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lenny

Career Compass

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eric.hurst

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Session 1 Lesson Plan

Students will identify their personal strengths and interests and draft an initial career goal through guided self-assessment and reflection.

Understanding one’s unique skills and passions empowers students to align future career choices with intrinsic motivators, boosting engagement and long-term success.

Audience

High School Students (16–19 years old)

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Interactive self-assessment and reflective discussion.

Materials

  • Strengths and Interests Worksheet, - Career Interest Card Sort, and - Career Goal-Setting Template

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Review all generated materials before class to familiarize yourself with activities and templates.
  • Print one copy per student of Strengths and Interests Worksheet.
  • Print and cut out the cards for the Career Interest Card Sort activity (enough cards for small groups).
  • Print one copy per student of the Career Goal-Setting Template.
  • Gather pens or markers and set up chart paper or whiteboard for group discussion.

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Briefly outline today’s objectives: self-assessment of strengths/interests and drafting a career goal.
  • Highlight why knowing your strengths and interests is vital for career decision-making.
  • Invite students to think about what energizes and excites them.

Step 2

Self-Assessment Activity

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Strengths and Interests Worksheet.
  • Instruct students to complete Section A (list 3–5 personal strengths) and Section B (identify 3–5 areas of genuine interest).
  • Encourage honest and specific responses.

Step 3

Group Discussion & Card Sort

5 minutes

  • Form small groups of 3–4 students.
  • Provide each group with a set of Career Interest Card Sort cards.
  • Have students share one strength and one interest from their worksheets.
  • Together, sort cards that match group members’ interests and discuss why certain careers appeal to them.

Step 4

Goal-Setting Reflection

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Career Goal-Setting Template.
  • Ask students to write one SMART career goal that connects a top strength with an area of interest.
  • Prompt them to specify next steps they can take this week toward that goal.
lenny

Worksheet

Strengths and Interests Worksheet

Instructions

Use this worksheet to identify your personal strengths and areas of genuine interest. Be honest and specific in your responses.

Section A: Personal Strengths

List at least 3–5 qualities or skills that you consider to be your strengths. These can be things like leadership, creativity, problem-solving, communication, resilience, etc.

  1. ________________________________________________________________





  2. ________________________________________________________________





  3. ________________________________________________________________





  4. ________________________________________________________________





  5. ________________________________________________________________





Section B: Areas of Interest

Identify at least 3–5 topics, subjects, or activities that genuinely excite you or that you enjoy doing in your free time (e.g., technology, art, helping others, sports, writing).

  1. ________________________________________________________________





  2. ________________________________________________________________





  3. ________________________________________________________________





  4. ________________________________________________________________





  5. ________________________________________________________________





Section C: Reflection

  1. Do you notice any patterns or connections between your strengths and your interests? Describe them below.












  1. How might you use one of your top strengths to pursue an area of interest in a future career or learning opportunity?












Next Steps: After completing this worksheet, pick one strength–interest pairing and bring it to Session 1 for our group discussion and card sort activity. You'll use this pairing to begin drafting a SMART career goal on the Career Goal-Setting Template.*

lenny
lenny

Activity

Career Interest Card Sort

Objective

Help students explore a range of careers by sorting career cards into categories that align with their personal interests.

Materials

  • Printed and cut cards (one set per small group) featuring different careers listed below.
  • Chart paper or whiteboard for group notes.

Instructions

  1. Form small groups of 3–4 students.
  2. Give each group a shuffled deck of career cards.
  3. Ask groups to sort the cards into 3–4 interest-based categories (for example: Creative, Analytical, Helping, Technical).
  4. Once sorted, have students pick one card from each category and discuss:
    • Why does this career fit that category?
    • Which careers stand out to you and why?
  5. Invite each group to share one interesting career and the category they placed it in.

Career Cards (print and cut one card per career)

  • Architect
  • Artist
  • Chef
  • Civil Engineer
  • Data Analyst
  • Environmental Scientist
  • Event Planner
  • Financial Advisor
  • Graphic Designer
  • Journalist
  • Marketing Specialist
  • Nurse
  • Photographer
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • Software Developer
  • Teacher
  • Writer
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Entrepreneur

Next Steps: After sorting, students will reflect on which category contained the most cards they liked and consider exploring that career cluster further in drafting their SMART goal on the Career Goal-Setting Template.*

lenny
lenny

Discussion

Session 1 Discussion

Discussion Guidelines

  • Listen respectfully: Let each classmate finish before responding.
  • Speak honestly and thoughtfully: Share examples from your own experience.
  • Build on others’ ideas: Ask follow-up questions and look for connections.
  • Stay on topic: Focus on strengths, interests, and career possibilities.

Opening Prompt (Whole Class)

  1. Think about the top strength–interest pairing you noted on your Strengths and Interests Worksheet.
    • What is that pairing, and why did you choose it?











  2. Which career(s) from the Career Interest Card Sort did you feel most drawn to? 
    • Describe one career that stood out and explain what aspect of your strength or interest connects to it.











Guided Questions and Follow-Ups

A. Exploring Connections

  • How does your personal strength show up in the daily tasks of this career?
    Follow-Up: Can you give a specific example of a task you’d excel at?











B. Addressing Challenges

  • What challenges might you face when using this strength in a professional setting?
    Follow-Up: What skills or support could help you overcome those challenges?











C. Broadening Perspectives

  • Did any group members choose the same career? If so, what different strengths did you bring to that idea?
    Follow-Up: How might combining different strengths improve your chances of success?











Closing Reflection

  1. In one sentence, share an insight you gained from today’s discussion about how your strengths and interests guide your career ideas.











  2. As you begin filling out the Career Goal-Setting Template, what is one concrete next step you will commit to this week?











lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Session 2 Lesson Plan

Students will refine their SMART career goals and develop a concrete action plan with deadlines to guide their next steps post-school.

Translating goals into actionable steps ensures accountability and momentum, helping students move from planning to real-world progress.

Audience

High School Students (16–19 years old)

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Goal-setting workshop, peer feedback, and action planning.

Materials

  • Career Goal-Setting Template, and - Action Plan Worksheet

Prep

Prepare Session 2 Materials

10 minutes

  • Review the Career Goal-Setting Template and Action Plan Worksheet.
  • Print one copy per student of each template.
  • Gather pens or markers and set up chart paper or whiteboard for group sharing.
  • Arrange seating for quick partner and whole-class discussions.

Step 1

Review & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Invite students to share the SMART goal they drafted last session.
  • Ask: What elements feel clear? Where do you need more detail?

Step 2

SMART Goal Refinement Workshop

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Career Goal-Setting Template.
  • Guide students through each SMART component, prompting specific metrics and realistic timelines.
  • Circulate to coach on clarity and feasibility.

Step 3

Peer Feedback Activity

5 minutes

  • Pair students up.
  • Each student reads their refined SMART goal aloud.
  • Partners offer two strengths and one suggestion using sentence starters (e.g., “I like how…”, “What if you…”).
  • Encourage respectful, constructive feedback.

Step 4

Action Planning Discussion

3 minutes

  • Hand out the Action Plan Worksheet.
  • Ask students to list three actionable next steps with target dates.
  • Invite volunteers to share one action step and its deadline with the class.
lenny

Worksheet

Career Goal-Setting Template

Instructions

Use the SMART framework to craft a clear and actionable career goal. Fill in each section below, then combine them into one concise SMART goal statement. Finally, outline 2–3 immediate action steps with target dates.

Specific

What exactly do you want to achieve? Describe the who, what, where, and why of your career goal.
_______________________________________________________________





Measurable

How will you measure your progress or know when you’ve accomplished this goal? Include a quantifiable metric or outcome.
_______________________________________________________________





Achievable

Is this goal realistic given your current skills, resources, and constraints? Explain briefly how you will make it happen.
_______________________________________________________________





Relevant

Why does this goal matter for your career path? Connect it to your strengths, interests, or long-term aspirations.
_______________________________________________________________





Time-Bound

What is your deadline for achieving this goal? Specify a date or timeframe.
_______________________________________________________________





Final SMART Goal Statement

Combine all elements above into one clear, compelling sentence.
_______________________________________________________________









Immediate Action Steps

List 2–3 concrete steps you will take this week to move toward your SMART goal. Be specific and include target dates.

  1. ___________________________________________________________ (Target date: ___________)





  2. ___________________________________________________________ (Target date: ___________)





  3. ___________________________________________________________ (Target date: ___________)





Use this template to revisit and refine your goal regularly. Keep it visible as a reminder of your career aspirations and next steps.

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Action Plan Worksheet

Instructions

Use this worksheet to break down your SMART career goal into specific, time-bound action steps. For each step, write what you will do, when you will do it, and any resources you’ll need.

  1. Action Step 1
    What will you do? ________________________________________________________
    Target Date: ____________________





  2. Action Step 2
    What will you do? ________________________________________________________
    Target Date: ____________________





  3. Action Step 3
    What will you do? ________________________________________________________
    Target Date: ____________________





  4. (Optional) Action Step 4
    What will you do? ________________________________________________________
    Target Date: ____________________





  5. (Optional) Action Step 5
    What will you do? ________________________________________________________
    Target Date: ____________________





Reflection on Potential Challenges

Identify one potential barrier you might face and describe a strategy to overcome it.

Barrier: ____________________________________________________________







Strategy: ___________________________________________________________







Keep this worksheet visible and revisit it weekly to track your progress and adjust deadlines as needed.

lenny
lenny