Career Planning

The Career Center is focused on providing students an opportunity to attain the following key elements of general career readiness:

Career Self-Assessment: Identify skills and work interests through self-assessment.
Career Exploration: Build a road-map for the future through career exploration.
Career Connections: Engagement with community resources, local employers, schools and/or training programs.
Career Readiness: Enhancement of marketability and job preparedness.

To clarify your post graduation direction, there are two essential activities you can undertake: first - learn more about your specific career preferences (personality & interest) through self-assessment, and then explore careers to evaluate how they meet your career preferences.

Career Self-Assessment

Interests Assessment

One way of exploring careers is by looking at occupations according to occupational interest.

The RIASEC (or Holland Code) Assessment divides job seekers into six broad personality type categories:

Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional

All the types have both positive and negative qualities–none is better than any others. Keep in mind - your self-assessment results are a generalization, not likely to be an exact fit. However, it might help you discover where you can find occupational satisfaction and identify the cluster(s) of occupations; giving you a place to start your career exploration.

Interest Profiler Option

Try a quick 30 question interest assessment via O*NET's Mini Interest Profiler. For a more in-depth assessment, try the O*NET Interest Profiler via My Next Move.

Skills Assessment

In the workplace, there are two kinds of essential skills: technical skills, and soft skills.

Technical skills

Your ability to accomplish specific tasks like cooking, computer programming, or teaching, are called technical skills. They relate to a particular occupation. You may have learned technical skills from past work experience, school or training. These skills are often included in job listings to describe the tasks of a position.

Examples:

build a cabinet
read an image
operate equipment
paint a portrait
write computer code
teach a lesson
investigate a scientific question
sell products to customers

Soft skills

Employers also want employees who fit in and get along well in the workplace. That requires soft skills. These are so valuable that soft skills are often the reason employers decide whether to keep or promote an employee. Some soft skills can be taught in school. But most you learn in everyday life and can improve at any time.

Examples:

communicate well
think critically
participate as a team member
self-motivated
flexible
determined and persistent
quick learner
on time

Rate your levels on 40 key workplace skills. Then, discover the careers that match your skills, or learn about areas of improvement for careers you would like to have.

Skills Matcher Assessment

Work Values Assessment

What are values?

Values are your beliefs about what is important or desirable. When your values line up with how you live and work, you tend to feel more satisfied and confident. Living or working in ways that contradict your values can lead to dissatisfaction, confusion, and discouragement. So there is good reason to clarify your values, and seek to match your work to them.

Choose work that reflects your values to gain career satisfaction.

Work Values Matcher Assessment

High School & Beyond Plan (HSBP) Career Assessments

StrengthsExplorer (9th Grade)

The Strengths Explorer is a skill assessment that identifies each student’s three strongest emerging talents. Students will discover what they need to do next to continue building on their identified strengths. Please note: You may only take this personality profile ONE time. You must finish it in one sitting.

Career Interest Profiler (10th Grade)

The “Career Interest 15 Profiler” is a tool that can help students discover the types of work activities and careers that match their interests. The interest profiler has 180 questions about work activities that people do at their jobs. There are no right or wrong answers!

AchieveWorks® Personality Assessment (12th Grade)

This activity will help you discover educational and career options that are a good fit based on your personality traits and areas of interest. Read the Full Report after completing the assessment to learn more about your personality type. Your personalized Report can make school and work easier and more effective, and also help you understand others and others understand you.

All assessments are completed through Naviance (part of your HSBP):

Career exploration helps your learn about various occupations and their "fit" with your unique career preferences, e.g. the skills, interests, and values you want satisfied by your career. Ideally, you engage in career exploration during or after identifying your career preferences through self-assessment.

Career Exploration

modern labor market breakdown 2024

College grad saturation continues and trades shortage continues.

55% of college grads are unemployed or underemployed.
The trades are 5.1 million workers short.
Public Service: there is a desperate need for city, county, water, fire, and police workers.

Most current / highest demand jobs:

HVAC
Electricians
Plumbers / Pipefitters
Medical Assistants (certified)
Engineering
Nursing / Medical (especially in specific specialties)
Diesel Technicians
Automotive Technicians
User Experience (UX)

Thinking about pursing a specific job / career after high school? Labor market research is a must! The Occupational Outlook Handbook can help!

Career Exploration Resources

Watch career videos which include career details such as tasks, work settings, education needed, and more. Videos are organized by Career Cluster.

Watch Career Videos

Explore which careers have the highest job satisfaction, best salaries, and more.

Indeed Career Explorer

Explore CTE programs of study, and use career clusters to discover "cluster pathways" that correspond to a collection of courses and training opportunities to prepare students for a chosen career (HSBP).

Career & Technical Education Pathways

Explore vocational and technical careers, check out the skills employers really want, find a trade school, research technical topics, etc.

Vocational Information Center

The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) provides information on what workers do, the work environment, education, training, and other qualifications, pay, the job outlook, information on state and area data, and similar occupations.

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Boeing Manufacturing Careers Resources

Explore Careers by Cluster

A career cluster is a group of jobs and industries that are related by skills or products. Learn more about each cluster, and explore career information (including employment outlook, wages, education needed, education available in WA, and related careers.

Career Clusters (via WA Career Bridge):

explore careers by degrees

What can I do with a degree in...? Explore jobs, employers, and strategies for pursuing this career (getting the job you want).

Accounting | What can I do with a degree in Accounting?
Advertising | What can I do with a degree in Advertising?
Business Analytics | What can I do with a degree in Business Analytics?
Business Management | What can I do with a degree in Business Management?
Communication Studies & Speech | What can I do with a degree in Communication Studies & Speech?
Computer Science | What can I do with a degree in Computer Science?
Criminal Justice | What can I do with a degree in Criminal Justice?
Cybersecurity Management | What can I do with a degree in Cybersecurity Management?
Data Analytics | What can I do with a degree in Data Analytics?
Economics | What can I do with a degree in Economics?
Education | What can I do with a degree in Education?
English | What can I do with a degree in English?
Finance | What can I do with a degree in Finance?
Forensic Science | What can I do with a degree in Forensic Science?
Graphic Design | What can I do with a degree in Graphic Design?
History | What can I do with a degree in History?
Human Resource Management | What can I do with a degree in Human Resource Management?
Human Services | What can I do with a degree in Human Services?
Information Systems & Technology | What can I do with a degree in Information Systems & Technology?
International Business | What can I do with a degree in International Business?
Journalism | What can I do with a degree in Journalism?
Law | What can I do with a degree in Law?
Management | What can I do with a degree in Management?
Management Information Systems | What can I do with a degree in Management Information Systems?
Marketing | What can I do with a degree in Marketing?
Negotiations & Conflict Management | What can I do with a degree in Negotiations & Conflict Management?
Non-Profit Management & Social Entrepreneurship | What can I do with a degree in Non-Profit Management & Social Entrepreneurship?
Political Science | What can I do with a degree in Political Science?
Psychology | What can I do with a degree in Psychology?
Public Administration | What can I do with a degree in Public Administration?
Public Health | What can I do with a degree in Public Health?
Public Relations | What can I do with a degree in Public Relations?
Simulation & Game Design | What can I do with a degree in Simulation & Game Design?
Social Work | What can I do with a degree in Social Work?
Sociology | What can I do with a degree in Sociology?
Taxation | What can I do with a degree in Taxation?
Urban Studies | What can I do with a degree in Urban Studies?

explore careers by industry

Would you like to get a job in this industry? Think about these types of careers.

Careers Sorted by Experience, Education, & Training Required

(Information provided via My Next Move; sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.)

Little or no preparation needed

*Bright Outlook: These careers are likely to grow rapidly, or will have a large number of openings.

Note: The career profiles below provide tons of helpful info! Stuff like what to expect on the job (job tasks or technology you may use), education (knowledge, skills, and abilities) needed to get the job, job outlook and salary, and many more resources!

Experience:

Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these careers. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.

Education:

Some of these careers may need a high school diploma or GED certificate.

Training:

Employees in these careers need from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker can show you how to do the job.

Careers:

some preparation needed (a-m)

*Bright Outlook: These careers are likely to grow rapidly, or will have a large number of openings.

Experience:

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, it would help a teller to have experience working with the public.

Education:

These careers usually need a high school diploma.

Training:

Employees in these careers need from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. An apprenticeship program may be available for these careers.

Careers:

some preparation needed (n-z)

medium preparation needed (a-m)

*Bright Outlook: These careers are likely to grow rapidly, or will have a large number of openings.

Experience:

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these careers. For example, an electrician must be in an apprenticeship for three to four years or have several years of job training. You may need to pass a test to get a license to do the job.

Education:

Most of these careers need vocational school training, on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Training:

Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.

Careers:

medium preparation needed (n-z)

high preparation needed (a-m)

*Bright Outlook: These careers are likely to grow rapidly, or will have a large number of openings.

Experience:

Long term work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these careers. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work several years in the field to be qualified for the job.

Education:

Most of these careers need a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Training:

Employees in these careers need several years of work-related experience and training. Both on-the-job and classroom job training may be needed.

Careers:

high preparation needed (n-z)

extensive preparation needed

*Bright Outlook: These careers are likely to grow rapidly, or will have a large number of openings.

Experience:

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these careers. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education:

Most of these careers need a graduate school education. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training:

Employees may need some on-the-job training. However, the person will usually have the needed skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and training before starting the job.

Careers:

"Making a connection," or networking, is an essential step in the transition from student to professional. By speaking with professionals in an area of interest, you can find out what it's like to work in that field on a day-to-day basis. Also, once you know your career direction, you may receive job leads and tips from your contacts.

Career Connections

make a connection

Job Shadowing - read real interviews from people (jobs they do and the careers they have).
LinkedIn - A superb resource for finding alumni for informational interviews.
D irectory of Associations - A database of over 35,000 links to professional associations. These organizations provide structured opportunities to meet individuals in a particular industry or career, and may provide special opportunities for students.
Career Fairs - allow you to meet a variety of employers; check the Career Center Calendar (home page) or the Job Resources page for listings.
Volunteering - You get hands on experience in the field and can find out if you are really interested. For example, think you'd like to be a veterinarian? –> Volunteer at the animal shelter or a vet clinic.
Community Service Opportunities - Volunteering on a community service project can also provide opportunities for career exploration, professional networking, and skill building.

informational interviewing

Often the most current and specific information about a career field may not be available online. The best information comes from people who are actually working in that career field.

An informational interview is an informal conversation you can have with someone working in an area of interest to you. It is an effective research tool and is best done after preliminary online research.

It is not a job interview, and the objective is not to find job openings. You may feel awkward reaching out to people you don't know. However, most people actually enjoy taking a few moments out of their day to reflect on their professional life and give advice to someone with an interest in their field.

Benefits of Informational Interviewing

Get firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field, industry or position. This kind of information is not always available online.
Find out about career paths you did not know existed.
Get tips and insider knowledge about how to prepare for and land your first career position.
Learn what it’s like to work at a specific organization.
Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network of contacts in a specific career field; meet people who may forward job leads to you in the future.

Six Steps of Informational Interviewing

Research Career Fields
- Do some initial research on the career field or employer using the internet and/or print resources.
Identify People to Interview
- Pursue your own contacts (people you already know, even if they aren't in fields of interest to you, can lead you to people who are). This includes family, friends, teachers, or former employers.
- Identify Meadowdale alumni to contact; Utilize LinkedIn to find them.
Prepare for the Interview
- Develop a brief introduction of yourself and your hopes for the meeting.
- Plan open-ended questions to ask.
Initiate Contact
- Contact the person by email or phone; mention how you got his or her name.
- Ask whether it's a good time to talk for a few minutes; emphasize you are looking for information, not a job.
- Be ready to ask questions on the spot.
Conduct the Informational Interview
- Bring your list of questions and take notes if you like.
- Restate that your objective is to get information and advice, not a job.
- Give a brief overview of yourself and your education and/or work background.
- Be prepared to direct the interview, but also let the conversation flow naturally.
- Respect the persons time.
- Ask the person if you may contact them again in the future with additional questions.
- Ask for names of other people to meet so as to gain different perspectives.
Follow-Up
- Keep records. Write down what you learned, what you'd still like to know, and what next steps should be.
- Send a thank-you note within 1-2 business days to express your appreciation for the time/information.
- Keep in touch with the person, especially if you had a particularly nice interaction. This person could become an important part of your network.

career counseling

Whether you know your career goal or not, building your knowledge and skills both in and out of the classroom will make you a strong job candidate. In addition, you should know how to present your qualifications to employers on paper, online, and in person. Here are some resources to help you do so.

Career Readiness

career readiness competencies

The Career Center has identified eight professional Career Readiness Competencies to help you prepare and succeed in the workplace. Employers want to hire students and recent graduates who can demonstrate these skills, talents, and strengths. Mastering these competencies can make you a competitive candidate for future employment!

Creativity & Problem Solving: Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret, and use knowledge, facts, and data in this process, and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.
Communication: Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. An individual with public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.
Global Perspective: Value, respect, and learn from diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and religions. The individual demonstrates openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity, and the ability to interact respectfully with all people and understand individuals’ differences.
Leadership: Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. The individual is able to assess and manage his/her emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work.
Teamwork & Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure, and can negotiate and manage conflict.
Technical Application: Leverage existing technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks, and accomplish goals. The individual demonstrates effective adaptability to new and emerging technologies.
Professionalism & Work Ethic: Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, and time management, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional image. The individual demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind, and is able to learn from his/her mistakes.
Career Management: Identify and articulate one's skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position desired and career goals, and identify areas necessary for professional growth. The individual is able to navigate and explore job options, understands and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities, and understands how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

career readiness competencies assessment

career readiness suggestions

ARE YOU CAREER READY?

The Career Center has identified eight professional competencies to help you prepare and succeed in the workplace. Possessing these skills can make you more competitive in the marketplace and help you make the transition to a career after high school.

Here are some suggestions for how to gain experience in each area:

Creativity & Problem Solving:

Get inspired with TED Talks
Take an art class
Select volunteer opportunities that promote arts in the community

Communication:

Become a brand ambassador for a product or service you use everyday
Become a peer advisor
Write a letter to your local newspaper on an issue that concerns you
Publish substantial thought pieces on social media (such as LinkedIn)
Practice your interview skills through mock interviews

Global Perspective:

Study abroad (if attending college); sign-up for distance learning opportunities
Learn a foreign language
Volunteer to teach/tutor English as a second language at local schools
Attend free cultural programs and/or events on campus

Leadership:

Take a on a leaderships role in a student organization/club
Participate in leaderships programs through ASB
Take part in Public Service opportunities (such as volunteering in the community)

Teamwork & Collaboration:

Join an intramural sports team or club
Be an engaged & contributing team member in all class and student group projects
Join (or start!) a student club you are interested in

Technical Application:

Go beyond the basics of using Excel
Take a LinkedIn Learning tutorial and other online courses to develop technical skills
Seek out social media responsibilities in a student organization
Create a LinkedIn profile and use it regularly
Create a GitHub account and develop an app

Professionalism & Work Ethic:

Get a part-time job on or off campus
Excel in academics and take your studies seriously
Volunteer with a local non-profit organization
Start an entrepreneurial venture or your own club

Career Management:

Seek internships to clarify your career interests
Conduct informational interviews with professionals in your fields of interest
Utilize Career Center resources to find opportunities & learn to articulate your skills
Join LinkedIn groups related to your career interests

career counseling

Did you know - meeting with the Career Center, you can:

Identify your existing work and transferrable skills, as well as, new skills to develop.
Learn about, and learn to use, effective job and internship/apprenticeship search strategies.
Review your resume and cover letter; build your interviewing and networking skills.
Develop a plan of action for the job/internship/apprenticeship search or college applications.

PRESCHOOL

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

High Schools

Other Learning options

SITE SEARCH

STAFF DIRECTORY SEARCH

POPULAR SEARCHES

In This Section

In This Section

Career Planning

Career Self-Assessment

Interests Assessment

Skills Assessment

Work Values Assessment

High School & Beyond Plan (HSBP) Career Assessments

Career Exploration

modern labor market breakdown 2024

Career Exploration Resources

Explore Careers by Cluster

explore careers by degrees

explore careers by industry

Little or no preparation needed

some preparation needed (a-m)

some preparation needed (n-z)

medium preparation needed (a-m)

medium preparation needed (n-z)

high preparation needed (a-m)

high preparation needed (n-z)

extensive preparation needed

Career Connections

make a connection

informational interviewing

career counseling

Career Readiness

career readiness competencies

career readiness competencies assessment

career readiness suggestions

career counseling