Career Launch: a soft skills and career readiness video curriculum for CTE students
Career Launch by The Softskill Professor, created by Dr. Benjamin Garner
Career Launch is a 12-video, documentary-style curriculum that teaches high school students the soft skills, employability skills, and professionalism employers look for. It's built for Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning programs.
Each short video features career advice from interviews with more than 30 business professionals. Students watch together, then teachers lead discussion using the included guides. Easy for teachers - plug and play.
The 12 videos
- Qualities Employers Want
- Professionalism
- Soft Skills
- Social Media
- Rookie Mistakes
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Interviewing
- Personal Branding
- Discovering Your Career Path
- Ethical Behavior
- Exploring All Options: Career, Apprenticeship, Technical College, University
What's included with every lesson
Video
A short, documentary-style video with real professionals sharing what they look for in new hires.
One-page summary
The key takeaways from each video on a single page students can keep.
Teacher's guide
Facilitation notes and activities so any teacher can lead the lesson with little prep.
Student discussion questions
Ready-to-use questions that turn each video into a class conversation.
How it works
Students watch a video, then the teacher facilitates group discussion and activities. Lessons are designed for in-person classes and workshops, and a one-page guide explains how to adapt them for remote learning.
Videos are delivered through Vimeo or integrated into your school's learning management system (LMS). Career Launch does not collect or handle any student information.
Career Launch helps students prepare for Work-Based Learning experiences such as internships and job placements. It supports that preparation; it is not itself a Work-Based Learning experience.
What CTE leaders say
“I wanted to provide our Work-Based Learning teachers with something fresh and current to help them teach and discuss employability skills in their classrooms. Dr. Garner’s Career Launch Video Series offers an easy way for teachers to bring industry perspectives into those conversations.”
“I think with districts who are struggling with resources to teach the employability skills Standard 1, this is a great option.”
Pricing
Career Launch is an annual license priced by the number of students in your CTE program, not by the size of your school or district. A program reaching 299 students pays the same rate whether the district has 800 students or 8,000.
| Students served in your CTE program | Annual license |
|---|---|
| 1–199 | $1,500 |
| 200–999 | $2,500 |
| 1000–2,999 | $5,000 |
| 3,000–9,999 | $10,000 |
| 10,000+ | Contact for pricing |
About the creator
Dr. Benjamin Garner is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Director of the Sales Program at the University of Central Arkansas. He is also a documentary filmmaker whose work has been distributed nationally on PBS. He built Career Launch for his own students and now shares it with CTE programs across the country through Ozark Firefly Media, LLC in Conway, Arkansas.
Frequently asked questions
What is Career Launch?
Career Launch by The Softskill Professor is a 12-video, documentary-style career readiness curriculum for high school students. It covers soft skills, employability skills, professionalism, resumes, cover letters, interviewing, personal branding, social media, and career pathways.
Who is Career Launch for?
It's designed for high school Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, Work-Based Learning coordinators, career centers, and regional CTE systems. It also works well in career readiness, business, and advisory classes.
How long are the videos, and what comes with them?
Each video runs about 5–7 minutes. Every lesson includes a one-page summary, a teacher's facilitation guide, and student discussion questions.
Can Career Launch be used for remote or online learning?
Yes. Lessons are designed for in-person classes, and a one-page remote learning guide explains how to adapt them for online or hybrid instruction.
How are the videos delivered?
Videos are delivered through Vimeo or integrated into your school's LMS. Teacher and student materials are provided as editable documents.
Does Career Launch collect student data?
No. Career Launch does not collect or handle any student information, which keeps district technology and privacy reviews simple.
How is Career Launch priced?
It's an annual license based on the number of students in your CTE program, not total district enrollment. Discounts are available for regional systems and consortia.
Does Career Launch count as Work-Based Learning?
Career Launch prepares students for Work-Based Learning experiences like internships and job placements. It supports that preparation but is not itself a Work-Based Learning experience.
Where is Career Launch being used?
CTE educators in Illinois and Georgia use Career Launch with their students, including the Southwestern Illinois CTE System and Forsyth County Schools in Georgia.
See if Career Launch fits your program
Email Dr. Benjamin Garner at [email protected] to request a sample lesson or set up a short call.