THINGS TO DO:  FRESHMAN YEAR
• 	MEET with your counselor.  PLAN classes you need to complete each year to 
graduate.  FIND OUT how many elective classes you may take each year.  ASK 
the counselor for a list of elective classes at your school.  HIGHLIGHT elective 
classes are interesting.  FILE this information in your Career Prep Note
book.	
• 	DECIDE on the grade you want to earn this year in each of your classes. 
 LIST 
your classes and your target grades on a piece of paper.  TRY to earn these grades.	
• 	DEVELOP good study habits.  GET tutoring immediately if you need help in a 
subject!  ASK your teacher or counselor to help you find a tutor.	
• 	JOIN one school activity such as a club, sport team, drama crew, debate team, student government, 
yearbook, or newspaper staff.  Membership in extra school activities will look good on your future 
job applications and resumes.  	
• 	SIGN-UP for a volunteer job in an interesting community activity dealing with s
ports, pets, children, 
disabled, or the elderly.  TALK to your counselor and go to your city’s Recreation Department to ask 
about volunteer opportunities.	
• 	VISIT your school’s career center.  ASK the staff if there is a Job Fair you may attend.  	ASK if you 	
can JOB SHADOW (follow around for a day) a worker with an interesting job.	
• 	ASK your counselor or career center staff to give you a career interest test.  DISCUSS the results of 
the career interest test with your parents and counselor.  	
• 	READ the local newspaper or internet sites to become aware of your commu
nity's current events.	
• 	WATCH workers in your community to learn about the work world.  ASK these workers questions 
about their job.  (You may not ask a worker about pay since this is impolite.)	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
• 	MEET with your counselor to plan your classes for next year.  Select elective classes that will teach 
you skills for the work world (computers, industrial technology class, 
business class, or other).  	
• 	FILE your elective class list in your Career Prep Notebook.  	
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) the name of any school activity that you joined during f
reshman year:    
1) Name of activity; 2) Supervisor's name; 3) Begin and end dates; 4)
 Your duties or job title;           
5) Paragraph of what you learned.  ASK the supervisor to write a letter of recommendation describing 
the quality of your participation in this activity.  FILE the information and letter of recommendation 
in your Career Prep Notebook to use on your future resume.  	
• 	DOCUMENT the name of any volunteer position you held during the school year: 1)
 Name of 
agency or business; 2) Your job title; 2) Supervisor's name; 3) Begin and end dates; 4) Your duties;          
5) Paragraph of what you learned.  ASK the supervisor if he/she will write a letter of recommendation 
describing the quality of your volunteer work.  FILE this information an
d letter of recommendation in 
your Career Prep Notebook to use for your future resumes.	
THINGS TO DO:  SUMMERTIME
• 	TAKE one class (required or elective).  FIND an interesting volunteer j
ob.  CONTINUE to watch 
workers in your community to learn if this career might be for you.  TALK to your parents about jobs 
in the work world.  FIND a tutor if you need help in math or other acade
mic subject!
Permission to use with subscription to usworkworld.com	Freshmen: Career Prep Checklist	
Career Prep Checklist: Freshmen

Sophomore: Career Prep Checklist	
Career Prep Checklist: Sophomore
THINGS TO DO:  SOPHOMORE YEAR
• 	MEET with your counselor to make sure you are on schedule to graduate.  	
• 	DECIDE on the grade you want to earn in each class.  TRY to earn these grades.	
• 	DEVELOP good study habits.  GET tutoring if you need help in a subject! 	
• 	 JOIN one school activity such as a club, sport team, drama crew, debate team, 
student government, yearbook, or newspaper staff.  Become an officer for the 
group.  Membership and leadership in activities will look good on your r
esume.	
• 	SIGN-UP for a volunteer job in an interesting community activity dealing 
with sports, pets, children, disabled, or the elderly.  TALK to your counselor and go to your city’s         
Recreation Department to ask about volunteer opportunities.	
• 	VISIT your school’s career center.  ASK the staff if there is a College Fair or Career Fair you may   
attend.  	ASK if you can JOB SHADOW (follow around for a day) a worker with an interesting job.  	
• 	INVESTIGATE different jobs by visiting: www.bls.gov/ooh.	
• 	ASK your counselor or career center staff to give you a career interest test.  DISCUSS the results of 
the career interest test with your parents and counselor.  	
• 	READ the local newspaper or internet sites to become aware of your commu
nity's current events.	
• 	WATCH paid workers in your community to learn about the work world.  ASK these workers       
questions about their job.  (You may not ask a worker about pay since this is impolite.)	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
MEET with your counselor to plan your classes for next year.  Select elective classes that will teach you 
skills for the work world (computers, industrial technology, business class, drama, yearbook, speech, 
other).  FILE your elective class list in your Career Prep Notebook.
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) the name of any school activity that you joined during t
he school 
year:   1) Name of activity; 2) Supervisor's name; 3) Begin and end d
ates; 4) Duties and job title;                 
5) Paragraph of what you learned.  ASK the supervisor if he/she will write a letter of recommendation 
describing quality of your participation in this group or activity.  FILE this information and letter of 
recommendation in your Career Prep Notebook.	
• 	DOCUMENT the name of any volunteer position you held during the school year: 1)
 Name of 
agency or business; 2) Your job title; 2) Supervisor's name; 3) Begin and end dates; 4) Your duties;               
5) Paragraph of what you learned.  ASK the supervisor if he/she will write a letter of recommendation 
describing the quality of your volunteer work.  FILE this information an
d letter of  recommendation 
in your Career Prep Notebook.	
• 	FILE any special award you received this year (Perfect Attendance Award, Principal's Honor Roll, 
Woodshop Award, Art Award, Keyboarding Certificate, other) in your Career Prep Notebook. 	
• 	CREATE your resume using the information collected in your Career Prep Noteb
ook.  ASK your 
teacher for a resume format to use as a guide.	
THINGS TO DO:  SUMMERTIME 
• 	TAKE one or two summer classes (required class, elective class, or job t
raining class).  FIND an 
interesting volunteer or paid job.  CONTINUE to watch workers in your co
mmunity to learn if this 
career might be for you.  TALK to your parents college and the work world.  FIND a tutor if you nee
d 
help in math or other academic subject!
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Junior: Career Prep Checklist	
Career Prep Checklist: Junior	
THINGS TO DO:  JUNIOR YEAR
• 	MEET with your counselor to find out what you must do to graduate on time.	
• 	DECIDE on the grade you want to earn in each class.  Try to earn these grades.	
• 	DEVELOP good study habits.  GET tutoring if you need help in a subject!  	
• 	JOIN one school activity such as a club, sport team, drama crew, debate team, 
or student government, yearbook, or newspaper staff.  Become an officer for the 
group.  Membership and leadership in activities look good on your resume
.	
• 	SIGN-UP for a volunteer job in your community — or find a job with pay!	
• 	VISIT your school’s career center.  ASK the staff if there is a College or Career Fair you may attend.  
ASK if you can JOB SHADOW a worker with an interesting job.  	
• 	INVESTIGATE different jobs by visiting: www.bls.gov/ooh.	
• 	ASK your counselor or career center staff to give you a career interest test.  DISCUSS the results of 
the career interest test with your parents and counselor. 	
• 	WATCH paid workers in your community to learn about the work world.  ASK these workers       
questions about their job.  (You may not ask a worker about pay since this is impolite.)	
• 	VISIT local community colleges and find the Admissions Office, Bookstore, and Cafeteria.  ASK 
which job training majors are offered at the college.	
• 	VISIT other vocational colleges that offer interesting job training programs.  ASK their counselor 
to give you names of recent graduates.  VISIT these graduates to find out about the quality of job     
training received at this college.  TALK to your parents about college costs. 	
• 	INVESTIGATE careers and job training opportunities at www.mynextmove.org.	
• 	INVESTIGATE financial aid opportunities at:  www.studentaid.gov	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
MEET with your counselor to plan your classes for next year.  Select elective classes that will teach 
you skills for the work world (computers, industrial technology class, 
business class, drama, yearbook, 
speech, other).  FILE your elective class list in your Career Prep Note
book.
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) the name of any school activity and/or volunteer positio
n that you         
accomplished during the school year: 1) Name of activity; 2) Superviso
r's name; 3) Begin and end 
dates; 4) Your duties and job title; 5) Paragraph of what you learned.  ASK the supervisor if he/she 
will write a letter of recommendation describing the quality of your par
ticipation.  FILE all your    
documentation and letter of recommendation in your Career Prep Notebook.
	
• 	DOCUMENT information about any paying job during your junior year: 1) Company n
ame, address, 
phone  number; 2) Supervisor's name; 3) Begin and end dates; 4) Your job title and duties.  Ask your          
supervisor if he/she will write a letter of recommendation for your Care
er Prep Notebook.	
• 	FILE any special award you received this year (Perfect Attendance Award, Principal's Honor Roll, 
Woodshop Award, Art Award, Keyboarding Certificate, or other) in your Career Prep Notebook.	
• 	UPDATE your resume using the information collected in your Career Prep Noteb
ook.  ASK your 
teacher for a resume format to use as a guide.	
THINGS TO DO:  SUMMERTIME
• 	TAKE one or two summer classes (required, elective, job training, or com
munity college class).  
FIND an interesting volunteer or paying job.  CONTINUE to watch workers 
in your community to 
learn if this career might be for you.  TALK to your parents about the college and the work world.	  
Permission to use with subscription to usworkworld.com

Senior: Career Prep Checklist	
Career Prep Checklist: Senior	
THINGS TO DO:  SENIOR YEAR
• 	MEET with your counselor to find out what you must do to graduate on time.	
• 	DECIDE on the grade you want to earn in each classes.  TRY to earn these grades.	
• 	DEVELOP good study habits.  GET tutoring immediately if you need help!	
• 	JOIN one school activity such as a club, sport team, drama crew, debate team,  
student government, yearbook, or newspaper staff.  Become an officer in the 
group.  Membership and leadership in activities look good on your future
 resume.	
• 	SIGN-UP for a volunteer job in your community — or find a job with pay!	
• 	VISIT your school’s career center.  ASK the staff if there is a College Fair or Career Fair you may       
attend.  	ASK if you can JOB SHADOW (follow around for a day) a worker with an interesting job.	
• 	INVESTIGATE different jobs by visiting: www.bls.gov/ooh.	
• 	ASK your counselor or career center staff to give you a career interest test.  	
• 	WATCH paid workers in your community to learn about the work world.  	
• 	VISIT local community colleges.  ASK which job training majors are offered at the college.	
• 	VISIT private vocational colleges that offer interesting job training programs.  ASK their counselor to 
give you names of recent graduates.  VISIT these graduates to find out about the job training.	
• 	INVESTIGATE careers and job training opportunities at 	www.mynextmove.org	.  ENTER your job 	
ideas into "Search careers with key words."  CLICK on "	Find Training	," "	Find Certifications	,"  and      	
"Registered Apprenticeship	."  READ about the training.  VISIT a nearby training site that looks 	
interesting.  TALK to the training site's staff about the training, enrollment, and costs.	
• 	INVESTIGATE financial aid opportunities at: www.studentaid.gov.  LOOK for grants and           
scholarships.  AVOID student loans that will burden your future with college debt paymen
ts.	
• 	JANUARY: Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify for 
any grants (free money) for college.  ASK your counselor for help with this form.  ENCOURAGE 
your parents to complete their IRS income tax form early since this form is needed for financial aid.	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) the name of any school activity and volunteer position t
hat you             
accomplished during the school year: 1) Name of activity; 2) Adult supervisor's name; 3) Begin and 
end dates; 4) Your duties and job title; 5) What you learned.  	
• 	ASK the supervisor if he/she can write a letter of  recommendation descr
ibing the quality of your 
work.  FILE this information and letter of recommendation in your Career
 Prep Notebook.	
• 	DOCUMENT and file information about your paying job: 1) Company name, address, phone       
number; 2) Supervisor's name; 3) Begin and end dates; 4) Your job title and job duties.  Ask your 
supervisor if he/she will write a letter of recommendation for your Care
er Prep Notebook.	
• 	FILE the original of any special award you received this year in your Ca
reer Prep Notebook.	
• 	CREATE or update your resume using the information collected in your Career 
Prep Notebook.  	
THINGS TO DO:  AFTER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
• 	ENROLL in a part- or full-time job training course (www.mynextmove.org).  GET a part-or full-time 
job in an interesting career area.  VISIT your new school's Career Center to ask about job openings 
for students.  Or, VISIT: www.careeronestop.org (CLICK on "Job Search" and "Find Local Help").
Congratulations!  You have graduated and are on your way to a career!
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