Career Resources
Tips for Supporting Your Child's Career Exploration
We understand making choices about careers is a daunting task for many teenagers. Therefore, we created this newsletter full of career resources as a support for our students and families. Feel free to reach out to your child's school counselor if you need additional resources or information about career exploration and awareness.
Most 9th grade students have Career Interests, Skills, and Readiness on their schedules at some point this year. This class will focus on career preparedness such as writing a resume and cover letter, participating in a mock interview and Reality Fair to learn about budgeting. All 10th grade students will be taking the ASVAB career interest inventory in December to help their career exploration process.
PA Career Zone
- Explore - Students can complete a quick assessment to find career matches or search by career cluster such as "Agriculture and Natural Resources" or "Human Services". They can also complete skills and interest profiles to find careers matched with their skills and interests. The "Work Importance Profiler" helps students determine what they value in a career- independence, support, financial gain, etc. Also within this tab, students can search career pathways and browse the video library of over 675 occupations. A red target indicates the job is a high priority occupation in PA. You can also search for colleges and training centers in our area.
- Decide - this area helps students explore the cost of college if they choose to attend. They can explore and search PA jobs by highest wages or most job openings. If they are choosing to go directly into the workforce after graduation, they can also search for available local jobs.
- Grow - in this tab students can find a resume and reference list builder. Our favorite feature is "Budget Your Life", where students choose their lifestyle and will soon realize the salary needed to support their life choices.
PA Career Guide
The first section provides suggestions on how students can explore a variety of career options and includes an Interest Assessment. This assessment will examine students' interests and hobbies and match students with potential jobs.
Based on the results of the assessment, more occupations that match can be found in the next section by using the Occupational Data Bank. The databank contains information on more than 250 occupations in Pennsylvania â including wages, educational requirements, and job outlook.
The Career Guide also reminds students that college is only one option beyond high school. Learn about apprenticeships, career and technical schools, military and civil service, and starting a business.
Students can prepare to enter the workforce by reviewing the to-do list on pages 38-40 highlighting the steps that should be taken during 12th grade, regardless of his/her post-high school plans. There are tips on how to write a resume as well as how to fill out a job application.
The final section of the guide is a collection of resources to help students achieve the goal of securing a job. Students can find tips on interview skills as well as tips on how to maintain a career once hired.
This publication will help students examine avenues of opportunity, develop realistic goals, and, most importantly, make informed career choices.
HACC Career Coach
This helpful tool will assist you in looking ahead and planning for your future. Students who set goals, plan for the future and take early steps toward developing themselves professionally are typically more successful when graduation arrives.
In Career Coach, you can:
- Research careers
- Learn what jobs are in demand in South Central Pennsylvania
- See how occupations tie into specific majors at HACC
- Begin to map out the path toward your future career
Click the link below to check it out.
I Want That Job!
Check out this video series highlighting interesting jobs across the country.
Apprenticeships
Are you looking to learn on the job? An apprenticeship may be for you!
Visit www.apprenticeship.org- Learn about apprenticeship programs that pay you to learn a high-demand and high-skill trades.
Military Careers
Visit www.todaysmilitary.com- Search by the branch to learn about military options, eligibility, benefits, salary, ROTC, and more. There is also a link to ASVAB practice.
Career Workshops
Big Future
NICHE
West Perry High School Counseling Center
Mrs.Wise 9-11-grade Counselor (M-Z) - awise@westperry.org
Mrs. Zeigler - 12th-grade Counselor - mzeigler@westperry.org
Mrs. Barber - Guidance Clerk - cbarber@westperry.org
Website: www.wpsd.org
Location: 2608 Shermans Valley Road, Elliottsburg, PA, USA
Phone: (717) 789-3931