Freshmen can start planning

Planning your career now can point students in the right direction.  Of course, adjustments will have to be made along the way with jobs changing so quickly, but having a plan now will help you be prepared to learn new skills and readjust.

Career Planning is really three steps.

1.  Take a realistic look at your strengths, weaknesses and interests.  What work, school courses, and activities appeal to you?  What do you do well now and what skills do you have? What values do you have regarding work?

2.  Explore  your options.  It is hard to know what to do for a career when you don't know all the possibilities.  Explore career possibilities using www.actstudent.org, the Occupational Outlook Handbook on-line version, Kansas Career Pipeline, spend time with people in careers or activities that interest you, volunteer, and discuss careers with teachers, counselors or other adults.

3.  Take Actions to Accomplish Your Goals. What do you need to study? What schools offer the training you will need?  How will you pay for school?  What can you do during high school to be prepared?  

By starting now, students will be better prepared to leave high school and enter post-secondary training with a solid goal.  (Information from ACT's News You Can Use, Feb. 2006)