Career Chat Live offers live, online career exploration opportunities. Each session focuses on a new set of careers. During each session, youth will get to meet workforce professionals in that career field. The youth will have the opportunity to learn about the day in the life of the professional, see where they work, and ask questions of the guest speakers. Career Chat Live is designed for middle-school-aged youth, and youth do not need to be enrolled in 4-H to participate.
The Career Chat Live program is a partnership between Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development, CASNR Education & Career Pathways, and the EducationQuest Foundation.
Register to Participate in 2025 Career Chat Live Speaker Sessions
After registering, use the Pre and Post Lessons below to prepare for the Speaker Sessions.
Career Chat Live Pre Lesson
Six Career Fields
Career Chat Live sessions are organized by the six career fields in the Nebraska Career Education Model. Introduce students to these six career fields using EducationQuest’s mini career interest inventory. Students can participate by checking the corresponding boxes in the electronic file or on the printed paper.
Provide access to Nebraska’s CTE Career Fields & Career Clusters webpage for students to access more information about their career field. Invite students to explore careers, the typical education needed, and the salary for in-demand jobs in each of the 16 career clusters.
Speaker Profiles
Prepare students for the speakers during the event by printing the Speaker Profiles student note pages. Explain that while students are watching Career Chat Live, they should listen for the questions on their note pages to be asked and write down the answers the speaker provides.
Invite students to get familiar with these profile pages by having them participate in a think-pair-share activity:
- Instruct students to individually circle/star information about each of the listed speakers that they find interesting or do not understand.
- Students should pair up and share some of the things they observed with each other.
- The teacher will invite each pair to share two things with the class.
All About Me
Finally, invite students to reflect on their future career aspirations. Showcase the “All About Me” example on the final page of this document. Print and provide the blank “All About Me” handout to each student and invite them to fill in the blanks. A word bank has been provided to help prompt students.
Career Chat Live Speaker Sessions
Morning Session
9:30 a.m. CT | 8:30 a.m. MT
Communication & Information Systems: Author, Software Developer
10:00 a.m. CT | 9:00 a.m. MT
Business, Marketing, & Management: Marketing Manager, Project Manager
10:30 a.m. CT | 9:30 a.m. MT
Health Sciences: Occupational Therapist, Operating Room Nurse
11:00 a.m. CT | 10:00 a.m. MT
Military: Nebraska Army National Guard
Afternoon Session
1:30 p.m. CT | 12:30 p.m. MT
Human Sciences & Education: Gang Prevention Coordinator, Social Worker
2:00 p.m. CT | 1:00 p.m. MT
Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources: Food Scientist, Turfgrass Manager
2:30 p.m. CT | 1:30 p.m. MT
Skilled & Technical Sciences: Farm Equipment Technician, Geographic Information Systems Manager
Career Chat Live Post Lesson
Speaker Profiles
Using their Speaker Profiles notes, invite students to a think-pair-share activity:
- Instruct students to individually circle/star things that “stuck out” from their notes.
- Students should pair up and share some of the things they observed with each other.
- The teacher will invite each pair to share two things with the class.
More Careers!
Extend in-demand career exposure by playing EducationQuest’s competitive game Career Splat. Students listen to clues to identify in-demand careers and learn the type of education typically needed to pursue that career path.
Previous Career Chat Live Recordings
4-H PROGRAM CONTACT
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