The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Where Do You Want to Go? It's YOUR future. What will you do when you graduate? Will you be ready to get a job that will lead you to the life you want, or do you need more education? What do you want to be doing five, 10, or 20 years from now? There are so many possibilities. These days, there aren't many entry-level jobs which require a high school diploma only. Most jobs require at least two years of education beyond high school, perhaps in an apprenticeship program, two years of college, or an associate's degree program. Most jobs require a solid academic foundation in math, science and communications. An increasing number of jobs require a technical degree, either instead of a bachelor's degree or in addition to it. Others require a four-year college degree, or a four-year degree followed by graduate school. Some of the jobs that will be available after you graduate don't yet exist. You've heard that the work force and work places are changing because of technology and global competition. As you move along in your career, you will probably need more education to meet these new challenges. Your employer may provide training courses as part of your job, or you may need to take formal courses or get another degree. The skills you are learning now are just a beginning. Whatever the educational requirements for entering a job, you also need to develop reasoning, interpersonal and teamwork skills to be successful. How can I prepare? As a high school graduate, you can expect to work, earn a living, and build a career. To be successful requires planning for and selecting a career goal that is right for you. You might choose to work at home using a computer to link your home with almost anywhere in the world. You might elect to work in a more traditional environmentÑan office or industrial setting. Or you might work in a profession that requires you to continuously update your skills. Use your high school years as a time to continue learning about the world of work. Visit area businesses and industries; volunteer with your school's business partner; research different careers; ask questions of business people. You need to set personal goals that help you during your high school years. Your goals should be outlined in a career and educational plan developed with your school counsellor's help. Your career and educational plan provides a strategy for accomplishing those goals. Planning a career is like planning a trip: first you decide where you want to go, then you determine the best route. There will always be several routes available, but some are direct and use your time and financial resources efficiently. As you map out your career and educational plan with your counsellor, your first step will be to determine the career area that interests you. To do this you must think about your interests, abilities and values. Your counselor can help. What are the career areas? There are thousands of possible careers you could choose. Most of them fall into one of three categories: * business and marketing, * health and human services, or * technical and industrial. Your counsellor can give you more specific information and may refer you to someone with particular expertise, such as a teacher, parent or business representative. What's next? Once you have selected an area of interest, your counsellor will help you develop a plan to achieve your career goal. The plan will outline the courses to take in high school to help you prepare for the next phase of your education after graduation. Your plan will include outside interests, community involvement, and extracurricular activities to enhance your career interests. What career choices should I make during high school? You will hear career advice that might be confusing or contradictory. Perhaps there are people who want you to enter into a career that does not match your plans. Perhaps you do not know very much about career possibilities and cannot make an informed decision without more information. See 'Career' P.# Con't from P.# Do not feel pressured. Career-development plans are designed to change as you change. In fact, you may revise your career plan in each of your years in high school. The thing to remember is that you need a career focus so that your plan is goal-oriented. It is better to have a plan that can be changed than to complete high school without being prepared for anything. Two educational choices are College Tech Prep and College Prep. Most jobs require either an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. Your career and educational plan was first outlined during middle school and will help you set a career goal, select high school courses you need, and determine the technical and/or college degree program that will lead to your goal. Whatever your career plans, the first stepÑselecting your goalÑis important. Ask for help from your parents, counsellors, teachers and friends. Once your goals are selected, the process of outlining a program leading to either an associate's or bachelor's degree will be relatively simple. The possibilities are exciting and the rewards are great. Good luck! What do employers want? One way to prepare for success in the workplace is to gain a better understanding of what employers expect of you as a worker. In recent years, local business leaders have completed a detailed survey on the 10 most important skills which current and future employees must possess in order to succeed. They responded: *Positive work attitude *Strong reading ability *Customer-focused attitude *Good team member *Continuous learner *Strong communication skills *Good listening skills *Flexible, adapting quickly to change *Positive interpersonal skills *Self-directed worker You can begin now to develop and practice those skills in classes, after-school activities, sports and other school-related opportunities. Combined with your education after high school graduation, experience provides the best chance to succeed in the workplace.
