Career Exploration Resources
What is a STEM Career? Our regional Advisory Committee defines a STEM career as a career that integrates the use of knowledge and skills from two or more STEM fields: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. For example, an electrician would need math skills to calculate wattage or amperage, science to understand the flow of electricity through various types of wire and metals, and engineering to set up the best system for running wires and panels in a building.
In order to reach our goal of having a STEM literate workforce we need to give our students the experiences needed to make an informed decision about STEM careers. The MiSTEM Network has curated a collection of resources for you to use within your schools and classrooms for your students. Each has been linked out for exploration. Do you have a resource to share? Reach out to Drea Weiner, Regional Director, or Shelly VanderMeulen, Career Exploration Specialist, to have it reviewed.
MiSTEM Network Regional Resources
Career Profile Cards
STEM Careers Story Mapping
Resources
| Name | Description | Band | Industry Sector | Cost | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agilities | As a trusted educator, coach, or mentor, you play a key role in helping individuals become aware of their strengths and interests (Agilities), affirm their value in the workplace, and activate their careers. We believe the Agile Work Profiler, Career Explorer tools, and accompanying resources can be powerful tools in this work. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://agilities.org/ |
| Better Make Room | Better Make Room is about creating a space for all the great things you'll do next, staking a claim, forging a path and lighting the way for others just like you. And, it's a lot more fun to get there together. Get a better edcuation, imagine a better future. You're about to arrive-and the world better make room. | 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | http://bettermakeroom.org/tools/ |
| BLS: Periodic Table of STEM Occupations | The periodic table of chemical elements, created by Dmitry Mendeleev in 1869, is one of the most important achievements in modern science. To celebrate this achievement, BLS has created our own periodic table! Instead of elements, we have used Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations. Workers in STEM occupations use science and mathematics to understand how the world works and to solve problems. Hover over an "element" or group to highlight that discipline. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | STEM | None | https://www.buildyourlife.net/ |
| Build Your Life | It is our goal with Build Your Life (BYL) to change the narrative of a life in the trades and provide educational opportunities to students. A group of construction trade individuals have come together to share their knowledge in order to reach a large internal and external audience regarding building a fulfilling life in the trades. | 9-12 | Construction | None | https://www.buildyourlife.net/ |
| Career One Stop | Your source for career exploration, training, and jobs. Sponsored by the US Department of Labor. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://www.careeronestop.org/ |
| Claim Your Future | Claim Your Future® is a game that encourages you to explore education after high school, future careers, and money management. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | Yes | https://www.claimyourfuture.org/?scrlybrkr=c72b10dc |
| Char-Em ISD: Step Up to Success | Hover over each step to learn more about resources, programs, and events that can help k-12 students learn about their options and prepare for a career or college after graduation. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://charemisdcareertech.org/career-staircase/ |
| BigFuture Toolkit for Counselors | BigFuture is a free and personalized online guide to help students plan for college, pay for college, and explore careers. We’ve put together this collection of counselor resources to help your students learn more about post-secondary planning. In this toolkit, you’ll find ready-to-use resources such as PowerPoints, lesson plans, handouts, and demonstrations. | 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://counselors.collegeboard.org/bigfuture-toolkit |
| Edutopia | Our Foundation is dedicated to transforming pre-K-12 education so that all students can acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to thrive in their studies, careers, and adult lives. Founded by innovative and award-winning filmmaker George Lucas in 1991, we take a strategic approach to improving education. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://www.edutopia.org/ |
| EverFi | Whether you’re teaching career exploration, entrepreneurship, or workforce preparedness skills, EVERFI’s digital lessons help students plan for and practice achieving their personal goals in the real-world. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://everfi.com/k-12/stem-and-career-readiness/ |
| Going Pro | These are some of Michigan’s most in-demand Professional Trades careers. If you don't see your dream job or where you can get trained, please visit your local Michigan Works! Service Center, a proud partner of the American Job Center network. | 6-8, 9-12 | Manufacturing, IT, Healthcare, Construction, Hospitality | None | https://www.going-pro.com/ |
| The Mavin Project | Mavin.cloud is a comprehensive education and career exploration and development platform that integrates whole child support (health and wellness), career and college awareness and preparedness, and high-quality curriculum. The Mavin platform is available for free to all schools and workforce development agencies and the students and other stakeholders they serve. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None, however it does require time to build out the local resource for student to benefit | https://massp.com/mavin |
| MTU Husky Bites | Come have dinner Monday 6 p.m. ET with Dean Janet Callahan and faculty guests. Grab some supper (or just flop down on your couch) and learn something new. Hosted by the College of Engineering at Michigan Technological University and featuring faculty who present 20 minute interactive webinars with time after for Q&A. Join us early at 5:45 p.m. for conversation and a weather update. | 9-12 | STEM | None | https://www.mtu.edu/engineering/seminar/webinar-s22/ |
| My Next Move | What do you want to do for a living? | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://www.mynextmove.org/ |
| NAPE: Role Models | One of the most effective ways to encourage students to consider nontraditional careers is to introduce them to diverse role models, particularly role models with whom they are able to relate, by gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, location, etc. Providing a diverse representation of role models begins to challenge stereotypes around careers where some groups may traditionally be underrepresented. For example, women and people of color are underrepresented in most STEM fields, specific disciplines including engineering, physics, and computer science. But when we introduce our students to female engineers, or black computer scientists, we begin to shift the status quo and transform popular image and belief of who “belongs” in STEM, to include every type of person. | 6-8, 9-12 | STEM | Yes / No | https://napequity.org/resources/role-models/ |
| National Institute for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies | The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) website is the premier online resource for cybersecurity training, education, and career information. NICCS connects government employees, students, educators, and industry with cybersecurity resources and training providers throughout the Nation. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | IT | None | https://niccs.cisa.gov/about-niccs |
| Newton's Road: Career Investigator | The Newton's Road Career Investigator helps both youth and adults explore STEM-related careers and Hot Jobs in our region, local pathways to achieve them and employers who hire these careers. It has also proven to be a useful tool for parents, counselors, and other youth and adult mentors. | 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://www.nwmicareers.org/ |
| O*Net | Start the career you've dreamed about, or find one you never imagined. Discover your interests with the O*NET Interest Profiler and find more exploration options at My Next Move. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://www.onetonline.org/ |
| Pathfinder | Pathfinder uses current labor market, wage and institutional data and metrics to help you create an individualized career roadmap. This free tool provides information to students, their parents, and guidance staff to make informed choices about educational and career options. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://pathfinder.mitalent.org/ |
| Pathful Connect | Pathful Connect matches teachers and students with the right industry professionals virtually, without having to spend much planning time or leaving the classroom, while providing an effective way for companies to extend education outreach and create equity of access. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | Yes | https://pathful.com/connect |
| Pathful Explore | Pathful Explore is a grade 6-12 exploration and preparation platform that gets students ready for college and/or career. With a combination of interactive tools, assessments, and real-world exploration, students can discover diverse career pathways, earn micro-credentials, and chart their individualized path. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | Yes | https://pathful.com/explore |
| Science Buddies | Want to know more about careers in science? Browse through detailed information on dozens of careers to discover what scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals really do and what it takes to prepare for these careers. Each career profile provides basic career information such as salary, job outlook, degree requirements, and more. We have also included videos featuring interviews with real scientists or on-the-job profiles. | 6-8, 9-12 | STEM | None | https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers |
| Second Step | Children need social-emotional skills to thrive both in the classroom and in life. Social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula teach children techniques to: gain confidence, set goals, make better decisions, collaborate with others in work and play, navigate the world more effectively | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | Yes | https://www.secondstep.org/free-sel-resources/middle-school |
| Skype a Scientist | Skype a Scientist has a database of thousands of scientists and helps them connect with classrooms, families, libraries, scout troops, and more all over the globe! We give students the opportunity to get to know a real scientist and get the answers to their questions straight from the source. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | STEM | None | https://www.skypeascientist.com/ |
| Soft Skills to Pay the Bills | "Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success," is a curriculum developed by ODEP focused on teaching "soft" or workforce readiness skills to youth, including youth with disabilities. Created for youth development professionals as an introduction to workplace interpersonal and professional skills, the curriculum is targeted for youth ages 14 to 21 in both in-school and out-of-school environments. The basic structure of the program is comprised of modular, hands-on, engaging activities that focus on six key skill areas: communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, networking, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism. | 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | None | https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/individuals/youth/transition/soft-skills |
| Xello | The only K-12 online program that fully engages every student in building the skills, knowledge, and plans for future success — regardless of background, ability, or pathway. | K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 | Energy, Transportation, Construction, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Business Services, IT, Hospitality, Education, Human Services | Yes | https://xello.world/en/ |