Continue doing well in school to maximize your choices after high school. This shows work ethic and follow-through - things that matter on the job.

Talk with your parents, teachers, and school counselor about your plans for the future.

Look at your potential career choices in Xello and determine what certification is needed to begin a career or to make you more marketable. Work towards earning that certification.

Continue with school and extracurricular activities as well as voluntary service hours for potential scholarships. Keep complete records of these activities. Ask for a reference letter.

See who is hiring and what you need to do to take next steps 

This is a great addition to your resume and shows potential employers you are ready to enter the workforce.

Your resume should include jobs, volunteer service, certifications, awards/accolades, activities, and other details that can make your resume stand out from the crowd. Be sure it has been reviewed and edited by a teacher, school counselor, or parent.

Explore and attend networking and career opportunities (e.g. Career Expo, Youth Job Fair, mock interviews). Dress professionally and practice talking with potential employers.  Bring your resume and business cards to share.

Search job postings for employment in your selected area. Ensure you have the qualifications and credentials - or will by graduation - that the employer is looking for. Practice writing a cover letter to submit with your resume that is specific to a job posting. This will help you stand out from the crowd. Ask a teacher, school counselor, or parent to review and edit the letter.

Talk to your school counselor and/or CTE teacher about workplaces that may offer job shadowing or internships. Find out the steps necessary to shadow/intern.

Ask your teachers, school counselor, coaches, club sponsors or other adults who know your work ethic and positive characteristics to write letters of recommendation to share with potential employers. The recommendation should contain information about any certification(s) and your soft skills. Make sure you request these well before your deadline (a minimum of 2 weeks). School counselors and/or teachers may not have time to do them by your deadline if you wait until the last minute.

During spring semester, start applying for jobs which begin after graduation. Be sure to research the company thoroughly. This will help you write a better cover letter to make you stand out. It will also help you prepare for an interview with information about the company and questions you would like to ask.

Review your planned answers for general interview questions, and make a bulleted list of points you want to remember. Review information about the company and write down specific questions you would like to ask. Dress for success and the job you want!

After an interview, send a thank you note or email to the contact. After you accept a job, remember to let those who supported you along the way know; like your CTE teacher, school counselor, parents, and others.