Career Education

Students today have many more career opportunities as compared to their parents' generation. However, the plethora of choices can sometimes get very confusing. It is important for students to get guidance about career options suitable for them early on in their education so that they can plan their career path. This is where career education comes. Career education helps students to identify their personal interests, preferences and skills and match them with possible careers. At the same time it helps students develop specific skills, knowledge and attitudes that will help them in their job search as well as in their future careers. Thus, career education helps people choose careers that they are more likely to be happy in and trains them so that they have what is required to become successful in the careers of their choice. Nowadays, most schools and colleges offer career education programs and these have helped students become more fulfilled and effective employees. Career education is usually a combination of theoretical learning, exercises, field trips and on the job training. The theoretical classes of a career education program usually cover material about the different kinds of careers available as well as about the expectations of employers. They also learn about what skills they

need to implement their career decisions. The exercises are designed to help the students develop a better understanding of themselves. The field trips that are now an integral part of many career education programs give students an opportunity to deal with practitioners in various fields and an insight into what a career actually involves. This also allowa students to try out different career experiences. Finally, on the job training, imparted through internships, gives students the chance the experience first hand what the working environment is like. A career education program thus teaches students not only about themselves but also about what their prospective employers are looking for.