Futures and Options. The future is in your hands.

Career Essentials

Career Essentials is a career-readiness program that enables students to develop and practice their skills in communication, public speaking, resume writing, time management, and other workplace expectations. Through a series of 10 workshops (traditionally held after-school), students gain valuable professional skills, explore potential career pathways, and network with other NYC high school students.

You’re not meant to know everything and that’s what Career Essentials is for. I do reference things I learned at Futures and Options quite often.

–Tarannum Arpie, Career Essentials, Spring 2022

How Career Essentials Works

  • New York City high school students within the five boroughs are eligible to apply. We welcome applications from students who are interested in expanding their work-readiness skills and want to network with their peers and learn from real  employers.
  • Students attend 10 workshops that meet for two hours after school during either the fall or spring semesters. Students must commit to being on time to and attending all workshops and events associated with the Career Essentials program.  
  • Students work in teams to develop companies complete with mission statements, staffing plans, and marketing strategies for their Create-A-Company projects. Each team presents their company projects during the final workshop.
  • Students will take field trips with our various employer partners to learn more about potential career pathways. Past trips have included visits with BlackRock, Salesforce, Voya Financial, among many others. 
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Please contact programquestions@futuresandoptions.org or call the Futures and Options office at 212-601-0002 if you have any questions.

Students in Career Essentials present their Create-A-Company projects to a panel of judges.

Students in Career Essentials present their capstone project.