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Career Development

According to the American School Counselor Association’s National Standards, school counselors have a mandate to develop and nurture their students’ future careers.  By the time students finish high school, they should be able to investigate careers and make informed decisions; achieve future career goals with success; and understand how their education, personal qualities, and skills relate to the professional world.

Web Resources

Web Resources

General Information

America’s Career Resource Network
ACRNA is a nonprofit organization of professionals dedicated to ensuring that all individuals have the knowledge and skills necessary to make fully informed career decisions. The ACRNA web site has articles and fact sheets relevant for school counselors, and is working on the Career Development Guidelines, a framework for developing comprehensive career programs for youth and adults.

Counseling Scholarships 

A directory of counseling scholarships to find funding opportunities.

National Career Development Association

Career Convergence Magazine 

This site has articles about career development for children in grades K-12.

Career OneStop 
Sponsored by the US Department of Labor – The student pages of this site offer self assessments, information on careers and education, and tips on finding a job.

Virginia Career View
This site offers information, assessments, games, and ways to explore careers and education opportunities for students through adults.

Career Exploration

Big Futures Press

Big Futures Press delivers six career exploration book series that offer career profiles on various industries that range broadly from Business Administration to more specifically Broadway. Each series provides its own interactive opportunity for independent learning and career exploration. 

Designing and Delivering Career Pathways at Community Colleges

This What Works Clearinghouse practice guide provides community colleges with five specific recommendations for supporting occupational skills training through career pathways.

Career Zone
This site allows you to explore careers based on Holland’s career theory.

Exploring Career Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
This site offers all the information found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, but presents the information in a child friendly format.

Occupational Employment Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics through the Occupational Employment Statistics program generates employment and wage estimates for over 800 occupations. This web site provides estimates of people employed in certain careers and of potential wages that can be earned.  This information can be viewed for the nation as a whole, for individual States, and for metropolitan and non metropolitan areas. 

O*Net
The U.S. Department of Labor’s web site offers in depth occupational information such as specific skills, education, and abilities needed for particular careers as well as typical job descriptions, median wages, and much more.

Paws in Jobland
On this web site, kids can explore careers with the help of a cute animated dog named Paws.

Journal Research Articles

Journal

CSCORE does not endorse any of the following research studies.  Instead, our goal is to present you with the latest research being conducted.  It is up to you to decide if the study is reliable and valid.

Group Career Construction Counseling: A Mixed-Methods Intervention Study With High School Students

Maree, J. G. (2019). Group career construction counseling: A mixed‐methods intervention study with high school students. The Career Development Quarterly, 67(1), 47-61.

Full Article

Vision Boards and Adolescent Career Counseling: A Culturally Responsive Approach

Waalkes, P. L., Gonzalez, L. M., & Brunson, C. N. (2019). Vision boards and adolescent career counseling: A culturally responsive approach. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 14(2), 205-216.

Abstract and Journal Access

Efficacy of a Group Career Construction Intervention with Early Adolescent Youth

Santilli, S., Nota, L., & Hartung, P. J. (2019). Efficacy of a group career construction intervention with early adolescent youth. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 111, 49-58. 

Abstract and Journal Access

Career Counseling in Middle Schools: A Study of School Counselor Self-Efficacy

Sanders, C., Welfare, L. E., & Culver, S. (2017). Career counseling in middle schools: A study of school counselor self-efficacy. Professional Counselor, 7(3), 238-250.

Full Article

The Influence of a Career Pathways Model and Career Counseling on Students' Career and Academic Self-Efficacy

Stipanovic, N., Stringfield, S., & Witherell, E. (2017). The influence of a career pathways model and career counseling on students' career and academic self-efficacy. Peabody Journal of Education, 92(2), 209-221.

Full Article

School Counselors' Perceptions of Competency in Career Counseling

Morgan, L. W., Greenwaldt, M. E., & Gosselin, K. P. (2014). School counselors' perceptions of competency in career counseling. Professional Counselor, 4(5), 481-496.

Full Article

Effectiveness of Career Counseling: A One-Year Follow-Up

Perdrix, S., Stauffer, S., Masdonati, J., Massoudi, K., & Rossier, J. (2012). Effectiveness of career counseling: A one-year follow-up. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(2), 565-578.

Full Article

Curriculum Materials

Curriculum

Missouri Center for Career Education
Over 300 guidance lesson plans are offered from the Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program. 

Vocational Information Center
Kathryn Hake created this web site as a personal project.  She has compiled an extensive list of career development links in addition to worksheets, assessments, workbooks, and handouts that can be used in the classroom.

Books & Book Chapters

Bibliotherapy

Parents & Educators

Figler, H., & Bolles, R. (2007). The Career Counselor's Handbook (2nd ed.). Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Fiske, E. B. (2022). Fiske guide to colleges 2023 (39th ed.). Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.

Lapan, R. T. (2008). More than a job!: Helping your teenagers find success and satisfaction in their future careers. Washington, CD:               American Counseling Association. 

Youth

Bolles, R. N., & Brooks, K. (2015). What Color Is Your Parachute? for Teens, Third Edition: Discover Yourself, Design Your Future,                   and Plan for Your Dream Job (3rd ed.). Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press.

Canfield, J. & Healy, K. (2008). The Success Principles for Teens: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.                             Deerfield Beach, FL: HCI Teens

Comiskey, J., (2014). A Teen's Guide to Career Success: How to Get and Keep a Job. BluePoint Books.

Jackson, M. (2021). While You're Sleeping. London, UK: Pavilion Children’s Books

Lore, N. (2012). The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success. New York, NY:                     Touchstone Books.

Rockwell, A. (2000). Career Day. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Scholarship

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