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This page contains career - planning tools and resources for students of all ages who are looking to upgrade their current skills and
knowledge, or for students who desire a specific pathway toward certification,
diploma or associate degree.
The middle and high school years are viewed as a critical time that can determine the student’s future. Every spring, thousands of students make very important career choices when they register for next year’s classes. Many times these choices are made without much thought for the future, or the student’s intentions or aspirations.
Each time a student selects a high school subject, they open the door to a career opportunity. Each time they do not take a subject, they could be closing a door to a career opportunity. The courses selected in school provide the educational foundation to build your occupational or career choices.
Research has shown that career planning is a complex lifelong process. From being a kindergartener learning about the workplace from his/her parents; to the career management of economic changes in jobs or employment; to the later years of choosing a retirement career or interest, a person needs to think proactively
about skills and knowledge needed to be economically viable and valuable. Planning thoughtfully with input from others who are aware of your assets and strengths, is the focus of career planning.
Resources
Career Planning Guide
Career planning and exploration is an essential
component of students’ educational experience, pre-Kindergarten through
adulthood. This guide outlines career
planning resources that are available and provides an overview of Iowa Choices,
the Student Core Curriculum Plan, Career Academies, Career Clusters, and other
activities.
 Career Planning Guide 2007-03-27 09:13:09
Community Colleges of Iowa Brochure
This brochure provides overall information about the many
programs available at the community college, and reverse side grid details the
specific programs available at all 15 Community Colleges of Iowa.
2006 Community Colleges of Iowa Brochure (866.47 KB)
Iowa Career Resource Guide
This brochure is a career - planning tool
for students of all ages who are looking to upgrade their current skills and
knowledge, or for students who desire a specific pathway toward certification,
diploma or associate degree.
Iowa Career Resource Guide - Part 1
Iowa Career Resource Guide - Part 2
Iowa Career Resource Guide - Part 3
Iowa Career Resource Guide - Part 4
Iowa Career Resource Guide - Part 5
Iowa Career Resource Guide - Part 6
Iowa Career Resource Guide Acknowlegements
Iowa Choices
Iowa Choices is the Career Information and Decision-making System that is approved by the State of Iowa. This
tool is designed to equip teachers, administrators and counselors with
the knowledge and skills needed to assist students and parents with
career exploration and information, as well as knowledge about
educational opportunities and financing.
Choices Explorer, a Middle School directed product, motivates
students by building awareness of a wide variety of education and
career options. Sections include: Career Finder to narrow
down hundreds of careers to those matching the characteristics of the
student; Major Finder to see what majors match their interests; Your
School Subjects to explore careers related to those courses they enjoy
in school; Preparing for College to learn about the preparation ,
course selection and financial aid knowledge and procedures
needed for college; Your Plans about skills, interests, resumes and
courses collected into a portfolio; Activities about complementing
your future direction with volunteer or extra curricular activities.
Choices Planner, a High School or Adult directed product, is
a more focused planning tool with career and labor market information,
course selection suggestions, postsecondary school options, job search
tools and an electronic portfolio. Sections include: Career
Zones to explore over 1200 different careers; Connection Yourself to
Careers 5 different assessments that will help you find the right
career for you; School Finder which gives students an opportunity to search for schools by tuition
range, location, programs and other factors; Compare Schools or Careers a side-by-side comparison of schools to best suit the student's
preferences; High School Planning or College Planning steps to start
the plan process; Career Plan Builder a tool to create a career or educational plan,
a High School or Adult directed product, is a more focused planning
tool with career and labor market information, course selection
suggestions, postsecondary school options, job search tools and an
electronic portfolio.
Each user must create a portfolio when entering the career
system of Choices. The first step is to
select their city in a pull-down menu of Iowa
cities, then to select the school in the pull-down menu within that city. The next step is to complete the student
information, date of graduation, and creation of a portfolio name and password.
This will provide access to the product
at any internet-access computer. Providing an email address on this page,
supplies that specific school coordinator a backup route to the student to send
forgotten portfolio names or passwords.
The creation of the student portfolio provides a depository for career
information, searches, assessments or any of the tools available to the
students. Both Choices Explorer and
Choices Planner have security systems that ensure confidentiality of all
student data generated by the student or educator.
Educators can access administrative tools that will allow
school personnel to communicate with the students, and/or tabulate data on
portfolios created, and have access to educator tools such as lesson plans,
research articles, and career development infusions in curriculum.
Professional trainers are available for regional, AEA
or school training through the Iowa College Student Aid Commission at
800-383-4222. The
Iowa Choices Administrator is Nancy Ankeny (nancy.ankeny@iowa.gov) for more
information or training.
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Community Colleges & Workforce Preparation 
