Help your teen launch well! Learn why career exploration in high school is key to saving time, money, and frustration—and how to get started today.
When it comes to preparing our teens for life after graduation, we spend a lot of time thinking about transcripts, test scores, and college applications. But here’s the truth: one of the most valuable things you can give your student is the chance to intentionally explore career paths before they leave home.
That’s why I sat down with Julia Jinks to talk about the importance of career exploration in high school. Julia teaches a semester-long Career Exploration course that equips students with tools, exercises, and real-world projects to help them discover where their skills and passions meet opportunity.
Why Career Exploration Matters
Most students can only name about eight jobs off the top of their head. Eight! That’s a very limited view of what’s possible. Without guidance, our kids often default to what they’ve seen family members do, or what’s portrayed on TV.
But the job market is changing faster than ever. On average, today’s young adults will hold 12–15 jobs over their lifetime—and many will switch entire fields. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is reshaping careers at lightning speed, creating opportunities in areas like AI, robotics, digital health, and even “impact economy” fields like counseling, coaching, and personal care.
If our teens don’t learn how to research, evaluate, and adapt, they risk stumbling through years of trial and error.
Tools That Help Teens Discover Strengths
In Julia’s class, students use tools like:
- Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment – to better understand how they’re wired.
- Holland Codes – to identify careers that align with their skills and interests.
These assessments don’t just spit out job titles; they spark conversations. They help students recognize strengths they might overlook and connect those strengths to real-world careers.
Real-World Exercises
One of the most powerful parts of Julia’s approach is how hands-on it is. Students aren’t just reading about careers—they’re:
- Brainstorming lists of jobs beyond the “obvious” ones
- Interviewing parents and family members about their career paths
- Conducting job shadowing or informational interviews
- Creating professional résumés and digital portfolios
- Developing capstone projects that may lead to internships or even microbusinesses
Last year, several students who did mock interviews with local business owners were actually offered jobs on the spot!
Aligning Lifestyle and Career
Another overlooked aspect of career planning is lifestyle. Julia encourages students to ask:
- Do you want to travel or stay close to home?
- What kind of income do you need to support the life you envision?
- Do you value flexibility, stability, or creativity most?
Instead of “do what you love and the money will follow,” this approach asks: What kind of life do you want—and how will your career support it?
Why It’s Worth the Time
College is expensive—sometimes $40,000+ per year. Every time a student changes majors, they add more years and more debt. Helping your teen clarify their direction now could save them thousands of dollars and years of frustration.
And it’s not just about college. For entrepreneurial teens, a career exploration class may help them launch their own businesses or develop new ideas right out of high school.
Final Thoughts
As parents, we want our kids to launch well. That doesn’t happen by accident. Career exploration gives teens a framework for discovering who they are, what they’re good at, and how they can contribute meaningfully in the world.
Whether you enroll in a formal course like Julia’s or simply start the conversation at home, make career exploration a priority. Your teen’s future self will thank you.
🎧 Want to hear more? Listen to my conversation with Julia Jinks on the podcast: Career Exploration Field Day.
Resource: Interactive Career Exploration Guide Book
Lisa Nehring and her husband, Dr. David Nehring, a Clinical Psychologist, and Biblical Scholar speak together on a wide variety of topics, including education, classical education, vision, mission, parenting, marriage, and more.
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