AIE — Adventures In Education

Middle School Students

Explore Careers

Investigate career choices based on your talents and dreams.

Middle school is a perfect time to examine your interests seriously and to begin investigating your career choices.

Consider your abilities.

Think about all the things you're good at:

Are you good at subjects like math or English?
Are you good at working with people, young children or older adults?
Do you have a musical or artistic talent?
Do you like to build or fix things?

Think about your interests and make a list.

Do you enjoy working inside an office or outdoors?
Do you like to work alone or with a lot of people?
Do you spend a great deal of time on the computer?
Are you fascinated by nature and science?
Do you often find yourself reading books on a certain topic?

Talk to people about their careers.

Ask adults questions about their jobs. Don't be shy — they'll be happy you asked. Here are some sample questions to get you started:

What do you enjoy most about your job, and least?
What skills must someone have to be successful in your occupation?
What high school and/or college classes are important in your field?
How much education is required for someone with your job?

Describe the lifestyle that you want.

In thinking about your future, you must consider what's important to you in your daily life.

What would you think about a career that required a great deal of travel?
Is the amount of money you make important to you?
How would you feel about a job that required you to move on a regular basis?
What hours of the day, or night, will you be working?

Read books about different careers.

Ask your school librarian to help you find books on careers that might match your interests and abilities. Many publications can provide you with information about careers that you may never have considered.

Talk to your school counselor.

Visit with your counselor about your interests and abilities. Find out if your school offers tests or interest inventories that can assess your skills and interests. Some schools also have computer software programs that assist with career exploration. In addition, some Internet sites can provide career information.