Work Experience Options for High School Students

Are there Work-Related Classes, Clubs or Associations Available at My Child's School?

IN addition to career and technical education classes that provide academic dsubject matter taught with relevance to the real world, many high schools provide classes, clubs or association memberships that can bring work-related experiences to your child.

Ask your school about:

Junior Achievement:  Junior Achievement has a range of programs available that teach students from elementary school through high school about the workplace.  In addition to the school-based enterprise described earlier, they also have a one-semester economics course, a web-based business simulation, a course that develops interpersonal and problem-solving skills needed for the workplace, and a personal finance course.

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA):

FBLA, DECA, FFA and FCCLA are student associations found at many high schools.  Students who join these associations plan to prepare for careers in business and business-related fields (FBLA), marketing, management and entrepreneurship (DECA), agriculture and agriculture-related careers (FFA), or family and consumer science careers (FCCLA).  Students gain career awareness through conferences, networking with professionals and business tours. They complete programs designed to enhance leadership, communication, teamwork and socialization skills.  Students in these associations may enter skill competitions and be eligible for prizes, scholarships and internships.

Your child's school may have other opportunities for work-related exploration.  Ask your child's school counselor about available options.

What are Other Ways My Child Can Experience Careers?

Your child may have the opportunity to participate in other activities that provide exposure to the world of work.  These activities may include:

• Career Fairs:  Many business people come to one location to provide information about their jobs.  Your child may have the opportunity to listen to several people talk about their careers.
• Guest Speakers: Your child's teacher, counselor or career specialist may arrange for guest speakers to come and talk to a group of students.  Have your child watch for these opportunities at his or her school.
• Field Trips:  Your child may be able to participate in a field trip to a business.  The business provides a person to take students on a tour of the business.  Your children would see and hear about workers performing their day to day tasks.  He or she would also learn about the many different types of workers required to operate a business.

For more information:

National Mentoring Center at:  http://www.nwrel.org/mentoring.

Job Shadowing at: http://www.jobshadow.org.

National Service-Learning Clearinghouse at:  http://www.servicelearning.org/.