As you know, 2008 has been a very exciting year for Kuder, Inc. with the recent release of our updated web site, impactful research revealing the positive effects of the Kuder Career Planning System (see “Impact”, page 1), and the celebration of the 100 Year Anniversary of Career Guidance and Education.

We will continue the momentum of the year into the fall with the anticipated release of the Kuder Career Planning System 2010 (KCPS 2010), thoughtfully being re-designed by our development and research teams to be more developmentally-appropriate, to guide a user’s experience more systematically and intuitively, and much more! The new system will be a completely separate product from the current Kuder Career Planning System and other systems powered by Kuder today. These systems will continue to be available for a period of time as customers begin to transition to the new KCPS 2010.

According to the executive developer for KCPS 2010 and world-renown career development expert, Dr. JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey, “the new Kuder Career Planning System 2010 will include all of the high-quality, research-based content it has always contained. The new edition, however, will also feature:

• distinct systems for individuals of different ages, i.e., middle school students, high school students, postsecondary students, and adults
• more comprehensive portfolio that follows a user through these life stages
• improved search strategies for occupations, schools, and scholarships
• a totally new graphic interface
• adaptability of its content to various career cluster systems
• extensive parent information”

The most significant change will be in the division of the system into age-specific modules or stages: Kuder 4 Middle School, High School, College, and Adult. This enhancement highlights how the lifelong system can transition individuals from stage to stage, helping individuals develop a comprehensive portfolio for when they are ready to walk into the workforce. Additionally, at the Kuder 4 Adults stage, the system will uniquely ask adults their current situation in order to determine the level of content and resources to provide each type of user (i.e. financial aid information specific to veterans) and account for the varied stages adults may be in their career.

The age-specific modules are also allowing for improvement in the way the system provides assessment reports. “KCPS 2010 will include the same research-based, quality assessments we always have had as part of the system. However, the new assessment reports are carefully being re-written to include more age and developmentally-appropriate language and goals for each user,” said Dr. Catalina D’Achiardi-Ressler, Kuder Vice President of Research.

Additionally, the format of the assessments within KCPS 2010 will be more user-friendly. “The assessment reports are being designed to include: a printable snapshot of the results; easy steps on how to use the assessment results; and, more detailed information of clusters and occupations written at the reading level of the user,” said Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler.

Development on the new KCPS 2010 will continue throughout the summer and early fall. Watch for more information on the release of this new product that will provide the most comprehensive educational and career planning, exploration, and management resources available while retaining the high quality and reliable tools that Kuder is known for in helping students and adults find lifelong career success!