Being thoughtful and intentional with your process will help you learn a lot about any industry. You can set yourself up for success in a career by following the MMU Progression.
MMU Progression
1) Job Shadow - Typically 1 day, observing, ask questions, meet people.
2) Long term volunteering - Over many weeks, gaining experience, learning culture and process, growing your professional network.
3) Internship/Externship - Set expectations, establish roles and take responsibility, build your resume.
4) Employment - Turn your connections and experience into a paid job, hopefully doin what you love!
1) Job Shadow
Designed to get you onsite in a workplace, a job shadow lets you observe a day in the life of someone working in an industry. It's one thing to read or talk about a career; it's entirely different to see it first hand. We all want to figure out our future career, but it's just as important to cross something off the list! There is no such thing as a bad job shadow. Do them often, and even if you learn a few things that you never want to do it is time well spent.
What to do now?
- Consider your interests - use Pathful Explore to take interest inventories and explore potential careers of interest. You will likely find jobs you never knew existed.
- Talk to family and friends to see if you know someone working in an industry you would like to explore.
- Build a list of potential businesses to visit, the more the better!
- Schedule a meeting with Mr. Alofsin
2)Long Term Volunteering
- After you shadow you'll have made connections and learned a bit more about your interests
- Use those connections to get involved as a volunteer. This shows you're interested and willing to work.
- Spending time on site will allow you to dive deeper into the profession, ask more questions, and gain valuable hands on experience.
- People will get to know you, and your continued good impression will make the next step possible.
- Link to list of organizations typically looking for volunteer help