Career Connections
What is "Career Connections"?
Career Connections is an approach to learning for all students that provides well-marked paths students can follow to move from school to good first jobs or from school to continued education and training. Career connections is a foundation for lifelong learning.
Rationale for Career Connections
Success in our rapidly changing global economy demands more knowledge and skills than ever before. The best jobs will go to those who are both well educated and highly skilled.
The changing workplace also demands other attitudes and skills, a good work ethic, critical thinking, communication, leadership and teamwork. Students need opportunities to develop all these academic, technical, and work-readiness skills.
Activities
High School Career Connections Activities - Related Internship or Work Experience; Concurrent Enrollment; Advanced Academic Skills; and, Job Shadows
Middle School Career Development Activities - Broad-based Career Explorations; Academic Foundations; and, Cluster and Pathway Selection
Elementary School Career Development Activities - Career Awareness and Self Awareness
Career Connections Benefits
For Employers
Observe and evaluate potential employees in work settings prior to hiring
Strengthen their partnerships with parents, schools, and communities
Enhance the functioning of current employees who learn by teaching
For Students
Apply classroom learning in the real world
Develop career awareness
Focus on career versus job preparation
Develop & refine workplace skills
Exposure to professional role models and positive work ethics
For Educators
Increase opportunities for students to apply classroom learning
See student interest in education increase
Enhance their knowledge of career opportunities
Develop a better understanding of the business community
Career Connections Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the requirements for entering into a Career Connections activity?
The basic requirements are that a student's participation must relate to their Career Completer or Career Major. The student must be a senior and have at least a 2.5 GPA, 94% attendance, and 75 Service Learning hours. There are numerous permission forms and Career Connections Coordinators usually seek teacher recommendations as well.
2. How many credits can I take and how many credits is an internship worth?
A student can earn up to 2 credits in an internship or work-experience. B= credit = 66 hours.
3. When do I participate in the internship?
Either Fall or Spring semester and possibly even during the summer. An internship takes the place of a class. During that class time period, the student would report to the work experience or internship work site.
4. How are internship sites found?
Each school's Career Connections Coordinator will use their resources to find a location and the student will use their networking connections to find possible locations. Once a site is agreed upon the Career Coordinator then visits the site and determines if it is a good match and sets up the paperwork involved in developing an internship or work experience.
5. What are the advantages of participating in an internship?
Colleges and scholarships are looking for the student with the "different" experience. Set yourself apart from the others.
- Develop and refine workplace skills.
- Apply what you've learned in your classes.
- Exposure to professional role models and positive work ethic.
- Eliminate or validate. An internship or work experience will assist greatly in determining if this is, or is not, what you want to do in the future.
6. I attend the Career and Tech Center. Can I participate in an internship?
If you are enrolled in a completer program through either the Carroll County Career and Technology Center or the South Carroll Career and Technology Center, the Career Connections Coordinator at that center would be the person for you to contact and discuss the possibilities.
7. What is concurrent enrollment?
Simply put, concurrent enrollment is going to college while still attending high school. Most students attend Carroll Community or McDaniel College. Talk to your guidance counselor to explore this possibility and determine if this is a good academic choice for you. College courses which grant credit count as high school elective credit (3 college credits = high school elective credit).
8. Can I participate in an internship and concurrent enrollment?
Yes, some students are able to schedule both. For example, M-W-F internship, T-TH concurrent enrollment.
9. I am interested in Concurrent Enrollment. What would you suggest I do?
Discuss your interest with your guidance counselor. If this is a good academic choice for you, you will need to take the college placement tests to see if your academic preparation matches college expectations. Discuss the results of the testing with your guidance counselor before making a decision.
10. What should I do first?
Discuss your interest in an internship, work experience or concurrent enrollment with your guidance counselor and the Career Connections Coordinator at your school.
