Can 9th graders start preparing for the job market? Yes!

At my conference, I attended a session that emphasized why students should begin having hands-on work experiences and building business skills as early as 9th grade. I’m all for helping students find internship opportunities, develop resumes, and create LinkedIn pages when they're ready, but the real skills that businesses say they want--communication and critical thinking--happen organically if students become engaged in their classes, clubs, and outside-school activities.

How to build communication skills? Effective teamwork in classes and clubs like mock trial, Model UN, and student government will help you navigate awkward conversations with teachers and even make you more confident asking someone to prom. Writing papers and DBQ’s will prepare you to write better emails, speak well in meetings, write a great cover letter, and ace the interview to land that job. 

Critical thinking? When you learn to analyze information and question what you hear in English or history class, you're not just preparing for college essays or workplace problem-solving. You're also becoming the friend who can spot fake news, figure out why your group project is falling apart, or help your friend think through that complicated relationship drama.

Here’s a few more:

Time management? Learn how to make time for both studying and hanging out with friends without feeling stressed about either one. In the future, that will help you manage work deadlines.

What about technical skills? Increase your digital fluency by taking computer science, CAD, and engineering courses, but understand that those you master today will completely change by the time you enter the job market. Being adaptable matters more.

How can you, as a high school student, prepare now to enter the work world? Look up from your phone and start now! The best career skills are good people skills.