Labor Day: A Great Time to Explore Careers
RSSBy Gail Junion-Metz
www.bls.gov/k12/index.htm "What Do You Like?" was created by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the folks who also create the Occupational Outlook Handbook). It's designed to help kids in grades 4-8, as well as teens, find out about different careers that match what they already like to do. One of the best things about this site is that the information related to each career comes from the 2010-2011 edition of the Handbook. This means that the information is authoritative and up-to-date. To start your tour of the site, click on any one of the 12 different topics. From there, click on any/all of the 65 different individual job types. Each explains what kind of job it is and what type of education/training you'll need. You'll also find out how much it pays, how many jobs there are, and most importantly what the future need is for folks with these job skills. If kids want to learn more there are links to related jobs and a "read more about it" link to the online version of the Handbook. Don't miss the "Teacher's Guide" and its link to "Youth Rules," a site created by the U.S. Department of Labor that explains the rules governing teen employment. (BTW, if you're curious, click on "Reading" and select "Librarian" to find out the latest on the future need for our profession, then use that information to encourage kids to consider librarianship as a career!)
For most kids, Labor Day is the end-of-summer holiday that happens right before school starts. This year, why not make Labor Day the holiday that focuses on the different career/job choices facing kids today?
