Defined Careers

BUILDING FUTURE-READY SKILLS THROUGH CAREER EXPLORATION & EXPERIENCES

Defined Careers empowers students to explore, experience, and navigate careers through deeper learning experiences that bridge education with future success.

Students engage with authentic, real-world industry scenarios while developing higher-order thinking skills and essential future-ready competencies. Through hands-on career exploration and personalized career recommendations, students gain valuable experiences that inform critical decisions about their post-graduation plans—whether entering the workforce or pursuing higher education. Watch Now >

Preparing Students for Future Success

Explore a few features and resources in Defined Careers that help students engage in career exploration and experiences through deeper learning preparing them for future success.

Career-Connected Projects

Transform career exploration with 600+ hands-on projects spanning all career clusters, where students tackle authentic industry challenges and experience careers from the inside out.

Career Matching Assessment

Match students to careers based on their unique abilities, interests, and values in grades 6-12. Defined Aptitude provides 8th and 9th graders with an even deeper dive into their strengths and potential career pathways.

Future-Ready Planning

Support students' transition to post-graduation success with comprehensive Financial Literacy and Postsecondary Planning courses for grades 6-12 that build essential life skills and support planning for all career pathways.

Student Portfolios

Interactive digital portfolio that houses student projects from year to year along with a shareable resume allowing students to showcase and share their work.

Workforce Readiness Tools

Prepare students for professional success with mock interviews, virtual internships, simulated job boards, and comprehensive career preparation resources that build real-world workplace skills.

Reporting & Analytics

Gain actionable insights into student career exploration progress and readiness with comprehensive reports that monitor assessment outcomes, career interests, and postsecondary planning over time.

Authentic Career Projects Across All Learning Environments

In every Defined Careers project, students actively engage in hands-on experiences that offer a real-world perspective, mirroring the work of industry professionals to expand career exploration for all students. These authentic projects encourage students to move beyond basic exploration by utilizing higher-order thinking skills within real-world career scenarios. Whether used for personalized student-driven exploration, implemented in CTE classes, integrated into career counseling sessions, or as curriculum for advisory and college and career readiness courses and beyond, students develop and demonstrate their knowledge, problem-solving skills, and strengths while experiencing specific careers.

GRADES K-2

Lemonade Stand Manager

Students act as Lemonade Stand Managers opening a lemonade stand in their neighborhood. Students learn how business managers help businesses make money and make sure the business runs smoothly.

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GRADES K-2

Computer Programmer: App Designer

Students take on the role of an App Designer to create a fun and engaging app for students to use during indoor recess. This app should be educational and something students can play together.

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Grades 3-5

Veterinary Assistant

Students step into the role of a Vet Assistant. Vet Assistants work with pets and their owners. They help take care of sick and hurt pets. Part of their job is to teach pet owners how to care for their pets to keep them from getting sick. Students make sure pet owners have the information they need to keep their pets healthy.

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GRADES 3-5

Architectural Engineer

Students act as an Architectural Engineer to design the best town space for kids of all ages. Students exercise their creativity thinking about the types of things they like to do by themselves and with friends and how they can turn those thoughts and ideas into a reality build a great town space.

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Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technologist

GRADES 6-8

Aerospace Engineering & Operations Technologist

Students take on the role of an Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist. Technologists operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer and communications systems, test and measurement instruments and equipment, and more.

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GRADES 6-8

Biomedical Engineers

Students apply knowledge of engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and biomechanical principles to the design, development, and evaluation of biological, agricultural, and health systems and products, such as artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems.

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GRADES 9-12

Commercial & Industrial Designer

Students take on the role of Commercial and Industrial Designers exploring the development and manufacturing of products, such as cars, home appliances, and children's toys. Students combine artistic talent with research on product use, marketing, and materials to create the most functional and appealing product design.

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GRADES 9-12

Game Designer

Students step into the role of a Game Designer, designing core features of video games. This role includes specifying innovative game and role-play mechanics, storylines, and character biographies; creating and maintaining design documentation; and guiding and collaborating with production staff to produce games as designed.

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Virtual Internships

The virtual internships included within Defined Careers allows high school students to dive into a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. Students can participate in self-paced virtual internships across all career clusters. Each internship gives students the opportunity to gain career experiences through the lens of an industry professional.

It's more than just learning, it's holistic skill development. Soft skills courses and workforce preparation are a part of every internship. Watch Now >

Read the Research

Learn how Defined Careers empowers students through career exploration and experiences!

The Impact of Defined Careers on Engaging Middle School Students in Career Readiness

In this case study, learn how Defined Careers engages middle school students in career exploration and experiences in Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma. Read the Case Study >

East Baton Rouge Schools Partner with Defined to Support Students' Career Exploration & Readiness

In this case study, read about East Baton Rouge's partnership with Defined and how they incorporated Defined Careers to support career exploration and readiness. Read the Case Study >

Research Brief: Defined Careers in Broken Arrow Public Schools

Learn how Defined Careers influences students' career awareness and exploration in Broken Arrow Public Schools while supporting the district's long-term objectives. Read the Research Brief >

Additional Features

POSTSECONDARY PLANNING

The Defined Careers Postsecondary Preparedness courses aim to create comprehensive and dynamic content for students in grades 6-12. This content was developed using the American School Counselor Association Standards. The goal of this collection is to foster optimal academic achievement and equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for success in their postsecondary education and careers.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Defined Careers includes Financial Literacy courses for grades 6-12 that focus on the National Standards for Personal Financial Education (NSPFE). Each task highlights financial thinking practices, encouraging students to frame problems in ways that inspire inquiry, knowledge, problem-solving, and innovation. There is also a culminating project for students to create their own personal budget which encourages real-life personal financial literacy and budgeting skills.

DEFINED APTITUDE

The Defined Aptitude test helps 8th and 9th-grade students understand their unique talents and make more informed decisions about their academic and future career paths. Upon completion, students have the opportunity to further explore and experience the careers that match their strengths.

MOCK INTERVIEWS & SIMULATED JOB BOARD

This feature, available for grades 9-12, allows students to gain hands-on experience by applying for mock positions on a simulated job board. Students are able to submit resumes and cover letters and practice their interview skills through simulated interviews, receiving personalized, actionable feedback along the way boosting confidence and performance.

CAREER SUCCESS TOOLKIT

Defined offers a toolkit of career success offerings for grades 9-12 including an Interview Preparation Kit, a Network Builder, and an Elevator Pitch Builder. These three powerful resources include interactive tools and AI technology to help students kickstart and excel in their professional journeys.

DEFINED @ WORK

Defined @ Work is a powerful add-on to Defined Careers, designed specifically for districts, cities, regional centers, and states to bridge the opportunity gap between the classroom and local work-based learning opportunities and partners. This customizable solution highlights our work-based learning features, allowing you to demonstrate a branded and publicly available tailored catalog of career experiences, opportunities, and community partnerships.

Success Stories

Spotlight

Sharon James, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Broken Arrow Public Schools, OK

Research has shown us that students should have a general idea of what they want to do for a career by the end of eighth grade. We need to immerse students in career exploration at an early age and allow them to explore careers more often. Defined Careers helps us do that without putting the bulk of the hard work on our teachers or counselors. We have found Defined Careers to be very user friendly and our teachers can use the program easily in their classroom. We hit the jackpot when we began using Defined Careers and I know our students will benefit from this program!
- Sharon James, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Broken Arrow Public Schools, OK

Success Stories

Spotlight

Kasie Roden, Director of STEM Education, Grand Prairie Independent School District, TX

By using Defined Careers and taking a project-based approach to learning STEM content in the context of actual career scenarios, our students are more engaged in their learning. Defined Careers helps us provide our students with better learning experiences that lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the content.
- Kasie Roden, Director of STEM Education, Grand Prairie Independent School District, TX

Success Stories

Spotlight

Jennifer Sherman, Teacher at Great Path Academy, CT

Defined Careers has enabled us to take our college and career success to the next level. We have done activities that supplement everything from career exploration to college visits and virtual internships. This has sparked an interest and excitement that we previously didn't have. The best part is that it is student driven which allows for meaningful dialogue with students one on one.
- Jennifer Sherman, Teacher at Great Path Academy, CT