Career Exploration

Get to Work!

While you certainly do not need to know what you plan to do as a career before you apply to college--or even necessarily while you are in college--it is a good idea to investigate your interests, aptitudes, and the requirements for the careers that you may wish to pursue. You might start by:

• Talking with your school counselor or college advisor, a teacher, family friends, or other adults
• Checking out the career and technical training, as well as other special programs, offered through Hamilton County Schools
• Asking a local librarian for recommended career books
• Going online to a career website such as the following:
• My Cool Job: Practical, fun advice on choosing a career, major and more. Also includes information on planning your education.
• Careers.org: Thousands of links to career sites.
• Mapping Your Career: Step-by-step career and educational planning. Also available in Spanish.
• The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars: This program has been matching students with internships and other participatory learning experiences in Washington, D.C., since 1975.
• National Internships Guides: Research internship opportunities by desired region or area of interest. The organizations listed do not have to pay to participate, but each guide has a nominal cost.