Career Exploration in the Anchorage School District

Abstract

Job shadow opportunities for middle and high school students provides valuable exposure to workplace environments as students look at future career choices. This type of career exploration can help to connect students to careers of interest as part of a career pathway. These experiences can help a student recognize the skills that are needed for a particular job, as well as the day-to-day duties for a person working in a given field. Military installations located near local school districts are an untapped resource for the career exploration opportunities that are available. Many military and civilian occupations are very similar in nature, allowing for useful connections to be made by students. Making the connections more simplified, for both partners, could allow for more opportunities to take place. This paper will provide a suggested template to follow when planning an event in any school district located near a military installation.