Career Exploration Tips

Before thinking about the career, think about you:

• What do you like?

• What do you enjoy doing?

• What do you do well?

• What are some of your interests, talents, goals?

• What are your skills?

• What is your learning style?

• What is your personality?

Think about your future:

• What type of lifestyle do you want when you are older?

• Where do you want to live?

• What kind of car do you want to drive?

• What will you need to do to get the lifestyle you want?

Knowing who you are can help you purposefully plan for a career that you enjoy!

There tools can help you discover more about you and then help align those results with possible career interests:

• Xello

• My Next Move

• Get My Future

When it comes to exploring careers, you don’t know what you don’t know. There is abundance of opportunities available in many diverse and rewarding pathways in today’s new economy.

There are 17 different Career Clusters and many career pathways within each cluster.

Explore the possibilities! Go to "Discover Careers" and learn more about each cluster and the pathways available.

Once you become aware of the possibilities in a career field of interest, don't stop there! A career is so much more than its title.

Find out as much as you can to help you plan your steps to get to that goal.

• What’s the salary?

• What kind of hours will I work?

• What kind of work-life blend will I have?

• Is this a field where overtime is available (or mandatory)?

• What are the day-to-day experiences like?

• Will I be working closely with others or perform my tasks in a more solitary setting?

• What kind of education/training do I need?

• Where can I get that education?

• Will I have to take out loans and if so, how much?

• And many others -Mark Perna

Go to " Education & Training" under "Discover Careers" to learn more or you can find the tools here:

• Xello

• Onet-Use the "Occupation Search" features

• My Next Move

• CareerOneStop-Use "Occupation Search" or "List of Occupations"

• ASVAB-Career Exploration Program

The more you know about a career the more you can decide if it is a good match with your interests, skills and talents. Also it will help you make a plan towards your future career goals.

A few good ways to do that is to see that career in action, talk to someone in that career or attend a career event:

• See the "Upcoming Events" section of this site and go to the "Future Focused Series" to register for a virtual career chat with a professional in a career field of interest.

• Contact your Career Specialist, Michelle Kuck MAISD Career Specialist : mkuck@muskegonisd.org, to talk about job shadow, internship, externship, talent tour or informational interview options that may be available or to learn more about careers in this field.

• Go to CareerOneStop or Going Pro in Michigan to view career related videos.