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.
CSCORE does not endorse any of the following research studies or resources. Instead, our goal is to present you with the latest research and interventions. It is up to you to decide if the study is reliable and valid.
Web Resources
General Information
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.
National Career Development Association
This is a professional organization dedicated to supporting career development practitioners/educators with resources to help individuals achieve their career goals.
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.
Career Zone
This site allows you to explore careers based on Holland’s career theory.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Full Article
Curriculum Materials
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.
Evidence-Based Interventions
Tier 1, Grades 6-12
A curriculum focused on bringing career-related and academic courses together. Looks to link with community and local industry.
Tier 1, Grades 6-12
A national collaborative program that looks to prevent school dropout and improve high school graduation rates.
Navigation 101: Career Planning
Tier 1, Grades 6-12
A series of webinars focused on bringing educators the information needed to bring career planning into their schools.
Tier 2, Grades 6-12
A research article focusing on students who are accepted to college but do not enroll. The article suggests several different ways to prevent this.
What Works Clearinghouse: Dropout Prevention
Tier 2, Grades 6-12
A Federal Department of Education guide that includes information on warning indicators and reviews educational research on dropout prevention.
Books & Book Chapters
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.