OHS Career Center Newsletter
November is Career Development Month
November is Career Development Month!
Everyone will most likely have a career one day, but will it be an enjoyable career that's rewarding and fulfilling? Try and research the many career paths available, figure out your interests as they pertain to work, and see what steps you can take now as a high school student to get on track for career fulfillment! Knowing yourself, your skills, and your likes and dislikes can help you make better career decisions. For example, do you enjoy work where you help others? Do you like working with tools and real-world materials, like wood, metal, and machinery? Do you prefer working with ideas and concepts? Do you like creativity in your work or do you like following a proscribed format and schedule? Everyone is different, but everyone can do something as a career and find it rewarding, not just financially but personally. There is a career for you out there! See below for some tools to start your career path.
Job Shadowing
What is Job Shadowing? Job Shadowing involves speaking to or working alongside a professional in a field that interests you for a half hour to a few hours. By doing so, you get the chance to experience what that professional does, and ask questions about their job. Mr. Montgomery can help connect you to an experienced professional in a career of your choice. Due to COVID, many job shadows take place virtually via Zoom or Google Meet. Just this Fall, students at Orange High have job shadowed professionals in the following careers: Attorney, Nutritionist, Insurance Agent, Physician's Assistant, and Chef. These are just examples. If there's a career you're interested in, ask Mr. Montgomery to arrange a Job Shadow!
Take a Career Interest Inventory
Career Interest Inventories can be very helpful in connecting young people to professions that they may not know about. You don't know what you don't know, and simply answering a series of questions about your likes and dislikes as they pertain to work tasks can help you develop an occupational profile, and generate a list of jobs you may be suited for. Here is a link to a Career Interest Inventory on mynextmove.org. You can fill it out and see what careers might be enjoyable to you. It only takes 15-20 minutes to complete, and is easy to follow. Once you have completed it, make an appointment with Mr. Montgomery for a thorough review.
Search for Careers
mynextmove.org also has a "search" key that you can use to look up careers. You can type in something specific like "Diagnostic Medical Sonographers," or something more general like "Animals," and you'll be directed to a list of careers that are related to the search term you entered. The list is interactive and you can click on a career and be directed to a page which lists in detail the knowledge, skills, and abilities one needs in that career, a video link, educational requirements, certifications needed, and salary and job outlook expectations! You can even apply for jobs using this site! Use this link to begin your search. Note: there are close to 1000 careers available for review.
Internships
Completing an internship while a student at Orange High is a win-win. You will get a chance to work in a career of your interest, find out if you like it or not, earn a course credit, and possibly even earn some income! Mr. Montgomery can connect you with some internship opportunities. Currently, Orange High has interns at Sportsplex, News of Orange, Central Elementary, and Inneroptic Technologies. Mr. Montgomery is also developing new internships at UNC Public Safety, Aramark (UNC Dining Halls), State Farm Insurance, Thalle, Inc., and more!
Also, if you have a job currently, and want to turn that into an internship, see Mr. Montgomery. There are some requirements but it is very manageable.
November 11 is Veterans Day
November 11 is Veterans Day. Orange High School is fortunate to have recruiters available to meet with students in the Career Center to discuss career opportunities in the military. To speak with a recruiter, you can arrange a meeting by contacting Mr. Montgomery. Below are all the business cards of the recruiters serving Orange High. Remember to thank a veteran on November 11!
Career Accelerator Program - Apprenticeship Night November 9th!
Start your career as an apprentice as part of the Career Accelerator Program (CAP) in Alamance County. CAP is holding an Information Session November 9th at Alamance Community College (ACC) from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. See image below to register. Apprentices at CAP will receive paid job training at companies in Alamance County like AKG, GKN, Sandvik Comorant, and Glen Raven, and will receive an all-expenses paid Associates in Applied Science Degree at ACC. Upon completion, apprentices are very likely to be offered full-time employment with no college debt. Let Mr. Montgomery know if you have any questions. 11th and 12th graders are eligible to apply, but the event is open to any high school student and parent/guardian.