The Career Development Process involves students, parents, school counselors, teachers and the community. It helps students understand the lifelong, sequential process of determining self and career identity. Career Development includes delivery of curriculum and career development services that are focused on completing self-assessments, matching interests to career choices, exploring the world of work, conducting career research and education, and secondary and post-secondary academic and career planning. Development and implementation of a career development plan is an essential part of the process. This prepares students for success in 21st century careers and education. 

Career Development services support Career and Technical Education. These services provide exposure to, and exploration of, careers within the Career Clusters/Pathways and experiences that assist student transition to careers and college. Career and Technical Education courses provide industry aligned curriculum and employment credentialing opportunities in a variety of career clusters. In many cases, community college credit is available for students who successfully complete Career and Technical Education courses. Career and Technical Education Student Organizations provide opportunities for service learning, leadership and competitive content-related events.

An internship is a directed, practical learning experience, outside of the normal classroom setting, in which students sharpen skills, gain experience through work on advanced productions, apply classroom learning to professional settings or projects, and learn, first hand, how professional companies or organizations operate. 

Most internships are an opportunity for you, the student, to learn and observe, therefore you may be assigned to do what appears to be somewhat menial tasks. The main point is that you are in a situation that will allow you to observe and become acquainted with this industry in a more specific way.

An internship, listed on a resume, shows you have taken the initiative to obtain working experience. You will be able to get a letter of recommendation, which can be included in a job application (assuming you do a good job).

You will begin to build a "network" of contacts in the industry that can lead to information about available jobs and some internships lead to jobs within the company itself (although this is the exception rather than the rule).

WBL/Internships