12 Service Ideas For Career Exploration

Preparation for college, university, and future careers starts early. High school students start thinking about what careers they might want to pursue in the future as early as their freshman year. 

School courses help students identify interests and talents. Part-time jobs give insights into their strengths, while extracurriculars and school clubs allow them to explore passions. Additionally, students find that volunteering exposes them to careers or areas of work they might not have otherwise considered. 

Over the years, districts have continued to see the importance and impact of civic engagement on students. Community-engaged students have improved student outcomes for many reasons: students develop important skills through volunteering, have leadership opportunities, experience a sense of belonging, and grow socially and emotionally as they serve others. 

While students are exploring potential career paths and determining what they want to pursue after high school, encourage them to volunteer. Encourage students to reflect on what their areas of interest are. From there, students can identify potential areas of focus or interests that could lead to a career path. Work with students to identify opportunities or encourage them to research needs in the community that would give them some real hands-on experience. Volunteering allows students to help others, see the impact of their work, and explore career interests. 

Here are volunteer opportunities and service ideas for students to explore various career paths: 

1. Social Services Agencies:  Offering time at agencies supporting the homeless, elderly, or individuals with disabilities, allows students to explore careers in social work, counseling, or healthcare.
2. Political Campaigns:  Students can assist in local political campaigns to learn more about the process. This is helpful for students interested in politics or public policy.
3. Art and Music Programs:  Students interested in fine arts, art history, or music can volunteer at local art galleries or community music programs to gain insight into the arts and culture sector.
4. Community Events and Festivals:  Volunteering to help organize or run community events is a great experience for students interested in hospitality or event planning.
5. Tutoring/Mentoring:  Students with an interest in teaching can start by tutoring or mentoring other students to get a feel for a career in education.
6. Animal Shelter or Zoo:  Students interested in veterinary careers or even zoology can gain experience and insight into the industry.
7. Technology or Marketing:  Students interested in technology can volunteer to teach coding or basic tech-related lessons at community centers or nursing homes. Students interested in social media or marketing can put those skills to use by volunteering to manage social media for local organizations.
8. Environmental Conservation Projects/ Community Gardens:  Students can participate in a community garden or an environmental conversation project to learn about agriculture, sustainable practices, environmental sciences, or urban planning.
9. Library or Museums: Students can volunteer at a library or museum to gain insights into the world of archiving, curation, and education which can be useful for students interested in the arts, history, or information science.
10. Sports or Recreation Programs: Volunteer with youth sports teams or recreational programs. This can help students explore careers in coaching or sports management.
11. Serve Your Teachers: Offer to help your teachers with organizing the classroom, setting up for special events, or even grading simple assignments!
12. Hospitals and Clinics: Students interested in healthcare can offer their services to local hospitals and clinics and support staff with non-clinical tasks like greeting patients/visitors, helping with administrative tasks, and providing directions within the facility. 

Outcomes of Service 

Students can make a huge difference in their communities, be engaged with others around them while exploring various careers and interests that will set them up for success. 

Through volunteering, students can start making connections in their desired industry and gain experience that will benefit them long term. Students can discover new interests and talents, or conversely, realize specific careers aren’t for them. 

There are so many benefits students experience while impacting their communities. Educators play a crucial role in leading students through this process and x2VOL is here to support schools and districts in these endeavors. 

x2VOL makes it easy to manage community service and work-based learning all online. With benefits for students, educators, and district leaders, x2VOL provides functionalities to remove the burden of hours tracking and reporting, providing educators the space to engage students in these important developmental opportunities. Learn more about how x2VOL supports schools and districts in our demo.