Preparing the Next Generation for Success:
Elementary and Middle School Career Awareness
Acknowledgement: This article is dedicated to the parents, teachers, counselors,
administrations and governmental leaders, community members and businesses who
support career education programs!
Careerplans4all.com designed the Kid
Career Awareness System to provide step by step guides to
help children -
- Pinpoint your child’s or student’s
interests, abilities, skills, talents, and values.
- Match
their likes and interests to future training programs
and careers.
1. The Basics for Elementary School
Career Education Programs
In career awareness programs, students
do not make premature career choices.
- Elementary school career education is not
career exploration or career preparation.
- Elementary students remain open to
new career ideas and possibilities Elementary students build
awareness of self, personal interactions, school, and the workforce.
- Elementary school counselors and teachers
build self-awareness, family awareness, school awareness, community
awareness, career/ work awareness, attitude development, skill
development, decision making strategies, and self-worth.
The focus of career awareness is to
introduce K-5 students to the many types of careers that exist, different
working environments, foster a positive attitude toward work and to help
students understand the connection between academics and their future
career.
2. What demonstrated need does this Kid
Career Awareness System serve?
An excellent review article was written by Nam
Ngo Thanh (2024). Nam Ngo Thanh (2024) discussed that career guidance
in elementary education is about much more than just preparing children for
future jobs. It's about equipping them with the skills, knowledge,
and self-awareness they need to navigate an ever-changing
world. By starting early, we can help children develop a positive
attitude towards learning and work, broaden their horizons,
and lay the groundwork for informed decision-making in the
future.
Nam Ngo Thanh (2024) added the following key
points -
- Career guidance has traditionally been
associated with high school and college students on the cusp of entering
the workforce. However, a growing body of research suggests that
career-related learning should begin much earlier, even at the elementary
school level. This approach is gaining traction globally,
including in countries like Vietnam, as educators recognize the
importance of laying strong foundations for children's
future career development.
- By introducing career-related concepts
early, we can broaden children's horizons, exposing them to a wide
range of careers and combating limiting stereotypes.
- Career guidance activities can foster critical skills
like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.
- Connecting classroom learning to real-world
applications can enhance students' engagement and motivation.
- Helping children understand their interests, strengths, and values
from a young age can guide their future decisions.
- Moreover, instilling the idea that learning
is a continuous process prepares students for a rapidly
changing world.
Other authors have cited the importance of
elementary school career education.
Inspire Success (2025) and others summarized
“the focus of Career Awareness is to introduce K-5 students to
the many types of careers that exist, different working environments,
foster a positive attitude toward work and to help students understand
the connection between academics and their future career. Career
Awareness also introduces the idea that a career is more than a job.”
Maialearning.com (2025) summarized the first
major reason why career awareness is so important for K-5 students is that many
students are unaware of all of the various careers that they might be
interested in doing later in life.
Moonpreneur (2025) highlighted that play
is an essential activity because it aids the development of basic skills,
including problem-solving, decision-making, planning, and adaptability. All
these skills are fundamental in child career planning and for children’s
future careers. Playful learning integrated with exposure to a variety of
professions can effectively help parents and educators guide children on
their career choice, setting up a holistic children career plan. This early
emphasis on skill building and adaptability enables them to reach an
ideal career for kids while being better prepared for school, work, and
life.
Sharon Collins from the Kentucky Office of
Career and Technical Education (2024) proposed that elementary career
studies require a cross-curricular, interdisciplinary approach to
help students to cultivate a sense of self, identify areas of
interest, gain a sense of career awareness and understand the relationship
between academics and future careers.
Schoolinks (2023) emphasized career exposure
that starts in elementary school can help students to connect their interests
with possible future career paths and build an awareness of what careers
exist. Elementary school career awareness can foster curiosity in
learning, reduce stereotypes in the careers students see themselves being
able to do, and build confidence and enthusiasm as students think
about their futures with an open mind … planting seeds and helping
students make connections between their strengths and passions and
different careers can have a lasting impact.
Sumer Strawbree (2023) highlighted 7 Reasons
Why Career Exploration In Elementary School Matters …
- Early Exposure
- Career Awareness
- Reduce Dropouts
- Lifelong Learner
- Develop Skills
- Access
- Increase Motivation and Improve
Self-Esteem
Jamie Alexander and Laura Hubbs-Tait (2022)
agreed that at this stage what matters is that your child gets exposure to a
wide range of careers and a variety of activities that both require
some forethought or creativity in addition to developing and enhancing
their skills and abilities.
Kai Frazier (2022) continued “Career
exploration is the process of discovering, evaluating, and learning
about modern career paths and how students can pursue the careers of their
choice. But it's more than that. Elementary school career exploration should spark
curiosity, showcase career opportunities, and foster self-awareness.
It should help students learn more about themselves, so they can make
informed decisions about what kind of job would be fulfilling and aligned
with their unique skills.”
Rahsaan Bartet (2022) reported that career
literacy, when introduced early in life, can successfully challenge
self-limiting notions. One way of equipping students to overcome a lack
of information and make informed postsecondary decisions is by giving
them a chance to explore diverse job paths. Exploring different career
fields helps prepare them for both career and college. It’s also a way of providing
tools for young learners to achieve their goals — and in many cases,
aim higher.
Dr. Patrick Akos (2020) noted self and
career awareness breeds purpose and meaning, enhancing the self-direction
and hope of youth. Larry Bernstein (2021) stated that Early career planning
is all about self-discovery and helping children make sense of the world around
them. Bernstein cited an article by Professor Mary Edwin of the
University of Missouri-St Louis and Professor Diandra J. Prescod of The
Pennsylvania State University is a paper by career development theorist, Eli
Ginzberg. He says, the career choice process, “… occurs across three periods
– fantasy, tentative, and realistic choices.” Ginzberg believes the
tentative period begins around the time students are in fifth grade and it
involves them, “…making career choices based on information available to
them about their interests, skills, and values.
According to Purdue University (2019), “providing
students with access to core stem courses as early as elementary school increases
their interest in pursuing stem careers.”
Association for Career and Technical Education
(ACTE). (2018) agreed that the research has identified middle school as
a time when students can benefit the most from career exploration,
a process of building self-awareness, learning about potential
careers and developing a plan for reaching future goals.
Elnaz Kashefpakdel (2018) launched a survey to
find out how primary schools in the UK were responding to the career strategy
and what primary schools were doing to develop pupils’ understanding of the
world of work and the challenges they faced in doing so. The results
were primary schools viewed preparing children for their life in the
workplace as a significant part of the school’s role and,
importantly, this meant that the provision of learning activities that
related to the world of work was not currently felt by primary staff to be
imposed from above; instead these activities fit into what primary schools were
already trying to achieve”... Nearly all teachers agreed that introducing
children to the world of work was important in:
- Linking learning to the real world and in doing so increasing motivation
to work hard
- Challenging gender stereotyping about jobs and school subjects
- Broadening aspirations
Mildred Cahill and Edith Furey (2017) stated
that educators (pre-school and primary teachers, early childhood educators,
and day-care workers) are uniquely positioned to inspire, motivate,
and support children in their academic, social, emotional, and career
development. For children, it’s all about their present lives and their
dreams for the future. These dreams are often based in fantasy, but are
very real to children. As children mature physically, they grow socially and
learn to relate to other siblings, family, peers, and playmates. So too, they develop
cognitively, increase their critical thinking skills, and formulate
their values, ideas, and preferences. Career development for
young children (preschool, primary, and early elementary) is about helping
them in the here-and-now, the present, to develop a healthy sense
of self and the competencies that will enable them to reach
their full potential.
According to Dayes and Khan (2003), specific
elementary school career needs include a systematic process that will enable
children to develop sound educational and career plans (Starr,
1996), exploration of how self fits with specific careers
(McIntosh, 2000), and a focus on values, interests, and abilities--
not on gender role stereotypes.
Ediger (2000) reported that "the elementary
school years are not too early to begin to achieve a vision of what one
desires to do in life contributing to the world of work". Without
career education, students have unrealistic perceptions of careers
due to a lack of knowledge and poor decision making. Students
have limited knowledge and exposure to careers. When students look at the
different industries e.g. sports, media and entertainment, most students
underestimate the skills and time required to have successful
careers.
The South Carolina Department of Education (South
Carolina Law > Code
of Laws > Title
59) acknowledges the role of the parent in the career
awareness process as part of the Parental
Involvement in Their Children's Education Act. Parental involvement in
career awareness begins at an early age. Parents and extended family
members enhance and influence children's knowledge and awareness of
careers in a variety of ways. Children identify with family
careers early in life. Career awareness is the first step in
the career decision-making process, and it begins in the home and
community. Good career choices are a result of four main elements: self-knowledge,
readiness, fit, and support.
Purpose and Rationale for the My Rainbow Career Finder and Picture
Interest Survey
1. What does the My Rainbow Career Finder
and Picture Interest Survey measure?
The My Rainbow Career Finder and Picture
Interest Survey allow children to build awareness of careers.
2. What are the concepts or theories underlying
the development of the My Rainbow Career Finder and Picture
Interest Survey?
Dr. John L. Holland (1985) created Holland Code Career Model, Holland
Hexagon Model or Holland Codes. Holland/ RIASEC Code
assessments provide career information, college major information, lists
of careers, and job finder resources. There are print and
internet resources.
The Holland Code/ RIASEC Career Model
matches jobs into job codes, interest clusters, work personality
environments, or personality types. The Occupational Codes
are -
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Artistic
- Social
- Enterprising
- Conventional
Description of the My Rainbow Career
Finder
What is the structure of the
instrument?
The My Rainbow Career Finder and
Picture Interest Survey are virtual, visual learning tools for kids
that use graphics to represent Holland or RIASEC Codes.
The My Rainbow Career Finder and
Picture Interest Survey clarify thoughts, integrates new knowledge,
and promotes critical thinking. New concepts are more thoroughly and easily
understood.
The My Rainbow Career Finder and
Picture Interest Survey help students organize and analyze
information.
Children, youth, and adults –
- See how Holland (RIASEC) Codes are connected
to careers
- Realize how careers can be grouped
and organized
Components
What components do you anticipate will be required for
administering, scoring, and interpreting the My Rainbow Career Finder and
Picture Interest Survey ?
The My Rainbow Career Finder and
Picture Interest Survey are virtual, visual self-scoring career
awareness tool for children that use to discover Holland Codes.
Supplemental web course provides additional
activities to explore future careers.
Primary Markets
1.
What is the target population for the My Rainbow Career Finder and
Picture Interest Survey (i.e., demographic characteristics such as
age, gender, etc.)
The target population for the My
Rainbow Career Finder and Picture Interest Survey is elementary
or middle school students.
Other individuals who use the My Rainbow
Career Finder and Picture Interest Survey include people
–
- Who are In ESL/GED programs
- Who have limited reading ability
- Who have limited knowledge of English
- Who are developmentally delayed
- Who are learning disabled
- Who have special needs
- Who have limited access to education
2.
What professional discipline(s) would be the potential purchasers and
users of the My Rainbow Career Finder and Picture Interest
Survey?
Professional disciplines include –
- Universities and college – Elementary school education and
counseling professors,
- Teaching
– Teachers, tutors, and home educators
- Counseling – School counselors, career development
facilitators, life coaches, and career coaches
- Child Development – After School Instructors, Career Day
Facilitators, and Community Agency Staff
- Social Services – Social workers, crisis counselors, and
At – Risk Children Program Staff
3.
Which settings would be appropriate for use of My Rainbow Career Finder
and Picture Interest Survey (e.g., schools, private clinics,
hospitals, private practice, etc.)?
Settings for the My Rainbow Career Finder
and Picture Interest Survey include –
- Schools
- Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/ YWCA Programs,
and other community organizations
- Afterschool Programs
- Kids Go To Work Days
- Career Days
- Summer School Programs
Market Competition and Special
Features of the My Rainbow Career Finder and Picture
Interest Survey
What other Programs are currently
available that serve a similar function?
There is not a wide selection of Holland or
RIASEC Code, visual career Programs available for elementary or middle school.
Please visit our Kid
Career Awareness System for more information about references, updates, products
and discounts.
