Career Readiness Academy gives students skills to enter the workforce

Globalization and the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a new world of work that has only been exacerbated by AI, gig work and technological leaps. To succeed, students need flexible skills that will allow them to shift and grow in an ever-changing economy. Experts say in order to succeed, students need to start thinking about the world of work far earlier than previous generations. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis agrees. “We have historically asked students to make choices about their careers after leaving high school, often without the appropriate data needed to identify industry-specific needs or what kind of return on investment a particular pathway will afford,” he said in an essay originally published as part of the 2023 “State of the American Student” report. “As the global economy rapidly evolves, we must rethink the way we educate students and our workforce.”

Empowering students with skills and resources

This is why we provide students access to an after-school program, the Career Readiness Academy, that embraces this fluid approach to career preparation. This year the program will be offered to 10th graders at Boulder High, Broomfield High and Centaurus High, and parts of the curriculum will also be available to students at Arapahoe Ridge. 

The program focuses on developing professional skills which are often not taught in school and may not be modeled at home.

Over the course of ten after-school workshops, students receive training and resources to empower them for successful lives after high school. This includes:

• Crafting a resume and developing other crucial professional skills 
• Practicing interviewing skills through mock interviews
• Learning about various career paths
• Practicing professional communication and soft skills 
• Building self-confidence and self-knowledge
• Accessing school resources to meet their future goals
• Learning how to advocate for help
• Receiving a $300 stipend for attending 80% of the workshops

Students in the program gain valuable insights into what employers look for while building the confidence needed to thrive. “A workshop that helped me a lot was the mock interviews,” said one program participant. “It was really scary leading up to the actual event, but when I sat down and did it, it felt surprisingly easy. It helped me boost my confidence a lot.”

Not your mom’s career path

According to a recent Earth Web poll, 75% of kids ages 6 to 17 want to be a YouTuber when they grow up. Adults might laugh, but students know that career options have changed and continue to do so.

The Career Readiness Academy supports students in exploring a variety of career paths before entering post-secondary education, empowering them to make informed choices and broadening their horizons. 

Tangible benefits for their futures

After participating in Career Readiness Academy, students felt much more confident about and prepared to enter the world of work. The number of participants who said they knew where to go to learn about job opportunities increased by 41%, and the number of those who knew how to learn about job opportunities increased by 32%. 

Ensuring they are prepared now, and in the future, students in the program learned how to obtain college and work opportunities while still in high school. 85% of students had met their counselor by the end of the program, up 20%. 88% had a current resume, an increase of 69%

“I feel more prepared and want to get a job a lot sooner,” said a program participant. “I feel more at peace being able to say, ‘I’ll figure this out.’ I feel more prepared for the future and less stressed out about today.”

Whether they are becoming a YouTuber, a firefighter or some career that has yet to be invented, Impact on Education knows that empowering students with confidence and professional soft skills will always be a good investment.

BEFORE YOU GO

Impact on Education is an independent non-profit supporting the Boulder Valley School District. We depend on the generosity of our community to put our mission into action.

Will you help us provide opportunities and resources to local students?