Pathways Guide to Careers
This pathways tool will help you identify, build, and navigate a future career pathway by increasing your understanding of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to begin your future career.
The Guide to Career Pathways presents a new and interactive way to explore careers and programs within the School District of Philadelphia. It features eight distinct, yet in demand careers clusters highlighting current CTE programs, AP offerings, Military guidance, and postgraduate opportunities to help you plan for the future you!
Please explore the page often, as we plan to offer resources that you can take part in during the school year and beyond!
Remember, it is okay to come back as often as you would like. There are a lot of options to choose from!
How to Use this Guide
Step 1: Find Your Career Interest
Discover what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work by taking one of the career assessments below.
Sign in to Naviance & take the Career Interest Assessment (Current SDP Students)
Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness tool that helps schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals.
PhilaWorks Career Coach
The Career Coach helps you decide what kinds of occupations and jobs you might want to explore based on your interests.
Step 2: Explore Career Clusters
Explore career clusters based on your career interests and assessment results to discover occupations and jobs.
Step 3: Research & Identify
Your Top 3 High Schools (Grades 7-9):
Use the high school guide to research and identify your top 3 high schools that provide a curriculum aligning with your career interests.
Your Top 3 Career Choices (Grades 10-12):
Use this resource to research your top career interests
Take Action and Try New Things:
Now that you have some new insight and information. Here are some next steps. New opportunities can come to you in many ways. You can:
- Sign up for a challenging class
- Join a club
- Try out for a play or a team
Step 4: Explore and Apply
Apply To Your Top 5 High Schools (Grades 8 – 9):
Visit the school selection page for more details on how to apply to your top 5 high schools (and requirements).
Explore and Apply to Three Work Experience Opportunities (Grades 10 – 11):
Visit the PhilaWorks: Resources for Youth and Young Adults site to explore opportunities
Build Your Network:
Create open lines of communication with your Guidance Counselors and/or College and Career Readiness Coordinator. Express what your interests are and ask about internship opportunities. Shadow an entrepreneur or volunteer with a local organization! Anything that will give you some hands-on experience.
Explore and Apply to Your Top Postsecondary Choice (Grade 12):
College, Trade, Military, or Workforce Development Program
Career Cluster Exploration
Explore career clusters based on your career interests and assessment results to discover occupations and jobs.
What are Power Skills?
Power skills or Soft skills relate to how you work. These skills include interpersonal (people) skills, communication skills, listening skills, time management, and empathy, among others.
- Emotional intelligence
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Creative thinking
- Dependability
- Work ethic
- Teamwork
- Cultural competency
- Positivity
- Time management
- Motivation
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Social responsibility
Resources
- Naviance | Learn More
- March 2 Success Online Test Prep| Learn More
- Armed Services Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) – Career Exploration Program | Learn More
- US Army Education Outreach Program (STEM Programs) | Learn More