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Career Discovery Meetings
Planning and Resource Guide
Objective: Career Discovery Meetings aim to equip students with the knowledge and resources
needed to make informed decisions about their future careers and educational pathways. By
following this Planning and Resource Guide, we can ensure each meeting is impactful, informative,
and aligned with the goals set forth by House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1002-2023.
Meeting Structure: Each Career Discovery Meeting will be a 30-minute session conducted by an
approved entity, including colleges/universities, intermediaries, employers, or labor organizations.
Resources Table of Contents
Pre-Meeting Preparation 2
Standard Agenda Template 3
Adult Facilitation Guide 4
Student Preparation and Engagement Template 5
Student Question Guide 6
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Pre-Meeting Preparation
1. Identify Participants:
● Students: Select students based on criteria defined by HEA 1002-2023 (e.g., grade
level, interest areas).
● Facilitators: Ensure facilitators from approved colleges/universities,
intermediaries, employers, and labor organizations are available and scheduled.
2. Schedule Meetings:
● Create a schedule that accommodates both student availability and facilitator
availability.
● Ensure diversity in the types of careers and educational pathways.
3. Inform Participants:
● Notify students and facilitators of their meeting times and locations.
● Provide an overview of the meeting’s purpose and structure to both students and
facilitators.
4. Prepare Materials:
● Develop an agenda for the meeting.
● Gather informational materials about various careers and educational
requirements with the Career Discovery Meeting facilitator.
● Create feedback forms for students to fill out post-meeting.
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Standard Agenda Template
Career Conversation | <Insert Partner Org> & <Insert Student Name>
<Date> // <Time>
Agenda Items Key Points Notes
Introductions
and Purpose
5 min
Career
Opportunities
Overview
10 min
Educational
Pathway
Connection
5 min
Q&A +
Wrap-up
5 min
Log Meeting
into
ScholarTrack
5 min
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Adult Facilitation Guide
1. Welcome and Introduction (5 Minutes):
● The facilitator introduces themself and provides a brief overview of their background and
organization.
● Explain the purpose of the Career Discovery Meeting.
2. Career Opportunities Overview (10 Minutes):
● Facilitator presents an overview of current and future career opportunities in their field.
● Highlights key industries and job roles that are in demand.
● Discuss the potential growth and stability of these careers.
● Provides examples of career progression and success stories
3. Educational Pathways (5 Minutes):
● Detail the education levels required for various careers (e.g., certificates, associate
degrees, bachelor’s degrees, apprenticeships).
● Discuss the benefits of different educational paths and institutions, including approved
colleges/universities and training programs.
4. Q&A Session (5 Minutes):
● Allow students to ask questions about careers, educational requirements, and any other
related topics.
● Provide detailed and practical answers to encourage informed decision-making.
5. Log the Completed Meeting into ScholarTrack (5 Minutes):
● Have the student log into ScholarTrack and mark the Career Discovery Meeting as
completed.
● If student cannot access ScholarTrack at that time, make sure they can answer or have
noted:
○ Date of meeting
○ Entity with whom they met
○ Their plans post-high school, including:
■ College
■ Employment
■ Enlistment
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Student Preparation and Engagement Template
Career Conversation | <Insert Partner Org> & <Insert Student Name>
<Date> // <Time>
Agenda Items Student Reminders Notes from Conversation
Introductions
and Purpose
5 min
Introduce yourself,
briefly mentioning
your skills, interests,
and strengths.
Career
Opportunities
Overview
10 min
Listen for
information about
careers and growth
opportunities.
Educational
Pathway
Connection
5 min
Listen for
information about
the postsecondary
education expected
or required for the
career being
discussed.
Q&A +
Wrap-up
5 min
Logging the
Meeting into
ScholarTrack
5 min
Be prepared with
questions that help
advance your
knowledge about the
industry and possible
career field.
Ensure students are
logging the meeting
as completed into the
ScholarTrack website
or have all the
information required
to do so later.
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Student Question Guide
Asking questions in a career conversation demonstrates your genuine interest and engagement,
helping you to identify your next step beyond high school. You gain valuable insights and tailored
advice that can guide your career decisions and development. Additionally, asking thoughtful
questions showcases your critical thinking skills and eagerness to learn, which are highly regarded
qualities in any professional setting. These traits and skills are important to start working on now,
so you are successful when you step into a professional setting. Below are example questions you
might consider:
Occupation-specific Questions:
● On a typical day in this position, what do you do?
● What personal qualities or abilities are important to being successful in this job?
● What kind of education/training is needed for this position?
● What part of this job do you find most satisfying? Most challenging?
● How do you see jobs in this field changing in the future?
Career Questions:
● What opportunities for advancement are there in this field?
● What advice would you give a person entering this field?
● From your perspective, what are the problems you experience working in this field?
● If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself? Why?
Benefits and Challenges:
● What are the major rewards of your job?
● What are some frustrations you encounter at work?
● Do you think career opportunities are increasing or decreasing in this field?
Networking/“Getting Your Footin the Door”:
● Can you offer any advice on how to enter this career field?
● Which organizations in this field offer internship, job shadowing, or mentoring
opportunities?