1. Inspiration - Engagement - Action - Achievement

2. Founded in Toronto in 1995 by recent grads Currently serving over 19,000 sites across North America Experienced staff of 45+ people Long-term commitment to developing the world’s leading computer-based career development systems

3. Agenda 1.High quality career education and guidance is vitally important 2.Delivering high quality career education and guidance is a huge challenge for schools 3.What’s at the core of effective career development? 4.Tour of products and implementation strategies

4. High quality career education and guidance is vitally important

5. The Perfect Talent Storm 1 Great Recession Recession 2 Aging Population Population 3 Upskilling of Jobs 4 Unprepared Workforce Converging Megatrends

6. Pathways to Prosperity How to meet the challenge of preparing young Americans for the 21 st century? 1. Pay more attention to career education and guidance 2. Focus on multiple pathways 3. Better connections with employers (social compact with youth)

7. Research on the Benefits of Career Development

8. Some Recent Quotes “Everybody has a calling, and your real job in life is to figure out what that is and get about the business of doing it…You have to make a living; I understand that. But you also have to know what sparks the light in you so that you, in your own way, can illuminate the world.” -Oprah, her final show "What the whole world wants is a good job. That is one of the single biggest discoveries Gallup has ever made. It is as simple and as straightforward an explanation of the data as we can give. Humans used to desire love, money, food, shelter, safety, and/or peace more than anything else. The last 25 years have changed us. Now we want to have a good job.” -Jim Clifton, Chairman and CEO of Gallup "You've got to find what you love. The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking and don't settle. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.” - Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford commencement

9. Delivering high quality career education and guidance is a huge challenge for schools

10. Why do we struggle with career development? Some ideas… The benefits are not widely known Not traditionally part of the core school curriculum High student to counsellor ratios Steps required to make improvements may not be clear May be a stigma associated with receiving counseling and help Like parenting people believe they can figure it out themselves on the fly Some of the reasons we lose clients… No funding – 23.6% Primary contact left – 15.39% Failed implementation – 11.06%

11. Some OECD Recommendations 1.The guidance oriented school across primary and secondary education levels (estabilishing relevance) 2.Portfolio system (record, reflect, plan) 3.Building bridges with the world of work (get a taste) 4.Career guidance as a cross-curricular responsibility of all school staff 5.Ensuring that career guidance personnel use people who know about the world of work A school-wide career education strategy with measured outcomes is needed. Source: Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development Career Guidance – A Handbook for Policy Makers http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/53/53/34060761.pdf

12. What’s at the core of effective career development?

13. The Core of Objective of Career Development Engaged and Inspired Students! Post-Secondary Planning One-On-One Counselling Career Studies Course Career Portfolio Development Mentorship Course Planning Financial Aid Co-Op Studies Career Exploration Career Assessments Job Shadowing Job Search Strategies Resume Building Work-Based Learning Labour Market Information Career Management Skills Internships

14. Tour of products and implementation strategies

15. How do we engage and inspire students?

16. Our Products

17. Career Cruising Key Features Career assessments Occupation profiles Multimedia interviews Post-secondary planning information Career Portfolio Resume builder Employment section Classroom activities

18. Career Advisor Management System Key Features Student management Communication tools Completion Standards System customization and configuration Report generation Usage tracking Support Materials

19. Course Planner Key Features Real course selections SIS integration Prerequisite and graduation requirement checking Alignment with SHSMs Program possibilities Customized advisory alerts Guidance tools for tracking student work School-specific course information

20. Network Key Features Employer profiles integrated with career exploration Career Coach discussion boards Work-based learning database, with request process Communication tools Local articles, industry profiles, calendars of events, etc.

21. The Real Game Key Features Classroom career and life simulation Complete curriculum Financial budgeting Time management Career and life management skills development Self-discovery Connecting education to future life Personal action planning  The Play Real Game (3/4)  The Make It Real Game (5/6)  The Real Game (7-9)  The Be Real Game (10-16+)

22. Evolution of computer-based career guidance resources 19701980199020002010 1 st Generation Tools 2 nd Generation Tools 3 rd Generation Tools

23. Attributes, Features, Benefits, and Implementation Key AttributesCore Tools and Features Key BenefitsImplementation 1 st Generation Tools Wide-spread availability of career assessments and searchable career planning information searchable occupation databases searchable college and financial aid databases self-serve career assessments valuable tools and information readily available often delivered as part of a support services function on an “as needed” basis some integration with classroom activities 2 nd Generation Tools Facilitation of career development activities and processes portfolio / individual learning plan development curriculum and structured activities integrated course selection college application planning moving career development towards the core school-wide participation likely deeper student engagement more structured implementation curriculum integration career development infused into core school functions 3 rd Generation Tools Making valuable connections online discussion boards, blogs, etc. opportunities for student-advisor- employer interaction online mentoring connecting people who need each other testing ideas and putting plans into action leveraging community resources community engagement

25. Network Feedback from North Carolina "F4K will be the 'Gold Standard' for career exploration in the next five years.“ Dan Walker, Chief Talent Officer, Apple Computer "F4K is the best answer we have found for our workforce needs over the next decade.“ Mark Dold, Manager of Marketing, Support Services, John Deere "In my 30 plus years in the chamber profession, I have never seen a more dynamic and promising workforce development initiative.“ Harvey A. Schmitt, President and CEO, Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce "F4K is a powerful tool to help our students see the importance of staying in school.” Brenda Jones, Career & Technical Ed. Middle Grades Consultant, NCDPI " This is exactly the tool for which educators have been waiting.” Cynthia Floyd Boyd, K-12 School Counseling Consultant, NCDPI

26. Inspiration - Engagement - Action - Achievement OSCA Conference 2011 Tuesday, November 8 th Toronto, Ontario