Hooray it’s finally summer and teens everywhere are celebrating…and parents are panicking. I’m sure the thought “what am I going to do with these teens this summer” has crossed your mind at least once.

Why not use this time to help your teens get ahead while also having fun exploring future career options. With Outschool.com your kids can spend the summer connecting with other teens who share their interest, chat with teachers who can serve as mentors and learn everything they want to know about being anything from a video game developer to a lawyer.

Outschool.com is an educational platform that offers 140,000 live online classes for kids (toddlers to teens). With Outschool, kids can do everything from catching up on math and reading to exploring exciting careers in science, healthcare, technology and the arts. All classes are taught by professionals in their field who can offer great insight into their professions.

If you have a teen who’s excited about their future, check out a few of our favorite Outschool classes designed to help teens get a leg up in their future careers.

Why is Summer a Perfect Time for Kids to Focus on Careers?

Summertime is the perfect opportunity for kids to focus on their future career and college goals. By volunteering, interning, and discovering more information about the careers they are interested in, teens can explore different options and find out what they are passionate about.

Outschool offers the perfect platform for teens to spend a summer soaking up knowledge.

How Can Teens Use the Time Over SUMMER to Learn More About Careers that Interest Them?

There are many ways teens can prepare for the future and learn about their possible career paths. They can find out what classes are key, what experiences employers value, and it also gives them a chance to connect with a professional in the field, someone who can offer insight into what a day really looks like in that industry.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to not only get teens excited about their future careers, but also dive deep into that career to see if it’s really for them.

Take an Online Class with Outschool

Does your son or daughter have a love for science or even history? Why not have your teens spend the summer exploring career options that pique their interest. Reese has dreams of one day being an archeologist, so getting to spend last summer with an archeologist through this Outschool virtual history camp, learn all about the field, and gain hands-on experience by doing her own dig, really motivated her to learn more.

Reese had a blast last summer when she signed up for her first archaeology class with Outschool.com. She loved it so much she decided she wants to turn it into a career and become an archaeologist. This summer she signed up for The Young Adventurers’ Society: Archaeology & Anthropology Club. A fun yet educational social club for teens who love all things archaeology and anthropology.

If you have a teens who’s passionate about their future give them a head start with Outschool.com. Maybe you have a teen who’s considering law school? Sign them up for Law School for Teens – Objection! How Evidence Works in a Courtroom. In this class, teens will learn firsthand everything involved in being a lawyer. They will uncover the good, the bad, and the ugly while also picking up valuable skills like learning how evidence works in the courtroom.

Do you have a teen who can’t put down the video games? Maybe a career in coding or video game design in the perfect career for them. Instead of fighting them this summer, have them hone their skills by taking a class that teaches them how to design and code their own video games or code an app they can sell in the Apple or Android marketplace.

There are many benefits to using Outschool for career exploration including:

You can explore a variety of different careers
You can learn from mentors in the field
You can connect with other kids who share similar interests

Online Career Fairs

When it comes to selecting careers, many teens don’t put much thought into what that career might require of them, like the amount of education they need to have, the type of degree employers look for, and what skills can make their resume stand out.

One way to give teens a leg up and inside look is to have them attend an online career fair dedicated to careers in their profession. These experiences give your kids a chance to discover the practicals of what they need to do to make their dreams come true.

There are a few different types of online career fairs:

Virtual career fairs: These are events that take place entirely online. You can usually find virtual career fairs for specific industries or regions.
Online job fairs: These are similar to virtual career fairs, but they focus on specific jobs rather than industries or regions.
Social media career fairs: These events take place on social platforms like LinkedIn or Facebook. They usually involve a series of live chats with different employers.

Online career fairs are an excellent way for teens to start networking and building connections. They may even find a mentor.

How Volunteering Can Help Your Teen Get Ahead

Volunteering is a great way for your teen to meet other teens who share their passion. It’s also an excellent way to find a mentor who’s already in their field. Plus, it adds valuable experience to their resume to help them stand out in their college applications and first job resumes.

Volunteering also allows kids to talk one-on-one with people currently in their chosen profession, giving them a true look at what that career is really like. They will learn how to carry themselves in a professional setting and also have a sense of accountability.

Volunteering can also help hone skills like communication, being able to deal with different types of personalities, and making decisions in the moment.

If you have limited volunteer opportunities in your area, or if your teen is not quite ready to volunteer, consider having them take the Outschool class Build Confidence in Your Self! Public Speaking + Self Awareness for Business. In this class, students dive into learning how to build self awareness, set boundaries and how to overcome challenges.

Important Skills Your Teen Should Focus On This Summer

Preparing our kids for the future is not only our responsibility as parents, but the best gift a parent can give their teen. There are lots of skills teens need when entering the real world and preparing for their future careers. So if you want to make sure your kids are prepared, set aside some time this summer to work on these skills by having your teen take a few of these classes: