Kuder User News - February 24, 2010

A Kuder Best Practice on Assessments and Career Planning Timeline

By Lori Hopp
Career Development Coordinator, ESSDACK

Sometimes the art of planning gets lost in the details: one minute it seems like the kids are high school freshmen and the next thing you know, they are waltzing across the stage, diploma in one hand and no idea of what to do in the other. While friends and family members are envious of them, wishing they could go back to the seemingly carefree time of looking at a world full of opportunity, their parents are wondering if all deadlines were met, test scores were high enough, or if college acceptance letters were lost in the mail.

Our students are busier than ever, and as teachers and parents, we must provide a solid framework to ensure their greatest success possible. Success begins with a plan, and Kuder^® Navigator is exactly the tool needed to create that plan.

As a career development coordinator for the Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK), I begin utilizing Navigator in the classroom through the Kansas Career Pipeline by administering the Kuder Assessments to help them determine their areas of career interest and skills. Then in high school, the Super’s Work Values assessment is added to the mix to help students understand the kind of work environment, style, and values that are important to them in their future careers. But what about the time in between these assessments in middle and high school? In addition to these assessments, Navigator provides a wealth of tools and resources for students to discover more about occupations, education and other options after high school, scholarships, and more.

The Career Planning Timeline found in Navigator is of particular usefulness to give students in all grades an idea of what steps they should take (and when) in their career path and help them stay on track. Parents can also access information from their child’s profile, which gives them a better idea of what needs to be done and when to ensure their child is getting the information needed for effective education and career planning. For example, if a high school junior accesses the Career Planning Timeline, he or she will see the following items to complete in April or May:

Start researching financial aid and scholarship information using the Find Financial Aid feature. Check with your guidance counselor to learn about local scholarships.
Take the April ACT^® test or in May, take the AP, SAT I, and SAT II exams, as appropriate. Almost without exception, colleges will accept scores from either the ACT or the SAT^® exams, though they may prefer one over the other. Some colleges require neither, so be aware of the entrance requirements for the schools that interest you most. Many people try to improve their score by taking these standardized tests more than once, so allow for that possibility in your personal timeline.
Before school is over for the academic year, talk with teachers and counselors about writing letters of recommendations for you.

This Timeline has been particularly useful as I help direct students in their career paths and guide their steps after high school. It is an easy way for students, and parents, to take a proactive approach to planning for the future. There is no time like the present to start helping your students plan for success: review their assessment results, utilize the Career Planning Timeline, and help them dream about what their futures hold.

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