Nearly all students will enter the workforce at some point, whether or not they pursue education beyond high school. Resources that help them clarify their goals, explore options, and plan for the future can prepare your students for satisfying careers.
ACT provides these resources in a variety of formats—from printed materials to CD-ROMs and web-based products.
World-of-Work Map
To help your students see what career options are best suited to them, use the World-of-Work Map, which organizes thousands of occupations into an easy-to-understand system. The results from any of ACT's career-related assessments (e.g., the ACT, PLAN, EXPLORE, the Career Planning Survey, DISCOVER) can suggest career areas on the World-of-Work Map for more exploration.
Because students can and do change their ideas about careers, you can share the World-of-Work Map with them repeatedly, at various stages of secondary school.
DISCOVER
For additional help in making personalized career plans, direct your students to DISCOVER®, ACT's comprehensive system combining developmental guidance and career information.
DISCOVER assesses interests, abilities, and job values to suggest occupational areas for exploration. The results are validated by years of continuing ACT research. The program also offers complete, up-to-date databases of occupations, college majors, schools and training institutions, the military, and financial aid and scholarships.
WorkKeys
WorkKeys® helps high school students prepare for successful transitions by providing them with accurate information about their transferable employability skill levels and the skill levels required by jobs.
The criterion-referenced system assesses skills in communications, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
Career Planning Survey
To focus on the essentials of career development with minimal classroom time and expense, consider ACT's Career Planning Survey. This paper-and-pencil assessment helps students identify career paths that match their interests and abilities. It is designed to be used just before or shortly after the students enter high school.
Information for Parents
Another resource for students and parents is ACT's Information for Parents website. Here parents will find information especially designed to help them with their child's career and educational planning. The site contains a checklist for the college application process and lots of useful information about financial aid.