What role should school counselors play in helping students explore careers?
An article published this month by the National Career Development Association asserts that teens are best served when given opportunities to participate in internships and explore earnings data while still in high school.
The piece — written by career counselor Jennifer Landis-Santos and Anthony Carnevale, director of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) — highlights several online tools counselors can use to help their students plan for the future.
“Counselors who work with students around planning for life after graduation must provide them with a larger picture of the United States job market and help them see how their talents fit in,” the article notes. “…In particular, students should also consider what industries are growing and their respective educational requirements and anticipated earnings.”
Key resources cited in the article include:
- Department of Labor career descriptions: Detailed information about the world of work, along with a list of Bright Outlook Occupations, is available online.
- Earnings data: Information about average salaries by occupation can be found on the CEW website. The data can also be sorted by college major or state of residence.
- Credentials infographic: Another CEW resource, this infographic is useful for helping students visualize postsecondary education and training opportunities.
Read the full article and learn about other career exploration resources.
Admitted writer/editor Mary Stegmeir welcomes additional comments and story ideas at mstegmeir@nacacnet.org.