Some examples of career awareness activities are:

• Guest speakers

• Career days or college and career fairs

• Field trips and workplace tours

• Videos or presentations about various professions

• Transition visits from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and from high school to a postsecondary program can also promote career awareness.

These activities can begin in elementary school and are an integral part of CTE.

Career awareness activities ideally lead to HQWBL experiences where students can deepen their knowledge of career pathways and begin applying skills learned in the classroom.

Career exploration experiences encourage students to develop career interests, a better understanding of pathways to a chosen career, and the skills needed to make informed decisions regarding secondary and postsecondary education and training. These experiences are typically of a shorter duration than career preparation experiences. Students may complete supplementary work connected with the activity and may be graded on their performance in a way that contributes to the final grade in a CTE class.

These experiences could include:

• Job Shadowing

• Service Learning 

• Mentorship

• Externship 

• Internship

Career preparation experiences deepen student knowledge and develop skills necessary for success in employment and postsecondary education. These experiences are recommended for students who have a clear goal of entering the workforce directly after high school or enrolling in a closely related postsecondary program. These experiences are structured primarily to give students extensive practice in applying fundamental technical and practical knowledge and skills in their chosen careers. Career preparation experiences take place over a longer timeframe and involve more responsibilities than career exploration experiences.

These experiences could include:

• Entrepreneurship

• Clinical Experience

• Cooperative Education (Co-Op)

• Apprenticeships

The following could be considered prior to students being placed in HQWBL opportunities:

• Current related CTE Instruction

• Successful completion of career inventory and exploration activities

• Relevant work experience (e.g., job shadow, part-time job)

• Recommendation from a classroom teacher or counselor

• Minimum attendance and/or grade point average

• Possess acceptable workplace readiness skills

• Completion of application and interview process with host employer

• Completion of student registration and parent/guardian permission

• Ability to fulfill the time demands of the opportunity.

Student Benefits: 

• Employability and technical skills

• Social capital

• Positive relationships and networking

• Workplace environment experiences

• Academic excellence and opportunities for advancement

• Pathways to careers

Business Partner Benefits:

• Contribute to economic growth

• Increase workforce diversity and inclusion

• Enhance educational curriculum

• Prepare youth for evolving workforce by providing employment opportunities

• Meet current workforce needs

• Establish a network with other businesses/employers

• Increase customer awareness, which should lead to an increase in the bottom-line