Career Connect Washington programs give students the chance to meet and work with people in jobs that interest them. There are a lot of ways to do this, and at different times. Some of these activities can start before high school, such as job fairs; others continue through early adulthood, such as internships and apprenticeships.
They have three general categories of programs that get gradually more intense and rewarding: Explore, Prep and Launch.
- Career Explore: Kids as young as kindergarten think about what they are going to be when they grow up. Starting in elementary school, students can learn how their interests can lead to different jobs in different fields. Career Explore is not just for students, however. Even young people who have already started working can benefit by talking to professionals in the field. Ages 5-30.
- Career Prep: These programs are more hands-on, such as a pre-apprenticeship or internship. This helps with getting professional experience and making decisions about the next steps in education or training. Ages 13-30.
- Career Launch: The most intense type of career connected learning program, Career Launch programs combine paid work experiences with classroom learning so students can receive a credential and become a competitive job candidate. These programs include registered apprenticeships and Career Launch programs in the K-12, CTC, and 4-year systems. Ages 17-30.
Are you interested in real-world learning?
Check out programs combining real-world skills and classroom learning for young people in Washington.