At Visions, we have a dedicated team of counselors who provide a variety of services to our students. One of their focuses is helping students prepare to enter the workforce, whether that be landing a part-time job during high school or securing a career after graduation. From resumes to interviews, our counselors help students prepare for every step of the job search process.

“Visions students have more flexibility to work at a job that is interesting to them, and we give them the option of earning credits through our Employment Skills class,” says Independent Study Counselor Megan Goudy. “But we noticed that many of our students didn’t know where to start. The counselors received various questions throughout the fall on the topic, which was the inspiration for this series.”

Together with Independent Study Counselor Kiely Anderson and Independent Study/University Prep Counselor Estrella Rosales, Megan led a session on the basics of finding and researching jobs. After noticing opportunities for growth, as well as increased student interest in additional support, what began as a single session evolved into a comprehensive “411 on Jobs” series to provide continued support to students. These sessions included an introduction to job searching basics, guidance on crafting and improving resumes, tips on what to wear, and mock interviews to provide real-time practice for students.

“Students were looking for guidance and support,” explains Kiely. “Our goal was to equip them with a foundational understanding of the job search process—including how to find opportunities, build strong résumés, prepare for interviews, and present themselves professionally.”

Putting in the Work

From fast food to retail to hospitality, our students expressed interest in a variety of jobs. Students Maria C. (11th grade, Independent Study) and Bassam I. (12th grade, University Prep), participated in three out of four sessions of the series, joining Nehemiah G. (9th grade, Independent Study) and Nia S. (11th grade, Independent Study) for in-person mock interviews.

“We had a total of 47 different students from grades 9-12 participate in at least one of our sessions. We have a solid foundation for this series and hopefully it can become a staple our students can look forward to,” says Estrella. “We focus on the academic side of school but we want to include more opportunities for students to develop their personal and professional skills that extend beyond the classroom.”

The counselors plan to offer this series again next year to give new Visions students and those who will be ready to find a job the same opportunities to learn. Thank you Kiely, Megan, Estrella, and our Counseling team for your continued commitment to preparing our students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.