Monday, December 13, 2010

Career Tests On Sale for $5!

The following career tests are on sale -

Career and Life Explorer

Career and Life Explorer is a Holland Code assessment that uses:
  • Appealing graphics
  • Easy-to-follow instructions
  • Proven career exploration principles
  • Great information to get young people thinking about their future—and encourages them to stay in school, explore positive career and learning options, and dream big
Career and Life Explorer provides the following information:
  • Start with "Uncover Career Clues."
  • Gather career information by looking at:
    • Who they admire
    • What they do well or enjoy doing
    • What are the key values
    • How important is money
    • What kinds of people they like to spend time with
    • How much education or training they would consider
    • What work environment they prefer, and more
  • Step 2: Select top picks from among six Holland Code "Interest Groups"
  • Step 3: Look up related jobs in a chart listing hundreds of job titles from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • Step 4: Use a "Discover Your Ideal Job" to write in key elements of their ideal job, including:
    • Values
    • Possible job titles
    • Skills
    • Education or training
    • Earnings
    • Other details
  • Step 5: Use an Action Plan worksheet to help plan high school courses, extracurricular activities, and other life experiences.
Format: 5.5 x 8.5, 12-panel foldout
Reading Level: Grade 6
Interest Level: Grades 6 to 12

Regular Cost: $7 Sale Cost: $5

Career Exploration Inventory

Hollandcodes.com has information about the Career Exploration Inventory.

Career Exploration Inventory is a career interest inventory with career information and career planning information.The Career Exploration Inventory:
  • Is easy to read, self-scoring, self-interpreting
  • Gathers career information by looking at past, present, and future activities of your life. These areas include Work, Leisure, and Learning activities.
  • Helps you identify Clusters and GOE Interest Areas
  • Provides a list of related jobs in a chart listing hundreds of job titles, career salary, career research, and career information from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • Provides additional career resources
  • Create an Action Plan
  • Help you set Short Term, Medium Term, and Long Term Goals
The Career Exploration Inventory:
  • Is backed by strong validity
  • Uses proven career exploration principles.
  • Directs cross-reference to GOE and O’Net job reference systems.
The Scores from the Career Exploration Inventory connect you to 16 GOE career interest areas or Career Clusters with:
  • Related jobs
  • Education and training options
  • Leisure activities listed for each interest area
Format: 8.5 x 11, 12-panel foldout, self-scoring/self-interpreting, consumable, no other components needed.
Interest Level: High School-Adult

With each Career Cluster/GOE purchase, you will receive with free Career Cluster, GOE Code, and Holland Code cross-reference and Internet resource sheets.

Regular Cost: $7 Sale Cost: $5

Career Personality Inventory Based on the MBTI personality types

The Career Personality Inventory is -
  • Self- scoring, self-interpreting, consumable, no other components needed
  • Comparable results to the MBTI
  • Match personality types to careers, work styles, skills, work environments, and work preferences with this easy-to-use assessment
  • Is based on the MBTI personality types
The CPI uses a simple and innovative testing method requiring test takers to -
  • Simply circle words that describe them
  • Total the number of descriptors circled
The CPI then helps users consider how their personality relates to their careers by focusing on their top two traits.

Users can match their personality types to careers and work preferences.

Clients then use the career planning guide and worksheet to set goals and start their career research.

Valid and reliable, the CPI provides a powerful and cost-effective alternative to any organization using similar but more expensive personality inventories.

Product type: Printed booklet
Interest level: Middle School-High School
Pages Opens to 8-panel foldout
Size: 8.5 x 11

Regular Cost: $7 Sale Cost: $5

Career Values Inventory

The O*NET Career Values Inventory helps individuals explore over 900 O*NET job titles based on their work values and motivators.

Unlike the first edition of the Values Inventory which used a card sort to explore work values, the new edition uses an easier forced-choice method.

Consisting of only 36 items and taking less than 20 minutes to complete, this method provides accurate results in less time, as well as simplifies administration and scoring.

Once individuals have identified their most important work values, the inventory guides them to match their results to potential careers organized by both values and the preparation required (using the DOL’s five "job zones"). In depth suggestions for further research help individuals explore those careers, and a reproducible Job Information/Action Plan worksheet helps them pursue their goals.

The inventory is self-scoring and self-interpreting, takes less than thirty minutes to complete, and is based on decades of research.

Valid and reliable, this assessment is an ideal starting point for anyone engaging in career exploration.

Its incorporation of O*NET job titles also makes it highly compatible with a wide variety of occupational resources.The O*NET is changing. The Department of Labor is revising and streamlining the Occupational Information Network to better match the rapidly changing economy.

The Second Edition of the O*NET Career Values Inventory has been substantially revised. In addition to moving from a card sort to a forced choice mechanic, it will feature streamlined instructions, an updated list of resources, an improved job information worksheet, and job titles drawn directly from the latest version of the O*NET.

Regular Cost: $7 Sale Cost: $5

PICS Career Survey

The PICS Career Survey is a Picture Interest Test and an easy-to-do Holland Code assessment that uses 36 sets of 3 pictures as a quick way to –
  • Explore their career interests
  • Find a job that fits
The PICS Career Survey is an excellent career test for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS and for other people -
  • Who are In ESL/GED programs
  • Who have limited reading ability
  • Who have limited knowledge of English
  • Who are developmentally delayed
  • Who are learning disabled
  • Who have special needs
  • Who have limited access to education
  • Who are chronically unemployed
The PICS Interest Test -
  • Takes less than fifteen minutes to complete and score
  • Uses pictures of people at work
  • Is self-administered and self-scored
To finish the Career Survey (PICS), you -
  • Look at 36 sets of 3 pictures.
  • Choose which of the three portrayed occupations seems most interesting.
  • Total the number and kind of pictures selected.
As bonuses, with each purchase, you receive the Career Locator and Career Planning Worksheet.

The Career Locator matches Holland Code interest areas to 600 careers. Careers are placed in one of the following groups – Careers that require Short Term On-the-Job-Training, Moderate Term On-the-Job-Training, Long Term On-the-Job-Training, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Professional Degree, and Postsecondary Vocational Training.

On the Career Planning Worksheet, you record information about education required, projected earning, job outlook, skills, and next step.Regular Cost: $8 Sale Cost: $5

Transferable Skills (TS) Survey

The TS Survey is a researched and validated assessment. The TS Survey is a short assessment that identifies an individual’s strongest soft (TS) skills skills. The eight (8) soft (TS) skills Skills are:
  • Analytical
  • Numerical
  • Interpersonal
  • Organizational
  • Physical
  • Informational
  • Communicative
  • Creative skills
The benefits of the TS Survey are -
  • Complete in 20-25 minutes
  • Is easy to use
  • Has color-coded design
  • Is Self-scoring and self-interpreting
  • Can be used as both a career exploration guide and a job search strategy tool
  • Includes suggested resources for career exploration as well as a worksheet for comparing possible careers
  • Includes job titles from the most recent O*NET database
  • Can be given to groups or individuals
The TS Survey has 5 sections -
  1. Mark Your Answers
  2. Add Your Scores
  3. Interpret Your Scores
  4. Identify Occupations that Match Your Skills
  5. Explore Occupations that Match Your Skills
Regular Cost: $7 Sale Cost: $5

Guide for Occupational Exploration Interest Inventory (GOEII)


Guide for Occupational Exploration Interest Inventory -
  • Has appealing graphics
  • Is easy-to-follow instructions
  • Is self-scoring
  • Matches your Interests to 250 Occupational Outlook Handbook and 1,000 O*NET career jobs with career salary information, career research, and career information
  • Is organized around 14 GOE career interest areas
Guide for Occupational Exploration Interest Inventory provides the following information from the ORIGINAL GOE System presented in the Guide for Occupational Exploration (3rd Edition):

.Step 1: Start with the following "14 Interest Areas or Career Clusters" -
  1. GOE Code 1: Arts, Entertainment, and Media
  2. GOE Code 2: Science, Math, Engineering
  3. GOE Code 3: Plants and Animals
  4. GOE Code 4: Law, Law Enforcement, and Public Security
  5. GOE Code 5: Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
  6. Construction, Mining and Drilling
  7. Transportation, Distribution & Logistics
  8. GOE Code 6: Industrial Production
  9. GOE Code 7: Business Detail
  10. GOE Code 8: Sales &Marketing
  11. GOE Code 9: Recreation, Travel and Other Personal Services
  12. GOE Code 10: Education and Social Services
  13. GOE Code 11: General Management and Support
  14. Medical and Health Science
Step 2: Complete Inventory.
Step 3: Score profile.
Step 4: Use the "14 Interest Areas or Career Clusters" to Explore Career Options.
Step 5: Complete the Career Exploration Worksheet.
Step 6: Research career options.

Reading Level: Grade 8
Interest Level: Middle School-Adult

Regular Cost: $7 Sale Cost: $5

Read more...

Thursday, December 02, 2010

100 Reliable (and Ridiculous) Excuses for Calling Out of Work

December 2nd, 2010

Everyone has had days when they just don't feel like going to work. Whether that's because you really have an issue that requires you to stay home, wish you had a different career or just feel like playing video games all day, it doesn't really matter. You just need the perfect excuse to get you out of the office and back into bed. Here are some tried and true excuses as well as some more creative and outrageous ones as well to help you concoct the perfect story for playing hooky from work.

Classics

These excuses are tried and true classics.

1. My grandmother died. While there are times when this excuse might actually be true, it tends to get used quite a bit when it's not. Still, few bosses with question a grieving employee.
2. I need to stay home to care for my husband/wife/child. You can't argue with having to stay home and care for someone else who's too sick to do it on their own.
3. My alarm didn't go off. If you somehow managed to sleep through the entire work day or a good portion of it because your alarm didn't go off (even if you forgot to set it) you can't be held responsible for that right?
4. I have a headache. Headaches, whether migraines or smaller aches, these painful problems make it nearly impossible to work.
5. I have a family emergency. This is a commonly used excuse perhaps because it discourages further inquiry. Family matters can be very private and your boss may feel awkward asking more.
6. I have jury duty. If you don't go to jury duty instead of work you could be in big trouble. Of course, you might need to watch out if your boss asks for proof.
7. I lost my voice. So long as you call in for work in a teeny, tiny whisper, no one will question that you've lost your voice. Just make sure you can't do your job without a voice, otherwise it's not much of an excuse.
8. It's a religious holiday. You'll have to really commit to this excuse, but your boss can't fault you for needing to take days off to participate in your religious activities.
9. I have to babysit. Whether they're your own kids of that of a sick relative, you can use this excuse to get out of one kind of work by having to do another.
10. I'm taking a sick day. Really, do you need to elaborate any further? If your work guarantees sick days, you're allowed to take them when you please.
11. I stayed up too late working and am too tired to come in. This excuse not only gets you out of work today, but makes you look like a hard worker to boot.
12. It's my birthday! Is this a valid reason not to come into work. Absolutely not. Is it a common excuse for not coming in? Totally. Should you probably veil it behind some other excuse? More than likely.

Read more at 100 Reliable (and Ridiculous) Excuses for Calling Out of Work.

Kuder Career Test Resource Guide

Time to Explore:

Friday, November 26, 2010

Career Exploration Made Exciting and Fun Scribd Collection


Friday, October 08, 2010

New Revised Self Directed Search Occupations Finder

http://hollandcodes.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/formr2.gif 
The New Self Directed Search Occupations Finder – Revised Edition now includes occupations that have emerged as a result of technological advances (e.g., Internet). The occupations have been updated and revised, and the jobs are referenced with the Occupational Information (O*NET) database. The Occupations Finder also provides the educational development level that each occupation requires and includes an alphabetical list of the occupations. The Self-Directed Search Form R Occupations Finder has a list of 1,309 occupations matched to Holland Codes.
Read more … 

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Guidance and Tips for Making Proper Career Planning

Author: Wheeler Randy

Proper career planning is very much important to excel in life. Of course, career planning is not that difficult. Also, it is not that easy as people may think. Proper career planning needs a systematic approach. It is the responsibility of every individual to make proper career planning in order to become successful in their professional life.

Tips for making effective career plan

The following tips are significant while making a career plan. Moreover, these tips are not for just reading, but they help in providing effective results when applied properly. Some of the tips to be considered while making a career plan are as follows:
  1. The first step in career planning is to determine the personal interests, skills and abilities. This step is very much important because personal interests and skills play a vital role in making a career plan.
  2. The second step is to determine the life goal based on educational qualifications, work experience and interests.
  3. The third step is to determine the additional qualification that is needed to achieve the determined goal.
  4. The fourth step is to search for the companies that provide the job opportunity related to the determined goal.
  5. The fifth step is to apply and get the required job in a good company. It is also better to join a course that helps in getting additional qualifications needed to achieve the determined goal.
  6. Every individual must make proper use of the opportunities that invite them.
Career planning is very much significant that needs to be considered for getting the right and the best career. The above tips will be helpful for any individual to make the right career planning. People can also take professional guidance to make the best career planning.
Proper career planning is very much important to excel in life. Of course, career planning is not that difficult. Also, it is not that easy as people may think. Proper career planning needs a systematic approach. It is the responsibility of every individual to make proper career planning in order to become successful in their professional life.

Tips for making effective career plan

The following tips are significant while making a career plan. Moreover, these tips are not for just reading, but they help in providing effective results when applied properly. Some of the tips to be considered while making a career plan are as follows:
  1. The first step in career planning is to determine the personal interests, skills and abilities. This step is very much important because personal interests and skills play a vital role in making a career plan.
  2. The second step is to determine the life goal based on educational qualifications, work experience and interests.
  3. The third step is to determine the additional qualification that is needed to achieve the determined goal.
  4. The fourth step is to search for the companies that provide the job opportunity related to the determined goal.
  5. The fifth step is to apply and get the required job in a good company. It is also better to join a course that helps in getting additional qualifications needed to achieve the determined goal.
  6. Every individual must make proper use of the opportunities that invite them.
Career planning is very much significant that needs to be considered for getting the right and the best career. The above tips will be helpful for any individual to make the right career planning. People can also take professional guidance to make the best career planning.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/guidance-and-tips-for-making-proper-career-planning-3287943.html

About the Author
Randy Wheeler is a professional academic writer in essay writing company. Having degrees in history and sociology, he assists students from all over the world with essay writing and custom writing paper

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Career Services Plants Seeds of Purpose in Student Minds

 Submitted by Staff Report on September 13, 2010 – 5:30 pm

By Keleigh Norman

 
Dr. Mary Askew presents at the Lunch N’ Learn
 
Career Services presented its first Lunch & Learn session on Monday, Sept. 13, in McKinley Hall in the Student Union.

Dr. Mary Askew was the first presenter of a larger series planned to introduce FOCUS, an online resource that enables students to take a test that compares various qualities and desires, eventually compiling a range of careers worth exploring.

Every student left the Lunch & Learn feeling more prepared and more inspired. Askew, an adviser with Career Services at GCU, illustrated a poignant picture of what a new college student’s future might look like without a purpose. She urged students to search for their destiny and challenge themselves on a daily basis.
“I already know what I want to do with my life, but I’ve been considering a minor,” said freshman Tania Jaramillo. “I understand now that a test is available to help me narrow down my search.”

The session provided facts as well as tools for students to use to find their purpose and be better equipped to make important decisions.

“I would like to see more students take advantage of these Lunch & Learn opportunities,” said Constance Ady, executive administrative assistant to the dean of the College of Education.

Askew closed her presentation with the statement, “You need to focus on your destiny.” Whatever the future may hold for these young students, they now have more resources to use in focusing on it.

The next Lunch & Learn, scheduled for noon on Sept. 20, will help students in crafting a personal mission statement.

Keleigh Norman is a GCU freshman in secondary education with a specialty in English studies. She is a student worker in the Career Services Center.

Source: http://herd.gcu.edu/2010/09/career-services-plants-seeds-of-purpose-in-student-minds/

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Herd on Campus:Career Services Offers Find Your Purpose Lunch & Learn Sept. 13

Submitted by Zane Ewton on September 10, 2010 – 11:14 am
By Zane Ewton
Communications Staff

“We have received seeds of destiny, seeds of purpose. When we are born, each one of us possesses seeds – interests, abilities, skills and talents.”

-       “Seeds of Destiny” by Dr. Mary Askew

Dr. Mary Askew, GCU’s career services adviser, found her purpose in helping others find their own. As a nutritionist, a homemaker and now a career adviser, she has worked to provide people with all the food they need to fulfill their purpose.

“I believe everyone has a purpose and a destiny and it is important to discover it,” she says. “This is an important time for young people to find what they want out of life. It’s not what you do, it’s who you are.”

Dr. Mary Askew and Jacqueline Smith

In 2004, Askew helped pilot the Career Services Center at GCU. She earned degrees in nutrition at Hampton (Va.) University and Howard University (Washington, D.C.). She earned her doctorate in career development at Logos Bible College (Jacksonville, Fla.).She believes she found her destiny and purpose at GCU.

Askew will be the presenter at the first Career Services Lunch & Learn on Monday, Sept. 13. The event will follow Chapel and will be held in McKinley Hall in the Student Union. The topic: Find Your Purpose.

Career Services will unveil the FOCUS-2 program, an interactive online tool to help students evaluate their interests, values, preferences and skills, then measure that against college major interests and career goals.
Career Services Director Jacqueline Smith says the in-depth program will be an invaluable tool for all students at GCU, both on campus and online. According to Smith, the program is much deeper and broader than the Holland Codes and other similar career-guidance tools.

“FOCUS measures a person’s readiness,” Smith says. “Students can make sure they are on the right path. The more they know about themselves, the more they can feel confident in their decisions.”
Career Services Lunch & Learns are currently capped at 70 students. They are first come, first served.

Upcoming events include:
  • Sept. 20 – Creating a personal mission statement with Robin Hanson
  • Oct. 4 – Social media tips with Robyn Itule
  • Nov. 8 – From Rags to Enrichment with Brenda Combs
For more information, visit Career Services in the Student Union, or call 602.639.6606 or toll-free 877.610.5506, or email careerservices@gcu.edu.
Follow Career Services on Facebook at Facebook – Career Services.
Visit the Career Services website at www.gcu.edu/gcucareerservices.

Contact Zane Ewton at 602.639.7086 or zewton@gcu.edu.
Source: http://herd.gcu.edu/2010/09/career-services-offers-find-your-purpose-lunch-learn-sept-13/

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Career Portfolios

The Importance of Career Planning When in School

Career portfolios focus on the importance of career planning in school. What are career interest portfolios?

A career interest portfolio is -
  • Snap shot of the interests, abilities, and skills
  • Diary that lists your goals, dreams, and visions
  • Log book for career exploration and planning
  • Guidebook to future career planning
  • Storybook of your lifetime journey
Career interest portfolios are self awareness or occupational exploration portfolios. These portfolios provide guidance in completing the three steps of the career planning process –
  • Self-Knowledge
  • Educational and Occupational Exploration
  • Career Planning
Self-knowledge deals with our self-concept, interpersonal skills, growth, and development.

Educational and occupational exploration reveals the relationships between learning, work, career information skills, job seeking, skill development, and the labor market.

Career planning includes self-assessment, career exploration, decision making, life role formation, goal setting, and the implementation of career choices.

A Career interest portfolio lists -
  • Career test results
  • Career interests -What you like to do
  • Skills – Activities that you do well
  • Values – Beliefs that are important to you
  • Favorite subjects
  • Favorite activities and hobbies
  • Career experiences: Field trips, interviews with people at work, and interactions with mentors or key resource people
  • Future job possibilities
A career interest portfolio helps you -
  • Highlight your interests, abilities, and skills
  • Recognize your strengths
  • See the relationships between extracurricular activities and career goals
  • Learn about world of work
  • Open your eyes to new job opportunities
  • Identify workplace skills
  • List your career exploration objectives
  • Focus on achieving the right career objectives
  • Set realistic achievable goals
  • Make educational and career plans
The career interest portfolio is an excellent aid for students. Education, learning, and training serve as the bridge between school and world of work. School is a time of transition. A career interest portfolio serves as a journal to record special activities and events.

The career interest portfolio helps students -
  • Increase self awareness
  • Expand knowledge of careers
  • Improve career exploration and planning skills
  • Develop motivation and self confidence
Career interest portfolios provide students with awesome opportunities to gain self awareness as well as to explore and understand the world of work.

Use the career interest portfolios with the Paint Careers With Colors Career Tests.

There are two (2) career assessments that have career portfolios -
  • Kuder Career Planning Survey – For Adults and College Student
  • Paint Careers With Colors – Middle School Students

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Bridge Between Elementary School and High School - Middle School Career Education

Middle School is a bridge between Elementary School and High School. Middle School is a time of transition.

Need for Middle School Career Education

National Alliance of Business (1999) believed that Middle school was an ideal age at which to expose students to the challenging world of work. Kerka (2000) described middle school as the threshold between elementary and high school, between childhood and adulthood. Middle school career education laid the groundwork for future career development by helping students achieve the following goals:

* Knowledge of personal characteristics, interests, aptitudes, and skills

* Awareness of and respect for the diversity of the world of work;

* Understanding of the relationship between school performance and future choices

* Development of a positive attitude toward work (Developmental Career Programs 1998)

Yet, without Middle School Career Education, students failed to build a foundation of the connection between high school academic subjects, potential careers, world of work, and post-secondary training (Kerka 1994, Wells and Gaus' 1991, Finch and Mooney 1997, Johnson 2000). As a result, students had poor self concepts, possessed poor intrinsic motivation, lacked self awareness, and made limited career choices. Finally, some of the students who failed to participate in a career education program dropped out of school (Castellano et al., 2002).

Benefits of Middle School Career Education

Middle School Students who completed career education programs had the following positive outcomes -

* Increased understanding of the world of work leading to an openness to an increased number potential careers (McDonald and Jessell 1992, Hughes, 1993, Smith 2000, Finch & Mooney, 1999)

* Improved skills to make informed decisions and complex career information problem solving (McDonald and Jessell 1992)

* Enhanced academic, personal, and teamwork skill development(Toepfer, Smith 2000, Finch & Mooney, 1999, Kerka 2000)

* Increased career awareness, self-esteem, clearly defined goals, a sense of direction, and motivation to persist and attain a postsecondary education and training (Bell, T.H. 1983, McDonald and Jessell 1992, Toepfer, p. 63, O'Brien et al. 1999, Marcos, K. 2003)

National Career Development Guidelines - Career Education Model

Teachers and counselors structured middle school career education resources, career self assessment tests and tools upon the National Career Development Guidelines (NCDG). Career knowledge, skills, and decision-making processes built the NCDG Guidelines.

The framework had three domains, goals, and indicators of mastery under each career development goal.

The three domains were:

* Personal Social Development (PS)

* Educational Achievement and Lifelong Learning (ED)

* Career Management (CM)

The learning competency stages were:

* Knowledge Acquisition (K). Youth and adults at the knowledge acquisition stage expanded knowledge awareness and built comprehension. They recalled, recognized, described, identified, clarified, discussed, explained, summarized, queried, investigated and compiled new information about the knowledge.

* Application (A). Youth and adults at the application stage applied acquired knowledge to situations and to self. They sought out ways to use the knowledge. For example, they demonstrated, employed, performed, illustrated and solved problems related to the knowledge.

* Reflection (R). Youth and adults at the reflection stage analyzed, synthesized, judged, assessed and evaluated knowledge in accord with their own goals, values and beliefs. They decided whether or not to integrate the acquired knowledge into their ongoing response to situations and adjusted their behavior accordingly.

An example of the Personal Social Development domain was:

* PS1.K2 identified your abilities, strengths, skills, and talents.

* PS1.A2 Demonstrated use of your abilities, strengths, skills, and talents.

* PS1.R2 Assessed the impact of your abilities, strengths, skills, and talents on your career development.

Key elements of Middle School Education Program

Based upon the National Career Development Guidelines, the key elements of a middle school career education program increased students' awareness of their own interests and helped them learn about a wide variety of occupations. The key elements of Middle School Education Program included -

* Career exploration resources - Tests, web sites, books, and software

* Interest inventories

* Career portfolios

* Field trips

* Curriculum

* Career days

* Community partnerships

Career Tests

Middle school career tests provided information on the relationship between job interests, key characteristics, college majors, hobbies, abilities, and related careers. According to Bell, T.H. (1983), middle school students used career tests to identify the three high career activity interests, and the three low areas of interest. Then, Lane (2000) discussed that the avoidance of low interest areas was far more important since low interest areas minimized personal motivation.

Career Portfolio

As a second key element, career portfolios recorded the journey from school to post secondary training and/ or the world of work. Lane (2000) reported that a portfolio was a written account that compiled -

* Vision, goals, and dreams

* Important resource people

* Valuable learning opportunities

* Major career exploration objectives

* Learning activities, skill practice, fieldwork, interviews, and work experience

* Personal, academic, and social strengths

* Areas that need improvement?

* Evaluation of skill and personal development performance in the major areas of career development

* Junior high school courses liked most and the success in such courses.

* Junior high school courses liked least and the success in those courses.

* Sports and athletics and success in such areas

* Music, dancing, and acting and success in such areas

* Literature, writing, and speaking and the success in such areas

* Three high career interest activities

* Three low career interest activities

* Three high general aptitude areas

* Three low general aptitude areas

* Three high job-career plans with reasons for selection

Community Partnerships

In addition to career tests and portfolios, community resources served key elements. Examples of community resources and partnerships were -

* Field trips to community businesses and agencies

* Community resource speakers

* career awareness fair

* Special collaborative programs (Smith 2000)

Community resources and partnerships provided opportunities for students to explore the world of work. Community events expanded the students' understanding of job duties, work place skills, and the relevancy of school subjects.

Middle school career education program provided students with awesome opportunities to gain self awareness as well as to explore and understand the world of work. Career exploration resources, career portfolios, community partnerships and career days provided invaluable experiences.

References

Bell, T.H. (1983). A Nation At Risk.

Castellano, M., Stringfield, S. And Stone, J.R., Iii. (2002, March). Helping Disadvanted Youth Succeed In School: Second Year Findings From A Longitudinal Study Of CTE-Based Whole-School Reforms. Columbus, Oh: National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education.

Developmental Career Programs For Schools. (1998, August 27). Acaenews 1, No. 17.

Finch, C., & Mooney, M. (1999). School-To-Work Opportunities In The Middle School: Concepts And Issues (Report No. Mds-1096). Macomb, Il: NCRVE Materials Distribution Service. (Eric Document Reproduction Service No. Ed 413 509)

Finch, C. R., And Mooney, M. (1997). School-To-Work Opportunities In The Middle School: Concepts And Issues. Berkeley, CA: National Center For Research In Vocational Education, University Of California. (Ed 413 509)

Hughes, M. (1993, December). Promoting Middle Schoolers' Understanding of the World of Work. Paper Presented at the Meeting of the American Vocational Association Convention. Nashville, TN.

Johnson, L. S. (Summer 2000). The Relevance of School to Career: A Study in Student Awareness. Journal of Career Development, 26, No. 4: 263-276.

Kerka, S. (1994). Vocational Education in the Middle School. Eric Digest No. 155. Columbus, OH: Clearinghouse on Adult Career and Vocational Education.

Kerka, S. (2000). Middle School Career Education and Development. Practice Application Brief No. 9. Columbus, OH: Eric Clearinghouse On Adult, Career, and Vocational Education.

Lane, J. (2000, Summer). Scientific Approach For Developing and Testing A Students' Job-Career Plan Before 11th Grade. Education.

Marcos K. (2003, June 1). Gearing-Up For Career Awareness: Profile Of A Middle School Career Program. Eric/Cass Digest Eric Educational Reports.

Mcdonald, J. L., and Jessell, J. C. (1992, Summer). Influence of Selected Variables on Occupational Attitudes and Perceived Occupational Abilities of Young Adolescents. Journal of Career Development 18, No. 4: 239-250.

National Alliance of Business. (1999). Learning to Succeed. Preparing Young People for Tomorrow's Workplace. Washington, DC: Author.

National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (NOICC) (1987). National Career Development Guidelines. National Occupational Information Coordinating Committee, 2100 M Street NW, Suite 156, Washington, Dc 20037

O'brien, K.M., Dukstein, R.D., Jackson, S.L., Tomlinson, M.J., And Kamatuka, N.A. (1999, March). Broadening Career Horizons For Students In At-Risk Environments. The Career Development Quarterly, 47. Alexandria, Va: National Career Development Association.

O'brien, K. M. Et Al. (1999, March). Broadening Career Horizons for Students in At-Risk Environments." Career Development Quarterly 47, No. 3: 215-229.

Smith Agnes E. (2000, Summer). Middle School Career Exploration: The Role of Teachers and Principals Education.

Toepfer, C. F. (1994, January). Vocational/Career/Occupational Education at the Middle Level. Middle School Journal 25, No. 3: 59-65.

Toepfer, C.F., Jr. (1994, January). Vocational/Career/Occupational Education at the Middle Level: What Is Appropriate For Young Adolescents? Middle School Journal, 25 (3). Columbus, Oh: National Middle School Association.

Toepfer, C.F., Jr. (1997). Winning Ways: Best Practices In Work-Based Learning. Ann Arbor, MI: Tech Directions Books/Prakken Publications.

Wells, R. L., and Gaus, D. (1991). Study Of Kentucky Middle School Students' Knowledge of Career Options. Louisville: University Of Kentucky.

Read more about middle school career education tools.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Keys to Successful Career Planning

Tips from a University Career Advisor

We are all looking for ways to identify our interests, abilities, and goals. We read that career assessments and tests are helpful. Yet, taking a career assessment or test is just one of the five keys in the Career Planning Process.

Key One: Career Assessment and Awareness

We take career assessment or test to gain knowledge and understanding of our abilities, ambitions, aptitudes, identities, interests, life goals, resources, skills, and values. We learn different types of career assessments or tests –

  • Computerized
  • Online
  • Printed
Sometimes, we need assistance deciding which test is best!


Are we decided or undecided?
  • We can be decided yet we might need confirmation
  • We may lack the skills to implement our choices
  • We may also choose to avoid making a decision because we do not want to create a stressful situation.
Holland Code Career Tests

Career tests help us transition from indecision to decisiveness. Holland Code career tests are among one of the most popular career tests. Holland Code career test are based upon the Holland Career Model.

Holland Career Model

Holland Career Model

Holland Career Model classifies jobs into job categories, interest clusters, and work environments.


In the Holland Career Model, people have interests in working in one of the six Holland Code areas
· People
· Things
· Data
· Ideas
· People and ideas
· Ideas and things
· Things and data

Holland Code career tests link vocational interests to job families.
 
The career test generates a three-letter or two-letter RIASEC or Holland code.

Different Holland Code assessments provide information on the relationship between these job personalities and key characteristics, college majors, hobbies, abilities, related careers.
 
Examples of Holland Code career tests are –

Comprehensive, Validated, Reliable Tests
Low Cost, Informal Tests
Children, Limited Reading Ability, or Special Needs Tests
Key Two: Educational and Occupational Exploration

Once we take the career test, we become career explorers. We gather information about –
  • Educational choices
  • Benefits of educational achievement
  • Economy or labor market
  • Occupational choices
  • Specific occupations and programs of study
  • Training opportunities
  • Relationship between work and learning
  • Positive attitudes towards work and learning
  • Personal responsibility and good work habits
  • A typical working day for a specific occupation
Career guidance systems, for example, MCP – My Career Profile or the Kuder Career Planning System have the educational and occupational exploration features built into the system. This reduces time spent locating information from different career web sites.

Key Three: Problem solving

Using the information from the career tests and websites, we solve career problems by –
  • Identifying educational and career planning obstacles
  • Creating solutions or courses of action
  • Setting achievable goals
  • Resolving conflict and tension
  • Making a commitment to reach our God-given potential
As we solve problems, we take into consideration personal values, interests, skills, and financial resources. 

We break big problems down into smaller, more manageable steps. We set achievable goals result to produce new competencies, attitudes, and solutions. We consider new educational and training opportunities.

Key Four: Goal Setting and Decision Making

Goal setting is a very important key. During the goal setting process, we –
  • Clearly restate our vocational interests, abilities, and values
  • Set, formulate, prioritize, and rank goals
  • Derive plans or strategies to implement the solutions
  • Make a commitment to complete the plans
  • Understand decision-making processes
  • Evaluate the primary choice
  • Consider a secondary occupational choice, if necessary
In executing decision-making processes, we –
  • Develop learning and career plans
  • Identify suitable occupations
  • Select appropriate educational programs
  • Figure the costs of educational training
  • Consider the impact of career decisions
Key Five: Implementation

After awareness, exploration, problem solving, and goal setting, we have to plan our plans in action. While implementing and executing our learning and career plans, we translate vocational interests, abilities, and skills into occupational possibilities. We do reality testing through interviewing current workers, job shadowing, part-time employment, full-time employment, and volunteer work. We obtain skill training, for example, social skills, resume writing, networking, and preparations for interviews.

When we use all of the keys for successful career planning, we will develop our interests, achieve our goals, and find careers that utilize our potentials.

Dr. Mary Askew specializes in career tests, websites, and books for students.  Students and adults need easy to use, yet comprehensive career resources. Find out how students and adults can reach their career potentials at http://www.hollandcodes.com. Contact Dr. Askew at learning4life.az@gmail.com.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Favorite Career Questions

Hollandcodes.com loves receiving calls and e-mails from our customers.

Here are some of the favorite questions -
  • Which test is the right test for -
  • High school students
  • College Students
  • Career changers
  • People re-entering the workforce
  • What is the difference between a career test and a career planning guidance system?
  • What are the features of the different tests?
  • Is the Self Directed Search available on-line? Or printed?
  • Is the Strong Interest Inventory available on-line? Or printed?
  • What does the Kuder Career Planning Survey have?
  • What are the meaning of the Holland Code scores?
  • What is the differences between Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional Holland Codes?
  • What are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional careers?
  • What are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional degree programs?
  • How do I match my Holland Codes to different careers, college  programs, and training opportunities?
  • I have taken a career test. What do I do next?
We are here to help you make the right choice!

We can provide specific answers about the prices and features of the Hollandcodes.com career tests.

We are here to help you We can help you match your interests, abilities, and skills to careers and college major programs.

We can assist you in interpreting the results of your Holland Code career test or career guidance system.

Do you want to gain insight into the world of work?   We can introduce you to hundreds of experts.

The expert profiles offer critical insights from real professionals, including:
  • Resumes
  • Week in the Life
  • Career Likes
  • Career Dislikes
  • Ideal Career Profile
  • Ideal Career Path
  • Suggested Reading
  • Industry Organizations
  • Interview
  • FAQs
  • Photos
  • About Me
  • About My Career
Advisor Program
One Month Free Service

Read more about the One Month Free Service

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Middle School Career Tests

for Teachers, Counselors, and Parents


Middle school teachers and counselors prefer VISUAL learning techniques and vibrant kid career resources. Teachers and counselors are looking for products that clarify thoughts, integrate new knowledge, and promote critical thinking. Teachers and counselors present new information so that the concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood

Middle school career education tools should improve –
  • Attention Span and Concentration: holds audience’s attention and helps people absorb information
  • Memory Skills and Understanding: improves ability to absorb information
  • Speed of Learning: reduces the time it takes to complete career tests.
Middle school career education tools introduce your students careers and interests. The graphics and visuals hold your students’ attention. The tools uses career kid self-by-step activities, tests, posters, games, and activities. Middle school career resources provide excellent ways to explore careers. The resources show the relationship between interest areas and careers.

Middle school career awareness programs use age appropriate materials that match the developmental levels of the students. Age appropriate activities expose students to a variety of –
  • Different jobs
  • Career information sources
  • The reasons why people work
Programs also incorporate academic career pathways into classroom activities. After completing an middle school career awareness program, students have –
  • Higher grades
  • Higher academic achievement
  • Improved school involvement, as well as
  • An increase in career awareness exploration, personal, and interpersonal skills
In addition, the students complete more complex courses and have a higher graduation rate from high school

Hollandcodes.com provides information about middle school career tests, career assessment tests, career exploration classroom activities, career planning curriculum, educational career assessments, kids games, kids activities, and educational resources. These resources are aligned with the following National Career Development GuidelinesHollandcodes.com sells the following kid career tests or career test activities –
  • Self Directed Search Career Explorer (SDS CE)
  • PICS Interest Career Survey
  • Paint Careers With Colors System
Self Directed Search Career Explorer

 

Self Directed Search Career Explorer Assessment and Finder

The Self Directed Search is –
  • Easy to use, printed – Complete the career self assessment test in 30 minutes.
  • Tested, proven, and dependable – Used by over 22 million people worldwide.
  • An excellent, introductory resource
The Self Directed Search Career Explorer (SDS CE) is a middle school career test with a 3rd grade reading level. 

The SDS Career Explorer has kids activities. 

The kid career test matches interests, activities, and skills to Holland Codes and 400 careers. 


Picture Interest Survey


PICS Interest Career Survey


The PICS Interest Career Survey is a middle school career test, Picture Interest Test, and an easy-to-do Holland Code assessment that uses 36 sets of 3 pictures as a quick way to –

  • Explore their career interests
  • Find a job that fits
The PICS Career Survey (PICS) is an excellent kid career test for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS and for other people –
  • Who are In ESL/GED programs
  • Who have limited reading ability
  • Who have limited knowledge of English
  • Who are developmentally delayed
  • Who are learning disabled
  • Who have special needs
  • Who have limited access to education
  • Who are chronically unemployed
The Picture Interest Test
  • Takes less than fifteen minutes to complete and score
  • Uses pictures of people at work
  • Is self-administered and self-scored
To finish the PICS Career Survey, you –
  • Look at 36 sets of 3 pictures.
  • Choose which of the three portrayed occupations seems most interesting.
  • Total the number and kind of pictures selected.
As bonuses, with each purchase, you receive the Career Locator and Career Planning Worksheet

The Career Locator matches Holland Code interest areas to 600 careers. Careers are placed in one of the following groups – Careers that require Short Term On-the-Job-Training, Moderate Term On-the-Job-Training, Long Term On-the-Job-Training, Associate Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Professional Degree, and Postsecondary Vocational Training. 

On the Career Planning Worksheet, you record information about education required, projected earning, job outlook, skills, and next step.

Paint Careers With Colors Kid Career Test



Paint Careers With Colors Model


The Paint Careers With Colors System is a kid career test that introduces you to interests, Holland Codes, and careers. There are two versions of the kid career test
  • RIASEC Version
  • Children’s Version
The RIASEC Version is for Middle School students. For Middle School students, the RIASEC Version should be used with the Self-Directed Search Career Explorer

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Job Test uses self-by-step activities, career games for Kids, and kids activities for career choices to highlight Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes. On each page, you choose the careers that you like or are interested in. 

kid career test

At the end of the career test for kids, you summarize your results. The Summary Sheet identifies your Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes.



kid career test



kid career test


The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test comes with a Colors to Careers Career Model and Colors to Careers Code or Holland Code Descriptions. The Paint Careers With Colors Child Career Test is an excellent tool to introduce you to career exploration, Holland Codes, and Colors to Careers Codes. The graphics hold your attention as you identify your career interests. Career Test comes with –
  • Children Test
  • Children Test Guide
  • Photo Test
  • Photo Test Guide
  • RIASEC Test
  • RIASEC Test Guide
 In summary, in middle school career programs, students:
  • Learn and apply the academic material
  • Know and value self
  • Build self-esteem and confidence
  • Identify interests and build relationships between the school environment and the work force
  • Build academic, communication, problem solving, and social skills
  • Increase awareness of the need for future jobs skills
  • See the connections between learning in school, academic skills, job related skills, and careers
  • See career possibilities
  • See themselves as a future contributor to the job force
  • Receive empowerment
  • Build self-determination
 Read more

Monday, July 19, 2010

Paint Careers With Colors Offers Site Licenses

The School Buildings and School Districts in the USA can purchase a single Paint Careers With Colors license that entitles all of their staff members to use the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection. The cost is discounted to a very affordable rate. We are offering greatly reduced pricing for complete school buildings and school district.

School Building License: This allows all staff members at a single location to have unlimited access to the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection.

School District Licenses: This allows all staff members within entire school district to have unlimited access to the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection.

There are FREE With Bulk Career Tests or CD Collection Site Licensing Purchases.

Paint Careers With Colors Preview/ Certification Programs

Purpose

The purpose of the Paint Careers With Colors Preview/ Certification Programs is to provide -
  • Awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the Paint Careers With Colors System, career assessments, occupational posters, training materials, powerpoint tools, and marketing resources
  • Means for teachers, counselors, educators, trainers, and parents to become specialists in Paint Career With Colors Preview/ Certification Program resources

Benefits of the Programs

Take the Paint Careers With Colors Preview/ Certification Programs at your own pace.

Access lessons that provide key information and samples of the different parts of the Paint Careers With Colors System.

After completing all of the lessons and quizzes in the Paint Careers With Colors Preview/ Certification Program, you can -
  • Possess knowledge and the skills necessary to implement the Paint Careers With Colors Program.
  • Train other teachers, counselors, and parents
  • Receive commissions for referring other teachers, counselors, and parents for the Paint Careers With Colors Program
  • Receive a Paint Careers With Colors Program Preview/ Certification Program Certificate
  • Be listed on the Hollandcodes.com web site as a Paint Careers With Colors Trainer

Program Contents

After joining the Preview/ Certification Programs, you will have access to the following Paint Careers With Colors Lessons, Activities, and Samples -
  • Unit 1 Lesson 1 - Overview
  • Unit 1 Lesson 2 - Fact Sheets
  • Unit 1 Lesson 3 - Career Model
  • Unit 1 Lesson 4 - Alphabetized Product List
  • Unit 1 Lesson 5 - Step by Step Guide
  • Unit 1 Lesson 6 - Educational Games
  • Unit 2 Lesson 1 - Foundational CD-ROM
  • Unit 2 Lesson 2 - Kids Job Test
  • Unit 2 Lesson 3 - Occupational Posters
  • Unit 3 Lesson 1 - Training Resources CD-ROM
  • Unit 4 Lesson 1 - Promotional Starter Kit CD-ROM
  • Unit 5 Lesson 1 - Holland Codes Toolkit CD-ROM
  • Unit 6 Lesson 1 - Powerpoint Presentation CD-ROM

Preview/ Certification Program Costs

Cost: FREE Certification or Preview Programs with any Bulk Career Tests or CD Collection Site Licensing Purchases!!!