Career Research
This complete, ready-to-use Career Research Unit gives high school ELA students a structured, meaningful way to explore potential careers — and connects real-world research skills directly to standards. The centerpiece of the unit is the free, U.S. Department of Labor website My Next Move (www.mynextmove.org), which students use to research job duties, required skills, education paths, salary data, and more.
Engaging in a structured career research project not only helps students understand potential career paths but also builds essential real-world research skills. When I first used the My Next Move website with my students, I was amazed by how efficiently it presented comprehensive career information such as daily duties, necessary skills, educational requirements, and salary data. This tool helped students personally connect their interests and skills to career options, making their exploration meaningful. The unit planning approach that breaks down the research into phases—Activate & Brainstorm, Explore, Research Deep Dive, Synthesize, and Create & Present—gives students a clear roadmap to follow. One of my favorite parts is the Interest Inventory and the graphic organizer, which encourages students to reflect deeply on their values and preferences alongside market realities such as job outlook and salary. This combination creates a balanced and thoughtful decision-making process. Additionally, the variety of project choices—from infographics to podcasts—helps students express their findings in a way that suits their strengths, building communication skills alongside research and analytical thinking. The inclusion of a detailed rubric aligns expectations and ensures students maintain focus on both research quality and presentation skills. From my experience, incorporating this career research unit into ELA not only enriches the curriculum but also prepares students for life beyond high school by fostering self-awareness and informed planning. Teachers can adapt the editable graphic organizer and lesson plans to meet their students’ unique needs, making this a versatile and valuable teaching resource.
