In this engaging unit of the Career & College Prep course, students will embark on a four-part journey to prepare for their future careers.
First, they will dive into the world of work by exploring a wide variety of career options and identifying paths that match their interests, strengths, and long-term goals. Next, they will learn how to pursue employment opportunities, including understanding job requirements and how to find openings.
Building on that foundation, students will create a professional portfolio that includes a well-crafted résumé and a personalized cover letter to help them stand out in the job market.
The unit concludes with practical training on how to apply for jobs and succeed in interviews, giving students the confidence and skills to take the next step in their career journey.
Unit will take 20 days
SFS.20. Career Awareness Students shall use the Maryland Career Clusters and career pathways including Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs of study in order to understand their relationship to educational achievement and life-long learning. (MCDF Standard 2)
SFS.20.01. Understand the relationship between school performance and future employment choices. (MCDF Standard 2, Indicator B)
SFS.20.02. Recognize that decision-making is an important part of an individual’s career development (MCDF Standard 2, Indicator D.
SFS.20.03. Participate in interests and abilities self-assessment activities.
SFS.20.04. identify occupational skills that relate to students' values, learning styles to inform planning for careers and education and/or training beyond high school.
SFS.20.05. Demonstrate an understanding of job markets and labor market data.
SFS.20.06. Evaluate how education choices, interests, skills, career choices, and economic conditions affect personal income. (PFL Standard 2)
SFS.60. Career Exploration Students shall assess career cluster choices and related career pathways including Career Technology Education (CTE) programs of study in order to develop an academic and career plan. (MCDF Standard 3)
SFS.60.01. Understand how accurate, current, and unbiased career information is necessary for successful career planning and management.
SFS.60.02. Participate in a variety of career-related assessments to create awareness of their career preferences.
SFS.60.03. Review high school plan, including post-secondary options, and make modifications on an annual basis. (MCDF Standard 3, Indicator A)
SFS.60.04. Understand options available to students including dual enrollment, CTE completer programs, advanced placement, industry certifications, two-year colleges, four-year colleges, technical schools, work study, internships and apprenticeships
SFS.70. Job Seeking Students shall demonstrate skills to secure, maintain and advance in employment (MCDF Standard 5)
SFS.70.04. Develop a career portfolio to demonstrate academic and technical preparation leading to employment and postsecondary education.
Introduce the concept of careers and exploration of careers.
What are the career fields you can go into?
Invite Career Coach to come and discuss his/her/their job to the class, and how to use them as a resource. Work with them about a proper presentation.
Preplan this event in advance. Complete when they are available.
Who is the Career Coach, & what do they do for students?
Student Meeting with Career Coach or Guidance Counselor Lesson Introduction: 1 day
To guide students towards a career pathways through FCPS
Have students schedule a meeting with their career coach or counselor.
This day will be mostly instruction based. Get started on this ASAP. It will be the final project for the next Unit. Can be done on student's own time.
What is my pathway in high school and beyond?
Please do depending on your school's comfortability with this. We do not want to overwhelm!
Develop and understand career oriented skills: both social and professional.
What are hard and soft skills, and how can they assist you in your career growth?
Allow students to explore various career fields within the Frederick area.
What other careers are there, & can my viewpoints expand moving forward?
Introduce students to the concept of gaining employment.
What are the steps to gaining employment & how do I look for a job?
Introduce students into the concept of applying for a job/career.
What are the steps to applying for a job, and how do I complete these forms?
To develop and establish a proper and formal resume
What is a resume & how do I formally write one for a specific type of job?
To develop and establish a proper and formal cover letter
What is a cover letter & how do I formally write one for a specific type of job?
To develop and establish a proper and formal report while interviewing
What is an interview & how do I properly interview for a job?
Develop and understand the social and professional requirements to starting a new job
What do you need to do when starting a new job?
Display a proper and formalized/finished product ready for students to apply for a job in high school or post-graduation.
How can I organize and store my resume, cover letter, and references document?
(NGPF) - Holds additional resources for career awareness and building
Naviance Presentation: Using Naviance and Family Connection to help plan for college and careers.
EVERfi: Using EVERfi allows students to do directed instruction focused on a specific skill or career topic. Log in through Clever Portal on FCPS Bookmarks