Start Exploring Your Path During And After High School!

Unsure of your future plan? Want to explore career fields? Looking for a job or internship? Need to update your resume? The Career Center can help! The Career Coordinator, Shannan Fasold, works with students to support them on all aspects of their college and career exploration; which might include looking for a job shadow, volunteer, internship or part-time job, preparing an appllication, resume or for an interview, or figuring out possible career paths. 

FALL 2020 Update: Even though you can no longer stop by Room 101 with questions about CRLEs, applications, resumes, college and career exploration, etc., I am still available! I welcome questions via email: sfasold@pps.net or text: 971-420-3683 and I am happy to virtually meet with you-CLICK HERE to schedule a meeting with me.

What is a CRLE?

Career-Related Learning Experiences (CRLEs) are structured educational experiences that connect learning to the world beyond the classroom. PPS requires students to write reflections about two CRLEs but most students complete many throughout their four years of high school. Some CRLEs happen at school and are arranged by your teacher. Community organizations and industry groups sponsor career days, mentor and internship programs too. Many students arrange their own half or full day job shadows by asking a neighbor, family friend or a friend's family member to host them. Some examples of CRLEs are:

• Internship (structured work + learning experience)
  • Bank of America's Student Leaders with Non-Profits summer internship
  • Saturday Academy's Apprenticeships in Science & Engineering 
  • Ted R. Lilley CURE Internships
• Industry-sponsored Career Day (one day event)
  • Oregon Engineers Week
  • Providence Health Systems' Career Highlights
  • Career Days organized by Portland Workforce Alliance
• Industry-sponsored Career Mentor Program or Career Exploration Program (long-term commitment)
  • Architecture Construction Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program
  • ChickTech: High School
  • Nordstrom Fashion Ambassador Program
  • OHSU's Dental Career Exploration Program
  • Portland Fire & Rescue's Cadet Program
  • Portland Police Bureau's Cadet Program
  • TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) https://oregon.tie.org/programs/tye/
  • Washington County Search & Rescue Explorer Post
• Community Service Project/Volunteering (with a career focus)
  • Doernbecher Hospital 
  • Ethos
  • Free Geek
  • Legacy Health Systems
  • Multnomah County Library
  • Outdoor School Student Leader
  • TIP Teens
• Career Field Trip with LHS teacher or club advisor
  • Fall Media Day with Ms. Rechner
  • Medical School Cadaver Lab field trip with IB Bio
  • Oceanography Field Study day the coast with Ms. Zwissler
• School-based career activity with an occupational focus (e.g. mock trial, publications, theater production, etc.)
• Regional Career Fairs
  • Black Student Success Summit
  • NW Youth Career Expo
  • Oregon Tradeswomen Career Fair
• Career-themed Lecture or Guest Speaker
  • Scrub Club guest speakers share their healthcare career stories
  • SPARK lectures at LHS (some but not all are career-focused)
  • Stumptown Speakers Series
• One-on-one Information Interview/Job Shadow (with a non-family member): Consider creating your own half-day job shadow or 30 minute information interview to learn about an occupation or organization. Start by asking friends, family, teachers, neighbors, etc. who they might know that works in your career field or organization of interest. Most people are happy to spend time with students sharing about what they do--all you have to do is ask!
  • To prepare for a job shadow/informational interview: Look up your host's occupation in Oregon CIS and study topics like Specific Work Activities, Preparation and Job Outlook. Visit the organization's website to better understand their services or products. Consult this list of questions and add your own. Consider what you will wear to fit in in the workplace. Plan your trip, calculating when to leave home or school to be on time. Will you need to allow extra time to find parking? Check out TriMet's TripPlanner tool to help you make streetcar, bus or MAX connections. 

Calling Parents & Alumni!

Think about becoming a Cardinal Career Consultant. Are you willing to host a LHS student at your workplace for a job shadow? Are you open to invitations from teachers to be on a panel or speak to their class? Does your organization ever hire interns or part-timers? PPS Career Coordinators use the district's PartnerConnect database to identify local professionals like you. Learn more and register yourself and/or your company here.