How Can High School Prepare Students for a Job?

September 24, 2025 byPhil Davidson

4 min to read

A young man and woman working in a factory

Experts say tomorrow’s employment will be driven even more by technology like artificial intelligence and will require job applicants to have practical skills such as digital literacy and soft skills like communication, time management, and collaboration to succeed in their future job role.

Whatever a student plans to do, there are many steps they can take in high school to start preparing for a job.

What Essential Workplace Skills Can Students Learn in High School?

While some traditional brick-and-mortar public schools are committed to helping prepare students for employment, Connections Academy® online schools are extremely committed to setting students up with a plethora of essential skills, resources, and dedicated instructors providing hands-on instruction.

Digital Fluency

Technology is so embedded in the workplace, and Connections Academy equips students with digital fluency by providing an immersive online learning environment and work towards building a student’s digital skills through the school’s online platforms. This platform, the Pearson Online Classroom, allows students to access lessons, participate in live virtual classes, interact with teachers and peers, submit assignments, and track their progress. By the time they graduate, students are more comfortable using digital tools like common software and scheduling apps efficiently.

Interpersonal Communication

Despite the work world’s reliance on technology, communication skills are critical in many fields. At Connections Academy, communication is embedded in academics. Online discussion boards provide a platform for students to interact with peers enrolled in the same courses, sharing ideas and developing written skills.

The schools have on-camera LiveLesson® sessions, in which students engage in interactive activities, communicate using the microphone and chat features, and collaborate with peers, fostering both verbal and written skills.

Many Connection Academy schools offer programs and clubs that promote communication, such as Conversation Corner, where students practice speaking with a microphone during LiveLesson® sessions and engage in forums. There’s also Debate Club, which helps students develop public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.

Time Management

Connections Academy emphasizes the development of time management skills as a key component of success in online learning. They provide various strategies and resources to help students build these skills.

The school encourages students to plan their days, weeks, and even months in advance, plotting out deadlines and identifying important tasks. Connections Academy encourages breaking down large projects into smaller steps to make them seem less daunting. Setting both short-term and long-term goals helps students understand the time commitment needed for each task and better manage their daily work.

How Does Connections Academy Prepare Students for Jobs?

Connections Academy prepares students for employment through a combination of academic rigor, career-focused electives, and practical experience. Some schools offer opportunities to earn industry-recognized micro-credentials and college credit while still in high school (more on both below).

Many students enrolled in Connections Academy high school courses develop a wide variety of essential workplace skills and take part in academic programs offering leading certifications through select Coursera programs and career initiatives like the Path2Pro program that help open the door to employment in a wide variety of trades. Through these comprehensive College & Career Readiness Offerings with industry-leading, career-focused options, students can learn the right skills, gain real-world experience, build their confidence, and even make industry connections.

Other students can gain valuable experience through internships, job shadowing, and partnerships with companies, organizations, and higher education institutions. The school's flexibility lets students work part-time jobs that may become full-time upon graduation, join internships, explore acting, sports, or start businesses — all while finishing their schoolwork.

Career Prep Opportunities in High School

Internships and Apprenticeships

Internships and apprenticeships for high school students are more popular than ever, helping students explore career interests, gain real-world experience, and build job skills that can strengthen their future resume.

Career and Technical Education Programs

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides students with experience, knowledge, and skills in specific fields, integrating academic and technical instruction, often through hands-on learning, to equip students for both immediate entry into the workforce and further education.

Students also have the chance to earn entry-level professional certificates in many subjects with Coursera or other certification programs. Eligible Connections Academy students, for example, have access to earn certifications in cybersecurity, data analytics, project management, digital marketing, and more.

Extracurricular Activities

Organizations like Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Future Health Professionals (HOSA) provide career readiness opportunities for students and can help develop leadership, teamwork, and other skills in both business and healthcare careers.

Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment programs are a great way for students to get a head start in college because they allow students to take college classes while still in high school. Students can ask their school counselor about dual enrollment opportunities.

To learn which programs are available at a Connections Academy-supported school near you, contact the school counselor or reach out to an enrollment specialist to discover if online school is right for your family.