The most useful career exploration activities for high school students combine self-discovery with real contact with the working world: a free interest profiler, researching careers in a government database, informational interviews, job shadowing, a “day in the life” research project, a mock job application and interview, a budget-your-future-salary exercise, a career fair of alumni, and a short work experience or volunteer placement. The goal is for students to test their assumptions about jobs before choosing courses, training or college majors.
Here are 12 activities for counselors, teachers, parents and students, each with steps and what students take away.
1. Take a Free Interest Profiler
The U.S. Department of Labor’s My Next Move site has an interest questionnaire, the O*NET Interest Profiler, that suggests careers matching a student’s interests. Students take it, pick three suggested careers they hadn’t considered, and share one surprise with the class. Takeaway: a starting list that goes beyond the obvious jobs.
2. Career Research Deep Dive
Using My Next Move or O*NET OnLine, students research one career: tasks, skills, education needed and outlook. They present a one-page profile or short slideshow. Takeaway: learning to find reliable career information.
3. Informational Interview
Each student interviews an adult working in a field they’re curious about, in person, by phone or on a video call, using prepared questions. They write a short reflection afterward. Takeaway: real insights, confidence talking to professionals and a first networking contact.
4. Job Shadowing
Arrange for students to spend a morning or a day following a professional at work. Even a few hours shows the pace, environment and tasks that a job description can’t. Takeaway: a reality check on whether the job fits.
5. Budget Your Future
Students pick a career, look up its typical pay in a career database, then build a monthly budget for rent, transport, food and savings in their area. Takeaway: connecting career choices to lifestyle and financial literacy.
6. Mock Application and Interview
Students write a résumé and cover letter for a real entry-level posting, then take part in a mock interview with a teacher or volunteer who gives feedback. Takeaway: practical job-search skills they’ll need soon.
7. Alumni Career Panel
Invite former students who took different paths (college, apprenticeship, military, starting work, starting a business) to talk about their choices. Takeaway: seeing that there are many routes to a good career.
8. Pathway Mapping
Students map the steps from today to their target career: high school courses, training or degree, entry-level jobs and later roles, with at least two alternative routes. Takeaway: a flexible plan rather than a single path.
9. Skills Inventory
Students list skills they’ve built through school, clubs, sports, part-time jobs and home responsibilities, then match them to career requirements. Takeaway: recognizing transferable skills they already have.
10. Volunteer or Work Experience Placement
A short placement at a nonprofit, local business, hospital or school gives students real responsibilities. Ask them to keep a log of tasks and what they enjoyed. Takeaway: experience for applications and clearer preferences.
11. Apprenticeship and Trade Exploration
Visit a trade school or invite a skilled tradesperson to demonstrate their work, and look at apprenticeship programs in your area. Takeaway: awareness of paid, earn-while-you-learn routes.
12. Career Vision Board and Reflection
At the end of the unit, students create a vision board or written reflection: top three career interests, what they learned, and next steps for this school year. Takeaway: turning exploration into an action plan.
Tips for Running Career Exploration in High School
- Start early. Grade 9 and 10 exploration makes course choices in grades 11 and 12 more purposeful.
- Show all routes, including college, apprenticeships, military service and direct entry to work.
- Avoid stereotypes. Invite speakers of different genders and backgrounds in every field.
- Encourage testing, not deciding. Students can and will change their minds.
- Involve families, who are often students’ biggest career influence.
Final Thoughts
High school career exploration works best when students move from “what am I interested in?” to “what is this job really like?” through real conversations and experiences. A few well-chosen activities each year can help them make confident choices about what comes next.
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