CAREER INFORMATION CENTER (CIC) news for February 2006 by Linda Parker Happenings in the CIC Continuing a process begun in January with one of the English teachers, freshmen have been spending time in the CIC doing Career Projects. They seem to really love thinking about possibilities for their future. In doing the project, they have been using a program named Bridges, which offers information on careers, college, and majors. Additionally, all juniors from the English classes have either spent time or are going to spend time in the CIC learning about options for post-secondary school opportunities. Statistically, about 94% of East students go on to 2-year or 4-year colleges and universities. The remainder of students will go straight to work, join a military service, or do some sort of “gap year.” Whichever of these honorable paths a student takes, we want it to be the student’s informed decision – not just what a best friend says he should do. The CIC and the Counselors have been involved in these sessions and want to encourage students to seek us out for any help that they may need. Parent to Parent Night On Monday, March 20, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Media Center, we are holding one of my favorite programs for parents of current juniors. Senior parents are panelists and address a variety of topics that they have successfully dealt with during their student’s senior year. I promise that you will find this an educational and enjoyable experience and hope to see you there. If you have questions, just email me at lparker@chccs.k12.nc.us. Preparing for Careers in the New Millennium The idea of encouraging your high school student to begin preparation for his or her future career seems like rushing headlong into the future when we are all trying to appreciate our daily lives. Nevertheless, some of the characteristics that employers are interested in finding in new employees are the same characteristics that assist students gain competencies during high school and at college. It is a good idea to have a discussion with your student about skills and competencies that will help them gain opportunities when they finish high school. So, what is desirable to high school teachers, college admissions officers and professors, and future employers? The following list was cited by Mark Schappert, Associate Director, Career Services, LeMoyne College: Solid written and verbal communication skills Computer/technical aptitudes The abilities to follow and lead Teamwork skills; the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively Interpersonal relationship skills
Personal traits such as initiative, flexibility, reliability, and integrity Critical thinking Willingness to learn continuously
Students who have developed these skills through interaction with teachers, involvement in student clubs and activities, and experiential learning situations like internships and work study will have a distinct advantage throughout their educational experience and during interviews to gain admission to schools or to receive scholarships. Give your student encouragement to participate in extracurricular activities and have discussions about personal qualities that are just as important, if not more important, than being a superior student. After all, how often does someone at work walk up to you and ask you what you scored on the SAT or what GPA you had at the end of your junior year? Internships are a wonderful opportunity for students, and with seven (rather than six) class periods on the schedule starting next year, perhaps your student would be interested in pursuing exploration in a career field as one of their seven classes. We have had students do internships in a wide variety of settings. Community-based education is often the highlight of a student’s high school career. We are always looking for internship sites, so if you are willing to work with a high school student, please consider going to my website and filling out the Internship Registry Form. Top Ten Careers Fields Once again, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NAXE) has reported that companies plan to increase the number of new college graduates that they’ll hire. The outlook indicated that students with degrees in business, engineering, and computerrelated fields will be in high demand. This increased competition among employers for qualified grads often means bigger paychecks and benefit packages according to www.careersandcolleges.com. Here are the top fields: Computers and technology Health Care and Allied Health Education and Social Services Arts and Communications Trades and Transportation Management, Business, and Finance Architecture and Civil Engineering Science Hospitality, Tourism, and the Service Industry Law and Law Enforcement CIC Website I strongly encourage you to sit down with your student and explore the CIC Website together. There is a ton of information on it, thanks to parent volunteers who update it weekly. Freshmen through seniors will find pertinent information that will allow them to navigate the high school years more easily. Go to www.echhs.org and click on Resources. From there, go to the CIC Website. I hope you enjoy it.
SAT’s or ACT’s Juniors should take at least one SAT during the junior year. And to give students the best chance to do well, I highly recommend that all students take the ACT, too. Statistically, one-third of the students nationwide will do better on the ACT than they do on the SAT. East is a testing site for the ACT and that helps our students as well. So, cover all the bases!