Resources for career exploration

Debra Barrett<smithde6@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension -

Michigan State University and Michigan 4-H Youth Development have programs and resources available to help teach career exploration.

The Spartan Youth Programs at Michigan State University, combined with Michigan 4-H Youth Development resources and projects, can help kids explore careers at an early age. According to Dr. Jennifer Curry of Louisiana State University, career development builds over time and should be started during the most formative years; prior to middle school.

The 2013 Trends in National Foundation Funding for Education publication that Michigan State University published in 2013, shared the types of programs or initiatives that ten foundations were funding. This document emphasized the focus and attention given to career and college readiness and mentioned three areas that Michigan State University and 4-H Youth Development are known for:

  • Out-of-classroom learning opportunities
  • Student-centered and self-directed learning models
  • STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education

Michigan 4-H Youth Development advocates for young people, their parents/guardians and 4-H volunteers to work and learn together about careers and the world of work. A few resources that support career exploration at a variety of ages include:

From being your own boss to careers in the arts, science and field of agriculture, just to name a few, we have resources for you! Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives.

To learn about the positive impact of Michigan 4-H youth career preparation, money management and entrepreneurship programs, read the 2016 Impact Report: “Preparing Michigan Youth for Future Employment.”

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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