Be between the ages of 17-39

• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 36) Exceptions may be made for a handful of high school graduates who score as low as 31.

• Visit the Air Force website here for a list of eligibility requirements

Army

You must:

• Be between the ages of 17-35

• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 31) To qualify for certain enlistment incentives, such as enlistment bonuses, an Army recruit must score a minimum of 50.

Coast Guard

You must:

• Be between the ages of 17- 27

• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 40)

• Have a willingness to serve on or around the water.

Marines

You must:

• Meet exacting physical, mental, and moral standards.

• Be between the ages of 17-28

• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 32)

• Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of combat arms specialties: infantry, tank and amphibian tractor crew.

Navy

You must:

• Be between the ages of 17-34

• Pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test. (Minimum AFQT Score: 35)

• Women are eligible to enlist in all occupational fields, with the exception of serving in the Navy Seals or on submarines.

Students who complete an Associates degree can enter most branches of the military with an E-3 ranking. This means more money! Students looking for a career in the military but are undecided on their future career will benefit the most if they work towards an Associate of Science degree. An Associate of Arts degree can still be helpful, there are just more lucrative career options available with an Associate of Science degree.

About the ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple choice test, administered by the United States Military Entrance Processing Command, used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. The Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) score determines whether you're qualified to enlist in the U.S. military. Students should be prepared to take the ASVAB. The score on the ASVAB has a direct impact on the type of job/career opportunities you will have available in the military. Click on the ASVAB link above to learn more.

Eligibility rules can be a little confusing. There are different rules for enlisting and for officer programs.