After High School Job Options

Once you exit high school, your job options open up considerably. Whether you enter college right away or not, the fact that you are not tied down to a high school schedule can help you get a great job much easier. Of course it is more productive if you have a career plan and work a job around the plan, but you may need to work to save for college or to get a car to get to college and work. Therefore, I have included two general job plan options to choose from below. I have left out military options and if you are planning on leaving the U.S. to seek employment.

OPTION 1-18 years old, desire to work full time:

Step 1: Determine your skills, what type of work you would like to do, how much you would like to get paid, how far you are willing to drive, what hours you would like to work. Update your resume. Also, decide whether or not if you want to gain experience in a field you've been interested in and/or if you plan on going to school at night.

Step 2: Do some research and start networking. Ask friends and relatives about jobs they know of. Go to one of the many employment agencies, bring your resume and be prepared to work the next day. (See Summer Job Handout) Do a great job and be continually employed or get hired on to a company of your choosing. Or go to your local Job and Career Center and ask for job assistance. They will show you how to use CalJobs and other job hunting tools for State jobs. Keep in mind, there are numerous government positions that will hire you with little or basic skills. The City of Oxnard or Ventura County are two government agencies you can apply to for entry level positions. Many jobs are not posted and sometimes just making a favorable impression when dropping off you professional looking application and resume can get your foot in the door.

Step 3: Choose a job you will like. When you interview, don't forget to interview the company to make sure it is the right fit for you. You need to be satisfied with your job choice just as much as the company is satisfied with you.

OPTION 2: College bound and need a part-time job

Step 1: See above

Step 2: Use your colleges Career Center. See Cal State Channel Islands or Ventura College's Career Centers for an example of some of the services offered. There is always a job posting board and resources to help you find a job. You can also check with your counselor about work study jobs on campus. Ask around and network with school secretaries, admission clerks, counselors, professors, cafeteria workers, etc. You can also try local temporary agencies for evening positions or jobs during breaks from school.

Step 3: When you get some of your general education classes out of the way it will be time to start planning for internships. Yes, you may have to go unpaid for a summer, but in the long run you will be able to get more money from your employer after college for having this experience. Plus, you will stand out from the other students with little or no experience.

ASSIGNMENT:

1- Choose a college or university or your choice-whether you are going there or not.
2- Search for their website.
3- Go to their career center or career services page and print out the main page.
4- Circle or highlight services you could use in the near future.
5- Find the city the same college is located in and find their city webpage.
6- Go to their human resources page and print out page one of their list of job openings.
7- Circle or highlight jobs that you could apply for.
8- Go to AppleOne , put in your zip code and print out the list of jobs.
9- Circle or highlight jobs that you could apply for.
8- Open MS Word and write a paragraph on what you have learned about opportunities after high school.

Turn in three print outs with highlights on them and your paragraph.