The Past Year Has Taught Us All A Lot About Career Preparation And Continued Career Development
Every year inevitably reveals new trends in career prep, and every year teaches us more about how we can develop along our chosen career paths and professional trajectories. 2021 was unique for several professional fields, and many have seen it as a year to strike out on one’s own, along avenues of entrepreneurship. Many people also discovered ways to change their career fields altogether. And, students have had to think about what jobs and career paths may be best for them, as technologies rapidly advanced.
As we’ve now reached the end of the calendar year, this is an excellent time to reflect on the many lessons 2021 has brought to us, in the areas of career prep and development…
Lesson #1: Career prep can begin as early as middle school
Current jobs are indeed changing at a rather rapid rate. And, the speed at which new jobs and career fields may develop is also predicted to accelerate beyond 2021. It is for these very reasons that many schools are now convinced that career exploration, and the development of relevant skills, needs to occur at middle school grades, and perhaps even earlier. This year has taught us that with remote jobs and online education, anything is possible, and that we should help kids prepare for those possibilities early on in school.
Lesson #2: Don’t feel overly pressured to choose just one career path
If 2021 has taught us anything, it’s that no one really knows what jobs will be around in the future, or what certain jobs will even look like going forward. So, don’t feel pressured to choose just one career path right away. While there are some professional fields that seem better positioned for the proverbial long-haul, the future is, by its very nature, a fluid medium. This makes it incredibly important to expose yourself to a variety of activities, concepts, and roles as your grow.
What you decide to try during the course of your life isn’t nearly as important as the variety of activities you take on. Dive in and try things like flying drones, creative storytelling, video game design, comic illustration, fashion design, as well as many other enrichment activities and programs. Get out there and participate in assorted school and community activities, too. Being open, curious, and flexible are all keys to success. You can even leverage current technologies to explore various aspects of education.
Lesson #3: Career coaching can help you choose a career path based on your strengths
We can all benefit from some professional coaching, now and then. And, with as tough as some aspects of 2021 have been, we’ve seen that career coaching can make a huge difference in thriving during those rough patches. Everyone has some interests and is naturally good at some things. And, a coach can help you discover careers that match your personality, your natural abilities, and your strengths. Career coaches typically have many years of professional experience and possess active knowledge of the job market. These experiences allow coaches to clear any doubts about your career options and career prep activities, and they help you to make an informed decision about your professional interests. And, if you are curious to learn more to discover your own strengths, be sure to check out this article on Stride about “5 Ways To Find Your Strengths.”
Lesson #4: Volunteering is a great way to help build your resume and to bolster your career prep goals
The year of 2021 revealed that there are a lot of work and community endeavors that rely on the efforts and continued generosity of volunteers. And, while volunteering provides a lot of benefits to local communities, it also provides benefits to the individuals who choose to offer up their time and energy to causes in need. Volunteering helps both those who give and those who receive.
In numerous studies and cursory research panels, volunteering has been shown to increase confidence, enhance a sense of personal achievement, build new skill sets, boost overall mood, and provide a healthy social outlet by creating the opportunity to engage regularly with other community members. In addition to all of that, volunteering is also an excellent way to put work experience on a resume, strengthen your career prep goals, and to stay motivated… whether you are just starting out in your career, or if you are planning a career change. Volunteering can also bolster college applications, too!
Career Prep can make a big difference in greater career trajectory and overall life skills. To learn more about the key benefits of career prep for teens, be sure to check out this Stride Insights article here!
If you are interested in learning more about high growth jobs in business, healthcare, and IT, be sure to also click here, here, and here for more information on each professional field.
Wondering if Stride Career Prep can help you better achieve your goals? Visit the site to learn more about all of the options that Stride can offer you: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep.html
