College & Career Launch: Helping Teens Plan for Success with Kolby Goodman

🎓 Early Career Conversations Start discussing careers with teens as early as 4th to 6th grade to explore their interests and problem-solving skills. 👨‍👦‍👦 Parental Involvement Encourage parents to be curious about their child’s aspirations: “What do you want to do? Why that?” This helps in guiding them towards career paths. 💼 Importance of Real-World Experience Teens should gain real-world experience through jobs or volunteer work. This helps them understand their likes and dislikes, building confidence in their career choices. 🚀 Sampling Careers Promote “sampling” various jobs, even informal ones like tutoring or working at a pizza place, to expose teens to different environments and responsibilities. 🧑‍🎓 Resume vs. Experience A resume with a 4.0 GPA is valuable, but employers increasingly value life experiences and problem-solving abilities over grades alone. 📈 Career Preparation and College In addition to academics, students should engage in extracurriculars, internships, and community service to build a well-rounded application for both college and future jobs. 👥 Networking and Exposure College is not just about the degree; it's also about networking and exposure. Engaging with peers and professors can open doors for future employment. ⚖️ Student Athlete Benefits Being a student athlete can enhance job prospects. However, students must learn to articulate how their athletic experiences translate to skills valuable in the workplace. 📚 Book Recommendation Colby Goodman’s book, “Start Now and 49 Other Things You Need to Do to Be Employed by Graduation,” provides actionable steps for students to prepare for their careers. 🌍 Real-World Skills Over Classroom Focus Emphasize the importance of skills learned outside the classroom. Employers look for problem solvers rather than just job doers. 🔗 Engagement with Career Coaches Working with a career coach can help students clarify their goals, enhance their resumes, and prepare for interviews to secure jobs post-graduation. 💬 Final Thoughts for Parents Encourage ongoing conversations about careers, framing them as exploratory rather than pressure-filled, to cultivate a positive outlook on their child's future.  Connect with Shellee Howard: WebsiteYouTubeInstagramLinkedInEmail: [email protected] Connect with Nara Legrand:WebsiteFacebookLinkedIn Email: [email protected] 🎁 Episode Gift & Contact 🎓 College Planning Support for ParentsWant help organizing next steps and avoiding costly college mistakes? 📘 Workbook Gift:https://go.collegereadyplan.com/podcast-gift-workbook 🤝 Interested in Collaborating with College Ready?Email Julienne at [email protected]