Workforce Information
Step 1: Assess Yourself
Choosing a career requires that you understand yourself. You should know how your interests, skills, and values match potential career pathways and education options. Interest inventories are a great tool that you can use to help you see how your interests and skills match potential career pathways.
Interests - Before you choose a career, it is helpful to find career options that match your interests and aspirations.
Skills and Aptitudes - Future employers will hire you based on your skills and aptitudes, including your knowledge, and your transferable and personal skills. Skills are something you can do based on training or experience
Work Values-It is important to choose a major and career that meets most of your work values. You're more likely to enjoy your job. You will also be more motivated to succeed.
Step 2: Explore Careers and Education
Discover career pathways and careers that might be a good fit for you. The truth is whatever careers and jobs you are interested in, you will need to get further training. It is likely that you can find courses or experience you can get right now in your school district. So Take Action!!!
Explore Careers
Career Exploration Sites
Missouri Connections: Missouri Connections helps students (grades 7–20), parents, and adults open the door to educational planning and career exploration. Discover and explore career interests, find technical schools and colleges, search for jobs, build a resume, and more with free tools sponsored by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Get A Reality Check: As an adult, you need to pay for housing, food, clothes, transportation, and other items. Find out how much money you need to earn to cover your expenses. Then find out which occupations support this lifestyle.
Career Path: Careers are classified into paths which is the broadest classification of careers
Career Cluster: Represent a grouping of occupations and broad industries into a national classification of 16 clusters that are based upon common knowledge and skills.
Career Pathway: Represent an organization of related occupational areas within a specific career cluster
Explore Education and Training Options
Program of study: These are sets of aligned programs and curricula that begin at the high school level and continue through college and university certificate, diploma, and degree programs.
Individual Career & Academic Plan (ICAP)- An example of a program of study is the Individual Career & Academic Plan (ICAP). Note, All students must have a completed ICAP on file prior to graduation.
Career and Trade Schools: Offer specialized training in a particular industry or career through a technical school or community college. Possible programs of study include the culinary arts, construction, Barbering/Cosmetology, firefighting, dental hygiene, and medical records technology. These colleges usually offer certificates, licenses, or associate degrees.
Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally-recognized credential.
Career-cluster-poster-8-18 (1).pdfCareerPathwaysHandbook.pdfI CAP Sample.xlsxApprenticeshipMOInfographic.pdfStep 3: Create A Plan and Set Goals
Goals are things you want to accomplish or change in your life. It takes effort and organization to make changes in your life. Sometimes your final objective or goal seems very large and hard to reach. By making a plan and breaking it down into small steps, you can see what progress you have made.
HOW TO SET GOALS
A popular acronym can help you write effective goals. Try the SMART system for your career goal.
Specific: Aim for a specific, concrete area for your goal or steps. For example, “make ten job search calls following up on my LinkedIn connections” vs. “make some networking connections.”
Measurable: To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as: how much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?
Attainable: Goals are most attainable when steps are thought out clearly and allow enough time. How do you intend to accomplish your goal? Which actions follow other actions? Is the goal realistic given where you’re starting from? It should be a challenge, but also achievable.
Relevant: A relevant goal is one that really matters to you and to the end result. Is it worthwhile? Is this the right time? Does your goal relate to other efforts or timelines? Does it require resources that are currently available?
Timely: A goal should be grounded within a defined time period, both for clarity and to give your action urgency. When do you want to begin? When do you want to complete each step?
TIPS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL
Write down the steps: Write down your career goal and the steps to get there. This will help you remember and achieve each step. Post your list where you will see it often.
Set deadlines: Give yourself a date to complete your goals by. Write the date when you actually finish each step.
Reward yourself: Taking steps toward goals is hard work. Think of small rewards to give yourself when you complete any step, to help you stay motivated.
Have a goal partner: Find someone to help you stick to your plan: a friend, co-worker, a job coach, or someone else. Discuss your goals, and check in with them when you complete the steps. If possible, do the same for your partner!
Smart Goal Worksheet.pdfSample Career Plan.doc2023-24 Final HS Course Registration Guide 7-18-23.pdfStep 4: Expand Your Skills
With your career and education goals in mind, put your plans in place. Expand your skills and ability to make your future plans come to reality. Take action!
Learn from real people about careers
Job shadowing
Learn from experience
Volunteer
Join specialty camps, clubs, or organizations (FBLA, HOSA, FCCLA, DECA)
Complete a paid or unpaid internship
Earn Certifications
Industry Recognized Credential (IRC)
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC)
Prep to meet requirements for career or vocational/technical programs
Access Programs
Meet graduation requirements
Step 5: Find A Job
You should consider your desired position and industry, check program/job requirements, and apply
Step 1: Consider your desired position and Industry
The first step to finding a qualified workforce program is deciding what position you want to train for. You may do some career exploration to identify your interests using missouriconnections.org or SCOIR.
Step 2: Search for programs
If you know what field or position you'd like to pursue and take advantage of several resources to find a formal apprenticeship program or technical school, including:
Office Workforce Development: Helping job seekers find gainful employment with family-sustaining wages
The U.S. Department of Labor- provides many resources on apprenticeships, including a comprehensive website with an Apprenticeship Finder function that lets you search by keyword and location. It also has a list of open positions.
Two-year vocational or technical colleges in your area may have technical and skilled programs.
Skilled Trade or labor unions in your area may offer opportunities since many apprenticeships or skilled trade programs are coordinated through unions. Some nonprofit organizations sponsor programs as well.
Experienced professionals: Employers can sponsor apprenticeships and provide valuable information about the career path you're interested in. You can conduct an informational interview to find out how a professional started their career and what the best options might be for you.
Step 3: Fulfill any requirements
Once you find a program to apply to, check their stated requirements to know what you have to do to qualify as an applicant. Most programs require a high school diploma or GED. Some may expect you to purchase supplies for the position, such as uniforms, tools or safety gear. Programs that involve manual labor may have physical ability requirements, and you'll need to follow directions, perform any job-related tasks, and have transportation to the job site and classroom.
**When you are accepted into an apprenticeship program, you will most likely have to sign a formal agreement that outlines the details of the program and how you will participate to earn the status of apprentice and the final credential, much like a long-term employment contract.**
Additional Resources
The Job Search
Helpful Resources
Occupational Outlook Handbook: The Ultimate guide to career information about hundreds of occupations
O*Net Online: O*NET Online has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!