WHAT IS A CAREER PASSPORT? a bridge to your future!

The Career Passport is a document designed to help students make a smooth transition to the next step beyond high school.

BENEFITS OF THE CAREER PASSPORT

Provides a focused, working plan for the future. Helps individuals identify and present their strengths and marketable skills. Boost students' self-confidence for personal success and interviewing skills. Prepares students for workplace and employer expectations. Provides students an ongoing, usable tool for adapting to a changing world.

I'M GOING TO COLLEGE why do I need a Career Passport?

Helps with college application writing. Can be used for college or university internship interview. Campus Career Services suggest that students compile an ongoing personal portfolio, such as the Passport.

College is not a career

It is a process you go through to reach your career goal.

HOW DO I PREPARE A CAREER PASSPORT?

Section One - Letter of Verification (provided by the school) A letter written by a school administrator, verifying that you are a student. Section Two - Resume (written by you) A summary of your education, work experience, extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, skills & abilities, and other accomplishments. Section Three - Validation of Performance Part One - Career Narrative (written by you)
A one-page paper that defines your career goal (s), immediate plans after high
school graduation and includes a "Plan B Alternative" in case the next step
doesn't work. Describe your career goals and explain how and why you reached
that conclusion.
Part Two - Evidence of Student Skills (provided by the school)
May include a school transcript or other summary of school performance. A
career & technology program student will include Occupation Competency
Analysis Profiles listing specific skills achieved in a program.
Part Three -Employability Skills (SCANS Skills) -(written by you) There are five competencies identified in the Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS REPORT), What Work Requires of Schools. The competencies address the employability skills that employers are looking for in prospective employees. The five competencies are resources, interpersonal, information, systems, and technology. Each competency is presented in 2 different formats: An explanation of each competency and Questions related to the competency. Students may use either format. Choose two of the five competencies to write about. Each response should be approximately one-half to one page. This provides the writing sample employers and admissions officers request and demonstrates employability skills.

WHAT IS A RESUME?
The primary purpose of a resume is to get you an interview, and ultimately your desired job or college admission session. A resume identifies your strengths and states your qualities, skills, and interests in a positive manner. A RESUME INCLUDES:
 Name, Address, Telephone Number, E-mail Address

The heading of your resume should include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. Use of your middle name or initial is optional.

 Career Objective

Include a sentence beginning with an action verb describing a specific occupation. This can be obtained from your most recent Individual Career Plan (ICP) and other career research activities.
 Education

Include the name of your high school, the dates that you attended, courses of studies (college prep, or career and technology), or unusual courses (AP English, Humanities).

 Work Experience

Include your work experience beginning with your most recent employment. Because your resume will be on one page, you will need to select your two most recent jobs. List the length of time you were employed (month and year); name of company or person you worked for; title of your position; and your work responsibilities. Start with your present job and work backwards.
 Volunteer Experience

List the name of the organization you volunteered for and your responsibilities.
 Extracurricular Activities

List any extracurricular activities in which you have participated. You can include high school, church, community groups, music and/or dance lessons, etc.
 Awards, Honors, Special Recognition, Leadership Positions

Obviously, everyone cannot get a scholarship, award, honor, or be a team captain. Not having an award will not prevent you from being a worthy candidate for college or jobs.
 References

A reference is a responsible adult who will say something positive about you. Be sure to ask the person if you may use their name. List the first and last name of the person, name of business, street address, city, state, zip code, and telephone number of at least three (3) people.

WHAT IS A CAREER NARRATIVE?

Employers and educators are looking for young people who can demonstrate that they have begun to plan for their future. The Career Narrative is a one-page essay that provides a changeable picture of a student's future plans based on interests, experiences, and abilities. GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A CAREER NARRATIVE  One page double-spaced essay.
 Describe your career goal.
 How did you decide on your career goal?
 How do you know that this career is a good choice for you?
 Give a summary of your experiences that support your career goal.
Applicable high school coursework
School Clubs/Organizations
Community Involvement/Volunteer Work
Work Experiences
Career Assessment results
(ACT, SAT, COPS, IDEAS, standardized test scores) Travel Experiences Mentorships Job Shadowing  What is your next step after high school?  What happens if your plans don't work out? What is your "Plan B?"

CAREER NARRATIVE SAMPLE

When I graduate from Anytown High School, I plan to obtain a bachelors degree in accounting at Ohio Universitys College of Business. I have always enjoyed filling out forms and completing computations. When I establish myself in the working world I want to be in an office, preferably my own. I am a person who would rather work alone than with others, this way I know what Im doing is going to get done. As of now I have taken steps that will help me to obtain my goals. I have taken classes such as general business, pre-calculus and other advanced college preparatory math classes. I have interned at My Town Realty and the Any County Treasurers office. Throughout my internship with My Town Realty, I was exposed to many different sides of business. I helped with payroll and spent many hours on data entry and updating files. During my interning period at the treasurers office I learned many valuable skills. I balanced real estate payments on a regular basis, and also completed data entry. My occupational assessment shows that my capabilities are mathematical, leadership and computational. If I should not find the accounting program at Ohio University to be what I want, I will pursue something in the range of business administration or financing.

CAREER NARRATIVE SAMPLE

I have known for a long time what I want to do with my life and what I want to be. planning on attending The Ohio State University. me a great architect. I have always loved designing houses. When I was about 13 years old my parents bought me a design program for our computer. On the program I can design houses with all the necessities. During my junior and senior year I am enrolled in the drafting program, which should be a tremendous help with my career interest. I am a very good student, and I have always been on the honor roll. My most successful subject is mathematics. I have always enjoyed the various math classes Ive taken. Im presently enrolled in pre-calculus and physics. If my career goal does not work out, there are many other things that I would enjoy doing. I would consider working as a real estate agent or in some type of business. I consider myself to be a good, hard worker. I am also able to work well with other people. There I will major in architecture. I am Im

considering a double major with interior design. I look forward to college knowing it will make

WHAT ARE EMPLOYABILITY - SCANS SKILLS?

In addition to a strong foundation, businesses look for employees who are able to work with budgets; to evaluate data; to interpret information; to use technology; and to make informed judgments and demonstrate leadership. The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified these five competencies or skills as employability skills that employers are looking for in prospective employees. The Employability-SCANS Skills is a one-half to one page essay on two of the five competencies listed on the following pages.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING EMPLOYABILITY - SCANS SKILLS  Read the description for all 5 SCANS Skills.
 Choose 2 of the 5 SCANS Skills to write about.
 Decide the format to follow.
Respond to the explanation of the SCANS Skills OR Answer one of the questions related to the SCANS Skills.  Write a one-half to one page double spaced essay for 2 of the 5 SCANS Skills.  Briefly describe how you exhibit these skills.  Responses should be based on actual experiences, not philosophical statements.

EMPLOYABILITY - SCANS SKILLS SAMPLE

RESOURCE SKILLS: Identifies, organizes, plans, and allocates resources This past summer I had an unfortunate car accident and was forced to pay it off with my own money. This required that I be resourceful in budgeting my time and my money. Since I lacked transportation to work, I had to allow extra time to either walk to work or to drive my mother to her job so I could have her car. I had to learn to use my time wisely in order to juggle both my work schedule and my mothers. Financially, I had to budget the money I was earning to pay off my debt for the car accident and still manage to have some money for the summer activities I enjoy. I set up a system: one-half of my check went to the car, one-fourth for my college fund, and one-fourth for summer fun. One thing I realized was that my accident greatly affected my savings for college, and I will have to work hard to make up for the loss.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: Works with others As a member of various teams and clubs, I have had the experience of working with many different people in various situations. I have learned to compromise, to organize a project, to get along with people whose personalities sometimes are "difficult", and to work toward a common goal. For example as secretary of Student Council, I have had to voice my opinion and take charge. On sports teams, I have had to listen and take directions. Knowing when and how to speak up will help me later on in life. These experiences have helped me realize the value of respecting other

people's opinions and ideas, even when I may disagree with them.

EMPLOYABILITY-SCANS SKILLS INSTRUCTION SHEET

Choose two of the five Employability-SCANS Skills competencies to write about, each response should be approximately one-half to one page in length. There are two different formats to choose from for each competency. (Choose the easiest format to write your essay.) Resources: Identifies, organizes, plans, and allocates resources
One characteristic employers value in their workers is the ability to set a goal and make plans to reach that goal. Identify a particular item you have acquired for yourself. Explain the steps you followed to acquire this item, steps you take to maintain this item, and the use or advantage you have discovered to owning this item. OR 1. Describe a situation in which you had to budget your money, time, and/or people in order to achieve a goal. 2. What type of plan do you have for becoming financially independent? Explain the process you will use to grow toward the life style you desire.

Interpersonal: Works with others

A characteristic that employers value in their workers is the ability to work with others. How do you contribute as a cooperating member of a club, team, or small group? Explain how this will help you in your future career. OR 1. How do you contribute as a cooperating member of a club, team or small group? Explain how this will help you in your future career. 2. Give an example of how you resolve a conflict among your classmates or friends. How could you use these same skills in a job situation?

Information: Acquires and uses information

A productive worker must be able to acquire and use information. Describe a project (i.e. school, family, and community) you have completed. What resources did you use, how did you decide which one to use, and how did you get them? OR 1. Explain how you acquired career information to assist you in setting career goals. 2. If you were working on a project, what resources would you use? Describe the criteria you would use to choose resources.

Systems: Understand complex interrelationships

A productive worker must understand how large organizations work. One example of a large organization is your high school. Explain one change you would make in your school policies. State why the policy needs to be changed and what you would do to see that it is changed. OR 1. Describe one way you would improve public education. 2. Describe how your high school student government could work with the school administration to improve student behavior.

Technology: Works with a variety of technologies

An important skill of a productive worker is the ability to work with a variety of technologies. Explain what you believe is the most important technology (i.e. computers, video games, video cameras, or communication equipment) you use everyday? Why? How will this skill help you in a future career? OR 1. What type of projects and activities have you completed on a computer? 2. Explain the technological skills you believe high school students should have before graduation.

NOW THAT I HAVE A CAREER PASSPORT How do I use it?

FOR HIGHER EDUCATION: (including two or four-year college, university, or technical school) Use your resume and competency profile when completing applications. Share your Career Passport in admissions scholarship interviews. Review your Career Passport with an advisor or counselor when choosing or changing majors. Update your Career Passport throughout college.

FOR EMPLOYMENT: Share your Career Passport when you interview for a job to emphasize your achievements -- whether for summer employment, part-time work while going to school, or full-time work. Point out attendance records and coursework on your transcript. Use your competency list to highlight your skills.

FOR YOUR FUTURE: Review your resume annually. Continue to update your Career Passport with: Letters of recommendation from employers or faculty; Award and/or achievement certificates; Technical certifications (such as MOUS, Cisco, ASE, ISO 9000); Evidence of community service. Use your Career Passport whenever you need to verify your professional and educational achievements.

Let the world know how much you have achieved by using your Career Passport. Share your Career Passport with employers and college officials, even if they do not request it. Whenever youre ready to plan the next step in your life, use your Career Passport to develop the strategies youll need to put your plan into action.