Career Mapping and Resource Plan 

Career Coaches within the APN use the Career Map and Resource Plan, a participant-centered, strength-based career coaching tool, to support their participants. It is flexible and can be completed one-on-one, in a group, in person, or virtually.

 The Career Map and Resource Plan helps to:

• Build a relationship with participants.

• Reveal participants' skills, strengths, and interests.

• Brainstorm career options.

• Identify specific career goals like short-term and long-term career goals and training goals.

• Identify the resources participants need to achieve their goals and any barriers that may stop them.
  
  

The process starts with a Career Mapping workshop, in which the participant creates a Discovery Map outlining their interests, passions, skills, accomplishments, experiences, jobs, volunteer work, hobbies, and community activities. This helps both the coach and participant recognize the diverse experiences and skills the participant brings from their previous experience.

The participant then creates lists identifying their strengths, interest and talents, and skills and abilities. Lastly, they reflect on what works and doesn't work in a job environment for them. The participant and the Coach then brainstorm career options based on the Discovery map, strengths identified, and the type of work environment the participant wants.

Next, the Coach collaborates with the participant to create a targeted Career Plan that articulates the participant's goals, identifies resources to reach those goals, and outlines the next steps for the participant.

This plan is a “living document” that the coach and participant use to define what they will work on in the coaching program.

Participants may experience multiple barriers to employment, so the Coach and participant identify resources to help meet these needs and remove barriers. For example, a Career Coach might ask about the participant's living situation to ensure the participant has access to financial resources to keep them stable while pursuing their career goal. If the participant needs support, the coach will help them find housing resources.

The Career Coach maintains and shares the completed Career Map and Resource Plan with the participant. The Plan can be revised and edited to add new next steps that will help the participant reach their next goal and mark their progress.  Career Coaches can share the Plan with other workforce professionals or supportive professionals to ensure everyone knows the participant’s goals and how to assist. APN participants must have a copy of their Career Map and Resource Plan when trying to access APN set aside WorkSource scholarships or support service funds. This is to help WorkSource staff understand the exact goals the participant is working towards and how WorkSource staff can assist them. To learn more about the APN set-aside funding see the Training for Participants page.

See below for information on how to join the Career Mapping and Resource Plan training for Coaches to learn how to facilitate this tool.