Career Catchers;
Creating a Circle of Support
for a Lifetime of Success

The Career Catcher’s is a project of the Student Activists for Service-learning. SASL students are concerned about their peers and why so many students leave school without a plan. SASL students researched and learned that many students, especially non-college bound students “missed” the information when it was time to choose a vocational school or make the high school plan that would lead to the jobs they wanted.

SASL students think that by providing their peers with access to good information and raising the awareness of how easy planning can be, fewer students will leave school unprepared. SASL’s goal is to motivate students to begin planning for their career as early as middle school and that every student will graduate with a detailed plan for creating their future.

The Career Catchers; project includes a web based asset map of New Haven and a host of easily accessible sites for quick access to career planning. To expand awareness of the Career Catchers Program and web site, SASL members have begun a Peer Awareness Campaign. SASL members offer presentations, training, project ideas and mini-grants to students and teachers to help get out the message. Career Catchers service projects include: three career fairs, an after school math tutoring program, raising funds for SAT/ACT tests and creating a timeline of college focused activities for incoming freshmen. Here are some other ideas they are interested in supporting. Complete a project plan and apply for funding.

Career Catcher’s Database for the success of the New Haven Area students. Find a tutor or study group at the library - locate information about career choices, post secondary schools and New Haven support Services.

Planning for life after high school?      CT Mentor the Connecticut Department of Education website that keeps track of everything related to your goals. You can do a self assessment of interests, look for post-secondary education and use the planner to keep track of classes leading to your high school diploma. It also allows you to create a profile to search for scholarship money.

Know how to go      “There's an old Chinese saying that goes, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." But no matter how unsure you feel taking that first step, every single one after that will be a little easier. It also helps if you have a road map to follow through your years in middle school—and here it is.”

What are you interested in?     “Pathways to the World of Work for Young Adults,” this Connecticut Department of Labor site will help you discover what you’re interested in and what skills you will need to get a job that fits your interests. This site Includes information on: self-assessment; job applications; interviewing; rules for working; resumes and cover letters; career exploration and college exploration.

Volunteering     is one of the best uses of free time for lots of reasons. First you get to meet new people who might turn out to be very helpful for learning about careers. Secondly, you will be exposed to different kinds of jobs and lastly, you can put the work experience on your resume.

Getting a job      “Working Teens” from America’s Career Resource Network is a good place to get information about getting your first job. “Gaining work experience while still in school can help you see how your studies connect to your future, and can give you valuable skills for college or careers.”

A detailed job search      “Labor Market Information” from Connecticut Department of Labor Provides job seekers with a complete guide to developing a job search plan. Topics include skills assessment, deciding on a career, networking, resume tips, interview preparation, electronic resumes, cover letters, thank you letters, and various resources for career planning and job development.

Technical Schools Guide      makes finding the right technical schools simple. We list both large and small technical colleges throughout the United States. Whether you are planning on attending a 2-year college, 4-year college, vocational college, purely technical college, or just single college courses, the listings should contain each type of trade school, college, or university. Financial aid is available for many of these colleges but visitors will need to contact each school directly to get assistance.

Connecticut's Community Colleges offer accessible, affordable, and student-centered higher education that can help you to succeed in the “knowledge economy.” Whatever career path you choose, your earning potential soars with higher education.”

What about the military      While not meant as a source of current military news, the information on this site will help you carefully weigh the opportunities and benefits service has to offer.

“Next Step Magazine's Step by Step College Planning Guide!      We've put everything you need to know about planning for life after high school in one handy place, including information on doing a career search, financial aid and scholarship research, attending a college fair, going on a campus tour, and more. Start this handy college-planning timeline at whatever step you are currently at.”

Fast Web “We’re the leading Internet scholarship search—we’ll help you find a scholarship to pay for school and let you know what to expect when you get there. We can help with college visits, the application process and understanding financial aid.”

Financial Aid Federal student aid information portal.      Start here to apply for a FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID (FAFSA). All student aid will require a completed FAFSA. Filing begins on January 1 of the year you plan to attend. You can file throughout the year.

The School for Ethical Education is a non-profit, nonsectarian educational organization. The Youth; Ethics in Service Program including The Student Activists for Service Learning and the Career Catchers; Creating a Circle of Support for a Lifetime of Success Program are funded by the State Department of Education’s Learn and Serve Grant, The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, State Farm Insurance Company’s Foundation, Wright Investors Services and private donors.

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