MSU Extension 4-H Careers & Entrepreneurship

Michigan 4-H members coose projects and other 4-H youth development experiences every day. Whatever your aspirations, 4-H provides a venue for career exploration.

Whether 4-H’ers are learning to start a business, bake a cake, be a club officer or plan their next community service event, career exploration can be a part of all of these experiences. Consider these questions to help identify jobs or careers related to the experience 4-H projects, events and programs create.

• Does this project or program fit with a hobby or interest that I have?
• As a 4-H club officer, what skills am I learning?
• What skills am I learning from this project, program or volunteer role?
• What careers and jobs are related to this project, program or volunteer role?
• If I take on a new volunteer role, what job skills or careers can I learn about through that opportunity?

Once you have identified jobs or careers to learn more about from the above questions, network with volunteer leaders, fellow 4-H families and the community to learn more about future opportunities. For “X” career or job:

• What is involved in pursuing this career or job?
• What is the salary range for this career or job?
• What types of job options are there in career field “X”?
• Where are the employment opportunities for “X”?
• What education is necessary to become “X”?
• What post-secondary education or training is required for “X” career?
• Where can I find out more about “X” careers?

And by all means, connect what you have learned back to Michigan’s six career pathways:

• Arts and communication
• Business, management, marketing and technology
• Engineering/manufacturing and industrial technology
• Health science
• Human services
• Natural resources and agriscience

Michigan 4-H has five pre-college programs through the Spartan Youth Programs at Michigan State University to help you learn even more:

• 4-H Capitol Experience
• 4-H Exploration Days
• 4-H Great Lakes and Natural Resources Camp
• 4-H Renewable Energy Camp
• 4-H Animal and Veterinary Science Camp

Michigan 4-H can help you become more aware of your community and the work world while interacting with diverse people, cultures and interests. As a Michigan 4-H member or volunteer, think about how you can apply more career exploration activities to your 4-H experience starting now.

For more information or resources on career exploration, workforce preparation, financial education or entrepreneurship, contact 4-HCareerPrep@anr.msu.edu.