Job Exploration Counseling
Job Exploration Counseling, or Career counseling, can include a wide variety of professional activities which help individuals with career-related issues. Career counselors work with youth seeking to explore career options, experienced professionals contemplating a career change, parents who want to return to the world of work after taking time to raise their child, or people seeking employment. Career counseling is also offered in various settings, including in groups and individually, in person or virtually (Source: Career Counseling by Jennifer M. Kidd).
Discussion or counseling of job exploring options are intended to foster motivation, consideration of opportunities and informed decision-making. Specific to youth, real-world activities ensure that students recognize the relevance of a high school and post-school education to their futures, both in college and/or the workplace. Job exploration counseling activities can be done in conjunction with private, for-profit, public or nonprofit businesses in your community.
Job Exploration Counseling may include discussion or information on:
- The student's vocational interest inventory results
- The labor market
- In-demand industries and occupations,
- Non-traditional employment options,
- Administration of vocational interest inventories, and
- Identification of career pathways of interest to the students.
Students may be participating in a number of pre-employment transition services or transition services through VR or Education. Discussion or counseling on the results of some of these activities can help to identify viable career options or solidify careers that a student will want to explore further.
Other Job Exploration Activities may include:
Resources for this Required Activity
Guiding Questions, Activities, Progress and Outcome Indicators:
Job Exploration Counseling: WORD (docx) | PDF (PDF)Curriculum Options
A collection of curricula and lessons to help in the provision of Pre-Employment Transitional Services.
Transition TN Curriculum Database
Developed a searchable database of curriculum that includes options for providing the five required pre-employment transition services.American Foundation of the Blind Transition to Work
The Transition to Work: Program Activity Guide was created to improve employment outcomes for teens and young adults who are blind or visually impaired.Interest Inventories - Pictorial Style
Career Exploration
- O Net
- Childhood Meets Adulthood
This web site is a place for teens. It was developed by the University of Minnesota with support from the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services, Ideas that Work. It is designed for youth to think about what they want to do with their future. It can be used with a teacher, mentor, parent, friend or individual. Registration is required. - National Career Development Association-Internet Sites for Career Planning
- Promising Tomorrows - Junior Achievement has developed online learning resources that anyone can access for free. Each lesson has a pre and post survey for students
- Nebraska Career Clusters - Experience virtual industry tours that provide a unique opportunity to get a glimpse inside Nebraska-based industries without leaving your home or classroom.
- CareerOneStop: Explore videos on hundreds of different careers
- National Career Development Association-Internet Sites for Career Planning
- Workforce GPS 10-18 Explore Careers and the Workplace Virtually
- Road Trip Nation - YouTube Channel How can you be successful in school and your job and your life? It can feel overwhelming but you are not alone. We're here to help with stories of people who overcame challenges and defined success for themselves, like Gary Vaynerchuk, John Legend, Michelle Obama, Joe Rogan, and more. Meet people who found careers connected to their interests and get inspiration and motivation for how you can find a fulfilling career and build a fulfilling life.
- KQED 50 Videos for Career Path Explorations
- Khan Academy Career Exploration Videos
- Explore Career Clusters
- Dr. Kit Career Videos
- Map it-Online Interactive Training for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Reality Check - Guiding Child to Career Success
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Youthood.org
- National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability
More Resources
- National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability - No Cost
Find the latest details about NCWD/Youth resources and tools including: news, events, issues and policies central to preparing youth for transition to adulthood. Products include:- Charting The Course: Supporting the Career Development of Youth with Learning Disabilities
- The Guidepost for Success
- The 411 on Disabilities
- Navigating the Road to Work: Basics
- Minnesota's Pre-ETS Toolkit with Resources - A Resource for Providing Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for Minnesota Students with Disabilities.