Counselor & Educator Guide
There's Always Another Possibility.
18 careers your students probably haven’t heard of – yet
Welcome to Wildcard Futures, where two seemingly unrelated interests come together to reveal a Wildcard Career students might never have imagined. Each career possibility is inspired by real-world trends, emerging technologies, and challenges shaping the future of work.
And we’ve done the prep so you can jump right in.
Your Quick-Start Guide
Explore one. Explore all 18. Use it your way.
02 / Got 5 minutes?
The Daily Wildcard
Need a quick way to kick off class? The Daily Wildcard is an easy fit for homeroom, leadership, freshman success, special education support classes – and more!
Where do I start?
Choose a career from Wildcard Futures at a Glance. Any career works!
What do I do?
1
Show the two interests.
(1 minute)
Reveal the interest cards one at a time. Ask students to guess what kind of career could combine them.
2
Reveal the Wildcard Career and play the video.
(2 minutes)
See how close their guesses came – or how far off!
3
Ask the Wildcard Wonder.
(3 minutes)
Use the career’s Wildcard Wonder from Wildcard Futures at a Glance. Students can share their ideas with a partner, the class, or in a quick written response.
Make it a Wildcard Month!
18 school days. 5 minutes a day.
Introduce one Wildcard Career each school day, using our suggested sequence to mix all six categories. It’s perfect for Career Development Month in November – but any month works!
Suggested 18-Day Sequence
1
Medical Illustrator
Next-Gen Health
2
Ethical Hacker
Power Under Pressure
3
Smart Grid Specialist
Industry Reimagined
4
Interactive Climate Designer
Planet Forward
5
Smart Tourism Engineer
People First
6
Agri-Robotics Technician
Farm to Future
7
VR Therapy Designer
Next-Gen Health
8
Disaster Simulation Designer
Power Under Pressure
9
3D Bioprinting Technologist
Industry Reimagined
10
Sustainable Materials Developer
Planet Forward
11
Bioethicist
People First
12
Aquaponics Specialist
Farm to Future
13
Nano Medic
Next-Gen Health
14
Medical Drone Coordinator
Power Under Pressure
15
Pop-up Structure Engineer
Industry Reimagined
16
Ecotourism Guide
Planet Forward
17
Accessible Experience Designer
People First
18
Floating Greenhouse Operator
Farm to Future
03 / Got 15-20 minutes?
The Wildcard Deep Dive
Take one Wildcard Future for a spin. Students can get a feel for the work, practice the thinking required for the job, and discover some surprising connections to their own interests and classes.
Where do I start?
Choose a career from Wildcard Futures at a Glance. Start with the career reveal, then choose a few stops on the Wildcard Route based on what sparks students’ curiosity. Every stop has a discussion question, so see where the conversation takes you!
The one section you shouldn't skip? Step into the Role.
It’s where students get to make decisions in an on-the-job challenge.
Follow the Wildcard Route
The Reveal
Show the two interest cards one at a time. Reveal the Wildcard Future, then watch the video.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: What career might combine these two interests?
The Quick Take
Discover what’s making this career possible – and why it matters.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: Which of the three facts would you want to learn more about?
Today’s Jobs → Tomorrow’s Career
See how three existing jobs could combine into something entirely new.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: Which of these three jobs is the most surprising part of the mix? Why?
What the Work Could Look Like
Picture the career in action through a day-in-the-life comic or story.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: What did you discover that you wouldn’t have guessed from the career title?
Step into the Role...
Face an on-the-job challenge and decide how to handle it.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: What mattered most when you made your decision?
You Might Like This If You're...
Meet four personalities that might enjoy this career.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: Which one sounds like you – or someone you know?
How Your Classes Connect
Learn how today’s classes could connect to this emerging career.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: Which school subject shows up in a way you didn’t expect? How so?
Make Your Move
Check out technical college starting points and options for building on them.
Discussion Prompt
Ask: Which part makes you the most curious?
04 / Got a class period?
Wildcard Your Way
More time = more possibilities! Give students a chance to explore emerging careers, compare notes, and discover which Wildcard Futures deserve a closer look. There’s more than one way to play.
Where do I start?
Choose one of the three activities below, then use Wildcard Futures at a Glance to find the careers you’ll explore.
The Wildcard Pitch
Become the expert.
Divide students into pairs or small groups. Assign each group a different career from Wildcard Futures at a Glance. Give groups time to explore the career page. Then have them prepare and deliver a 60-second pitch to the class that includes:
- The Reveal: What does someone in this career actually do?
- The Surprise: What’s one thing about the career you didn’t expect?
- The Pitch: What about this career deserves a closer look?
Compare notes to see which Wildcard Careers sparked the most curiosity.
The Wildcard Faceoff
Make your case.
Choose one of the six categories from Wildcard Futures at a Glance.
Introduce its three careers, showing the interest-card reveals and videos for each. Give students time to explore the career pages; then have them debate which is the most interesting.
Take a class vote to see which one comes out on top.
The Wildcard Shortlist
Select your picks.
Have students browse all 18 careers in Wildcard Futures at a Glance and choose five or six to explore further. Then give them time to narrow their choices to three:
- The Surprise Pick: I didn’t see that coming!
- The Try-It Pick: I’d give that a shot.
- The Curiosity Pick: I’d like to learn more.
Have students compare their picks with a partner or small group.
05 / No class time?
The Wildcard Series
Who says career exploration only happens during class time? Turn Wildcard Futures into a recurring feature through school announcements, newsletters, or video displays. One career at a time, keep the possibilities coming!
Wildcard on Air
Let students run the show.
Have student video anchors introduce a Wildcard Career, play the career video, and share their reactions with a little follow-up banter. They practice their media production skills while their audience learns something new.
Wildcard of the Week
Put a new possibility in the spotlight.
Feature a different career in school newsletters all semester long. Drop in a Wildcard Futures career graphic and link it to the corresponding career page so students and families can explore further.
Wildcards on Display
Keep the possibilities rolling.
Play the Wildcard Futures video collection on a loop during career days, open houses, or on screens around the school or in the counseling office. With captions and all 18 careers in rotation, even a quick stop could introduce students to a career they never knew existed.
We'd love to hear from you!
Which Wildcard Career got the biggest reaction? Did students come up with a possibility of their own? Have you found a creative way to use Wildcard Futures in your school?
We’d love to hear your stories, see Wildcard Futures in action, and answer any questions. Want us to visit or help introduce the experience to your students? Reach out!