Student Guide
What is JA Inspire?
JA Inspire is a powerful, interactive experience for 8th and 9th grade students. It will enable you to interact with local business professionals and to explore many careers. JA Inspire allows companies to come together to represent careers for you to explore and see the connection to your future!
How will JA Inspire benefit me?
JA Inspire is a place for you to get information about careers. You will have the chance to speak individually or in small groups with industry professionals and ask them questions about what they do. Ask them about the education and personal attributes needed to be successful. Ask questions to explore what they like and don’t like about their career. This is your chance to gather information, so ask questions!
How will I prepare for JA Inspire?
To gain the most information, you must be prepared. In the classroom, you will watch six professional videos providing information about career planning. Five videos should be viewed before the field trip and the sixth video is for reflection afterwards. The videos are titled:
Video #1 - Why is Career Planning Important?
Video #2 - Developing a Career Plan
Video #3 - Interacting to Learn
Video #4 - Asking the Right Questions
Video #5 - What to Expect at JA Inspire
Video #6 - Reflection and Next Steps
You can also find additional resources on the JA Inspire web pages at We encourage you to look at these resources also.
- List of exhibitors and a link to each exhibitor’s website
- JA My Way to explore your interests and abilities or to create a resume
- Exhibitor Floor Map
- Videos
- KentuckianaWorks Career Calculator
Student Guide – Page 2
Who will be there?
There will be hundreds of industry professionals from our local community. Each professional has experience in the career he or she is representing. They are a wealth of knowledge and will provide insight into the careers you discuss. You may view the full list of exhibitors on the JA Inspire web pages.
What should I bring to JA Inspire?
Bring your workbook and something to write with. You will need to make notes in your workbook during JA Inspire.
What will I do during JA Inspire?
At JA Inspire you will have a workbook to use as a guideline for conversations you will have with the industry professionals. Take the time to ask questions and write down their responses for future reference. Your teacher may grade your workbook.
If you participate at an exhibit table, by asking questions or participating in their activity, you may ask the industry professionals to stamp the last page of your workbook. Your goal is to visit at least one booth from each of the five areas and earn a stamp from each.
- Manufacturing, Engineering and Skilled Trades
- Business and Information Technology
- Health Services
- Education, Law, Human Services
- Communications, Arts, Hospitality
Behavior and Attitude
You will be representing your school at JA Inspire, so conduct yourself in a respectful manner. Bring a positive attitude and maintain it as you interact with business professionals, your fellow students and students from other schools.
Dress
Option 1 – Wear clothes that you would wear for a job interview
Option 2 – Wear school colors, logo attire or a school uniform
Wear comfortable shoes