Career Planning Question Do you think career planning is only for those who are college bound or getting started in the job market?

Career Planning Explanation If you said no, you’re right. The Career planning process helps students, career changers and job seekers learn more about their career choices or match their attributes up with a job that is a better fit. Career planning takes more time, but renders better job prospects verses basic job searching, which produces limited job opportunities.

Staff Assists Customer “Hello, Michael, How can I help you today?” “Well, I’m looking for a job, but I don’t know what I want to do, who will hire me or where to look for work.”

Introduction to Career Planning “Career planning? I thought that was for people going to college or someone starting out. I just want to look for a job” “To give you some direction, let’s start with career planning.”

Explanation of Career Planning “Questions you have can be answered through the career planning process. For example, you can explore careers based on your interests, values and skills. Then you can determine if you need to gain or expand your skills as well as learn about wage information before you start your job search. You also use elements of career planning to look for a job, increase your job opportunities, and find a job that is a better fit.”

Your Career Planning Guide Elements The Your Career Planning Guide illustrates the career planning process. Let’s take a look at each element: Assess Yourself Explore Careers Create A Plan and Set Goals Expand Skills Find A Job Manage Your Career

Your Career Planning Guide The guide can help customers at any stage in the career planning or job searching process. Customers get to know themselves better, learn about careers and the job market, create a plan and leverage that information to obtain a job and manage their careers.

Assess Yourself Element Knowing personal attributes such as interests, abilities, level of competencies, transferable skills, and strengths and weaknesses is a start to exploring careers that are a better fit. Assess Yourself I’m knowledgeable in basic residential building and state codes. I like to work in a team setting. I have great listening and analytical skills, but I’m not good at writing. I really like physical labor and using my hands. I have average math and computer skills I’m skilled at using a tape measure, carpenter tools and framing a house.

Explore Careers Taking time to research careers is the groundwork to finding a career or a job that is a better fit. Jobs of interest Jobs in-demand Green jobs Job growth projections Wage information Job qualifications Self-assessment tools Educational and training opportunities Explore Career Element

Each career site has a unique focus, specialty and layout, but all sites offer information on careers, education and training, wages, assessments, tutorials, and tips for all levels of job seekers, employers Exploring Careers

Welcome to your tool for career exploration and job analysis! O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more! Occupational Search Find Occupations by Cluster or Family Career Exploration by Skills Crosswalk Search My Next Move My Next Move for Veterans Find Assessments Under O*NET Sites Resource Center Products Career Exploration Tools O*NET Ability Profiler O*NET Interest Profiler O*NET Computerized Interest Profiler O*NET Interest Profiler Short Form O*NET Work Importance Locator O*NET Work Importance Profiler

Your pathway to career success. Tools to help job seekers, students, businesses, and career professionals. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Explore Careers Assessment Tools Find Assessments Skills Profiler ONET'S Ability Profiler ONET'S Interest Profiler ONET'S Work Importance Locator Employability Checkup Education and Training Resumes and Interview Salary and Benefits Job Search - National and Local Jobs People and Places to Get Help

ISEEK is Minnesota's comprehensive career, education, and job resource. Explore Careers Assessment Tools ISEEK Skills Assessments MNCareers Interest Assessments - Holland Interest Assessment Plan Your Education Find a job Resumes and Interviews MyMnCareer - Adult Basic Education Step Ahead - Resources for Ex-offender Population

Create a Plan and Set Goals Click to see an example of a career plan. A plan is a vision written down… Even a simple outline puts structure into the planning process and sets ideas into motion. Setting goals sees the plan through… Setting short- and long-term goals makes accomplishing the plan more manageable and keeps it on track. Getting Started is Easy Step 1 Obtain a notebook and pen Write down ideas and goals Step 2 Research occupations, jobs and employers Research schools, training opportunities and careers Identify challenges and solutions Step 3 Map out career or job path Set short- and long-term goals “I need a plan so I can focus on my goals.”

Create a Plan and Set Goals - 2 Create a Plan and Set Goals Click to see an example of a career plan. A plan is a vision written down… Even a simple outline puts structure into the planning process and sets ideas into motion. Setting goals sees the plan through… Setting short- and long-term goals makes accomplishing the plan more manageable and keeps it on track. Getting Started is Easy Step 1 Obtain a notebook and pen Write down ideas and goals Step 2 Research occupations, jobs and employers Research schools, training opportunities and careers Identify challenges and solutions Step 3 Map out career or job path Set short- and long-term goals “I need a plan so I can focus on my goals.”

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Expand Skills Expand skills or Find a Job Elements Find a Job Once personal attributes are identified, careers and jobs explored, and, if necessary, skills gained or expanded, finding a better career or job is obtainable. Certificate Short-term or long-term training A degree Experience Volunteer work Apprenticeship or internship It takes planning, strategic thinking, and determination to find the right job. Expanding skills and knowledge increases job opportunities

Manage Your Career Globalization, changing technology, more efficient ways of working, and the ups and downs of the economy impacts the job market positively or negatively. Life-long learning, being adaptable and flexible, learning new tasks and responsibilities are all part of managing a career, maintaining employability and staying competitive. Manage Your Career Element Thinking ahead prepares you for the future. Expand skills and knowledge base Develop and maintain a professional presence and relationships Develop an expertise in a field Stay current on the job market

Labor Market Information The Your Career Planning Guide is a helpful tool for job seekers who don’t know where to get started, but there is another important factor to consider: labor market information (LMI). LMI helps the job seeker make informed decisions in career planning and job searching processes. Let’s take a look at three important LMI elements and the Job Skills Transfer Tool (JobStat) located on DEED’s Website. “Wage information is one piece of a greater strategy.” ~Kyle Uphoff, DEED Regional Analysis and Outreach Manager

Illustration of JobStat Tool 1.Enter occupation or browse from the list of occupations. 2.Entered Customer Service title. Occupational search rendered a list of occupational titles. Illustration of the JobStat tool to find information on Customer Service Jobs. ta_Publications/Data/All_Data_Tools/Job _Skills_Transfer_Assessment_Tool.aspx

JobStat Tool Results 3.Selected Patient Representative title Results: Matching jobs in MinnesotaWorks.net Level of demand Wage information Career profile - description of occupation Skill gaps Training

Financial Aid Introduction One last thing, customers who inquire about education or training may need some information on financial aid. So lets see what’s available.

Financial Aid There are several funding sources available for training and educational programs. Depending on the program requirements, some WFC programs provide funding for short-term training, such as the Dislocated Workers Program and the Workforce Investment Act. Free training may be available for short-term training at local non- profit agencies, such as Goodwill Easter and American OIC. Government and private student loans are available for college programs or certificates. Government Grants Based on need and eligibility Do not need to be repaid Scholarship Rewards Based on criteria such as academic performance, ethnicity, athletics ability or recruitment for specific areas of study Some training institutions provide scholarships based on hardship and situation Do not need to be repaid Loans Issued by government and private banks Based on income, tuition and living expenses Repayment is required Links to financial aid information Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA): Fafsa.gov Studentaid.ed.gov Scholarships.com Financial Aid

Recap The Career planning process helps students, career changers and job seekers learn more about their career choices or match their attributes with a job that is a better fit. Career planning activities include planning, self- assessments, research, expanding skills and managing a career. Individuals who skip this process may find themselves unsatisfied with their career choice or with limited job opportunities.

This completes training for Module 3, Unit 2 The End