Job Shadows & Internships
Declaring a major is a big and often overwhelming decision for students because of the vast array of options offered and the honest fact that many students just don’t know what they want to do in the future. About 80%* of students in the United States change their majors at least once; and this indecision often costs time and money. One way to avoid additional semesters and student loans is to try out a few different interest areas BEFORE college.
Take different courses to explore new interests
- Participate in career days and mentoring programs at your school
- Volunteer or intern at local organizations and businesses. Look for volunteer information at www.volunteeriowa.org and www.volunteermatch.com.
- Shadow different professionals to learn about their jobs. Find job shadowing resources and information at www.internships.com
- Work part-time to gain experience and build skills in your chosen career
- Participate in extracurricular activities, especially those that offer leadership opportunities
- Talk to professionals in specific careers to learn more
Use these opportunities and your high school classes to enhance the skills that will make you an ideal job candidate and prospective college student:
- Communications skills
- A strong work ethic
- The ability to work as part of a team
- Initiative, or the drive to start projects on your own
- Leadership experience
- Relevant work experience
Create an Activities Resume
A list of your activities is useful for scholarship and admission applications. You can also add jobs, volunteer positions, skills and achievements. Download the ICAN Activities Resume template and get started.
