HS juniors: analyze job trends

take the semester to analyze job trends

Before you get into your college search, starting HS juniors should take the semester to analyze job trends and future career opportunities. You need ask: "...what do I want to do after graduating from high school"?

Meet with your guidance counselor from your school. They will have plenty of resources to help sort our your answer.

Below are six (6) quick summary tasks for the HS junior fall semester:

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fall semester for HS juniors

Starting Your College Planning

Take this time at the start of your Junior year to research what you want to do after graduating from high school. You need to answer the question:

"Is college, junior college or trade school right for me?"

To answer this question, research job statistics, employment trends, and collegiate majors using our quick link tools below. Then evaluate your aptitude skills for different career selections.

You need to plan accordingly so that everything is ready to go in your senior year when it's time to submit your application.

First Step:
keep your grades up. Colleges will look at grades for admission.
Second Step:
get to know your high school guidance counselor. They are valuable players in the college planning process.
Third Step:
practice taking those all important college entrance practice exams.
Fourth Step:
consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or the CLEP tests, if applicable.
Fifth Step:
meet with college representatives that visit your school.

fall semester for HS juniors

Meet with Your HS Counselor

Meet with your guidance counselor (or school administrator or teacher) as soon as you can to discuss your post-high school plans.

Items to coordinate with your guidance counselor:

the availability of and enrollment in Advanced Placement classes
the schedules for the college entrance exams (includes PSAT, SAT I and II, and ACT).
the admission requirements to college including GPA requirements, credits, exam type and scores, etc.
review your transcripts to make sure you are on track to graduate with the required credits and courses to get into your college(s) of choice.
understand what career type you should pursue based on your scholastic and aptitude abilities.
scheduling visits to college campuses and college admission offices after you select your college of choice.
discuss preparatory classes or seminars on the various exams to help boost your scores.
review all other information related to your college planning tasks.

fall semester for HS juniors

Get Ready for the College Exams

Almost all colleges and some trade programs require a college entrance exam. These exams measure your ability to understand college-level materials.

Most colleges require the SAT college exam; some require the ACT Assessment exam. A few college will require both exams. So check with your college which exam will be required.

It is highly recommended you take these exams in your Junior year so that test scores will be available when you submit the college application. Likewise if you take these exams early, it will allow time to retake the exam if needed.

about the two college entrance exams
	about the SAT exam
	about the ACT exam

fall semester for HS juniors

Research Job Trends

Research future career opportunities to help decide what you want out of college. Find out what jobs are going to be hot and what jobs are not.

This will help decide whether to go to college, vocational school or jump right into your career.

some helpful resources
	occupational outlook
	employment projections
	state-by-state labor statistics

fall semester for HS juniors

Getting to Know Yourself

View some career and personal self-assessment tests to determine your aptitude and character for career opportunities. The last thing you want is to start college in a career that you will not like.

By understanding your personality type, it will help determine what career opportunity will bring you the most satisfaction.

some helpful resources
	online quiz on what career type
	Myers & Briggs self assessment
	Keisey Temperament assessment

fall semester for HS juniors

Explore Collegiate Careers

What would you like to do? By understanding who you are and what you like, you can now explore career opportunities that will be most satisfying to you.

Evaluate Your Career Interests
your first step in finding the right career is to evaluate what you would like to do and what career fits your overall aptitude. See what will be required in order to achieve your dream. It will summarize collegiate classes that you should take.