Think of it for a moment…how many of you know someone who chose a college major to follow a friend or because it sounded easy or fun, only later the person discovered it wasn’t the right fit for them? Many of us, right? Is there a way to provide a foundation of knowledge to our high school students to help them make better choices after they graduate from high school? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes”!
These powerful ideas on exploring students’ interests led us to develop a career guidance tool, Checking Out Career Paths with Chaz, to give students insight about themselves that will serve them and guide them to explore new career paths that await them.
Why does a high school student need guidance in exploring a career?
Research has shown that when this simple question, “Why does anyone go to college?” is asked, the most common answer is “to get a better life and be successful”, but that isn’t t what it’s all about at the end of the day. Proper guidance can give students the confidence and clarity to make better choices based on knowledge of their strongest personal traits, strengths, skills, values, challenges, and preferences. It will also help to increase their odds of finding a good career path that is a good fit for them.
In the absence of career guidance, high school students find themselves lost, confused, and most of the time frustrated. This uncertainty can lead to mental health issues, troubled physical health, anxiety, depression, and in the worst cases, suicidal tendencies.
Even parents find it hard to guide their children correctly.
Every parent undoubtedly wants their child to be happy and doing what they love to do, even in their careers. They want their kids to be successful and find a life full of happiness and success. But when it comes to career guidance, they need help to guide their children in the right direction. They might not have the necessary knowledge or access to the right resources to help their kids. It’s not their fault. Also, some high school students do not have career guidance or counseling as a part of the school curriculum.
To worsen things, COVID-19 paralyzed the world, and the students had no choice but to remain confined in their homes. It was a big jolt for them, and it has also shaken their confidence and morale. It has negatively affected their career choices and posed many challenges in exploring students’ interests to discover the right career path.
High school is the perfect time for career exploration
One of the best times for exploring new career opportunities is when students are in high school. This is when they are in the best position to consider their experiences and use this new knowledge to explore what’s ahead. Checking Out Career Paths with Chaz can become the guiding beacon and help them make great choices while moving forward in life.
My child is not going to college. Can Checking Out Career Paths with Chaz help them too?
Most definitely! College isn’t the best fit for everyone and doesn’t offer the proper training and education for many careers. We stress this message often and strive to focus on the individual student—what genuinely are their best fits based on their strengths and values. Honest conversations about the future can be helpful, especially in high school.
They can be passionate about certain things or want to pursue a career that does not require a four- year college degree. Checking Out Career Paths with Chazcan help them find hundreds of jobs that do require specialty training and education, but not a college degree. This guiding tool can help them understand how their passion can help them find an occupation where they will be successful. Self-discovery assessments are designed to gather information specific to individual students based on their learning styles, career interests, and the right career matching their skills.
Thus, students can explore hundreds of jobs and occupations in the present job market with the guidance of Checking Out Career Paths with Chaz. The self-discovery assessment helps students shortlist their preferred career options and occupations. They can also find opportunities in their communities to investigate further their chosen work and how they can go higher up the ladder. Most significantly, this brilliant tool can be used by students, parents, teachers, and counselors to gain insights into a wide array of career opportunities for students.