Some students learn better if they can apply skills and knowledge to their lives. Youth apprenticeships are a way for students to work and gain skills in a chosen career field and earn money while still in high school. Youth apprenticeships are on a continuum of work-based learning that includes job shadowing and internships. Apprenticeships…

Comprehensive, high-quality career development includes work-based learning (WBL) experiences such as workplace tours, job shadowing, school-based enterprises, internships, and apprenticeships. In addition to the activities themselves, WBL is often best defined by a strong partnership between an education program, an employer, and a motivated…

With the rapidly changing technology, it is no surprise that the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) occupations continues to rise. Between 2009 and 2015, available STEM jobs in the United States grew by 10.5%, twice the growth of non-STEM jobs (Fayer et al., 2017). However, the United States is currently falling…

The aim of the OECD Career Readiness project is to identify patterns of teenage attitudes and activities that are associated with better transitions into employment by analysing multiple national longitudinal datasets. This paper looks for further evidence of the link between teenage activities, experiences and career-related thinking and adult…

Transition planning officially begins between the ages of 14 and 16 for most students with an IEP. However, the process is lifelong. Job Exploration Counseling, or Career counseling/guidance includes a wide variety of activities which help students explore career options and opportunities available. Job exploring options are intended to foster…

This article presents the winners of the 2012 Cliff Weiss Memorial Essay Contest. They are Naim Owens from Washington, DC, and Colissa Menke from Warrensburg, Missouri. The 2012 essay topic is "How do you feel CTE prepares individuals, including yourself, for a future career?"

Following a developmental model of career planning and preparation, an ementoring program was devised for first semester freshmen to (1) heighten career awareness and stimulate career exploration in food and agricultural sciences; (2) expand interest and willingness to follow career opportunities beyond the regional geographic area; and (3)…

Job shadowing pairs a middle or high school student with an employee at the employee's workplace. The student observes what it is like to be involved in the particular career. They can see how the skills they are learning are applicable and ask questions about the career. (JOW)

Describes Britain's use of work shadowing, in which an observer follows a worker around for a period of time, observing the various tasks in which the worker engages. Considers potential relationship of work shadowing to work-related learning in the United States. (Author/NB)

On Groundhog Day, more than one million young people will have an opportunity to explore their possible future careers, according to the Job Shadow Coalition. However, with its components of career exploration, school-to-career training and cooperative learning experiences, career and technical education programs may include job shadowing for…

One of the most pressing challenges in public education today is the recruitment and retention of high quality teachers for America's schools. Research shows teacher shortages exist nationwide but vary by geographic area, content area, demographics, and individual schools. In a recent study of the Future Educators Association[R] (FEA) initiative…

The use of a multiple intelligences (MI) assessment to enhance a career exploration program for eighth graders was studied. All of the eighth graders (n=160) in a suburban middle school completed three sets of activities as part of their career exploration program. Students completed a multiple intelligences self-assessment, the Multiple…

The Henry Ford Academy is the nations first charter school developed jointly by a global corporation, public education, and a non-profit cultural institution. The Senior Mastery Process at Henry Ford Academy is an innovative, challenging program of career exploration and research project for high school seniors. Beginning with initial job…

"Job Shadowing in Junior and Senior High School" and "Job Shadowing for College Students" give examples of shadowing experiences, describe the benefits, and provide resources for counselors. (SK)

Job shadowing is a one-on-one participatory activity that allows an interested student to spend several hours or a day with a host employer or business. Shadowing enables students to gain insight into career goals and see the relevance of their curriculum in the "real world." The booklet, which was developed for use by school coordinators and…