1. Help Middle School Students with
Career Counseling
Using Technology to
Help Middle School Students with
Career Exploration
Karen Cook
March 15, 2005

2. Why Middle School Students should explore careers?
Possibilities beyond the school environment
In eighth grade students select courses for high school
Students take the appropriate courses in high school to prepare for their chosen profession

3. Career Assessment
Career exploration should begin with students learning their areas of interest
Complete a career interest inventory
Two websites that provide inventories are
Princeton Review
Education Planner

4. John Holland’s Vocational Theory
People choose jobs where they can be around other people who are like them
It is the best known and most widely researched theory on this topic
Many career counselors use it
The website provides an online version of the inventory at

5. Career Worksheet
Counselors can also use worksheets to spark students interest in career exploration
Next is an example of a worksheet used at my internship

7. Career Programs Online
Variety of career exploration programs available online
Some programs are free and others are available for purchase
Purchased programs require a login to the program using a user id and password
Three Career Programs targeted to the Middle school population

8. Careership Online career exploration game
The student clicks on one of the subjects shown in the picture
The student enters the career subject, a list of careers within that subject appear
The student selects a career and learn information

9. Choices Explorer Self-directed
Online education and career exploration program from school into the home
Access to over 900 career profiles
Access to 330 post-secondary programs
Access to 200 career videos

10. Discover Program Futuretown Park
Take two assessments by clicking on Inventories icon
Research careers by clicking on the six career clusters
High School Planner accesses information on planning for high school
Program is available for school and home

11. Career Programs Online Websites
Careership
Choices Explorer
Discover Program

12. Job Searching Online
Students can use job searching websites to locate their careers in the job market
Some websites include:
and
Provide information on the prevalence of jobs and writing and posting resumes
Provides students with knowledge and skills needed for their future job search

13. Conclusion
Technology and the Internet is a vital part of career exploration
School Counselors and students can explore careers in a exciting way
Career information is just a click away
Assess at home
Parents can be involved
To view my website click here
To view my research paper click here