Preparing Youth for Career Success

As they become more independent and begin to focus on the future, adolescents will look for opportunities to explore interests, skills, and career paths. Identifying career and other future goals can also motivate young people to make healthy, positive choices here and now. Adults can engage adolescents in this exploration and ease the transition from school to the workplace by helping them acquire work readiness skills and connecting them to high quality mentoring relationships.

Community Partners in New York State

One Stop Centers
In most New York State counties, the Labor Department's One Stop Centers offer information and counseling about job opportunities, training, career choices, and apprenticeship placements with trades and unions.

Workforce Investment Areas
County-based Workforce Investment Areas provide additional information about job opportunities and training. Their Youth Councils work with youth service providers to improve employment opportunities for young people.

BOCES
The Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) provides career and technical programs for high school students and students with disabilities. In New York City, the NYC Education Department provides similar services: career programs, alternative paths to graduation, and programs for youth with disabilities.

Youth Bureaus
Youth Bureaus can help locate summer youth employment, internships, and work readiness programs. In New York City, these programs and more are offered by the Department of Youth and Community Development.

Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H
Career exploration is also a focus of 4-H.

Curricula and Resources

America's Promise: Career Exploration Toolkit
This online guide demonstrates how youth service providers can put together a successful career exploration effort that includes job shadowing and visits to job fairs.

Cornell Youth and Work Program
Cornell University has developed a guide to teaching and learning that focuses on workplace learning for youth, as well as preparing workplace mentors to create a supportive learning environment. Training activities are included. Free download.

Tackling the Tough Skills™ : A Curriculum Building Skills for Work and Life (Revised Edition)
Developed by University of Missouri Extension, this curriculum helps hard-to-reach adults or teens prepare for success in work and life.

United States Department of Labor: Youth and Labor Resources
Topics on this website include youth employment rules, educational requirements for a variety of jobs, and job training and placement programs.

Resources for Youth

New York State Department of Labor: Youth Portal
This comprehensive website for youth contains information about the workplace, teen rights, career tracks, and workplace readiness skills, with brief videos on job search, application, and interview skills (including how to tie a tie).

ACT Youth Network: Your Rights at Work
The ACT for Youth website for New York State youth includes information on young people's rights, including where and when teens can work, and safety on the job.

Career Zone
This interactive New York State website helps young people develop their own portfolio of interests and talents and explore career paths.

Engineer Girl!
The National Academy of Engineering encourages young girls to explore careers and career paths in engineering.

Exploring Career Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains this site, which is designed to help young people identify areas of interest and future careers. The site also offers a teacher's guide.

Youth Rules!
On this site, the U.S. Department of Labor provides information on teens' rights and safety at work.