Plan a Career Exploration Day for Your Teen This Summer
As the parent of a teen, you probably talk to your child about life after high school. But sometimes talking about the future just isn’t enough. Sometimes kids need a taste of the real world — and summer break is the perfect opportunity to plan a fun, hands-on career day!
In the process, your teen enjoys some independence while also exploring new interests. Most importantly, research shows that career awareness can increase the likelihood that students finish high school and pursue college. The practice of exploring career options also boosts their motivation to set and achieve meaningful life goals.
To save you time, we came up with five cool ways to set your young person on the path to self-discovery:
- Shadow a Family Member. If you have a friend or family member with an interesting profession, arrange for your child to shadow them for a day or two. From accounting to medicine to sales, the possibilities are endless. Your student can learn about required education, salary expectations, upward mobility and work-life balance — insights they can’t always get in a classroom.
- Visit a Trade School. Not every career requires a four-year college degree. In fact, across Florida, career and technical education, or CTE, is gaining major traction and providing young people with lucrative opportunities in a range of fields, including aviation, firefighting, automotive repair, culinary arts, HVAC, welding technology and cybersecurity.
- Visit a Museum. Museums aren’t just filled with artifacts — they’re packed with career possibilities. From the fine arts and science to history and nature, museums employ a wide range of professionals, including curators, exhibit designers, historians, event planners, educators and marketing specialists. Many museums also have behind-the-scenes tours, which offer a glimpse into their overall operation.
- Tour the Florida Capitol. If your teen has an interest in government and the law, visit the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee for an opportunity to see democracy in action. They can learn about the many jobs that support the state’s legislative and executive branches, which include attorneys, lobbyists, legal analysts, administrative clerks and more.
- Explore Online Career Tools. Go digital and take advantage of free, online resources to help your teen determine their interests, skills and talents. Florida students can use GetThere to explore the state’s expanding career opportunities. Other helpful sites include O*Net Interest Profiler and the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Your teen’s summertime career exploration can also be a great way to ease into college planning with virtual campus tours. It’s low-pressure, and your student is in control. Just remember that planning for a career or college experience doesn’t have to be overwhelming. What matters is giving your child the freedom to branch out, observe and ask questions!
Have more questions? We’ve got answers! Explore our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about our Prepaid Plans and Savings Plan. And click here to start your savings now!
