HIAWATHA, Iowa — “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It's a question students hear from the time they're young. By high school, the question can begin to feel much more serious.

For students who don't have an answer, that can create unnecessary pressure.

ICAN wants families to know that students don't need to have their future figured out. Career planning isn't about choosing one occupation and committing to it for life. It's about exploring possibilities, learning about yourself and gradually making more informed decisions.

“Not knowing exactly what you want to do is completely normal,” said Erick Danielson, Vice President of Programs at ICAN. “The goal of career exploration isn't to force students to pick a career. It's to help them discover what interests them, what they're good at and what possibilities they might want to explore further.”

Start With the Student, Not the Career

One of the best places to begin career exploration is with questions about the student.

What subjects do they enjoy?

What activities keep their attention?

Do they like solving problems, helping people, building things, creating, organizing, leading or working with technology?

What experiences have they enjoyed—and which ones haven't they enjoyed?

Those observations can help students begin identifying interests, skills and values that may eventually connect to careers.

Explore Broadly

Once students begin understanding themselves, they can explore careers connected to those interests.

At this stage, the goal isn't to create a short list of three careers. Students should be encouraged to investigate widely.

They may discover careers they've never heard of, different occupations within an industry or career paths that require very different types of education and training.

They may also discover that something they thought sounded interesting isn't a good fit.

That's valuable information, too.

Connect Careers With Pathways

Career exploration should eventually help students answer another important question:

What would I need to do to pursue this career?

Some careers require a four-year or advanced degree. Others may require an associate degree, certificate, apprenticeship, specialized training or industry credential.

Understanding those requirements helps students connect career interests to decisions about high school courses, education and training, cost and other preparation.

Turn Exploration Into Experience

Students don't have to learn about careers only through websites.

Job shadows, internships, work-based learning, volunteering, part-time jobs, career fairs, conversations with professionals and school activities can all help students understand what a career is actually like.

An experience may confirm a student's interest—or help them decide that career isn't for them.

Both outcomes move the student forward.

Keep Exploring

Career planning isn't a one-time decision.

Students' interests will change. They'll have new experiences. They'll discover careers they didn't know existed.

The goal isn't for a 14-year-old to choose the occupation they'll have at age 40.

The goal is to build a process:

Explore yourself. Discover careers. Understand the pathways. Gain experience. Make informed choices.

“Students don't need all the answers today,” Danielson said. “They just need opportunities to keep asking questions and discovering what's possible.”

ICAN provides free career planning resources and advising to help Iowa students and families explore interests, careers and education and training pathways. Learn more at www.ICANsucceed.org/career-planning.

About ICAN

ICAN is a nonprofit, educational organization. ICAN is the College Access Network for Iowa, and a member of the National College Access Network (NCAN). ICAN has locations in Ankeny, Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City, which provide programming and advising support to students and their families as they plan for education and training after high school. All ICAN programs and services are provided without charge. For more information about ICAN, call (877) 272-4692 or visit www.ICANsucceed.org.