Strengthening Essential Core Academic Skills While In High School Is Important For Overall Career Success
By Courtney White, Stride Success Coach
Having solid academic skills is an important aspect of securing the best career opportunities. Typically, when you begin working, some training about your job duties will be provided, to ensure your success in that position. But, to guarantee optimal career readiness, you will also want to make sure that you master the essential core academic skills needed during high school. Employers are looking for you to not only possess standard skills of employability, such as the ability to work well within a team, but they also want candidates to be punctual and trustworthy. In addition to these skills, the best equipped job seekers are also academically sound. Mastering the following academic skills in high school will assure the greatest chances at future career success.
Enrollment Is Open!
Reading And Writing
It may seem like a no-brainer, but having sound reading and writing skills are a major indicator that you’re ready for the workforce. From service professions such as retail and fast food, to high-level executive positions; reading and writing are generally at the core of what your job will entail. The quicker and more efficiently you can read and process orders on a computer in a service position, for instance, or generate notes after working with a client, the better suited you will be for your job. Want to improve your reading and writing skills while in high school? Practice equals improvement and better performance, overall. Try freestyle writing or journaling. Read magazines on your favorite topics, and be sure to find books on subjects that interest you. Did you know that regular reading also leads to improved writing? By reading, you are expanding your vocabulary and retaining exposure to proper spelling and grammar. So, even if writing isn’t your strong suit now, try to read as often as possible. Reading on a daily basis will definitely improve both your reading and writing abilities.
Oral Communication
Like reading and writing, oral communication is essential in the workplace. This is important to your career, as it shows how well you articulate thoughts and ideas. Good oral communication skills indicate that you are able to speak publicly, if needed. It is vital to be able to express your ideas to others and to be able to write/edit memos, letters, and technical reports. Being able to communicate clearly with customers, co-workers, management personnel, and potential businesses will establish you as a sharp and intelligent professional. Mastering oral communication will also help to land you a desired position, as you will be more comfortable and poised during the interview process.
Basic Math
Math is very important in numerous jobs. Any position dealing with money will certainly need, at the very least, basic mathematics skills. Some examples are employees who work in banks, stores, and businesses. For those considering careers where building or repairing things is the main focus, math will certainly be used regularly. Another example is auto mechanics that do wheel alignments; they use mathematics daily. Mathematics also makes up an important part of the work for trained medical staff, and one critical example is in the administering of correct medications in the right dosages. Math is actually a basic skill in most occupations, so make sure you are adept in the key abilities… addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Career Specific Academic Skills
If you’re going into a field that has certain course requirements, then the core skills of those courses are vital to learn. For instance, a field such as computer technology may require specific skills such as keyboarding and basic coding. Working in the professional field of medicine will require broad-based sciences and extensive biology courses. Knowing which classes will best benefit you for a specific career field, while you are still in high school, will help you to be better prepared for starting your career. Once you have identified a career you are strongly considering pursing, make sure you meet with your school’s counselor, to ensure you are on the right academic track to support the profession.
The good news is you’re probably already covering some of these basic skills in your high school right now. So, be sure to also absorb as much information as you can, to be successful as a high school student, and to ultimately be successful as a career professional.
If you are uncertain about future career choices and feel like you need help in Finding Your Path, then career success coaching may be for you!
And, be sure to check out the article, How To Optimize Your High School Years For Career Readiness, to learn even more from a Stride Success Coach!
Want to take experiential learning to the next level? Then be sure to visit the Stride Internship Search Tool, to expand your knowledge and skills for better career prep and development: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep/internships.html
To learn more about Stride Career Prep Success Coaching for teens and what it offers, be sure to visit this site: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep/career-exploration/student-success-coaching.html
Is your child ready for the future?
Make sure your student is ready for life after high school.
Meet a Leader in online education.
See why over two million students have chosen Stride K12-powered schools.
