Career Exploration While in High School

November 12, 2024 byCharlotte Davies

5 min to read

A group of students discuss career ambitions in high school

Some people know from a young age what they want to do for a career while others benefit from exploring different avenues while they are still in school. But even if you think you have it all figured out career-wise, it can still help to keep an open mind. The focus of any career exploration should be finding something that you like doing, that you’re interested in, and that aligns with your values. But where do you begin to discover what a career is actually like?

Explore Career Options While in High School

Take a Career Quiz

Career quizzes ask you questions about your interests, how you approach solving problems, and how you like to work—such as if you work best in teams or under deadlines –before suggesting careers that are more likely to align with your personality and working style.

Evaluating what naturally aligns to you and your skills can help you find work that is likely to be more satisfying.

Connections Academy Career Solutions Specialist Denise Keen recommends using tools like the Work Importance Locator assessment, which lets you rank statements about work and what you value in importance from most important to least. “The more students can learn about themselves,” she says, “the better equipped they will be to explore careers that fit their interests, skills, and expectations.”

A laptop showing the Connections Academy digital career tools.

Draw from Your Interests

Choosing a career path that you’re interested in can make going to work enjoyable and something you will enjoy learning more about, whether that means going to college to earn a degree or earning professional certificates to build your skills. Start by looking at your hobbies to see if there are avenues for you to make your career out of something you naturally love doing or a cause you care about.

Keep in mind that while you should ideally enjoy your work, not everything you love doing has to be wrapped up in making money. Remember to keep some of personal interests aside for just yourself.

Figuring out how to make work out of something you love can help you grow in your passions.

Pick what Aligns with Your Values

Look at what causes matter to you. What do you prioritize in life? Are you interested in animal conservation or in the environment? Do breakthroughs in medical research excite you? How about social work, equality, or justice? Looking at your convictions might lead to a career path.

Taking on a career that represents your values can help you feel like you’re staying engaged.

Find Something that Excites You

What fires you up? What do you want to get better at? What is something you always wanted to learn more about? Picking a career that you feel is always changing or that always has more to discover could lead you down the path toward an exciting and dynamic career.

Working in a field that is constantly changing can help you feel more engaged.

Look at what You’re Good At

See if you can align the skills that come naturally to you into a career. However, it’s possible to be really good at something you hate. If that’s the case, don’t force it. You might be really talented at solving math problems, but having to do it every day will make you miserable.

Exploring your existing skills can help you feel grounded and confident in your work.

Work with a Mentor

Whether it’s someone you already know in your family, through an activity, club, or organization, finding a mentor can help you think through the details of a career path, give you details about their experiences, help you plan for the future, or work with you to parse out your options.

A mentor can provide guidance and insight into a career path.

Take Classes or Do Internships

“While assessments help students find potential careers that will best fit their interests, experiencing potential careers through job shadowing is the best way to judge if a career is a good fit,” says Keen, “internships, apprenticeships, and volunteer work/community service are all great ways to interact with careers. Hands-on experience opportunities provide students with a unique look into what a career entails, develop their soft skills, and help them determine which careers they really like and don't like.”

The best part is if it’s not for you, it’s always fine to walk away.

Hands-on work can help you build your skills and tell you if a job is for you.

Things to Remember

Finding a career that feels fulfilling takes some trial and error. If you’re feeling frustrated, know that it’s okay to take a step back and come back to it later when you feel more settled.

Keep an Open Mind

It’s also important to keep an open mind. Part of finding out what you want to do is being open to jobs you never considered before. Keeping yourself open to new things can lead you in exciting directions— you never know where a new passion or interest might emerge from.

Follow Your Heart

Sometimes there’s pressure to follow a certain path from teachers, mentors, parents, or other adults we look up to. While they might have your best interests at heart, you’re the one who’s going to have to make it part of your life. Finding a career that is based on the things you want will give you peace and confidence in the long run.

Career Pathways for Online Students

Learn more about how career-focused opportunities from an online high school like Connections Academy can help online students prepare for their future.