If you are not college-bound after high school, what are some of your alternatives?
Learn a TradeApprenticeships, at one time, were the only way for young people to get a foot in the door to their careers. If you have an interest in a particular trade, such as carpentry or construction, seek out jobs in the trade that will not only give you valuable experience but guide you toward advancement by helping you with the certifications or licenses you need to succeed.
For example, one high-school graduate I know worked for a pool construction company for several years, learning every aspect of the business before earning her swimming pool contractors license and starting her own business.
Another tool to learning a trade is to obtain your certification in that field. Learn more via this LiveCareer article: Hot Fields in Which Certification May Boost Your Career.
Get a JobNothing helps more with that transition to adulthood than holding down a full-time job. Your goal should be to move away from the companies that typically hire teens for part-time work to employers that can provide a future.
Often larger employers have more opportunities, so start your search there. Also, identify employers whose products or services interest you, and whose culture you respect.
VolunteerWhile you are trying to find your place in the world, why not spend those first few years after high school making a difference?
While you may be familiar with the Peace Corps, they actually prefer college graduates, so you might instead consider looking locally to make a difference, or consider such national programs as Americorps, which offers 17-24 year-olds the chance to make a difference through a national network of hundreds of programs throughout the U.S., as well as the Student Conservation Association, which has conservation programs (jobs and internships) throughout the U.S. for adults 18 or older.
TravelIf all you can think about is getting out of your town and exploring some other part of the world, then traveling may be for you. Traveling to one or more foreign countries is a great way to experience other cultures, learn more about yourself, and equip yourself with cultural knowledge to apply in the global economy.
Learn a TradeApprenticeships, at one time, were the only way for young people to get a foot in the door to their careers. If you have an interest in a particular trade, such as carpentry or construction, seek out jobs in the trade that will not only give you valuable experience but guide you toward advancement by helping you with the certifications or licenses you need to succeed.
For example, one high-school graduate I know worked for a pool construction company for several years, learning every aspect of the business before earning her swimming pool contractors license and starting her own business.
Another tool to learning a trade is to obtain your certification in that field. Learn more via this LiveCareer article: Hot Fields in Which Certification May Boost Your Career.
Get a JobNothing helps more with that transition to adulthood than holding down a full-time job. Your goal should be to move away from the companies that typically hire teens for part-time work to employers that can provide a future.
Often larger employers have more opportunities, so start your search there. Also, identify employers whose products or services interest you, and whose culture you respect.
VolunteerWhile you are trying to find your place in the world, why not spend those first few years after high school making a difference?
While you may be familiar with the Peace Corps, they actually prefer college graduates, so you might instead consider looking locally to make a difference, or consider such national programs as Americorps, which offers 17-24 year-olds the chance to make a difference through a national network of hundreds of programs throughout the U.S., as well as the Student Conservation Association, which has conservation programs (jobs and internships) throughout the U.S. for adults 18 or older.
TravelIf all you can think about is getting out of your town and exploring some other part of the world, then traveling may be for you. Traveling to one or more foreign countries is a great way to experience other cultures, learn more about yourself, and equip yourself with cultural knowledge to apply in the global economy.
Let us help you. Click on the images below to help you be college ready and/or career ready.
Have a question? Ask us :)