Friday, December 6, 2024
How to get the career exploration conversation started
Maggie Meyers, CVTC Admissions Advisor, watches as middle school students learn about different programs Chippewa Valley Technical College's Transportation Education Center.
When having a conversation about career exploration with young people, CVTC admissions advisors recommend engaging in a discussion about skills and culture, and not leading with, “What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Think about these questions to get the conversation started:
Do you want a career that’s predictable from day to day, or one that’s unpredictable?
Would you rather work during regular business hours, or would you be ok working a schedule that changes from week to week?
What type of environment do you want to work in – indoors or outdoors, with many coworkers or solo?
What are your financial requirements?
What do you want your work life to look like overall?
“A lot of times we get students that are interested in healthcare, so we ask ‘why?’ ” said Maggie Meyers, CVTC Admissions Advisor. “Do you like patient interaction? Do you want to do an X-ray where you take that image and pass the baton? Or do you want to be a nurse and be at a high level of patient care?
“I think asking those questions of your students or your children is one of the best steps you can take without putting pressure on them to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives.”
