1. Getting Ready to help your teen with Career Decisions

2. Parents Can Make a Difference Five things that make a difference in student achievement: the amount of time parents discuss current events student attendance at school the variety of available reading materials in the home the amount of TV teens watch the amount of time teens use computers, Internet, and video games

3. What Employers Want? Outdated/Old Workforce Model Need was: Blue Collar Workers=work with their hands (on-the-job training, apprenticeships, less than a 4 yr degree) White Collar Workers=work with their brains (4 yr degree) Mills, Debra 2005 20% 80% Blue Collar White Collar

4. What Do Employers Want? Gold Collar Workers need to work with their hands and their brains! They need a H.S. degree plus 1-2 yrs of technical training and on-the-job training. Mills, Debra 2005 Global Economy 2025 Workforce Model 20% Blue Collar 60% Gold Collar 20% White Collar

5. What Do Employers Want? “Gold Collar” Extremely Valuable Employees Who: Rely on intelligence, imagination and well developed skills Identify & solve complex problems that are not well defined Derive original solutions to problems that are unique Use creativity to reach practical outcomes Cross-functional knowledge of the workplace Are crucial to the profitability and success of the organization

6. Is My Teen Ready for the Real World? OF 20 teenagers in 9 th grade in Minnesota 4 will NOT graduate HS Of the 16 H.S. graduates, 11 will immediately enter a 2 or 4 year college 3 will dropout after their freshman year Of the 8 remaining, 5 will graduate college 2 will be in high skilled occupations 3 will be underemployed

7. Helping your Teen Prepare for a Career Changing Economy  Changing employer expectations More education and training needed – Technical skills – Soft skills Emphasis on skills, not longevity Flexibility is key A student’s GPA is a cumulative record of all grades starting freshman year through high school graduation

8. Interests – One Way to Choose Realistic Investigative Artistic Social Enterprising Conventional Doers Thinkers Creators Helpers Persuaders Organizers

9. Another Way to Choose a Job – Demand for Workers Jobs High Demand Fastest-Growing

10. Where Can I Go From Here? Elementary and Pre-School 8 th Grade - “I like helping people & solving problems.” Nursing Assistant 80 Hour CNA Certificate Registered Nurse Associate or Bachelor’s Licensed Practical Nurse One-year Diploma Advance Practice Nurse Master’s Degree in Nursing

11. Options to Consider After HS Graduation

12. In General…. More Training = Higher Wages = More Responsibility

13. High Demand Occupations in Minnesota Each career cluster has growing areas Varying wages Varying educational levels www.deed.state.mn.us stays current-updated twice a year specific to our area connection to iseek connection to college/training in MN

15. What’s A Parent to Do? I want my son/daughter to go to college, but I just can’t afford the tuition. What are our options?

16. Tips about College Going to college is an investment in your teen’s future. Tuition, fees, and other expenses vary from school to school. Higher education continues to be affordable. Pursue financial aid, grants, scholarships, loans and work study.

17. Helping My Teen Explore Careers 1) Recognize feelings and assumptions about career exploration 2) Talk about your work 3) Emphasize the connection between education and careers 4) Help your child to develop work skills and values 5) Encourage your child to explore career clusters before choosing one career pathway 6) Be patient and be ready Begin “Do You Know Your Parent?” Game

18. Helping My Teen Make Career Plans 1) Understand that career exploration is a process 2) Help your teen “test drive” different careers 3) Encourage your teen to learn new skills 4) Not every career starts with a 4-year degree 5) Your teen will have several occupations in their lifetime 6) Know where to go for information

19. Career Exploration Process Career Assessment Exposure To Career Opportunities Career Plan Gain Work-Related Skills Job Search Career Management

20. Resources to Explore www.Iseek.org/sv/index.jsp www.actstudent.org/explore/future/career.html www.mnscu.edu [MN Colleges & Universities] www.mnscu.edu www.mnprivatecolleges.org www.Fastweb.com [financial aid info] www.Fastweb.com www.deed.state.mn.us [MN Dept of Employment] www.deed.state.mn.us www.fafsa.ed/gov [free application for Fed. Student Aid] www.fafsa.ed/gov www.careers.org [index of career related web sites, plus jobs] www.careers.org www.gocollege.com [college information – nationwide] www.gocollege.com