Hosting Memorable Virtual Career Days
By Jessica Watkins | January 2024
If being an educator during the global pandemic of 2020 taught us anything, it was how to get creative virtually. School counselors nationwide had to quickly shift from time-tested techniques to reaching students through a screen. However, getting more comfortable with technology offers a lot of benefits. One of these is the ability to host virtual career days that your students will remember their entire school career.
Career days give students access to various careers that can help them start planning for their futures (ASCA Mindset Standard 6). They allow students the opportunity to explore career experiences outside of community helpers, educators and what their parents and family members do. A successful career day can open students’ eyes to a world they didn’t know was an option. One of the best compliments a school counselor can receive after hosting a successful career day is, “Well, now I have no idea what I want to do. I didn’t even know some of these jobs existed.” Planning a career day takes time, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to share with students.
Hosting a virtual career day is a way to streamline the process and get more grade levels involved. Space is no longer an issue because hosts don’t have to worry about room capacity. Creating prerecorded virtual interviews also allows younger grades to pause and watch in parts throughout the day. Teachers also have the chance to use these videos throughout the year.
School counselors can find hosts all over the world. Location is no longer a factor and anyone can join from anywhere. Career day speakers can participate from down the street in an office or across the country in a Hollywood studio.
Let’s face it: We live in a virtual world and many kids feel more comfortable talking to adults through screens. Virtual presentations also allow more timid students to type answers rather than ask questions in front of their peers. A virtual career day is a perfect example of using media and technology to enhance learning (ASCA Behavioral Standard LS 5).
Virtual career days can consist of prerecorded interviews, live virtual sessions or a blend of the two. Each session format has its benefits and any combination of them benefits students.
Prerecorded interviews are helpful when the speaker is unavailable during the live session times and help the school counselor build a career day library. The host – either the counselor, teacher or a group of students – asks the professional a series of questions about their career and the path they took to get there. Interviews are more meaningful when the presenter has a visual to embed in the video. Examples of visuals include a tour of the workplace, photos and videos of designs or products, or demonstrations. To get students involved, ask them to write down questions ahead of time that they want to ask someone in that specific career and add them throughout the interview. School counselors can even record students asking questions to share with the presenter.
For more interactive experiences, live virtual sessions using Zoom or Google Meet are easy to organize and share. Simply pair each career day speaker with a teacher or staff member on campus using their Zoom room or Google Meet code. Copy the codes and link them to the document or slide decks students will use. Students can access the career of their choice from the comfort of their own classroom by joining the session. They can ask questions and watch the presenter in real time. Presenters can share their screens and videos, slides and other visuals.
Helpful hints:
It’s never too early to start recruiting career day speakers – you can begin recruiting speakers at back-to-school events. Publish in the school newsletters, reach out to friends and family and ask teachers to use their connections to find speakers.
Host a training session for teachers to familiarize them with the format and expectations. The more specific the training, the easier it will be for everyone to be on the same page. This will help everything run smoothly.
Train students on what to expect with a student training lesson. School counselors can share the training individually with classes, or record and share it with teachers to present to their classes.
Remember that hiccups are likely to occur, so stay calm. Having a campus technology person available to help sort these out is helpful.
Use the QR code below or link here to access all the resources mentioned, including a virtual library of interviews, sample schedules, emails and more.
Contact Jessica Watkins, school counselor at Spring Creek Elementary in Dallas, Texas, at Jessica.Watkins@risd.org
Why a Career Day?
Career days give students access to various careers that can help them start planning for their futures (ASCA Mindset Standard 6). They allow students the opportunity to explore career experiences outside of community helpers, educators and what their parents and family members do. A successful career day can open students’ eyes to a world they didn’t know was an option. One of the best compliments a school counselor can receive after hosting a successful career day is, “Well, now I have no idea what I want to do. I didn’t even know some of these jobs existed.” Planning a career day takes time, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to share with students.
Benefits of a Virtual Career Day
Hosting a virtual career day is a way to streamline the process and get more grade levels involved. Space is no longer an issue because hosts don’t have to worry about room capacity. Creating prerecorded virtual interviews also allows younger grades to pause and watch in parts throughout the day. Teachers also have the chance to use these videos throughout the year.School counselors can find hosts all over the world. Location is no longer a factor and anyone can join from anywhere. Career day speakers can participate from down the street in an office or across the country in a Hollywood studio.
Let’s face it: We live in a virtual world and many kids feel more comfortable talking to adults through screens. Virtual presentations also allow more timid students to type answers rather than ask questions in front of their peers. A virtual career day is a perfect example of using media and technology to enhance learning (ASCA Behavioral Standard LS 5).
Virtual Career Day Formats
Virtual career days can consist of prerecorded interviews, live virtual sessions or a blend of the two. Each session format has its benefits and any combination of them benefits students.Prerecorded interviews are helpful when the speaker is unavailable during the live session times and help the school counselor build a career day library. The host – either the counselor, teacher or a group of students – asks the professional a series of questions about their career and the path they took to get there. Interviews are more meaningful when the presenter has a visual to embed in the video. Examples of visuals include a tour of the workplace, photos and videos of designs or products, or demonstrations. To get students involved, ask them to write down questions ahead of time that they want to ask someone in that specific career and add them throughout the interview. School counselors can even record students asking questions to share with the presenter.
For more interactive experiences, live virtual sessions using Zoom or Google Meet are easy to organize and share. Simply pair each career day speaker with a teacher or staff member on campus using their Zoom room or Google Meet code. Copy the codes and link them to the document or slide decks students will use. Students can access the career of their choice from the comfort of their own classroom by joining the session. They can ask questions and watch the presenter in real time. Presenters can share their screens and videos, slides and other visuals.
Helpful hints:
- School counselors can use Zoom if their district has a Zoom pro membership or higher plan. The plan must allow meetings of longer than 30 minutes.
- Another option is Google Meet, which works in virtually the same way as Zoom.
- Create a schedule and assign every career day speaker a host (teacher or staff member).
- Ask the host to copy and paste their personal Zoom room link and email it to the person putting together the schedule.
- Add a hyperlink to the career title on the slide deck or career sheet for students to click and access the specific meeting.
Special Considerations
It’s never too early to start recruiting career day speakers – you can begin recruiting speakers at back-to-school events. Publish in the school newsletters, reach out to friends and family and ask teachers to use their connections to find speakers.Host a training session for teachers to familiarize them with the format and expectations. The more specific the training, the easier it will be for everyone to be on the same page. This will help everything run smoothly.
Train students on what to expect with a student training lesson. School counselors can share the training individually with classes, or record and share it with teachers to present to their classes.
Remember that hiccups are likely to occur, so stay calm. Having a campus technology person available to help sort these out is helpful.
Resources
Use the QR code below or link here to access all the resources mentioned, including a virtual library of interviews, sample schedules, emails and more.Contact Jessica Watkins, school counselor at Spring Creek Elementary in Dallas, Texas, at Jessica.Watkins@risd.org