How to Teach Career Exploration in the High School Business Classroom

When I was 18, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. After a few college major switches and a career change…or two, I would have never imagined where I’d end up.

While this is part of growing up for a lot of us, it is increasingly vital that we strive to expose our students to the many career options available.

Often, students are expected to select a career path without thoroughly understanding their options. They may only know the career paths of those around them and have yet to have the opportunity to see those beyond their circle of influence.

As educators, we are uniquely positioned to help students explore the diverse careers available to them. Through interest inventories, career research, and the examination of open positions, we can help set our students on a path to success.

1. Identify Interests and Aptitudes

Incorporating interest inventories into the curriculum is a valuable tool for pinpointing students’ strengths and interests. These assessments can uncover hidden talents, guiding students toward careers that resonate with their passions. These interest inventories or interest assessments help students gain a better understanding of themselves and suggest career choices based on the way they answer questions.

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2. Research Career Options

I like using an interest inventory because it exposes students to career options they may not know exist or may have never considered for themselves. From here, students need time to research to make informed decisions about their future. It goes beyond traditional classroom learning and textbooks, allowing them to grasp the real-world application of their skills and interests.

By understanding different professions, students can make educated choices about the academic and vocational paths that align with their passions and strengths.

Students tend to focus on the salary for a career. While this is a critical component, encourage students to pay particular attention to what they would do daily, the work environment, and job responsibilities.

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3. Explore Open Positions

Examining actual open positions in the business world bridges the gap between education and industry. During this process, students search for openings within their desired career field. This exploration helps them better understand the sector, openings, job expectations, educational and experience requirements, daily responsibilities, and more.

These insights into the skills and qualifications employers seek allow them to tailor their educational journey accordingly. This connection to the professional world instills a sense of purpose and motivation as students understand the direct relevance of their studies to future career opportunities.

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Visit company websites related to the field of interest
Job search sites such as Indeed or Monster.com

Identify, Inform, Explore

Want one project that will do all this for you? The Career Research Project was designed to do precisely that. This resource will have your students take a career aptitude survey, reflect on their findings, identify careers to research, research these careers, reflect on their career research, explore job openings for the career selection, answer application-based questions, and write a short-term, mid-term, and long-term goal to help them accomplish their chosen profession.

As high school business teachers, we play a pivotal role in shaping the future business leaders of tomorrow. By emphasizing the importance of career exploration, we empower our students to make informed decisions, discover their passions, and develop the skills necessary for success in the professional world.