Researching Your Options

Now you should have a list of careers that you plan to research in more depth. Your research can involve several steps. This section discusses some of them.

1. Read booksto learn from professionals what it will take to succeed in those careers. Also, read biographies (some short ones appear in this career guide) of people in those careers.
2. Seek out several people with those careers and ask to meet with them for informational interviews. Your family members, neighbors, or friends may know people in the careers that interest you. Prepare for an informational interview exactly as you would for a job interview. Informational interviews can often lead to jobs. There are many questions you could ask during an informational interview:
   • What do you do on a daily basis?
   • What do you like most about what you do? Least?
   • What did you do before entering this field?
   • What skills are most important for your job?
   • Why did you choose this occupation?
   • What is the best way to break into this field?
   • What are the advancement opportunities in this field?
   • What publications or periodicals should I be reading in order to keep on top of trends in this field?
   • What advice would you give me on being successful in this career?
   • Who else would you suggest I meet with so that I can learn more about this career?
   1. Explore local community programs. Some youth organizations, parks and recreation departments, and community colleges offer classes to expose participants to a variety of careers and hobbies. For instance, explorer posts are career orientation groups formed by the Boy Scouts of America and open to young men and women in grades 9 through 12. The students gather, discuss their career interests, and meet people already working in various fields. Meetings take place at the work sites, so group members have the opportunity to see the work environment and observe employees at work.
   2. Consider cooperative education and work-study programs. High school students, for instance, may be allowed to go to school in the morning and to a job in the afternoon.
   3. Investigate both paid and unpaid internships. For the most part, internships are offered to college students; however, some organizations do offer internships to high school students. To find out more, see Appendix E or check with professional organizations in your field of interest (see Appendix B). Make sure you read the internships section of this book in Chapter 3. You can even go through your yellow pages for local companies and arts-related organizations that might be willing to hire you on a temporary or volunteer basis. Do not be afraid to take the initiative to offer your services or be direct in suggesting a role for yourself.
   4. Think about a part-time job. Students often view part-time jobs as a way to earn money, but a part-time job can help you determine whether a career is right for you. Try contacting businesses and organizations in your area of interest. Many employers hire part-time help and welcome enthusiastic and competent workers.
   5. Try job shadowing. Job shadowing gives you the chance to observe someone on the job for a day or two. You will be able to watch, listen, ask questions, and learn. Job shadowing opportunities are organized through youth groups, high schools, or community colleges, or you can initiate the opportunity yourself.
   6. Consider special summer camps. You can learn about careers in music, dance, literary arts, theater, and many other fields by attending special summer camps. Check with your state or local arts council (see Appendix A) or with your school counselor about possible opportunities.
   7. Volunteer your time. Volunteering allows you to gain work experience and better understand your career interests.
   8. Explore the Internet. It has a vast amount of information about all sorts of careers. Using one of the well-known search engines, you can often find lots of relevant information. See below for more on using the Internet as a research tool.