JR/SR High School

Career Exploration

Students receive valuable real world experience through Career Exploration.

Career Exploration

The career exploration class provides students with the opportunity to evaluate themselves and their skills in both a classroom and hands-on work environment. Students find opportunities to plan for the future by discovering more about their own personalities and the connection that has to a wide variety of career choices.

Strong emphasis on work ethic, as well as the attention to details in all areas of written and hands-on applications, is a key part to this program. Students utilize computer search engines to match their anticipated lifestyles against earnings and potential job growth while participating in real-time training that include many of the same things a regular employee may encounter such as work-performance evaluations, the accurate and timely reporting of work hours using a time card, and instruction in equipment safety and personal protection equipment.

Students participate in an application process to be selected into this program. They must be at least 16 years of age by the start of the semester and be enrolled in ninth grade and above or be on the basic skills/GED track.

On-campus work sites set the stage by using the working knowledge of White’s employees to be an opportunity to learn by doing. Students work right alongside these staff, often in one-on-one connections, to develop skills in how to work with a boss, how to accomplish work in a timely manner, and how to ensure accurate and detailed performance of their duties. These work-site opportunities provide tasks and environments that match many of the real world environments of hospital cafeterias, food distribution warehouses, the auto lube/maintenance industry, greenhouse operations, customer service, and retail sales operations. Students learn everything from how to use a fire extinguisher to the importance of teamwork. Most of all they learn that the choice to be prepared for the world of work is accomplishable in terms of training and education as they explore what works for them. Career exploration class sets the foundation for their futures in the real world work environment. Students also benefit through their work with the Heartland Career Center.