Understanding the Career Planning Process

http://mychildsfuture.org/parents/item.htm?edlvl=3  Parent web site- helpful resource to assist you

According to a 2006 Ferris State Unversity study, 74% of the time, parents are the number one source for
 guidance regarding career planning.  You have a great deal of influence in helping your child come up with
Career Choices and Options.   

Helpful link for 9th graders  (links to 10 page planning guide called Grab Life)

Planning for your future includes the following elements:

1. Self–awareness – do an analysis of your interests, skills, aptitudes, values and
experiences.  (Students start this in 8th grade during the EDP (Education Development Plan) session

2. Career Exploration—an exploration of careers in different pathways related to
 self-awareness information.  (Students are given 1 hr a year to do career
exploration.  Often times 1 hour a year is not enough research time, students
need to be doing this work at home)

3. Decision Making – Long and short terms goals are developed related to
information gathered during the above phases.  (Long and short term goals are
part of the EDP)

4. Career Planning – Creating a plan of action with steps to reach your goals 
(Post secondary schooling are embedded to the EDP)

 

Choices The courses you take and the grades you earn will go a long way in
 determining what the next step in your life will be. Take time to think about where
 you want to go and what you want to be.  Choose courses that will prepare you for
 the future.  Also take the time to get involved in your school clubs, athletics,
 the arts, and in the community.  Your involvement will help you develop skills
 in and among other things, leadership, teamwork, planning, perseverance and
 goal setting  

Foundational Skills  To be successful in life and to be a competent worker in
 a 21^st century work environment you will need:

Basic Skills:   reading, writing, math, speaking and listening

Thinking Skills: The ability to learn, reason, think creatively, make decisions and
solve problems

Personal Qualities:  Individual responsibility, self-management, integrity and
being a team player

Work Place CompetenciesThese are skills that you will need to be successful
in the workplace.

Personal Qualities:  Know how to allocate time, money, materials, space and staff

Interpersonal Skills :  Ability to work on a team, teach others, serve customers, lead,
and work well with people from culturally diverse backgrounds

Information:   Acquire and evaluate data, interpret and communicate, use computers
to process information

Systems:  Understand social, organization, and technological systems, monitor and
correct performance, and design or improve systems

Technology:  Select equipment and tools, apply technology to specific tasks and maintain
and troubleshoot equipment.

You have many of these skills already.  High School will help you develop the skills that
you have and learn the skills that you need.  What you need is a plan.  Each year as you
prepare to select courses for the next year, reflect on your Educational Development Plan.
Use the EDP as a tool to help point you in a direction.   You, with the help of parents,
counselors, teachers, need to consistently reflect upon and update your plan.