Research shows that employment opportunities, experienced while in school, lead to better post-secondary outcomes. By offering work opportunities in school, students are able to explore various careers. This assists them with identifying what they like/dislike about jobs, so that they can identify a realistic and attainable career.
Workplace readiness can and should start early (as early as kindergarten). Below are examples of effective work-based learning strategies:
Career Exploration: Completing interest inventories, touring companies, practicing for interviews.
Job Shadowing: Attending a full day of work with an employee/company.
Work Sampling: Spending time with different employees in the same work environment.
School-Based Enterprise: A school-sponsored activity that allows students the opportunity to produce goods or services for the school or community at large.
Service Learning: Volunteering or completing project-based assignments aimed at solving a social issue.
Mentoring: Matching students with industry professionals that align with their employment interests.
Internships: Working at a company for a specified period of time. Typically work is unpaid.
Apprenticeships: Working at a company for an extended period of time, often to learn a trade.
Click on the links below for resources, curricula, and various documents that can support you in incorporating workplace readiness into your classroom (CPS does not recommend one curricula over another.):
SourceAbled leverages the latest technologies, workforce expertise, and strong ties to the disability community to deliver an integrated solution for attracting and hiring qualified talent with unique abilities. Through innovation and collaboration, SourceAbled helps employers build a culture of inclusion, create a better brand, and drive sustainable results.
YolBe is a social networking platform serving all of your career needs. Find opportunities, connect to your community, build skills, and more.
My CAERT offers profiles on various careers within the agricultural field, including career profiles with current employees and suggested pathways.