Strategic Career Development

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Strategic Career Development
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Workshop Objectives

• Describe a framework for building sustainable
  livelihoods for youth
• Define the three Ps, and six As of career
  development
• Practice strategies for building career ladders
• Examine the key elements of sectoral partnerships
• Outline an action plan with next steps to
  strengthen career development activities for
  graduates

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Three-Day Agenda

• Welcome/Introductions/Objectives/Expectations
• Examining the challenges
• Outlining a strategic framework
• Operationalizing the framework/Preparing young
  people
• Building sectoral partnerships
• Planning for action and next steps
• Review of Key Themes
• Evaluate and Adjourn

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Defining Terms 1

• Successful Graduate
• Sustainable Livelihood
• Career Ladder
• Lifelong Learning
• Unemployed/Under employed/Over employed
• Career Strategy

5
Defining More Terms

• First Job and Entry-Level Job
• Good job/Bad job
• Soft Skills
• Transferable Skills
• Technical Skills
• Sector
• High Growth/High Demand Industry

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The Experiences of Young People

• Out of 900 graduates surveyed, 86 percent
  identified career resources among their top five
  support needs.
• 40 percent of surveyed graduates said career
  resources was their most pressing support need.
• 67 percent of the Youth Build students who want
  GEDs arent getting them.
• 43 percent say lack of job training is a barrier
  to improving their situation.

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Current Trends

• Globally there are 88 million unemployed women
  and men between the ages of 15 and 25 they
  represent half of all unemployed but only a
  quarter of the total population
• Immigration is a significant source of youth
  population growth in the U.S., and by the end of
  the decade there will be six million unemployed,
  out-of-school, youth here
• While adult unemployment is declining overall,
  youth unemployment is rising
• Youth are up to three times more likely to be
  jobless than older generations
• Rising poverty and globalization increase
  competition for jobs

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Building on YouthBuilds Strengths

• Long-term engagement with youth
• Comprehensive, integrated program design
• Safe, supportive learning environment
• Linking work with study and personal development
• 82 percent of graduates placed in post-secondary
  education and jobs
• 80 percent of graduates report a decrease in
  negative behaviors
• 85 percent engaged in civic activities
• Substantive benefits to the community
• Broad reputation for effectiveness

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YouthBuilds Challenge

• 67 of graduates who need a GED or diploma are
  not completing these key credentials
• Graduates identify assistance with education,
  training, and career development as one of their
  most pressing needs
• YouthBuild trains for construction but also
  inspires two thirds of our young people to pursue
  careers outside of the trades
• 8.15/hour (16,952/year) does not lift out of
  poverty the half of our graduates who have
  families
• Graduate placement and follow-up is not focused
  on career ladders
• Limited resources for long-term graduate support
• Constraints in program design and funder demands

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A Career Development Framework

• Three Ps
• Six As

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A Framework Three Ps
Career Partnerships (Post-secondary institutions,
WIBs, support services, employment sectors)
Individual Preparation (Self-directed and
staff-directed activities)
Fundamental Principles of Career
Development (credentials, income growth, early
exposure to work, career ladders)
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Principles of Effective Career Development

• Integrate career preparation throughout program
  from day one
• Seek career ladders that lead to income growth
• Ensure early, positive attachment to work life
• Ensure early, positive attachment to college
• Foster lifelong learning
• Build assets such as skills, knowledge,
  credentials
• Provide long-term supports
• Teach transferable skills
• Teach industry specific skills
• Meet the needs of youth AND the needs of
  employers with a dual-customer approach to
  training and support
• Build external partnerships with WIBs, colleges,
  employers

13
Exercise Principles in Action in Programs

• Describe ways these principles can be embodied in
  program design and specific program activities
• Integrate career preparation throughout program
  from day one
• Ensure early, positive attachment to work life
• Ensure early, positive attachment to college
• Foster lifelong learning
• Meet the needs of youth AND the needs of
  employers with a dual-customer approach to
  training and support

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The Six As of Preparation and Partnerships

• Assessment of Skills, Interests, Capabilities,
  Credentials
• Alignment with Known Opportunities
• Asset Building
• Access to Systems, Networks, Institutions,
  Employers
• Attachment to School, Work, and Supports
• Advocacy and Advising

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Asset Building in YouthBuild

• Self esteem and self confidence
• Individualized career development strategy
• Knowledge, skills, attitudes to support work and
  school
• Contacts with external resources
• Mentor
• AmeriCorps Education Award
• Individual Development Account (IDA)
• YouthBuild Asset Trust
• Credentials
• Wardrobe, a resume, and familiarity with work
  life
• Peer support
• Internship

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Essential Credentials

• GED or Diploma
• Drivers License
• OSHA Safety Certification
• Red Cross First Aid
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• National Work Readiness Credential (NWRC)
• NCCER, HBI, or Union Construction Certifications
• Other Industry-Specific Technical Credentials
• Post-Secondary Certificate

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Career Ladders

• Single-Firm Career Ladder
• Single-Industry Career Ladder
• Sector-Based Career Ladder
• Cross-Sector Career Ladder
• Career ladders facilitate income growth, are
  based on skills and experience, and are supported
  by credentials that document education and
  training.

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High Growth Industries

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Biotechnology
• Construction
• Energy
• Financial Services
• Geospatial Technology
• Health Care
• Homeland Security
• Hospitality
• Information Technology
• Retail
• Transportation

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Key Milestones

• Control of substance abuse problems
• Stable housing
• Drivers license
• Completion of GED or diploma
• Basic skills competency
• Completion of AmeriCorps service hours
• Enrollment in post-secondary education
• Successful internship
• Successful first job entry AND exit

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Targeting Careers for Graduates
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Defining a Career Strategy

• Student initiated, staff supported
• Early introduction to work life and careers
• Access a network of external partners
• Links to post-secondary education and training
• Harmonize individual needs with employers needs
• Target career ladders
• Identify credentials to move up career ladders
• Predict future education and training
• Provide generalized and specific job preparation
• Emphasize literacy, numeracy, technology, and
  interpersonal skills
• Provide ongoing support and follow up
• Plan for income growth and asset building
• Develop a first job entry and exit plan

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A Proven Path from Poverty
Entry-Level Employment On Career Ladder
Resulting in a Vocational Credential
Supports
At least 1 Year in Community College
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The Value of Post Secondary Education

• In 1950 20 of jobs were considered skilled
• In 2005 85 of jobs were considered skilled
• 70 of jobs today require post secondary
  education
• Relative wages for workers with only a secondary
  education have declined since 1970. All other
  workers wages have risen.
• Workers with associates degree earn 25 more
  than those with high school credential only and
  unemployment is 33 lower
• Workers with bachelors degree earn 75 more and
  unemployment is 66 lower

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Pre-Baccalaureate Employment Market

• Localemployers look locally for workers and
  community colleges market to local employers.
  Implications are that leaving town to seek better
  employment might not work at this skill level.
• Informalspecific experience and skills is valued
  over formal education. Implications are that
  resumes and interviews must highlight all aspects
  of experience and capabilities.
• Less stablemore cycles of unemployment and more
  likely to be laid off. Implications are that
  students must research occupations to understand
  trends and take employer training programs to
  protect against lay off.

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Opportunities for Careers

• Information technology, the fastest growing
  sector, will add 632,000 jobs, an 18 percent
  increase, by 2012
• Construction industry needs 1 million new workers
  by 2012, a 15 percent increase
• Retail trade will add nearly 600,000 jobs, a 15
  percent increase, by 2012
• Advanced manufacturing will add over 400,000 by
  2012
• Automotive industry needs 240,000 workers by 2012
• Health care sector is projecting labor shortages
  for the next two decades

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Resources for Careers NCCER

• National Center for Construction Education and
  Research is the premier industry certifying
  organization
• Rigorous, comprehensive, academically-aligned
  curriculum
• 40 craft areas with 4 levels of certification
  from entry-level to journey
• Portable, national, credentials supported by a
  web-based National Registry
• Widely supported by state departments of
  education, community college system, and
  contractors

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Resources for Careers NWRC

• National Work Readiness Credential is an
  industry-recognized, national, portable,
  assessment of employment preparedness
• NWRC shows competency in a broad range of basic,
  entry-level skills
• Low-cost, computer-based, self-testing
• Based on the SCANS and Equipped for the Future
  standards

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Resources for Careers C-Tech

• Low voltage cable networking curriculum and
  certification
• Careers in communication, building controls, home
  installations
• Four levels of industry-recognized certification
• Engaging, hands-on, proven curriculum for
  YouthBuild population
• Safe, stable, high demand construction-related
  jobs

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Building Regional Sectoral Partnerships
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Objectives

• Define the purpose of regional sectoral
  partnerships in building career strategies for
  youth
• Examine the role of the private sector
• Examine the role of community colleges
• Outline key elements of preparing youth for
  engagement in the workforce partnerships

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Tracking Career-Related Outcomes

• The goal is to ensure the health and well-being
  of graduates in sustainable livelihoods
• All students and staff can describe a career
  strategy
• Increase in GED and diploma completion
• Increase in credentials gained
• Increase in job placement and retention
• Increase in college placement and retention
• Increase in the average graduate wage