1. Louisiana’s Workforce Recently Louisiana’s workforce has been a hot topic in the news. Louisiana’s Governor, Bobby Jindal, has stressed the importance of training workers that will be necessary for Louisiana’s businesses As a student you should be thinking about a career and the steps required to enter a job that will meet your needs

3. GED: Now What? Many of you are preparing to take the GED, but have you ever stopped to think what you will do next? There are several things to take into consideration when planning for your future

4. Education Pays Bachelors Degree $51,324 Associates Degree $38,480 High School Graduate $31,408 Less Than High School $22,256 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

5. Louisiana needs skilled workers! Source: Governor’s website

6. Preparing For the Future Education allows people to increase salaries while decreasing their chances of being unemployed Currently only 10% of jobs in Louisiana require a 4 year college degree By 2014 over half the jobs in Louisiana will require more than High School but less than a 4 year college degree Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics/Governor’s website

7. Choosing the Right Career The Department of Labor’s website will provide you with tools and information that will help you to choose a career path The first step is to create a User ID and password so that you can access the site www.laworks.net

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12. The next several screens will ask you to select a user ID and password. Fill out all required fields and click on the next button to get to the following screens. Once completed you will have access to the website features.

14. After completing application Remember to write down your User ID and password This will allow you to search jobs online Post resumes for employers to view Get information on jobs and career paths

15. What are your Interests? In this exercise you will take a short assessment that will help determine your interests Using your assessment results the website will list the jobs that match you interests Next you will select three jobs from the list and research them using the website

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22. After completing the questions you will be given the results of the assessment

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24. After the assessment is completed the website will provide you with a list of jobs that match your interests. Chose 3 occupations and select the highlighted text under “preparation needed” for the jobs that interest you. This will provide you with the educational requirements to be qualified in the jobs you have chosen, then select the highlighted “report” text to find detailed information on the jobs, wages and future demand.

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32. Important Questions Use the Information from the website to fill out your worksheet Is there a demand for my job? How much education will I need? What are the wages I can expect? Will this career meet my needs?

33. Where can I find training? Next you can use the website to find schools that provide training for the jobs you have chosen What Schools have the training I need? How long is the training program? How much will it cost?

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38. Job Title

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43. Information = Power www.laworks.net will help you make informed career decisions based on the demand for jobs in the future, wages, and educational requirements DO NOT make career decisions without the facts It is your future; think about it

44. Additional Website Services Information about job search, cover letters, resumes and interviewing skills High demand jobs list Electronic job vacancies Post your electronic resume Information about career paths and educational programs

45. Question’s or additional Information Contact: Chip Lorio Lafayette Workforce Investment Board (337)706-1217 c_lorio@cox-internet.com