Interest & Skills Bingo

Instructions:

• This is an individual bingo activity. Look at each square and mark those that describe your interests or skills.
• Once you have at least five marked in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally), you’ve got BINGO!
• For each marked square, be ready to explain why it applies to you.

Reflection Prompts (after BINGO):

1. Which three squares did you mark most confidently, and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Pick one skill or interest you hadn’t thought about before today. How might you explore it further?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Self-Assessment Worksheet

1. Personal Interests

List three activities or topics you enjoy the most.

1. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
2. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
3. _____________________________________________
   
   
   

Why do you enjoy these activities or topics? Describe what draws you to them.

2. Skills & Strengths

Identify three skills or strengths you feel confident about.

1. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
2. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
3. _____________________________________________
   
   
   

For one skill above, explain why it’s important to you and how you’ve used it before.

3. Core Values

Choose three values that guide your decisions (e.g., honesty, creativity, helping others).

1. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
2. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
3. _____________________________________________
   
   
   

Pick one value and describe how it shows up in your daily life, school, or work.

4. Reflection

Of all the interests, skills, and values you listed above, which one stands out as most important for your future career exploration? Explain why this matters to you.

Session 1 Discussion

Purpose: Help the student reflect on their self-assessment, connect interests/skills/values to potential careers, and set the stage for targeted exploration in future sessions.

1. Set the Stage (1 minute)

• Remind the student of today’s activities: the Interest & Skills Bingo Game and the Self-Assessment Worksheet.
  
• “Today we saw a lot about what you enjoy and where your strengths lie. Let’s talk about how those things might connect to a future career.”

2. Review Key Insights (2 minutes)

Question 1: “Which three skills or interests from your bingo card did you mark most confidently, and why?”

• Follow-up: “Can you give an example of when you used that skill in school or outside of school?”

• Follow-up: “How did it feel when you were doing that activity?”

Question 2: “On your Self-Assessment Worksheet, you listed values like ___, ___, and ___—which value stands out as most important to you?”

• Follow-up: “How does that value show up in your day-to-day life?”

3. Connect to Careers (1 minute)

Question: “Thinking about those top interests, skills, and values, what kinds of jobs or fields come to mind?”

• Prompt: “For example, if you love problem-solving, what roles might let you solve puzzles or challenges every day?”

Follow-up: “Are there any jobs you’ve heard of that sound like they’d use the things you enjoy?”

4. Link to Goals (1 minute)

• Bring out the My Future Goals Worksheet.
  
  Question: “You wrote a short-term goal of ___ and a long-term goal of ___. How can using today’s insights help you move toward those goals?”

5. Looking Ahead (1 minute)

• “Next session, we’ll research specific careers that match your skills and values. You’ll start gathering info on what those jobs actually look like.”
  
• Encourage the student: “Over the week, notice any activities or tasks you enjoy. We’ll bring those examples back next time.”

Materials for Discussion:

• Interest & Skills Bingo Game
• Self-Assessment Worksheet
• My Future Goals Worksheet
• Reflection Journal Prompt (Reflection Journal Prompt)

Tips for the Teacher:

• Listen for emerging themes (e.g., helping others, creativity) and jot notes.
• Validate the student’s choices: “That’s a great observation.”
• Keep the tone conversational and supportive.

My Future Goals Worksheet

1. Short-Term Career Goal (Next 1–6 Months)

Write one specific and achievable short-term career goal based on today’s insights.

How will today’s self-assessment (interests, skills, values) help you reach this goal?

2. Long-Term Career Goal (1–5 Years)

Write one long-term career aspiration that excites you.

What steps, skills, or experiences will you need to develop to achieve this long-term goal?

How does this goal align with your interests, skills, and values?

Reflection Journal Prompt

Reflect on today’s session by answering the prompts below:

1. How do today’s insights about your interests, skills, and values shape your thinking about possible careers?

1. Which activity (Bingo, Self-Assessment, or Goal-Setting) helped you understand yourself the most today, and why?

1. What is one new idea or question about your career path that you’d like to explore further this week?

Session 1 Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Purpose: Build rapport, ease into conversation, and introduce today’s focus on career exploration.

Steps:

1. Greet the student warmly and thank them for joining today’s session.
   
   
2. Quick Icebreaker – “Tell me one hobby or interest you enjoy outside of school. What do you like about it?”
   
   
3. Follow-Up Question – “If you could turn that hobby into a job, what might it look like? Why?”
   
   
4. Transition – “Great insights! Today, we’ll dive deeper into what you enjoy doing and how your strengths and values can shape your future career.”

Session 1 Cool-Down (5 minutes)

Purpose: Consolidate today’s learning, gather feedback, and set a next step for continued career exploration.

1. Key Insight (Reflection)

What is one thing you learned about yourself today?

2. Helpful Activity (Feedback)

Which activity (Bingo, Self-Assessment, or Goal-Setting) helped you the most, and why?

3. Action Plan (Next Steps)

What is one specific action you will take this week to explore an interest or skill further?

4. Confidence Rating

On a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high), how confident do you feel about taking this action? Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5

Closing: Thank the student for their thoughtful responses and remind them to keep noticing activities or skills they enjoy. You’ll revisit their action plan in the next session.

Career Interests Match Game

Instructions:

1. You have two sets of cards: Interests & Skills and Careers. Cut out or list each item separately.
2. Review one Interest/Skill card at a time and find the Career card you think best matches it.
3. Once you’ve made all matches, explain your reasoning for each pair.
4. Be prepared to discuss any surprises or new ideas that came up.

Interests & Skills Cards

1. Problem-solving puzzles
2. Working with numbers
3. Helping others
4. Artistic drawing
5. Coding/Programming
6. Leading group projects
7. Teaching others
8. Analyzing data

Careers Cards

A. Software Engineer
B. Accountant
C. Social Worker
D. Graphic Designer
E. Data Analyst
F. Project Manager
G. Teacher
H. Web Developer

Matching Space

Reflection Questions

1. Which match felt most obvious to you, and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Was there any interest-skill pairing that surprised you when you saw the career description? How so?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Career Research Worksheet

Instructions:

• Select 2–3 careers you matched in the Career Interests Match Game.
• Use reliable sources (e.g., O*NET Online, Bureau of Labor Statistics) to find each career’s details.

Reflection Questions

1. Which career surprised you the most based on your research, and why?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What is one follow-up question you still have about a career you researched?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reflection Journal Prompt

Reflect on your career research by answering the prompts below:

1. Which career discovery excited you the most, and why?

1. What required skills, training, or salary information surprised you the most, and how does that influence your view of the career?

1. How do these career options align with your interests, skills, and values from Session 1?

1. What is one specific action you will take this week to explore one of these careers further (e.g., informational interview, online article, job shadow)?

1. On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much), how confident are you feeling about moving forward with this action? Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5

Resume Basics Worksheet

Use this to draft key sections of your resume. Fill in each area below with your own information.

1. Contact Information

Full Name: _________________________________

Phone Number: _______________________________

Email Address: ______________________________

LinkedIn or Website (if any): ________________

2. Professional Summary or Objective

Write 1–2 sentences highlighting your strengths and goals for the type of role you want.

_____________________________________________

3. Education

School Name / Location / Graduation Date:

_____________________________________________

Relevant Coursework or GPA (optional):

_____________________________________________

4. Skills & Strengths

List 4–6 skills or qualities that match your career interests (e.g., technical skills, teamwork, communication).

1. _________________________________
   
2. _________________________________
   
3. _________________________________
   
4. _________________________________
   
5. _________________________________
   
6. _________________________________
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Experience (Jobs, Internships, Volunteering)

Role / Organization / Dates

• Key responsibility or achievement: ___________________________
  
• Key responsibility or achievement: ___________________________
  
  
  Role / Organization / Dates
  
• Key responsibility or achievement: ___________________________
  
• Key responsibility or achievement: ___________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  

6. Additional Sections (Awards, Projects, Activities)

Title / Date:

• Details: _________________________________________________
  
  
  
  
  
  

Cover Letter Basics Guide

A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer, highlights how your skills match the job, and expresses your interest. Use the sections below as a template to draft your own.

1. Header & Contact Information

Your Name
123 Main St, City, State ZIP
(123) 456-7890
email@example.com


Employer Name
Company Name
Company Address

2. Salutation

Dear [Hiring Manager Name],

3. Introduction Paragraph

– State the position you’re applying for and how you heard about it.

– Briefly mention one key strength or achievement that makes you a strong fit.


Example starter: “I am excited to apply for the ___ position at ___ because…”

4. Body Paragraph(s)

– Paragraph 1: Connect one of your skills/experiences to a requirement in the job posting.
• What you did (project, class, job) and the result.
• How this skill will help in the new role.




– Paragraph 2: Highlight another relevant skill or quality.
• Describe an example where you demonstrated it.
• Explain why it matters for this role.

5. Closing Paragraph

– Reiterate your enthusiasm and fit for the role.

– Request an interview or next step.
– Thank them for their time and consideration.

6. Signature

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Draft Your Cover Letter

Header & Salutation

Your Name: _______________________________

Employer Name: ____________________________

Introduction Paragraph

___________________________________________


___________________________________________


___________________________________________

Body Paragraph 1

___________________________________________


___________________________________________


___________________________________________

Body Paragraph 2

___________________________________________


___________________________________________


___________________________________________

Closing Paragraph

___________________________________________


___________________________________________


___________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________

Networking Role-Play Scenarios

Purpose: Practice your elevator pitch in different real-world networking situations. Each scenario includes context and space to write a brief, 30-second introduction.

Instructions

1. Read each scenario below.
2. Use the Pitch Template to draft your introduction.
3. Role-play with a partner or the teacher, then swap feedback.
4. After each role-play, complete the reflection prompts.

Pitch Template

• Name & Background: “Hello, I’m ___ and I’m a junior at ___ High School studying ___.”


• Key Strength/Interest: “I’m passionate about ___ and have experience with ___.”


• Goal/Ask: “I’m interested in learning more about ___ in your organization and any advice you might have.”


• Closing: “Thank you for your time. May I follow up with you by email?”

Scenario 1: High School Career Fair

You’re at a table for a local engineering firm. The recruiter looks busy. Practice introducing yourself and asking one question about engineering roles.

Your Pitch:

Reflection:

1. What went well? ___________
   
   
   
2. What could you improve? ___________
   
   
   

Scenario 2: Informational Interview Request

You’ve emailed a tech startup employee and set up a 10-minute video call. Introduce yourself at the start of the call and explain why you requested their time.

Your Pitch:

Reflection:

1. How clear was your purpose? ___________
   
   
   
2. Did you make a specific ask? ___________
   
   
   

Scenario 3: Community Networking Event

You’re meeting a volunteer coordinator at a nonprofit meetup. Practice sharing your skills and asking about volunteer opportunities.

Your Pitch:

Reflection:

1. Which part felt most confident? ___________
   
   
   
2. What additional info could make it stronger? ___________
   
   
   

Next Steps: Choose one scenario to film yourself practicing. Watch the recording, note one strength and one improvement, and adjust your pitch accordingly.

Reflection Journal Prompt

Reflect on today’s session by answering the prompts below:

1. What part of creating your resume or cover letter did you find most challenging, and why?

1. Which activity (resume drafting, cover letter writing, or networking role-play) gave you the most confidence, and why?

1. What is one specific step you will take to improve your resume, cover letter, or networking pitch before our next session?

1. On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much), how prepared do you feel to reach out to a potential employer or contact? Circle one: 1 2 3 4 5

Job Shadow Planning Worksheet

1. Career Focus

Organization/Company to Shadow: _________________________________






Contact Person & Role: ____________________________________________

2. Outreach Plan

Who will you contact (name/position)? ____________________________






Method of outreach (email, phone, LinkedIn, etc.): _________________






Draft your initial message or email:

3. Learning Goals

What 2–3 things do you want to observe or learn during your shadow?

1. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
2. _____________________________________________
   
   
   
3. _____________________________________________
   
   
   

4. Proposed Logistics

Preferred Date(s) & Time(s): _________________________________






Location/Address: ______________________________________________






Transportation Plan (how you’ll get there): _______________________

5. Preparation Checklist

Questions to ask during the shadow:_______________________________






Materials to bring (notebook, ID, etc.): __________________________






Professional attire or dress code notes: __________________________

6. Potential Challenges & Solutions

Barrier you might face: __________________________________________




Plan/solution to address it: _______________________________________

7. Next Steps

After your job shadow, what is one action you will take to follow up or reflect on your experience?