Welcome Birmingham Area Homeschoolers!
Career Exploration
What Do You Like? 
Look At These Possible Careers If You
Love...
| Reading | Law | Building & Fixing Things | Nature |
| Math | Science | Music & Arts | Sports |
| Helping People | Managing Money | Social Studies | Computers |
World of Work
Choosing a career is a big decision, but you don't have
to sweat it—planning for your future is not something you do once.
It's a continuous process. One way to start is by exploring your
career options in the "World of Work." Sign up for a student
account www.actstudent.org/wwm/index.html
and use the
interactive World-of-Work Map.
Career Forward
The CareerForward course is a self-contained online learning course that may be used in companion with a variety of online career planning tools to provide students with the opportunity to assess their career interests, explore career options and create an educational development plan.
CareerForward was created by
MVU® through substantial partnership support
from both Microsoft Corporation and the Michigan Department of
Education. It is designed to help students understand how to plan
their work lives and career opportunities amid the implications of
the global economy.
This award-winning online course is a powerful way to help
students wrestle with some of the burning questions about their
future. CareerForward introduces students to globalization
and career planning, and highlights how students can be more
entrepreneurial as they look to the future.
As a result of major investments by Microsoft’s Partners in
Learning program and MVU, this innovative course is now
available to all secondary students at no fee. Professional
development and training plans related to CareerForward
are made available for a small fee.
 |
Course Information |
The CareerForward course uses personal reflection and activities to provide each student with an independent exploration of the possibilities of their future and the creation of an Educational Development Plan (EDP).
| Grade Level: | Middle and high school | |
| Prerequisites: | None | |
| Course Style: | Blended, teacher facilitated; 4 to 6 weeks in length; 20 hour-long online sessions | |
| Price: | No cost | |
| Availability: | Now | |
| Technology Requirements: | The CareerForward course was designed to deliver high-quality multimedia content efficiently to students using Adobe Flash®, which is now installed on over 95% of personal computers with access to the Internet. Due to imbedded audio files, students and teachers need a multimedia computer with headphones, and access to MVU servers, or your school's local installation of CareerForward. The most recent version of Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari is recommended. Flash must be installed to access the multimedia components and Adobe Reader® is needed to access imbedded documents. |
|
Ready to Begin? |
Click here to read the End User License Agreement and to access the course.
Learn About Cool Careers on a Special Website from History Channel and Hyundai!
Many students today work hard with the hopes of
one day having a “cool job” they will enjoy. Having role models and
examples of people who excel in exciting fields can help them
envision a career path. History™ and Hyundai have teamed up to
develop a new interactive site entitled Cool Careers, highlighting
cutting-edge occupations in science and technology. This site
features interviews with people such as Barrington Irving, the
first African American man and youngest person to fly around the
world, and Dr. Laura Danly, a Curator at the Griffith Observatory.
Educators and students are encouraged to visit this site and learn
more about the innovative people, processes and machines that make
our world tick. Cool Careers Website
Career Planning Tips
Career planning has three steps that you will cycle
through and repeat throughout your working life.
By following
these steps, you can make career decisions that are right for you.
You'll know what your options are and what it will take to reach
your goals.
First, take a realistic look at your strengths, weaknesses, and interests.
Consider:
- What do you think about yourself?
- What can help you achieve your goals, and what obstacles could get in your way?
- What types of work and school courses and activities appeal to you? What interests you?
- What do you do well now, and what skills have you gained through experience?
- What values do you have regarding work?
Second, explore your options.
It's hard to know what you want to do "when you grow up" if you aren't even aware of the possibilities. Here are a just a few ways to find career information:
- If you are in school, see your counselor and talk to your parents.
- Use ACT's DISCOVER program to explore possible careers.
- Spend time with people whose activities interest you.
- Volunteer or work in a job that interests you.
- Discuss your career and educational plans with your parents, counselor, or other interested people.
Finally, consider issues that can affect your plans.
Take appropriate actions to accomplish your goals. Consider:
- What do you need to study?
- What schools offer the training you need?
- How will you pay for school?
- Are you ready to search for a job?
- How will you balance your work and going to school?
- How will you manage family or relationship commitments?
Work and Learn through an
Apprenticeship
If you like to work with your hands and your mind, you might want to consider an apprenticeship after high school. More than 850 occupations can be learned on the job through an apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship prepares you for a career through a structured program of on-the-job learning with classroom instruction, while you work and earn a salary. The programs can last from one to six years and you can choose careers in areas such as telecommunications, health care, computing, business support and the arts. The most common apprenticeships are in construction and manufacturing.
Most apprenticeships are registered through the U.S. Department of Labor, ensuring the program meets government standards for fairness, safety and training. If you complete a registered program, you will receive a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor which proves your qualifications for the career. Also, classroom instruction often can be used to earn a license, certification or degree.
Following are the top 10 occupations offering apprenticeships that expect to have the most job openings for new workers (2000-2010):
- cook, restaurant and cafeteria
- automotive service technician, mechanic
- licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse
- carpenter
- police officer
- electrician
- hairdresser, cosmetologist
- maintenance and repair worker
- welder, cutter, solderer and brazer
- plumber, pipefitter and steamfitter
For more information on apprenticeships, call America's Workforce Network toll-free at (877) US2-JOBS. (872-5672) Operators can help you find career counselors and apprenticeship programs in your area.
Alabama Apprenticeships Development Link
Alabama
State Office of Apprenticeships:
State Director - Gregory
Collins
Medical Forum Bldg. - Room 648
950 22nd Street North
Birmingham, Alabama
35203
205/731-1308
Regional
Office of Apprenticeships For Alabama:
Mr. Garfield G. Garner, Jr
Regional Director
USDOL/ETA/OA
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Rm. 6T71
Atlanta, GA 30303
Telephone: 404/302-5478
FAX: 404/302-5479
Internet E-Mail: Garner.Garfield@dol.gov
Resources
Cool Careers Without College Book
Series - College isn't for everyone, and students should
know that there are many interesting careers available that do not
require a college degree. Every book in this series features
approximately twelve different, enticing jobs within a particular
field of interest.
The Uncollege
Alternative - Want to think out of the box?
Want to change your perspective on your future? Feeling ambivalent
about going to college and going into debt? Then join the world of
alternative thinking, risk-taking, adventure seeking, and change.
Join the Uncollege revolution and learn that you can create a
profitable, exciting, creative, and amazingly successful future
without a college degree. The Uncollege
Alternative
Mycoolcareer.com - Terrific comprehensive career site that provides advice on choosing careers and majors, interviews with people in some of the most interesting careers around, links to great career and planning resources, and more!
Mapping-your-future.org - Good college and career information.
CareerKey.org - Free career interest/ability assessment!
www.studentdoctor.net/guide - Tips for students who are interested in medical careers
Information courtesy
of:
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