Middle School Career Education System $99.95 Sale!

Sale ends 12/24/10!

Overview

The Paint Careers With Colors System is VISUAL learning techniques and career test for kids that use colors to represent Holland Codes and Paint Careers With Colors Codes.The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career System clarifies thoughts, integrates new knowledge, and promotes critical thinking. New concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids System organizes and analyzes information. Children, youth, and adults -

• See how Holland Codes are connected to careers
• Realize how careers can be grouped and organized

The Paint Careers With Colors System also improves –

• 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.

Use the Paint Careers With Colors System at -

• Schools
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• YMCA/ YWCA Programs
• Afterschool Programs
• Kids Go To Work Days
• Career Days
• Summer School Programs

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids System 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 Paint Careers With Colors System has the following items -

• Kids Career Test (Printed Version)
• Online Career Test & Self Scoring Calculator
• Colors to Careers Posters
• Color Key
• Poster Analyzer
• Starter Kit
• Career Resource Guide
• Guide to Unlock Your Potential
• Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration
• Training Manual
• Flash Cards and Bingo Cards
• CD ROM Collection
• FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With Bulk Career Tests or CD Collection Site Licensing Purchases)

Read about Paint Careers With Colors System -

• Overview
• Purpose and Rationale for the Paint Career With Colors System
• Description of the Paint Career With Colors System
• Components
• Primary Markets
• Market Competition and Special Features
• Literature Review
• Preview/ Certification Program
• CD ROM Collection
• FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With Bulk Career Tests or CD Collection Site Licensing Purchases)

In career awareness programs, students do not make premature career choices. Elementary school career education is not career exploration or career preparation. Elementary students remain open to new career ideas and possibilities. Elementary students build awareness of -

• Self
• Personal interactions
• School
• Workforce

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 elementary 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.

In summary, in elementary 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 (2,7,9)

Purpose and Rationale for the
Paint Career With Colors System

1. What does the Paint Career With Colors System measure?

The Paint Careers With Colors System measures -

• Interests
• Abilities
• Skills

2. What are the concepts or theories underlying the development of this Paint Career With Colors System?

Dr. John L. Holland (1985) created Holland Code Career Model, Holland Hexagon Model or Holland Codes.

The Holland Code Career Model matches jobs into -

• Job codes
• Interest clusters
• Work personality environments
• Personality types

The Occupational Codes are -

• Realistic
• Investigative
• Artistic
• Social
• Enterprising
• Conventional

Holland Codes assessments provide -

• Career cluster information
• College major information
• Lists of careers
• Job finder resources

Description of the Paint Career With Colors System

1. What is the structure of the instrument?

The Paint Careers With Colors System is VISUAL learning techniques and career test for kids that use colors to represent Holland Codes.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test clarifies thoughts, integrates new knowledge, and promotes critical thinking. New concepts are more thoroughly and easily understood.

The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Job Test organizes and analyzes information. Children, youth, and adults –

• See how Holland Codes are connected to careers
• Realize how careers can be grouped and organized

2. How many parts are there in career test?
The Paint Careers With Colors test has six sections.

3. What does each section measures?

Each section measures the one of the six RIASEC or Holland Codes.
4. How many items does the Paint Career With Colors System contain?

The Paint Careers With Colors has 54 items.

5. What type(s) of scores are generated?
2 – letter Holland Code

6. What is the format of the System?
The Paint Careers With Colors is a printed test. Group or individual administration? Paint Careers With Colors can be administered to groups and individuals.

7. What are the required response modes of the System?
Paper-and-pencil

8. What is the total estimated time required for administration?
Total estimated time is 30 minutes.

9. What is the proposed scoring procedure?
The Paint Careers With Colors is self – scoring. How long will it take to score the Paint Career With Colors System? Total scoring time is 5 minutes.

Components

1. What nonconsumable (i.e., reusable) components do you anticipate will be required for administering, scoring, and interpreting the Paint Career With Colors System? (e.g., System manuals, scoring keys, System plates, booklets, manipulatives)?

Paint Careers With Colors System contains –

• Career Model
• Table of Contents
• Starter Kit
• Facilitator's Manual
• Overview and Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents
• Occupational Posters with Colorful Graphics
• Poster Instruction Sheets
• Color Chart
• Web Site and Book Resource Guide

2. Describe each of these components in terms of the anticipated production characteristics: page size, number of pages, color(s) of ink, special forms (e.g., multi-forms, self-carboning), extraordinary use of graphical images, line drawings, or other illustrations, etc.

The Paint Careers With Colors System is VISUAL career exploration System for children that use colors to represent Holland Codes.

Career Models
There are two models –

• RIASEC Version
• Paint Careers With Colors 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 Version uses easier – to – read terms for elementary school students.


Starter Kit

The Starter Kit helps teachers, counselors, and parents prepare for a Paint Careers With Colors System. The Starter Kit has the following items –

• News Release
• Flyers for children
• Flyers for teachers, counselors, and parents
• Tent Cards
• Name Tags
• Stickers for Tent Cards and Name Tags

Facilitator's Manual

The Facilitator's Manual provides detailed step-by-step instructions to administer and implement the different aspects of the Paint Careers With Colors Kids Program.

Overview and Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents

The Overview and Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents gives a description of the different parts of the Paint Careers With Colors System.

Career Test Guide

The System Guide provides teachers and counselors with step – by – step instructions for teachers and counselors.

Occupational Posters with Poster Instruction Sheets

Over three hundred (300) Colors to Careers Posters feature--

• Graphics
• Holland Codes
• Paint Careers With Colors Codes.

The Paint Careers With Colors Posters are Easy Scoring. You sort the posters quickly according to likes and dislikes. At the end of the poster sorting exercise, you will have your Holland Code and Paint Careers With Colors Code. The posters are an excellent way to explore careers. The poster shows you’re the relationship between Holland Codes, Paint Careers With Colors Codes, and careers.

Paint Careers With Colors Color Chart

The Paint Careers With Colors Color Chart shows all of the information listed on the posters –

• Job Titles
• Career Color Codes
• 3 letter Holland Codes
• Colors to Careers Poster Numbers

Web Site and Book Resource Guide

The Web Site and Book Resource Guide provides additional information about web site and books for children.

Primary Markets

1. What is the target population for the Paint Careers With Colors System (i.e., demographic characteristics such as age, gender, etc.)
The target population for the Paint Career With Colors System is elementary or middle school students.

Other individuals who use the Paint Careers With Colors include 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

2. What professional discipline(s) would be the potential purchasers and users of this System?

Professional disciplines include –

• Universities and college – Elementary school education and counseling professors
• Teaching – Teachers, tutors, and home educators
• Counseling – School counselors, career development facilitators, life coaches, and career coaches
• Child Development – After – School Instructors, Career Day Facilitators, and Community Agency Staff
• Social Services – Social workers, crisis counselors, and At – Risk Children Program Staff

3. Which settings would be appropriate for use of this System (e.g., schools, private clinics, hospitals, private practice, etc.)?<

Settings for the Paint Careers With Colors include –

• Schools
• Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/ YWCA Programs, and other community organizations
• Afterschool Programs
• Kids Go To Work Days
• Career Days
• Summer School Programs

Market Competition and Special Features

What other Systems are currently available that serve a similar function?

There is not a wide selection of Holland Code, visual, color-coded career systems available for elementary or middle school students.

Paint Careers With Colors Model

There are two versions – the RIASEC Version and the 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.

Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test

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.
At the end of the job test for kids, you summarize your results. The Summary Sheet identifies your Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes.
The Paint Careers With Colors Kids Career Test comes with a Colors to Careers Career Model, Colors to Careers Code or Holland Code Descriptions, and Color Key. 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

The Career Tests are printed on heavy-weight glossy, durable paper!

Colors to Careers Posters

Over three hundred (300) Colors to Careers Posters feature graphics, Holland Codes, and Colors to Careers Codes. The Colors to Careers Posters are Easy Scoring. You sort the posters quickly according to likes and dislikes. At the end of the poster sorting exercise, you will have your Holland Code and Colors to Careers Code. The posters are an excellent way to explore careers. The poster shows you’re the relationship between Holland Codes, Color-to Careers Codes, and careers.

Career Posters comes with -

• Children Version
• Leaders Version
• RIASEC Version
• Photo Posters
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – Photo Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – RIASEC Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – Children Version

Cost: $25/ Student

Colors to Careers Key

The Colors to Careers Color Chart shows information listed on the career tests and posters –

• Job Titles
• Paint Careers With Colors Codes
• 3 letter Holland Codes
• Paint Careers With Colors Poster Numbers

Color Key Charts are available in the following versions -

• Color Key-RIASEC Version
• Color Key-RIASEC Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Children Version
• Color Key-Children2-Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Photo Version
• Color Key-Photo-Alphabetized Version

Cost: $10/ Student

Paint Careers With Colors Poster Analyzer

The Analyzer program is an alternative to the paper and pencil model of RIASEC Paint Careers With Colors. The Analyzer will automatically produce the three let code based on the selection that the test taker provides.

The Holland Codes Occupational Poster Scoring System is an automated poster scoring system.

With the Holland Codes Occupational Poster Scoring System, clients sort posters according to likes and dislikes.

The automated scoring system tallies the results and generates a Holland Code.

In addition, the new automated system can be used over and over again with individualized results based on the user’s selections.

There is no more counting, tallying, or figuring.

Clients, students, and children will enjoy making their selections and with just the click of a button have their unique Holland Code results displayed on the computer screen. You will enjoy using this career exploration activity.
Cost: $20.00

Paint Careers With Colors Promotional Starter Kit

Use the Starter Kit to promote the Paint Careers With Colors System.The Starter Kit helps teachers, counselors, and parents prepare for a Paint Careers With Colors System. The Starter Kit has the following items –

• News Release
• Flyers for children
• Flyers for teachers, counselors, and parents
• Tent Cards
• Name Tags
• Stickers for Tent Cards and Name Tags

The flyers and News Release help to advertise the Program.

The News Release advertises the beginning of the Paint Careers With Colors System. Send out the News Release prior to starting the system.

The Children’s and Adult’s Flyers provide information about the Paint Careers With Colors System.

Use Name Tags and Tent Cards to identify children, students, teachers, counselors, or parents.

Individuals place stickers on Name Tags and Tent Cards. The Stickers lists the 6 Holland Codes or 6 Colors to Careers Codes. When the children or students have completed the Career Test, they will be instructed to place the correct labels on their Name Tags and Tent Cards. The Stickers identify each individual’s Holland Codes or Colors to Careers Codes.
Cost: $25/ Starter Kit

Career Resource Guide

The Career Resource Guide (Internet Resources for Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Adults, and Teens) includes additional information from the following areas –

• Holland Code Career Assessment Activities
• Awareness, Assessment, and Knowledge Resources
• Career Exploration Sites

The Career Resource Guide (Internet Resources for Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Adults, and Teens) covers -

1. Look at Exploring Careers Web Sites

• CURRICULUM
• CAREER INFORMATION
• SCIENCE CAREER GROUP
• SPECIFIC CAREERS — SCIENCE

2. Look at Exploring Careers Books
Cost: $10.00/ Student

Guide to Unlock Your Potential Curriculum 2009

This Guide to Unlock Your Potential Curriculum provides strategies –

• To motivate students to expand their knowledge of themselves and the world of work
• To empower students with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to enhance their career and personal development
• To encourage the discovery and refinement of students’ work values, interests and skills, as well as their academic and career planning

The contents of the Guide to Unlock Your Potential Curriculum are -

1. Outline
2. Introduction
3. Career Exploration

• THREE STEPS WITHIN THE CAREER PLANNING AND EXPLORATION PROCESS
• STEP ONE: AWARENESS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ASSESSMENT
  
  • Types of Career Planning Resources
  • Examples of Holland Codes Resources
  • Four Personal Styles
  • Holland Code Assessment
• STEP TWO: EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPLORATION
  
  • Internet Career Exploration Resources
  • Career Book Resources
• STEP THREE: CAREER PLANNING
  
  • Holland Codes and College Majors
  • Resume Writing
  • Resume Writing Web Sites
  • Preparing for an Interview

4. Bibliography
5. Appendix

• Career Exploration and Planning
• Areas Influencing Career Planning and Exploration
• Expanded List of Areas Influencing Career Planning and Exploration
• Career and Vocational Knowledge
• Different Occupational Areas
• Career Exploration Exercise Results
• Additional Career Websites

Cost: $10/ Student

Unlock Your Treasure – Children

The Children’s version of the Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration is used in conjunction with the Self Directed Search Career Explorer and the Paint Careers With Colors System (Children's and RIASEC Version).

The Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration has 3 sections:

• Guide to Exploring Careers
• Internet Resources for Teachers, Counselors, Parents, Adults, Kids and Children
• Visual Aids or Screenshots from the Unlock the Treasure Chest Guidebook

The Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration is for kids and children who need a manual that will guide them through the steps of exploring careers.

The topics included in the Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guide to Career Exploration are:

• Learning about Yourself
• Find the Secret Code
• Understand the Secret Code – The Holland Code
• Find Your Career Group
• Identify Careers Using Paint Careers With Colors System
• Identify Careers Using the Self Directed Search Career Explorer
• Explore Careers Using Career Web Sites
• Explore Career Using Career Books

Cost: $15/ Student

Training Manual

The Training Manual provides detailed step-by-step instructions to administer and implement the different aspects of the Paint Careers With Colors System. The Training Manual covers the following areas –1. Introduction (For Parents, Teachers, & Counselors)
2. Paint Careers With Colors System –

• Model
• Career Test
• Posters
• Color Key

3. Awareness & Assessment: Teacher, Counselor, & Parent Guide

• 3 Ways To Choose a Right Career Test For Your Child or Student
• Holland Career Self Assessment Tests
• Features Of Career Self Assessments Tests

4. Guide To Exploring Careers – For Children

• Learning About Yourself
• Day One: Meet Your Guides and Get Your Map
• Day Two: Meet John Holland, a Great Explorer
• Day Three: Find The Secret Code
• Day Four: Understand The Secret Code – The Paint Careers With Colors Code
• Day Five: Find Your Career Group
• Day Six: Get Your Holland Code.
• Day Seven: Get Your Career List
• Day Eight: Look at Exploring Careers Web Sites
• Day Nine: Look at Exploring Careers Books

5. Career Posters – Keys To Explore Holland Codes, Paint Careers With Colors Codes, and Careers
6. Day Ten: Look at Career Posters
7. Paint Careers With Colors Career Posters

• Preparation For Career Poster Activity
• Sorting By Likes And Dislikes
• Summary Sheet
• Final Review
• Highest Code Letters

8. Starter Kit
9. Visual Aids Or Screenshots For Teachers, Counselors, Or Parents
10. Flash Cards
Cost: $20/ Training Manual

Flash Cards and Bingo Cards Sets

The purpose of the Flash Cards and Bingo Cards are to help the students:

• Discover their interests, abilities, and skills.
• Find out what makes their personality tick.
• Explore careers with middle school students, children, and kids.
• Link careers to interests, abilities and skills.

Flash Card Set has -

• Flash Cards – Adults Version
• Flash Cards - Children Version

The Bingo Cards has -

• Bingo Card Set – Children Version
• Bingo Master - Children Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – Children Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – Children Version
• Bingo Card Set – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – RIASEC Version

Cost: $10/ Bingo Card/ Flash Card Set

Paint Careers With Colors CD ROM Collection

There are four (4) Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection.

• Foundational CD-ROM
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 1 – Training Resources
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 2 – Promotional Starter Kit Materials
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 3 – Holland Codes Toolkit
• Bonus CD-ROM Number 4 – Presentational Materials

Here is a detailed outline of the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection.

Foundational CD-ROM

1. Career Test - Children & RIASEC – Revising

• Children Test
• Children Test Guide
• Photo Test
• Photo Test Guide
• RIASEC Test
• RIASEC Test Guide

2. Color Key

• Color Key -RIASEC Version
• Color Key –RIASEC Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Children Version
• Color Key-Children2-Alphabetized Version
• Color Key-Photo . Version
• Color Key-Photo-Alphabetized Version

3. Posters

• Children Version
• Leaders Version
• RIASEC Version
• Photo Posters
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – Photo Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009 – RIASEC Version
• Poster Card Instruction Sheet-2009-children Version

4. Introduction

• Overview
• RIASEC VS Children Table
• Fact Sheets
• Paint Careers With Colors Wheel – Children
• Paint Careers With Colors Wheel – RIASEC
• RIASEC & Children Model Table

Bonus CD-ROM Number 1 – Training Resources

1. Career Resource Guide
2. Curriculum 2009
3. Unlock Your Treasure – Children
4. Training Manual
5. Mini-Posters - Children's Version

• Mini Posters Labels
• Mini Posters Instructions
• Mini Posters Scoring Sheet

6. Career and Holland Game

Bonus CD-ROM Number 2 – Promotional Starter Kit Materials

1. Brochure
2. Labels - Children Codes
3. Labels - RIASEC Codes
4. Flyer – Adults
5. Flyer – Children
6. Name Tags
7. News Release
8. Poster
9. Tent Cards

Bonus CD-ROM Number 3 – Holland Codes Toolkit CD-ROM

1. Analyzer
2. Flash Cards

• Flash Cards – Adults Version
• Flash Cards - Children Version

3. Bingo Cards

• Bingo Card Set – Children Version
• Bingo Master - Children Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – Children Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – Children Version
• Bingo Card Set – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Master Cutouts – RIASEC Version
• Bingo Instruction Sheet – RIASEC Version

There are FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With CD Collection Purchases).

End of Year Sale -Paint Careers With Colors Site Licensing Purchases

Teachers and counselors in the USA can purchase a single license that entitles all of their students to use the Paint Careers With Colors CD Collection. The cost is discounted to a very affordable rate.

There are FREE Certification or Preview Programs (With CD Collection Purchases).


Offer expires December 24, 2010!

Read more...

Career Tests On Sale for $5!

The following career tests are on sale -

• Career & Life Explorer
• Career Exploration Inventory
• Career Personality Inventory
• Career Values Inventory
• Guide for Occupational Exploration Interest Inventory
• PICS Career Survey 
• Transferable Skills Survey

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

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Middle School RIASEC Career Test

Offer expires December 31, 2010:

Middle School RIASEC Career Test

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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:

Kuder Career Test Resource Guide

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Kuder Career Planning System

Keys to Career Awareness:

Kuder career test powerpoint

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MCP Career Test, Manual, & Powerpoint

MCP Career Test Bundle

Career Exploration Made Exciting and Fun Scribd Collection

Check Out MCP Career Tests!

Identify Your Interests:

Check Out MCP Career Tests!

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Holland Codes

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Holland Codes

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Steps to successful career planning

Unlock Your Destiny:

Steps to successful career planning

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Find the right college major

Match Your Interests to Careers:

Find the right college major

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Time to explore careers

Check out this Career Exploration Presentation:

Time to explore careers

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Discover Your Career Interest Areas!

Looking at Holland Codes:

Discover Your Career Interest Areas!

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Take MCP challenge!

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Take MCP challenge!

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Build self awareness

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Build self awareness

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Prepare for career test drive

Navigate on the road to self-discovery:

Prepare for career test drive

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Test Drive Your Career Test! You have the keys!

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Test Drive Your Career Test! You have the keys!

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50 (More) Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits

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50 (More) Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits

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50 Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits

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50 Social Media Tactics for Nonprofits

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New Revised Self Directed Search Occupations Finder

 

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 … 

Protect your self image

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Protect your self image

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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

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/

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/

Creating a career portfolio

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Creating a career portfolio

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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

Key Elements of Middle School Career Education

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Key Elements of Middle School Career Education

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Core of Middle School Career Education

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Core of Middle School Career Education

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It Could Be U Camp Highlights

Middle School Career Education Benefits

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Middle School Career Education Benefits

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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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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., &amp; 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.

Top career cluster resources

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RIASEC Personalities

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Step One: Self Awareness

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Sam Champion takes the Self-Directed Search (SDS) on Good Morning America

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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 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 –

• MCP – My Career Profile
• Self Directed Search
• Strong Interest Inventory

Low Cost, Informal Tests –

• Strong Interest Explorer
• RIASEC Inventory
• Career Interests Inventory

Children, Limited Reading Ability, or Special Needs Tests –

• Paint Careers With Colors System (Children’s or RIASEC Versions)
• Picture Interest Career Survey

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.