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WCHS Career Center

WCHS Career Center

Career Development Coordinator

Greetings, Wolverines! I'm happy to be a part of the CTE Leadership Team here at West Cabarrus High and I'm excited about serving as your Career Development Coordinator (CDC). I'm also known as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator.

As Career Development Coordinator, I'm here to assist you in deciding what's next for your future and help you prepare for what awaits you after high school. Career preparation is for all high school students. Our journey together begins in 9th grade and concludes at graduation during your senior year. Among my many roles, none is more important than ensuring that your transition from high school to the world of Employment, Enrollment, or Enlistment is as smooth as possible and that you are prepared to achieve your ultimate career goals. And that happens with proper preparation! 

As Career Development Coordinator (CDC), I support all WCHS students in providing the following:

  • Career Planning and Development
  • Preparatory and Transition Services
  • Professional Development
  • Futures Fair and Career Fairs
  • Naviance and Career Assessments 
  • Employability Skills Assistance - such as Resume and Cover Letter Writing, and Interview Skills

As Work-Based Learning Coordinator, I support all WCHS students in connecting students interested in:

  • Internships
  • Apprenticeships
  • Job-Shadowing
  • Job Search and Career Placement
  • On-Site Interviews with Potential Employers

My other leadership roles here at West Cab include:

  • Assisting the STEM Academy of Aviation and Aerospace with student recruitment as a Program of Choice point of contact
  • Serving as National Technical Honor Society advisor
  • Guiding our CTSOs in local chapter management
  • Serving on Advisory Boards within the Cabarrus County Business Community
  • Representing West Cab CTE as a liaison with Central Office CTE

 

I'm here to assist you in deciding what's next for your future and help you prepare for what awaits you after high school.

Need Some Direction? Can't Decide on Career Choices? Let's Talk!

 

Career, College and Life Readiness Tips

So You're Ready To Work? Let's Start Here!

NC Youth Employment Certificate

  • All youth under the age of 18 who work in North Carolina must have a Youth Employment Certificate. Click on the link below, and follow the steps completely in order to obtain a valid Youth Employment Certificate. The Youth Employment Certificate must be electronically signed by the youth, the parent/guardian of the youth, and the employer prior to the first day of work. 

    https://www.labor.communications.its.state.nc.us/whrPublic/yec/youth1.cfm

Know Your Employment Limits

  • Per the North Carolina Department of Labor

     

    Youth ages 14 and 15 may work:

    In retail businesses, food service establishments, service stations and offices of other businesses. Work is not permitted in manufacturing, mining, construction sites, or with power-driven machinery.  

    Youth ages 14 and 15 be employed:

    • No more than three hours a day when school is in session for the youth and no more than eight hours a day if school is not in session.
    • Only between 7 a.m and 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day when school is not in session).
    • A maximum of 18 hours per week when school is in session or 40 hours per week when school is not in session.
    • Only outside school hours.
    • A 30-minute break is required after any period of five consecutive hours of work.

    Youth ages 16 and 17:

    • May work during the school term
    • Youth who are enrolled in grades 12 or lower cannot be employed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. when there is school for the youth the next day.
    • Exception: When the employer gets written permission from the youth’s parents and principal.

Job Application

    • If completing the job application online is not an option, be sure to complete the job application using either a black or blue pen and write legibly (neatly).
    • Use only your legal birth name as shown on your birth certificate - avoid nicknames. 
    • Complete the job application in its entirety and be honest.
    • Know all of the information needed beforehand - if possible.
      • Your Address
      • Your Birthdate
      • Your Social Security Number
      • Best Phone Number To Reach You
      • Days and Times You Are Available to Work
      • Who to Reach In Case of an Emergency - including Their Name and Number

Preparing For The Interview

  • When preparing for your job interview, remember to follow these simple steps:

    1. Research the company - Know its products, services, brands, and customers.
    2. Practice, practice, practice - See your Career Development Coordinator to schedule a "Mock Interview".
    3. Dress for Success - For more details, see Interview Dress for Success Tips For Teens
    4. Leave Your Phone Behind or Put Your Phone on Silent
    5. Be On Time! - Being tardy in this case is NEVER a good idea. 

Career Planning Keywords

Terms and Definitions You Should Know for Career Planning and Development!

  • What is the difference between a Job and a Career?

    A Career is a chosen profession a person pursues and advances over a lifetime as the result of education, industry certifications, and experience.

    A Job is a task that one agrees to do in exchange for payment. 

     

    What is the difference between an Employee and an Employer?

    An Employer is a person or business that pays others for their services.

    An Employee is a person who is paid to work for another.

     

    What is the difference between a Job Application and a Resume?

    A Job Application is a form employers use to collect information about you to see if you are a good fit for the position. There are usually four parts of a job application:

    1. Personal information
    2. Employment information is also called work history.
    3. Education and training
    4. References.

     

    A Resume is a brief account of a person's education, qualifications, and previous experience, typically sent with a job application.

     

    What is a Cover Letter?

    A Cover Letter is a document sent with your resume to provide additional information on your skills and experience; provides detailed information on why you are qualified for the job you are applying for.

     

    What is a Profession?

    A Profession is a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and formal qualifications.

    • A Professional is someone who has special training, education, or skill to successfully do a job.

     

    What is an Internship?

    An internship is a professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work related to a student’s career interests. An internship gives a student the opportunity for career exploration, development, and new skills. Internships are supervised, structured learning experiences in a professional setting that allow you to gain valuable work experience.

    • An Intern is a person who works in an occupation or profession to gain practical experience, sometimes with or without pay.

     

    What is an Apprenticeship?

    An Apprenticeship is a program or position in which someone learns a trade by working under a certified expert.

    • An Apprentice is one bound by legal agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art, or business. 

     

    What is Job-Shadowing?

    Job shadowing is a short-term experience that allows a student to follow an experienced worker and see the day-to-day activities of a particular career.