Find out how 16-year-old Max Charney is reinventing career exploration for himself and his peers around the world.
Young people need alternative ways to discover careers
getty
A high school student’s career search has come to an end.
Without discounting the great work that many career guidance counselors and educators do at the tactical level, systemic problems in the entire high school philosophy are negatively impacting young people.
The push to go to college at all costs, the idea that true career exploration happens after graduation, and the lack of hands-on, real-world career discovery leave many high school students feeling lost about their future. Masu.
But while 16-year-old Max Charney may be unsure of what he wants to do with his career, he’s not sitting around waiting for clarity to emerge.
Instead, he’s going after it himself. And he wants to take his friends with him.
About a year ago, Charney founded Career Chats, an organization dedicated to providing students with valuable career information directly from experts in a variety of fields. “I realized that many of my classmates were feeling anxious about their futures, and I wanted to create a platform where students could feel like they could engage with experts from a wide range of fields,” he says.
“We believe that hearing first-hand experience and advice can make a huge difference in shaping our decisions and aspirations.”
Career Chats is already international, but it’s the kind of grassroots effort that presents a very different picture of Gen Z than most people see. Far from being lazy, entitled, or other negative stereotypes, Charney, and many others of his generation, are already starting to solve the problems they see in the world.
I recently connected with Charney (after school, of course) to learn more about Career Chat and its mission to make career exploration more accessible and personal. Here’s what we covered:
broken system
Charney and I share deep concerns about the current state of career exploration in high schools. “According to the College Board, 4 out of 5 high school students are beginning their career exploration, while 80% of students want additional career exploration opportunities,” he says. “This shows that existing programs and resources are insufficient to meet the needs of our students.”
Charney said many students are less prepared to make informed decisions about their future careers, often due to a lack of exposure to different career options and work experience. They point to research by the American Association of Association Executives (ASAE) that highlights the lack of preparedness.
The college push is another pitfall for many students. “The pressure to attend college without proper preparation leads to high dropout rates, with approximately 40% of college students not completing their degrees,” he says. “This suggests that many high school graduates are entering the next stage of their lives without the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.”
What else is going wrong with career exploration in today’s high schools? “Many high schools focus primarily on academic standards and grades, rather than hands-on experience and skill development. Students are not prepared for the realities of the workforce,” Charney said. “As a result, students often end up enrolling in university degree programs in fields they are not passionate about or aptitude for, leading to disillusionment and ultimately dropping out.
“This disconnect between students’ interests and academic curriculum points to the need for a more holistic approach to career exploration.”
early success
Career Chats’ strategy is simple. Engage experts to talk about their experiences in their industry, then record and publish their talks for students to view. There are also opportunities for more direct instruction. This experiment has only been around for about a year, but so far it seems to be working.
“It gives students an honest look at what different careers are actually like, beyond the idealized or simplistic descriptions found online or in career guidebooks,” Charney says. “Individual conversations often reveal personal stories that include both the rewards and challenges of the job, giving students a realistic perspective and helping them decide whether a field or path is right for them. It will help.”
When asked about Career Chats’ achievements so far, Charney said he and his team have already begun to see some promising early success stories. “One student had a conversation with an expert in the field of computer science who shared insights about their day-to-day responsibilities and the exciting projects they are working on,” he says. “This conversation helped students confirm their interest in pursuing the competitive field of computer science and strengthened their passion for problem-solving and innovation.”
Charney says Career Chats defines success not just by having all the answers, but by gaining clarity and insight into which path feels right or wrong. I immediately emphasized. “I think almost everyone who has interviewed for Career Chat has experienced this feeling of clarity,” he says. “By hearing directly from people working in a variety of fields, students can refine their career plans and make informed decisions before making a significant educational investment.
“This proactive approach is sure to save you both time and money in the long run, allowing you to pursue an educational path that aligns with your career interests and goals.”
Get professional help
Career Chats’ mission relies on professionals volunteering their time and sharing their experience with students. But there are benefits to both. “For Career Chats volunteers, being able to help young people make career decisions is extremely rewarding because they can make a huge impact,” Charney says. “Pros often say they wish they had received more guidance when they were younger, and this is their chance to give back.
“Helping high school students avoid the mistakes and mistakes they made and opening their eyes to opportunities they didn’t even know existed is extremely rewarding.”
Charney believes that mentoring through career chats also gives professionals the opportunity to reflect on their own career journeys and the decisions that shaped them. “Many find that providing advice to younger generations not only helps students, but also brings a renewed sense of purpose and connection to their work,” he says.
To participate in Career Chats, professionals can participate in live virtual sessions and recorded interviews to share insights about their careers, industry, and advice for young people. “If you would like to offer mentorship or an internship, you can sign up through our website or contact us directly,” Charney says. “Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for busy professionals, allowing them to contribute without investing a significant amount of their time.”
soft skills rules
Charney rightly recognizes that a person’s technical skills are just as effective as their soft skills (or professional skills, as I like to call them) when it comes to career success. “While many students focus on their grades and technical skills, skills such as communication, problem-solving, creative thinking and teamwork are equally important in the workplace,” he says. “High school is the perfect time to start developing these skills through group projects, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs.”
One of the most important of these skills is adaptability, Charney says. “The world is changing rapidly, and the job you train for today may not exist in the same form 10 or 20 years from now,” he says. “It’s important to encourage students to be adaptable and open to lifelong learning. Career exploration is about more than just choosing one path, it’s about preparing for a future where career changes are inevitable. is.”
We also believe there is no better time than now to start developing these skills. “Students often wait until after college to gain real-world experience in their field of interest, but starting earlier can provide clarity and direction,” Charney says. “Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer opportunities help students learn what they enjoy and, just as importantly, what they don’t enjoy.
“Schools should encourage students to pursue these opportunities as soon as possible.”
A better world – one career at a time
My interaction with Charney left me with one very clear impression. It means that his generation will make the world a better place. In fact, they already are.
“By launching Career Chat, we want to spread the message that career exploration is a worthwhile and ongoing journey,” he says. “I want to encourage my students to ask questions, seek guidance, and learn from others. Ultimately my goal is for all of us to grow together and inspire each other. It’s about fostering a supportive community where you can pursue your interests and dreams.”
