BCPS created a new position to help high school students get ready for their future called the Career Navigator which is an “educational professional who helps students plan for college and career readiness by providing guidance on career exploration, creating career plans, and connecting students with opportunities”.
Here at KHS, Ms. Kalyn Alleman, fills that role and is the one behind “Beyond the Nest” that brings students opportunities to explore careers and gain insight on career options before they leave our Bluebird Nest.
Through “Bluebird Talks” students listen in on guest speakers from a wide variety of careers. Students can also engage in hands on career exploration on field trips through her “Soar and Explore”, participate in workshops to prepare for jobs with resume writing and interview practice through “Flight Ready”, and attend career fairs through “Nestwork”.
So far this school year, students interested in nursing, aeronautics and aviation, esthetician, electrical and other construction related careers have been able to learn more about these careers through Bluebird Talk sessions.
Students have gotten hands on experience in careers related to culinary with field trips like the recent one in October to ATLAS and Kneads Bakery. Those interested in the trades were able to attend field trips to the Union Trade Fair, a Construction Career Exploration Day, and Aviation Expo recently.
The ATLAS executive chef in downtown Baltimore reminded students, “You must first know your name is your brand, how you carry yourself and present yourself is connected to your brand. Owning and managing a restaurant takes a lot of knowledge and strength. You must know how to take criticism as not everyone will like you or your food.” Though the advice is particular to the culinary world, it’s also sound advice for making your way in to the adult career world.
With only a quarter in to the school year, there’s still so many great career exploration opportunities to come through Bluebird Talks and the Explore and Soar field trips so be sure to be on the lookout.
As part of Alleman’s role she also helps students with the job preparation process. Finding a job in high school is a choice that many teenagers have made. Because most jobs begin hiring at 16 and most teens have a desire for independence they feel the need to get a job soon as possible; however the process of finding one can be challenging because of the time spent attempting to find one, getting to work, and preparation with applications and interviews.
“I think that a lot of high school students just want some experience. And I think a lot of high school students are unsure about what they want to do, so sometimes having a job allows them to see that, hey, this is what I really like,” Alleman shares.
Finding a job tends to be a challenge and it’s more difficult when you’re in high school. “I think the most challenging part is that a lot of businesses are looking for experience, and when it’s your first job you don’t have the experience,” Alleman adds.
If you’re unsure what first job to explore to prepare you for life after high school, Ms. Alleman recommends customer service as a great place to start. “Customer service is really a great place to start because I think no matter what you end up doing as a career down the road you always have to work with people and a lot of those customer service jobs deal with working with people and learning how to do that in a nice manner.”
Wherever, you think you’re headed next after high school, be sure to sit in on some Bluebird Talks and sign up for some Soar and Explore trip and get involved with the Flight Ready and Nestwork opportunities Ms. Alleman offers here at KHS as our Career Navigator. She’s ready to help launch Bluebirds to success beyond high school.
