ALT-1 Career Planning
It is imperative that career planning starts early in life. A student should have career goals before graduating from high school. Why?
After high school, a young adult is faced with many choices. If they do not have a plan already set, they are more prone to choosing the wrong path. Should I go to college? What do I want to be? I need a job, but which one? Setting goals in high school can help young adults stay aligned to their true aspirations.
Many students graduate from high school and simply think that college is the answer. Unfortunately, college is not the educational route needed for every career. There are other options such as two-year schools, hands on training courses, certifications and diplomas, on the job training, apprenticeships, even internships. By knowing which careers they are interested in, a student has the potential to start early obtaining the necessary experience and needed education.
Roughly, 65% of graduates do not receive effective career preparation in high school. Moreover, several students do not start planning for a career till their junior or senior year in college. This means that college majors may have been chosen without the proper determination of true interest or which job opportunities are available. This can also explain why tons of college graduates are entering the work force without the needed requirements for the jobs they are applying for.
Students should not simply plan for college after graduating from high school. This is simply a way to play it safe. If college is not required for their career interests, they can be wasting a lot of money and time. Only 32% of graduates reported that they enrolled into college because it aligned with their career choices. What does this mean? The other students may have chosen post-secondary education for their parents, the college experience, the guarantee of a job, or even to provide them with more time to figure out a career plan.
Ironically, a college degree does not guarantee someone a particular job anymore. In order to gain employment, one must appear ready to work and have the needed requirements to get the job they are applying for. For example, if a student wants to work as a project manager, a college degree will be helpful, but most jobs require substantial experience as well as a PMP certification. To work as an administrative assistant, one does not necessarily have to go to college; there are two-year schools and certificate programs that will provide the needed hands on training.
Students that have chosen a career choice early, tend to be the ones who have a better chance at getting the jobs they want. Many will argue that most people change their minds over time, but if all of this happens earlier than later, they will still be in a better situation than most post-graduates. Effective career planning will not only direct students to a career, but will enforce the need to examine potential jobs and their requirements. Post-graduates have commented that they wish the following were introduced to them in high school: different career options, types of jobs in career fields, job requirements, education vs. experience, how to apply for jobs, interview and resume techniques, and even networking.
The most successful students received the necessary guidance to prepare them for the real world. Majority of students only know the importance of higher education. Setting potential career goals in high school, will allow students the opportunity to have a purpose for their future. They will be able to pick schools that fit their interests or even start applying for jobs in their field. Early career preparation is not a luxury, it is a need.
All findings are supported by an online poll survey entitled, “Real World” Readiness Evaluation – Career/Jobs, conducted early 2012.
