Schools can run a career readiness program with Career Education Institute in two ways. The free tools (career profiles for 700+ jobs with BLS pay data, career quizzes, guides and printable worksheets) support career exploration and planning lessons at no cost. For deeper learning, schools and workforce programs can subscribe to training seats so each student takes job-title training in the career they are exploring.
Free career exploration resources for students and teachers
Everything below is free, needs no account and works on school Chromebooks and phones:
- 700+ career profiles, each with a day in the life, BLS median pay, job outlook, how to become one, skills, a glossary, interview questions and a fit quiz. Start at all careers.
- Career quizzes: the Career Match Quiz, Work Style Quiz, College or Trade School? and a quiz for each of 17 career fields.
- Guides for students: high school career planning, how to choose a career, college vs. trade school, apprenticeships, financial aid basics and more.
- Printable worksheets for career decisions, college visits and job applications in our free worksheet library.
- Career comparisons and best careers lists, such as hands-on jobs and jobs that help people.
Career exploration activities for students
- Career match and reflect (one class period). Students take the Career Match Quiz, pick two results and write three reasons each fits or doesn’t.
- Day-in-the-life comparison. Pairs read the day-in-the-life pages for two careers in the same field and present the biggest differences in duties, schedule and work setting.
- Salary reality check. Students look up the median pay for three careers in the salary guide and build a simple monthly budget for each.
- Pathway map. Using a career’s “how to become” page, students map the steps from today to the first job: courses, programs, credentials and costs.
- Mock interview. Each career profile has interview questions. Students practice answering two in pairs.
- Vocabulary challenge. Every career has a glossary. Teams quiz each other on ten terms from a field they’re curious about.
A simple career readiness lesson sequence
| Week | Focus | Free resource |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interests and strengths | Career Match Quiz, Work Style Quiz |
| 2 | Exploring careers | Career profiles and day-in-the-life pages |
| 3 | Education and training paths | College vs. trade school guide, apprenticeships guide |
| 4 | Money and outlook | Salary guide, fastest-growing careers |
| 5 | Job-search basics | Resume guide, interview tips |
| 6 | Workplace readiness | Soft skills employers want, first job guide |
Career pathways for high school students
Point students to the field that interests them, where every career is compared by pay, growth and training time:
- Healthcare and medical career training
- Skilled trades, construction and manufacturing training
- Transportation, logistics and supply chain training
- IT, technology and business career training
Students who want hands-on work without a four-year degree should also see highest-paying jobs without a degree and our guide to community college.
Training seats for schools, colleges and workforce programs
When students are ready to go deeper, schools can give them job-title training: self-paced online courses of 6 to 14 hours for 700+ careers, each with a final knowledge check and certificate of completion. Seats are sold as monthly, yearly or decade subscriptions for schools and workforce programs, sized to your program and billed by invoice or purchase order.
Districts and colleges can also join the partner program, which gives students and families a discount code on training they buy themselves.
Career education programs for adults and community organizations
The same tools work for adult education, re-entry, veterans’ and nonprofit workforce programs. Our career changers hub and job readiness training page are written for adults, and organizations can partner with us to offer participants a discount.
Our trainings are general, non-credit courses. They don’t grant academic credit or replace a CTE program of study, but they fit well alongside one.
Frequently asked questions
Are the career exploration resources really free for schools?
Yes. Career profiles, salary data, quizzes, guides, worksheets and practice tests are free with no account, sign-up or student data collection.
What grade levels are the resources for?
They are written for high school students and adults. Middle school teachers often use the career profiles and quizzes with more guidance.
Is the Career Match Quiz a formal career assessment?
No. It is a free interest-based self-reflection tool that suggests careers to explore. It is not a validated psychological or aptitude test.
Can students earn credit for your trainings?
No. The trainings are non-credit. Some teachers use them as enrichment or as preparation for a CTE pathway or apprenticeship.
How do training seat subscriptions work for schools?
You choose a number of seats and a billing cycle (monthly, yearly or decade). Each seat gives one learner access to the catalog, and seats can move to new students as others finish. Prices are quoted by email.
Can nonprofits and workforce boards use the program?
Yes. Workforce boards, nonprofits and community organizations use the same subscriptions and partner program.