Why It's Important to think about Your Career in High School

• Why It's Important to think about Your Career in High School

  1. You grow your network early.
  2. You be more competitive for college applications.
  3. You have a head start figuring out what you want to do after high school.
  4. You learn a lot. Just applying for internships is a great learning experience. Richards explains:
• You grow your network early: If you're thinking about your career, you'll make a point to startto network. Schawbel notes: "By going to school sponsored events, local meetups and connecting with your teachers, you can grow a powerful network that will support you in college admissions and beyond. Very few high school students take the time to meet professional contacts, leverage them to create opportunities and then keep in touch with them when they

  graduate."
• You be more competitive for college applications: If you're applying to colleges, your part time job or internship experience can build a case for you as a strong applicant. "Because many students apply to college after high school without having completed an internship, your experience over the summer can help you stand out from the crowd of students," Richard explains, "The admissions committee will be able to see that you are motivated, inquisitive and serious about success from the fact that you used your break to work and gain professional experience.
• You have a head start figuring out what you want to do after high school: When you gain work experience, it will be easier to rule out the majors you won't be interested in if you go to

  college, so you don't make any career mistakes. Or, you may learn that you want to pursue a career that doesn't require a college degree, and you can save a lot of money, time and effort.

  "The sooner you understand what you do and don't want to do for a career, the easier it will be to make the right career decisions,
• You learn a lot: Just applying for internships is a great learning experience. Richards explains:

  "Going through the internship application process and completing a summer internships program offers valuable decision-making lessons which can come handy when applying to colleges and

  future summer internships.” She adds: "In addition to learning important skills that will make you a very valuable employee, a summer job or internship in high school can help you gain confidence and a better understanding of the "real world."