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How do you start looking into careers?

I'm in 8th grade starting to look at careers but in my mind the only jobs are doctor, lawyer, and scientist. I have no idea how to begin to look for jobs and if they will fit me or not. Im very extroverted and like being up/ moving.

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Noopur’s Answer

You can think about what excites you the most. What you like learning what are you good at. Start exploring more there are many types of doctors/scientists etc. There are many jobs like teaching (school or college), artist(so many different kind of art forms are there), if you are good at public speaking you can become a speaker you can try to get into news channels. If you are good at writing you can start by writing some blogs and see where that takes you. People are earning so much on you tube and Instagram. Be open to possibilities. Keep exploring. Talk to different kinds of people.
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James Constantine’s Answer

Hi there, Alessandra!

Embarking on the journey to discover your future career is a thrilling and crucial phase in your academic and professional life. It's fantastic that you're already pondering about this in 8th grade! There's a whole world of career options beyond the conventional roles of doctor, lawyer, and scientist, and many of these might perfectly match your outgoing personality and love for staying active.

Here are some steps to kick-start your career exploration:

Self-Reflection: Begin by recognizing your strengths, interests, and values. Which school subjects do you find enjoyable? What activities leave you feeling invigorated? Are there any causes or issues that stir your passion? Reflecting on these points can guide you towards potential careers that resonate with your personality and preferences.

Investigation: Once you've gained a better understanding of yourself, it's time to delve into researching various careers. Explore industries that pique your interest and discover the diverse roles within them. Consider contacting professionals in fields that fascinate you to learn more about their daily tasks and the skills needed for their roles.

Out-of-School Activities: Participate in extracurricular activities that let you explore various interests and hone new skills. Whether it's joining clubs, volunteering, or playing sports, these experiences can help you uncover what you enjoy and excel at.

Job Shadowing or Internships: If feasible, think about shadowing professionals or seeking internships in fields that grab your attention. This practical experience can offer valuable insights into different careers and help you decide if they're a good fit for you.

Networking: Engage in conversations with family members, teachers, and other adults about their careers. Networking can offer valuable connections and insights into various professions.

Career Assessments: Think about taking career assessment tests or collaborating with a career counselor at your school for deeper insight into potential career paths that align with your personality and interests.

Remember, it's completely fine if you don't have everything sorted out immediately. Exploring various options and gaining a broad range of experiences will assist you in making well-informed decisions about your future career.

Here are the top 3 authoritative reference publications/domain names:

The Balance Careers (www.thebalancecareers.com)
CareerOneStop (www.careeronestop.org)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov)

May your efforts be blessed!
James.
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Sara’s Answer

Hey,

For your options on "doctor, lawyer, and scientist", the best way to really get the feel of a career is reaching out to someone who is a " doctor, lawyer, or scientist" and asking if you can shadow them for the day or reach out with questions on what is a typical day like for them. You can start by asking them questions on what is most important to you. If the shadowing and volunteering opportunity is aligned to what you expect and interests, you can further pursue that career path.

A lot of us grow up with the image of what a typical "doctor, lawyer, and scientist" seems like they do based on media portrayal but in reality, the career path can be much more stressful or tedious. So I highly recommend shadowing, reaching out to people who work in those careers. Hope this helps!
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Rebecca’s Answer

Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you have a wide range of interest and started to think about your future career. However, you may need to shortlist a few careers to be your major and minor in the college.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Start to think about what you have interest first, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a musician, singer, musical artist, music producer, music composer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, would you like to be an accountant, banker, engineer, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 career you would like to pursue. The relevant subjects will be the major and minor you target in the college
5. Explore the college review on these subjects and find out the entry criteria
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
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Olayinka’s Answer

Hello Alessandra,

Great question!

There are so many wonderful careers in addition to being a doctor, engineer or lawyer.

You need to find out what interests you. Since you are extroverted, you could also develop your communication skills and look for a career that will help you utilize your skills and move around the world for instance-

1. Sales representative
2. Public relation specialist
3. Human Resources specialist
4. Travel agent
5. Event Coordinator
6. Journalist/Reporter
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Sydney’s Answer

There’s lots of careers you can consider! It depends on your interest. For example if you like science consider engineering; there’s environmental, engineering, computer science engineering, chemical engineering and so much more.

If you like history you might like law, law enforcement, working for the Supreme Court, or going into politics.

If you like history and science you can work on environmental law, global warming science, archaeology, or just research!

There’s so much you can do! Consider an online career assessment to give you more ideas.
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Olivia’s Answer

Trying to name every possible career path is nearly impossible since the opportunities are infinite. It becomes easier by determining if you prefer to go to college or a trade school. If you pick college, you will have options for various majors. You should pick something that you are interested. While in college, try internships in various fields related to your major. These internships are like a test drive to see if you are really interested in that field. If you prefer the trade school route, research trade schools in your area or where you would want to live to determine opportunities available to you. Usually trade schools will have a few options in related fields that you can choose from. Keep in mind that it's ok to change your mind and that you have time.

Olivia recommends the following next steps:

Check out a list of some of the most common college majors: https://blog.collegevine.com/list-of-college-majors
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Pierina’s Answer

Hi Alessandra!

8th grade can be an exciting and scary time at the same time. When looking into a career is important to keep an open mind and really understand your interest to then turn into a potential career opportunity.

You can start by making a list of all of the things that interest you and then looking at different college majors to understand what would align with your interest. There are also technical and trade schools that have have great courses to help you become an expert on specialized fields.

It is also important to think about the setting you would like to work in. For example, in an office vs outside, team vs individual ect. You mentioned you are an extrovert and like to be up and moving which makes me think you would be better fit for an active type of career.

As James mentioned in his answer above, career assessments are a great way to explore and learn about different career paths specific to your interests.

Best of luck!
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Megan’s Answer

Hi Alessandra,

I would talk to your school counselor to see if your school provides you with any career exploration resources. I like the tool https://www.16personalities.com/

It is a fun assessment that helps you learn about your personality and it also gives you career suggestions based off your results. Maybe this can help give you an idea of some careers to explore!

Hope this helps!
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Jerome’s Answer

Great question to be asking and a great time to start that exploration. There are numerous groups and associations which will allow you to join and learn about different careers. There are many jobs (Uber, Lyft, doordash) that exist now and weren’t options back then.

I recommend staying curious and trying to learn as much as possible. Hard to be ready for the unknown, but by learning all you can, you never know what could happen.
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Christopher’s Answer

Hello Alessandra! It's fantastic that you're already contemplating your future path.

The most valuable tip I can offer is to explore a wide range of activities and engage in conversations with diverse individuals about their careers, their passions, and the aspects of their jobs they find challenging.

Furthermore, consider your past experiences and identify the tasks you found truly fulfilling. Whether it was public speaking, teaching, collaborating on group projects, conducting research, or establishing deep relationships with others, these experiences can reveal what truly sparks your interest. Once you've identified these passions, you can start to envision how they might align with a potential career. This process can be really enlightening and exciting, so embrace the journey!
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Jessica’s Answer

I think you should feel free to explore! Approach life with an open mind and be excited and curious about what might be around the corner.

One potential path to discovering other potential career paths could be to look around and see what interests you, e.g., if you like cars, trees, buildings, clothes, etc. think a bit on who / what might go into bringing these items into the world. Lets use cars as an example for this exercise: cars need to be designed, engineered, painted, shipped, maintained, manufactured in various places, etc. There is a career path associated with each of these.

Try this exercise with things you are excited about and see what you find!

Whatever you do, don't limit yourself. It's a big world out there. Whatever it is that is ultimately perfect for you is out there :) Enjoy the journey
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James Constantine’s Answer

Hello Alessandra,

As you embark on your journey to discover your future career, remember that the world is full of diverse and exciting opportunities beyond the traditional roles of a doctor, lawyer, or scientist. This journey can be an exhilarating adventure, especially for a lively extrovert like you. Let's walk through a simple guide to help you explore various career paths:

1. **Know Yourself:** Start by understanding your interests, strengths, values, and skills. Think about what you love doing, what subjects you're great at, and the kind of work environment where you flourish. As an outgoing person who loves staying active, you might find careers involving social interaction and physical activity especially appealing.

2. **Explore Careers:** With a clearer picture of your preferences and strengths, it's time to dive into the world of careers. There are many resources to help you, like career exploration websites, books about various professions, and interviews with professionals in fields you find interesting. Don't limit yourself to the usual professions. Consider roles like event planner, physical therapist, outdoor educator, or marketing manager, which involve lots of interaction and movement.

3. **Experience the Job:** Get a real feel for potential careers by job shadowing or interning. These opportunities let you see professionals in action and understand what their daily tasks involve. Internships can also give you valuable insights into whether a career suits your interests and personality.

4. **Network:** Networking is a key part of exploring careers. Chat with family friends, teachers, and professionals from different fields to learn about their career paths and gain insights into various industries. Networking can also lead to mentorships, where experienced individuals can guide you through your career exploration journey.

5. **Education Paths:** As you explore careers, think about the education needed for each profession. Some careers might require specific degrees or certifications, while others might value experience and skills from alternative paths like apprenticeships or vocational training programs.

6. **Evaluate:** After thorough research and gaining firsthand experience, assess how well each career aligns with your personality, interests, and goals. Think about factors like work-life balance, advancement opportunities, job stability, and alignment with your values.

In short, the journey to explore potential careers involves knowing yourself, researching careers, gaining firsthand experience, networking, understanding education paths, and evaluating each career's fit with your personal preferences and goals.

Given the comprehensive nature of this guide, it's very likely that this information will provide valuable direction for an 8th grader like you beginning to explore different career paths.

Top 3 Authoritative References Used in this Guide:

- The Balance Careers
- National Career Development Association (NCDA)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Take care and always remember, you're capable of achieving great things!

Best Wishes,
James.
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Christopher’s Answer

Choosing a career is like finding a job you love. It's like discovering your talents and passions. College can help you learn about different careers. You can take classes you like, get advice from counselors, and meet people who work in different fields. The internet and networking can also help you learn about careers and meet people who work in those fields.

Choosing a career is personal. There's no right or wrong way to do it. Just be curious and keep an open mind. With hard work, you can find a career you love.
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