Academic and Career Planning

List job characteristics from the Job Characteristics Model

• skill variety

• task identity

• task significance

• autonomy

• feedback

Identify your workplace preferences through the AWATO Values Assessment.

Activity

List and understand the five major characteristics of a job and how the characteristics help keep people motivated to do the job.

• Skill Variety - The employee uses a wide range of skills.

• Task Identity - The worker is involved in all stages of the work.

• Task Significance - The job’s impact on other people or how meaningful the work is.

• Autonomy -The employee has the freedom to make decisions or schedule tasks.

• Feedback - The worker gets direct information about how well the job is done.

Resources

Teach the main components of the Job Characteristics Model to students so they understand what jobs/careers entail. This will set the foundation for their exploration of workplace preferences and analyzing the results of their Values Assessment on AWATO.

Activity

Rephrase the five major characteristics of the Jobs Characteristics Model into questions that you will use when examining your Values Assessment on AWATO.

Possible Questions:

• Skill Variety - Do I get to complete different activities?

• Task Identity - Am I able to be part of all activities from start to finish?

• Task Significance - Does the work I do have a larger impact?

• Autonomy - Do I get to make decisions and have control over my time and schedule?

• Feedback - Will I see the results of my work and know what I do well and where I can improve?

Task

Exit Activity - Choose one characteristic from the Jobs Characteristic Model and connect it to school. Think about the work you do in school, why you go to school, why you like a certain subject, and what motivates you to complete your work.

Activity

Rotate through partners in the class who have at least ONE similar preference as you.

When you are in your partner groups, discuss how your similar preference relates to the characteristics in the Jobs Characteristics Model.

For example, if you get “Diligent” as a result, the definition is: People who are diligent prefer to work on only a few projects, ideally only one, so that they can see the project to completion.

• Where does this preference fit in the Jobs Characteristics Model?

  • Most likely, it connects to Task Identity (being part of a job from start to finish). You’ll want to think about this when you are looking at career options.

• Will your job allow you to be involved in tasks/activities from start to finish?

Task

Brief Reflection - What is one Values/Workplace Preference that you feel is most accurate to you?

Explain ways in which the Holland Code Keywords infographic and descriptions describe you and relate to each of the Values/job preferences as identified in AWATO.

Activity

Have your Values Assessment results in front of you.

Recall your Holland Code 3-letter results.

Return to the Holland Code Keywords infographic and descriptions sheet.

Compare your values/job preferences results and the words/descriptions on the infographic.

Do you see any similarities? Pay close attention to the letter associated with your particular Holland Code.

Resources

Instruct students on how to compare their Values Assessment results with the information provided on the Holland Code Keywords infographic.

This can be done in a variety of ways. One strategy is to have students cross-reference similar language and qualities from the Values Assessment with what is provided on the infographic.

Activity

Explain the ways in which the Holland Code Keywords infographic and descriptions describe you and relate to each of the Values/job preferences as identified in AWATO.

Complete the statements below on a worksheet:

• I am a…[doer, thinker, creator, helper, persuader, organizer]

• I would like to be in a workplace where I can…

• I would feel my best doing…

Resources

The activity noted for this component involves asking students to complete a worksheet with targeted questions; however, this component can be facilitated in a flexible manner to capture students’ comprehension of how their Holland Code connects to their Values/job preferences.

• The key is to get them to see if there are any themes that may help them decide which careers may fit them.

Task

Completed worksheet.

Compare the Aspirations Assessment feedback [career matches] from AWATO to what you have learned about your interests (Holland Code) and your Values (Workplace Preferences).

Activity

Aspirations Assessment

Definition: Aspiration - a hope or ambition of achieving something

This AWATO assessment asks about two of your aspirations: where you would like to live and what level of education you hope to pursue, and how you would like AWATO to organize your results.

For the last question, click on “based on assessment match scores.”

After taking this assessment, you will have completed all of the AWATO tests, and your career matches should be available to look at.

Once you have received instruction on how to read through your career matches, click on EXPLORE in AWATO to see your matches.

Resources

Show students how to complete the Aspirations Assessment in real time on a large screen to demonstrate how to answer the question and view their results.

This particular assessment is BRIEF and asks students to input where they would like to work, what level of education they want, how they want AWATO to determine their potential career pathways.

*Have them select: “based on assessment match scores.”

After completion, they will be able to see the matches for their potential career paths.

Click on EXPLORE to show them how to access their career path results.

Explain what each Career Match shows - lots of information will be available, so students will need a tutorial on HOW to navigate the details and how to see where their particular assessment results match.

Activity

Look at your CAREER MATCHES, and be sure to read the details of each.

Each career will have the following information:

• What does a [insert career role] do?

• What is a day in the life like?

• What is the work environment like?

• Skills

• Match Details

• Matched Results

• Unmatched Results

What careers align with your Holland Code results and Values/workplace preferences?

You can “favorite” the careers that you like and match with the most.

Resources

Give students lots of time to explore their careers and make note of which careers align with their preferences and Holland Code scores.

Task

Record at least three careers that interest you and that involve tasks that match your Holland Code results and Values/workplace preference results.

Investigate your identified career path assigned by AWATO’s pathing, select the best option and provide support based on your values, interests and personality.

Activity

Choose ONE career path to investigate in-depth.

Investigate your identified career path assigned by AWATO’s path and provide support based on your values, interests, and personality.

Resources

Students could present to each other in groups or create some kind of graphic that showcases why and how their selected career fits them.