IECA National Conference 2005 Getting Real Helping Teens Find Their Future. Ken Gray, PSU.

Background Getting into college is easy, –graduating is not, –finding college work is even more difficult. Education is the definer of social class. The elite college income payoff is decreasing.

Where Business Leaders Went to College Harvard Business School

Background Four Factors that promote college persistence: commitment, academics, ability to pay, and involvement. Plans developed by parent(s) and teens together, are the most likely to succeed.

The One Way to Win Message Defined 1.Get a four year college degree 98% agree, 72% plan on grad school 2.In order to insure economic success Three of top 4 reasons for going to college are economic. 3.In the professional ranks Professional/managerial 65% Technical 6%

One Way to Win Myth Counting the Winners The fate of 24 children in a typical elementary school classroom in the U.S. 7 drop out of high school 5 go to work (only 22% get training) 6 do not graduate from college 3 do not find college jobs 3 win the “One Way to Win” game

Percentage of Occupations Requiring Different Levels of Education

Employment Projections for University Graduates Supply Demand Employed Graduates 1,324, ,400 55%

Fundamental Fears & Misconceptions There are so many university graduates that they will take all good jobs. College grads earn more because they have a college degree. –education explain less than 10% of earnings. –83% of associate degree holders have same annual earnings as 4-yr grads. (Ulreich,NYT, 1/17/05)

Finding the Other Ways to Win. The High Skills/High Wage Strategy A. Understand three labor market realities. B. Investigate technician level occupations within key economic sectors

1. The High Skills/High Wage Workplace Semi-conductor Manufacturing Ratio: 1 to 2 to 7

2. Labor Market Projections Can be Misleading Opportunity is greatest in occupations that demand exceed supply. Fast or slow growing growing occupations may or may not mean opportunity.

Shortages of Technicians There will be 100,000 more jobs for computer technicians than computer engineers.

Shortages of Technicians Almost half of IT, craft, and precision manufacturing jobs were filled by non-native born workers in the 1990’s.

Shortages of Technicians While construction trades employment is predicted to grow only by 13% retirement of older workers results in a net demand of over two million jobs from 2000 to 2010

3. Occupational Skill -Not Degrees- Provide Labor Market Advantage High Skill/ High Wage Low Skill/ Low Wage Work Ethics Academic Skills Occupational Skills

B. Investigate technician level occupations within key economic sectors Concentrate on major economic sectors or clusters. Concentrate on technician level occupations within these sectors.

Step 3:Typical High Skill/High Wage Technician Careers Health Occupations dental hygienist license practical nurse radiology technician Information Technology computer systems installation and repair Electro-mechanical repair technicians Craft and Construction construction project manager plumbing/pipe fitting technician precision welding Manufacturing drafting technicians manufacturing systems operators Service Occupations automatic office managers professionally trained chef

The Four Step Plan for Post-High school Planning 1. Determine the goal –College? –College and graduation? –College, graduation and commensurate employment ?

The Four Step Plan 2. Struggle to develop a “tentative” career plan.

Student Outcomes Goals of Career Development Programs  Make the best career decision possible based on what teens know “now” about themselves and the world of work. If this is a good decision, the next decision will be even better.  Tentative career decisions are not necessary final decisions, they are just the first decision.

Consequences of Indecision One quarter of those who start at a four year institution transfer. Many college now have prerequisites required for entering college majors.

Consequences of Indecision Only 17% of those who enroll in community college transfer programs graduate with a four year degree. (Adelman, (1999), USDE).

Teens & Parents Less than half feel comfortable with their career plans. 50% of seniors change their career goal in 18 months. Parents looking for help. Do not want children to pursue their career.

All my life I’ve always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific. Wagner, 1986

Old Advice that is Now Bad Advice Postpone career choices as long as possible - You don’t want to close any doors. Do not worry about career/college major indecision - you will decide that in college.

Student Outcomes Goals of Career Development Programs  By the tenth grade all students will have participated in activities designed to help them identify several career options.  In the eleventh and twelfth grades all students will participate in activities that allow them to verify these choices, using the results to develop postsecondary plans.

Career Verification Activities Preferred by Teens Job Shadowing 71%Vocational Education 56% Internships64%Unpaid employment 51% Paid employment 61%Guest speakers36% Career focused academic class 60%Career interest inventories 17%

The Four Step Plan 3. Have a Back Up Plan Plan A & Plan B & Be willing to consider if plan B should become plan A

The Four Step Plan 4. Be willing to consider all the options ! High School Career & Technical Education Prep Year Military, Apprenticeship, Employment One Year Technical Certificate Two Year Technology Degree Four Year College

Wake Up Calls. How to know when plan B should be plan A. The Obvious Wake-Up Calls  School has always been a source of conflict (“I hate school.”)  High School Grades & Attendance  College Admission Test Scores  Lack of Career Direction (“I don’t know what I want to do.”)

The Not So Obvious Wake-Up Calls  Generally evasive about after high school  Avoids taking the college entrance tests (SAT, ACT)  Never gets around to filling out College applications.  Applies to colleges based on the difficulty of the application,where friends are going, nice climate, good skiing, etc.., etc.., etc..

Four Considerations When Counseling Teens There is more than “one way to win”. Remember the Labor market advantage comes from having skills in demand not degrees. Help teens develop a tentative career plan Encourage a Back-up Plan