Career Guidance Session Guide
A practical structure for educators, counselors and mentors conducting career-discovery sessions with students.
This guide provides educators, counselors, and mentors with a practical structure for conducting a career-discovery session. It is designed to facilitate conversation, not to act as a lecture script. Use this form to take notes during the session.
1. Preparation
- Review any previous notes or assessments (like the Penagix Assessment) the student has completed.
- Ensure a relaxed, unpressured environment.
2. Opening Questions
- "What activities have you enjoyed most this term?"
- "What subjects or projects felt like they required the least effort to focus on?"
3. Strengths & Skills Discussion
- Help the student distinguish between what they are interested in and what they are actually naturally strong at.
- Use the Skills Library to map their hobbies to real-world capabilities.
4. Career Exploration & Comparison
- Introduce the Career Atlas.
- Have them compare 3 careers using the Career Comparison Worksheet, focusing on alignment rather than just salary or prestige.
5. Action Planning & Follow-up
- Define one small experiment (e.g., interviewing a professional, trying a small project).
- Set a date for the next check-in.
Intelligence Summary
Session in Progress
A successful guidance session must end with an action. Be sure to fill out the Action Planning (Phase 5) notes before concluding.
Related Resources
Student Career Conversation Questions
A curated set of questions for teachers, counselors and mentors to use in career conversations with students.
Career Discovery Toolkit
A practical guide to understanding yourself, exploring your strengths and skills, investigating careers and making more informed career decisions.
Student Career Discovery Guide
A focused guide for students who are unsure where to begin with career exploration.