A Guide for Teens
Explore your strengths, consider different career paths, and identify a practical next step after high school.
Start with Your Working Genius
Thinking about your future can feel exciting—and a little overwhelming. The best place to start is by identifying your Working Genius . These natural strengths show you how you think, create, and contribute. Knowing your Genius can help you spot careers and environments where you’ll thrive.
For example, someone with Wonder + Galvanizing loves asking big questions and rallying others to take action, while another with Enablement + Tenacity thrives in supportive, results-driven roles. When you understand your Genius, you can look at career paths through the lens of who you are, not just what you “should” do.
Route Exploration
There’s no single “right way” to build a career after high school. Your Working Genius can guide you toward paths that fit your natural strengths, but there are many ways to get started. Some students thrive by earning certifications and jumping straight into the workforce, while others prefer college, entrepreneurship, or learning through experience. The routes below highlight different options you can mix, match, or move between as you grow.
| Route | Description |
|---|---|
| Certs + Work | Stack certifications with hands-on jobs to build a powerful résumé. |
| College | Earn a college degree to enter a career that requires it. Think teachers, school administrators, doctors, lawyers, registered nurses, and others. Take advantage of dual enrollment to save time and money on your degree. |
| Entrepreneurship | Start small and learn business by doing. |
| Internship | Explore a field through supervised work experience. Check each opportunity’s responsibilities and pay. |
| Organic Route | Start in a job or field of interest and gradually shape it into something you love. |
| Two-Job Route | Work for money to live on while exploring your passion on the side. Build a portfolio of work you’re developing. |
How Do I Get Started?
To help you narrow down a career path that fits you, explore job postings that align with your interests, values, and personal constraints. Remember, this doesn’t have to be your forever career. You can explore one path and later pivot as you grow and discover new interests.
- Field of Interest Explore job listings on Indeed, ZipRecruiter , and LinkedIn. Look for recurring qualifications and responsibilities. Consider your preferences for location, schedule, education requirements, industry, and compensation.
- Qualifications and Salaries Compile a list of qualifications required for positions that appeal to you. Research salary ranges to set realistic expectations using resources such as Glassdoor, Salary.com, or Salary Transparent Street .
- Education and Certifications If education or certifications are prerequisites, compare ways to acquire them, including online courses and local programs. Consider the cost, time required, and relevance to the roles you’re exploring.
- Job Experience Look for entry-level positions in your field of interest to start building hands-on experience. Explore Indeed, ZipRecruiter , and LinkedIn. Also visit the career pages of companies you admire.
- Networking Schedule conversations with professionals already working in a field you’re considering. Ask about their daily work, career path, and advice for someone getting started.
- Career Path Planning Research the costs associated with required education and certifications. Create a roadmap outlining the steps needed to reach your goals. Explore the resources at Ohio Means Jobs .
- Financial Aid Explore scholarship and grant opportunities to help cover the cost of education or training. Review eligibility requirements and application deadlines.
- Budgeting for Loans Before borrowing, compare the cost of your education with realistic starting pay and expected living expenses. Review the loan terms and what repayment would require. The documentary Borrowed Future offers another perspective to consider as you research.
- Consult with Professionals Before committing to student loans, talk with two or more people working in your chosen field. Ask what they enjoy, what challenges they face, and how their education has contributed to their work. Use those conversations to help evaluate your options and the investment involved.
You don’t have to complete every step at once. Choose one action that will help you learn more about a path you’re considering.
Learn from the Experience of Others
My own career path has taken me through multiple industries, earning a degree as a stay-at-home mom, and later re-entering the workforce. For a long time, I saw this winding path as unusual—until I identified my Working Geniuses: Wonder and Galvanizing. I realized that curiosity, idea-generation, and rallying others were consistent threads in everything I’d done. That self-knowledge reframed my background from “scattered” to “strength-based.”
To any teens just beginning their own career path: know that it’s okay not to have all the answers right away. Your journey doesn’t have to follow a straight line to be meaningful or successful. Explore different interests, take chances, and pay attention to what energizes you. The things that make you different may just be your greatest strengths.
Final Takeaway
You don’t need to have it all figured out right now. Use what you learn about your Working Genius as one guide as you explore different routes, try opportunities, and notice what energizes you. Your interests, skills, circumstances, and experiences can all help shape your next step.