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When you’re in high school, you may not know what the next 5 years or 10 years have in store for you. Deciding on a career path may feel daunting – how do you know where to start? And how will you know you’re not making the wrong choice?

Luckily, you don’t need to plan your entire life in the next few months. You can take the time to develop your interests and find the path that is right for you. And you have the resources available to make the decision a little easier.

Review Your Strengths

Everyone has something that they are really good at. Are you a master in chemistry class? Is math your thing? Are you more of a people person? Do you enjoy writing? Pay attention to the classes you excel at in high school. Do you have a natural inclination to learn more and to keep asking questions? Explore that further. Your natural interests could lead to a fun and rewarding career path.

Talk to a Teacher

Have a conversation with your teachers. They may be able to point you in the direction of another class or project that will help you explore even further. Your instructors have a great idea about the job prospects that are associated with their classes. They often keep in touch with their students long after graduation, and know what skills they are using in the “real world.”

Job Shadow

Are you thinking about a career in accounting? It might be beneficial to spend a day with an accountant, learning what they do, how they review and approach their clients, and how they make decisions. Spending time with a professional that works in the field you are considering can be really illuminating. Your local Intermediary can help you make a connection if you don’t know someone in the field you are considering.

Get Candid

Let’s face it: you may not have access to someone who works in the career you want to pursue. That’s OK – it’s great to have big dreams and pursue them! If you don’t know someone already, check out the College Central Network. You can review videos created by people in all career realms, and watch them talk about what a typical day in their career life looks like. You aren’t limited to the people you know when you check out these videos.

Be Future Ready 

Future Ready Iowa connects Iowans to the education and training required for good-paying jobs and careers to improve people’s lives. The Future Ready Iowa website can help you find funding for training beyond high school with programs like the Last Dollar Scholarship (which helps pay for tuition and fees for select in-demand programs, found at both ECC and MCC.)

Career Exploration and Fairs

Are there opportunities for you to attend career exploration events or guest speakers? Attending these will give you the opportunity to speak with people who are recruiting for positions in your area. They can tell you which skills you should develop for your resume, how you can develop the skills they are looking for, and what activities look great to recruiters. It’s always free to attend these, and a great idea to dress up and bring a resume with you.

Deciding on a career may seem daunting at first, but you have resources available to help. Iowa Valley has a team of Intermediaries, and their job is to help you navigate this decision. We are always here to help – we work with Intermediaries across the state to provide great opportunities for career exploration. Reach out and let us know how we can help!