How to Set Yourself up for Professional Success While Attending High School

Written by: Mike Audfroid, Employment Counsellor

High School is one of the most important and challenging times in any young person’s life. There are so many things to balance; developing and maintaining friendships, keeping your grades up, deciding on your next steps after graduation and exploring who you are as an individual just to name a few. Understandably, trying to balance all of this while attempting to develop yourself professionally can be extremely overwhelming! Luckily, there are several things you can do while attending high school to help set yourself up for professional success…

Get involved in extracurricular activities and sport teams

Participating in extracurricular activities and playing team sports offer opportunities to meet new people, develop skills, and explore your interests. For example, participating on a sports team improves teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. Similarly, joining a school club is a great way to discover new interests and helps develop goals. These types of activities can provide valuable experiences outside the classroom. 

Volunteer

Formal volunteer opportunities will help you with professional development and offers a fantastic opportunity to learn from others who have similar interest. If you are unsure of your interest, passions and strengths, volunteering is a phenomenal way to help you figure this out! Additionally, volunteering at a community event, festival, or fundraiser can help you grow your existing skills and discover new ones. Acquiring these new skills will help improve your level of confidence and self-worth which will help you excel in both your studies and in the workplace. If you have never worked before, volunteering is a great way to gain experience in a formal work environment without all the pressures of being a paid employee.

Network

Networking is a valuable skill that you can practice while you are attending high school. The ability to form relationships with peers, teachers, and professionals could potentially open the door to future internships and/or career and employment opportunities.  Learning to network with new people also encourages students to develop their communication skills by engaging in group conversations and one-on-one. Students can also gain an in-depth understanding of the needs and requirements in areas of interest that will help guide their decision making regarding academic and extracurricular choices. Lastly, networking offers an opportunity to meet mentors and role models who can help guide you in your future career path.

Develop skills and experience by working independently

Never worked before? Not sure how to land your first job? There is no better way to gain skills and experience as a young teenager than finding ways to earn money on your own. Asking neighbors’ if they need lawn care, babysitting, dog walking, house sitting, washing/cleaning vehicles and tutoring are just some of the examples of how you can earn money and more importantly begin to develop skills and experience. This will also help with narrowing down areas of interest for future employment opportunities.  

Attending online conferences, seminars, and public speaking presentations

Seeking out opportunities for independent learning is important as it offers students the opportunity to expand their knowledge in fields and topics of interest that they wouldn’t normally be exposed to in their high school studies. There are so many great free resources available on the web such as TED Talks, educational YouTube channels, edX and Coursera that are easily accessible to any age group. Listening to speakers discuss new topics and innovative ideas will help students expand their choices for future academic studies and/or career choices.

Are you looking for a job? Need help with your career? The Youth Employment Centre is here to help! We offer FREE drop-in career and employment services for youth ages 15-24. Visit our website to learn more: www.calgary.ca/yec