Career Information/Exploration Procedure (Updated 4/14/2025)

New Updates as of 4/14/2025 are in the Overview section section highlighted in red.

NOTE: The LINK for the recording to the Career Exploration Webinar conducted on 3/4/2021 can be found under the Career Coaching Webinar Series Section under Session #3

Career Connect Jobseeker Self Assessments Instructions

Overview

Career connect offers Self-Assessments that can help jobseekers reach their employment goals and explore careers, that are aligned with their individual values, and interests.  All jobseekers are required to have, at least one self-assessment.  The assessments can verify suitability for a particular career, employment opportunity or a vocational training in a specific industry.  These assessments are based on the jobseeker’s interest and it is important to note that all jobseekers may not need to do all the assessments.  Taking these assessments will support the jobseeker by demonstrating the knowledge required for certain occupational interests, required training, pay scales and industry growth. 

Update!  For Adult and Dislocated Workers Service 224 Career Exploration has been removed and replaced with service 208 Career Information Services.  This service, 208 Career Information Services, must be provided before the Development of an IEP can occur.  Participants should research careers and labor market information regarding their career of choice.  There are many Career Exploration assessments that are available.  It is not required that Career Connect be used but it is preferred.  Please see the Additional Career Exploration Tools section (pg. 30) of this document for other available options.  For Youth customers Service 431 Vocational Exploration needs to be completed after the 3 Non-Enrolling Youth Activities (468, 469 & 470).  One of the Objectives of the Individual Service Strategy (ISS) must be Research LMI & Occupations.  Once the ISS has been developed and you have discussed the Vocational Exploration with your customer, then the service and case note can be entered.  Please refer to the IEP/ISS Procedure for further guidance. (https://workforceboard.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046803691-).

Please Note: If one of the scenarios listed below apply to the participant, the Career Exploration step can be waived.  However, the reason for this step being waived must be clearly documented in the case notes.

• Anyone seeking funding for their last semester of training
• OJT
• Reverse referrals (for employment only)
• Special projects (must get approval from Regional Manager)

New! Service Codes

NEW! Adult/Dislocated Service Code 208: Career Information Services (staff assisted) Same Day Service: 

Provision of career and training information in a one-on-one setting with significant staff involvement designed to help participants find the right career path. This includes the provision of information (including information on local performance and eligible training providers), materials, suggestions, or advice intended to assist the job seeker in making occupation or career decisions. Examples of Career Information include providing labor market information (LMI) and demand occupations, wages, job openings, etc.

Note: this basic career service differs from the Individualized Career Service "Career Planning" because it only provides information (requiring staff assistance), whereas the latter involves the day-to-day career counseling of a participant.

This service replaces 224 Career Exploration

NEW! Youth Service Code 431: Vocational Exploration (Same Day Service): Vocational Exploration is the process of learning about yourself and the world of work, identifying and exploring potentially satisfying occupations and developing an effective strategy to realize goals. This would include in-depth career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services which consist of:
a) Career awareness begins the process of developing knowledge of the variety of careers and occupations available, their skills requirements, working conditions and training prerequisites, and job opportunities across a wide range of industry sectors.
b) Career counseling or guidance provides advice and support in making decisions about what career paths to take. Services may include providing information about resume preparation, interview skills, potential opportunities for job shadowing, and the long-term benefits of postsecondary education and training (e.g., increased earning power and career mobility).
c) Career exploration can be described as the process in which you choose an educational path and training or a job that fits their interests, skills and abilities.

Included under this element is Job Readiness/Workforce Preparation which provides for fundamental skills for finding a job and meeting general job requirements that are not specific to a career or industry. It may include the development of learning skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, punctuality, personal maintenance skills, and professional conduct services such as teamwork, collaboration, and customer service to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment or training.

WIOA Youth Program Element #13. 

NOTE: This service cannot be entered until the 3 Non-Enrolling Youth Activities have been provided.

Navigating Your Self-Assessment

After the jobseeker has completed their individual client profile, the jobseeker can begin their assessments by clicking at the top of the menu on Services for Individuals.  Every assessment taken in Career Connect will save automatically under the Self-Assessment Profile found under My Individual Profile.

On the next screen click on Career Services.  The career services link will begin the self-assessment process.  The Career Explorer has 6 links that a jobseeker can access.  Each assessment provides results based on the jobseeker responses.

Begin by clicking on Career Explorer

Career Explorer offers 6 tools. Click on the item to go directly to the instructions for each.

1. Match Your Skills: Identify the skills that you have and match them with a career or occupation that suits you. Then review the jobs that employers that are currently hiring say match your skills or find training to improve the skills you need to land your ideal job.

2. Match Your Work Interests: Explore the type of work activities that you like and find exciting and view occupations that will satisfy these interests. 

3. Match Your Work Values: Find occupations that are in line with your work values by prioritizing a list of work task. You can then match occupations to your values and view available jobs in this field.

4. Match Your Knowledge of Tools and Technology: Select the technical skills you have and the tools you use to identify occupations you may be interested in. You can then find job that have that occupation to see if you qualify for the specific job requirements

5. Match Your Occupation: Find occupations that are similar to your current or previous occupation based on the required knowledge, skills, abilities as well as the normal work environment, and work activities.

6. Career Ladder: See how people in your chosen occupation climb the career ladder. Find the occupations jobseekers move towards, and away from.

1. Match Your Skills

This assessment will help the jobseeker learn what job and personal skills they have and how they relate to a specific occupation or career.

Match Your Skills will take you to 2 links:  Your Job Skills and Your Personal Skills.  A description for both links is provided.  Your Job Skills- Identifies the detailed skills that you have that are valuable in the workplace to find a career or occupation that suits you and see how you match the job skills employers are looking for. Click on Your Job Skills.

Your Job Skills link will open into the screen below.  You have two options to select.

Option 1- Identify and Match Your Job Skills Set will prompt you to identify the job skills that you may have from a list of standard skills to determine which occupations that you may be interested in match these skills.  This option is best suited for someone who is unsure of a desired occupation.

Below is an example of the general skills in the job skill category.  It is important to note that the jobseeker should check all that apply to them.  There are 14 steps in this category.  When you complete the 14^th, step click finish to get your results.

To see your occupation match, click on finish which will take you to the next screen.  The next screen will match your job skills.  You have the option to choose your matches by closely, moderately, loosely or show all occupations. Click on the Continue button, the next screen will display the occupation match to the job skills you selected. 

The example below shows the occupations with the highest matching level at top.  You can view any of the occupations by clicking on any of the links. 

Click on the blue occupation title link to get the profile for that job.  You will get a description that includes education and work experience, employment wages, nature of work, skills, job requirements and other traits required.  See the example below.

Option 2- Match an Occupation’s Job Skill Set review and/or edit the standard job skills normally associated with an occupation that you may have worked in and determine which occupations that you may be interested in to match these skills. 

Below is an example of the option 2.  This option is specific to an occupation, this option is for someone who already has experience in a certain field/industry.  You can search occupations by using the keyword search option and clicking on search.  This option also will provide you with the desired occupation you entered in your client profile.

Once either option is completed, this assessment will automatically save under the jobseeker’s assessment profile. 

Match Your Skills has 2 links, we just covered the Your Job Skills portion.   The next link is Your Personal Skills assessment.

Your Personal Skills are questions that you believe apply to you.  The questions are grouped in 6 sections, basic skills, social skills, complex problem-solving skills, technical skills, systems skills, and resource management skills.  Select all the skills that apply to you and click Save and Find Matching Occupation.

The next screen will appear, then you can choose your matches by closely, moderately, loosely or show all occupations and click on Continue to see your results.

The example below shows the occupations with the highest matching level at top. Click on the blue occupation title link to get the profile for that job.  You will get a description that includes education and work experience, employment wages, nature of work, skills, job requirements and other traits required.

To move on to the next assessment click on Select Another Career Service.

Please note the navigation will take you back to the beginning.  Click on Career Explorer to move to the next assessment link. 

2. Match Your Work Interests 

Explore the type of work activities that you like and view occupations that will satisfy these interests. This option is great for those who have no work or limited work history.

Under the Match Your Interest you will start the Work Interest Analyzer.  The Work Interest Analyzer helps you decide what kinds of careers you might want to explore.  You have two options: 

The Short Form contains 60 questions and is a web-based vocational interest assessment instrument. The Mini Form contains 30 questions, each describing a work activity.

Below is an example of the Short Form.  Each question should be reviewed and answered by clicking on one’s preference. (Strongly Dislike, Dislike, Unsure, Like, Strongly Like) Start at the top of the page and answer in order.  There are three pages, each completed page can be reviewed by click on the back button.

The Mini Form is in the same format with less questions.

Click View Score when you have completed to see results.  Your interests can help you find occupations you might like to explore.  The more an occupation meets your interests, the more likely it will be satisfying and rewarding.  Click on the Next button to see a sample of occupations that match your work interest.

Below is a sample of occupations that meet your interest. Click on the blue occupation title link to get the profile for that job.  You will get a description that includes education and work experience, employment wages, nature of work, skills, job requirements and other traits required.

To explore another assessment, click on Select Another Career Service.

3. Match Your Work Values

Find occupations that are in line with your work values by prioritizing a list of work tasks.  You can then match occupations to your values.

Start the work value analyzer by reading each card before you proceed. There are 20 cards in total.  Click on the arrow box to move to the next question until you get to the 20^th card.  Click on the Begin the Values Analyzer.

Begin the Value Analyzer- sort the cards by dragging and placing each card under the category of importance to you.  There are 5 categories and there is no right or wrong answer. This exercise will help identify the work values you value most.  You can reset the cards or once completed click Next.

Below is an example of a competed Work Value Analyzer.  You can click on any work value to learn more.  When you are ready, click the next button to explore careers and jobs that match these interests.

The screen is the match level to your responses.  Click on next, set your option to choose your matches by closely, moderately, loosely or show all occupations and click on continue to see your results.

The following occupations match your work values.  There are several categories, the correlation category will show the strongest occupations first based on your answers followed by the Moderate occupation matches. 

Click on the blue occupation title link to get the profile for that job.  You will get a description that includes education and work experience, employment wages, nature of work, skills, job requirements and other traits.

Click select another career service for another assessment.  Click on Career Explorer.

4. Match Your Knowledge of Tools and Technology

Select the technical skills you have and the tools you use to identify occupations you may be interested in. You can match your knowledge to an occupation to see if you qualify for the specific job requirements.

The Tools and Technology screen will have no data, click on Edit Tools and Technology to begin.

Add your tools by clicking on the appropriate link for either Current Technology or Current Tools with key words. 

Below is an example, search skills by entering a key word, "Construction" on the Add tools and technology by occupation link.  Click the search button to see results.

Select the skill you would like to add to your assessment profile and click on add these tools and technology.

The next screen will display your selections under Current Technology and Current tools.  Click on save.

Click on Find Matching Occupations and Jobs.

The next screen will appear and ask you to continue to see your match level.  Click continue to view occupations.

Below are the results based on the match level.  Click on the blue occupation title link to get the profile for that job.  You will get a description that includes education and work experience, employment wages, nature of work, skills, job requirements and other traits.

Click on select another career service.  Click on Career Explorer to begin the next assessment.

5. Match Your Occupation

Find occupations that are like your current or previous occupation based on the required knowledge, skills, abilities as well as the normal work environment, and work activities. This assessment is good for those who have solid work history and know what type of job they desire.

Search for an occupation by using keyword(s) enter desired job title then click search.

You will be directed to the Related Occupations based on your search. Click an occupation title blue link in the table below to see more information about that occupation.

You will get an occupation description that includes education and work experience, employment wages, nature of work, skills, job requirements and other traits.

Click on For Individuals under Services.  Click on Career Services to go back to career explorer assessments.

Click on Career Explorer.

6. Career Ladder

See how people in your chosen occupation climb the career ladder. Find the occupations jobseekers move towards and away from. This assessment is beneficial to those who are currently working and want to see how to use their skills to climb the ladder. To begin click on Career Ladder.

Type a job title or occupation by using keywords in the box and click the search button.  In this example I will use a Teacher as my desired occupation.

Below is a list of occupations that matched your keyword search.  Occupations are ranked based on how well they match the keyword.  The table below also indicates whether the keyword was found in the title, related job titles, or description of each occupation.  Select an occupation by clicking on the blue link to see a description.

The illustration below shows how the occupations in the blue boxes can move towards the red box, becoming an Elementary School Teacher, Except Special Education. 

There is also a drop-down box for Data to Display.  The example above shows the Visual Career Ladder.  You can set the display to Tabular Career Ladder – Labor Market Information and Tabular Career Ladder -Education Information

The table below shows the occupations that most elementary school teachers, except special education came from.  The data display is set to tabular career ladder -education information.  There are 9 categories that offer information that may be helpful to an individual who wants to move up from their current career.  This table also has the option to click on the occupation profile by clicking on the blue link.    

The table below shows the occupations that most elementary school teachers, except special education came from.  The data display is set to tabular career ladder -Labor Market Information.  There are 8 categories that offer information that may be helpful to an individual who wants to move up from their current career.  This table also has the option to click on the occupation profile by clicking on the blue link.   

Additional Career Exploration Tools:

Career InfoNet Skills Profiler	Website: https://www.careerinfonet.org/careertools_intro.asp Description: An interactive tool that creates a list of your skills and matches them to job types that use those skills. When your skills profile is complete, you can print it or save it as a PDF file. Use: Good tool for identifying transferrable skills and guiding job seekers in identifying a new career path that can leverage their previous skill set.
O*Net Interest Profiler	Website: https://www.onetcenter.org/ Description: A vocational self‐assessment career exploration tool that helps people discover the type of work activities and occupations that they would like and find exciting. Use: Provides self‐knowledge about vocational interests, fosters career awareness and provides a window into the more than 800 occupations listed in O*Net Online. Note: You must download software from O*Netcenter.org to run this program
O*Net Work Importance Profiler	Website: https://www.onetcenter.org/ Description: A computerized self‐assessment career exploration tool that allows people to focus on what is important to them in a job. It helps people identify occupations that they may find satisfying, based on the similarity between their work values (such as achievement, autonomy, and conditions of work) and the characteristics of the occupations. Use: Helps identify careers that match the values of an individual to increase the likelihood that they will find a particular job enjoying and fulfilling. Note: You must download software from O*Netcenter.org to run this program
mySkills myFuture	Website: https://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/ Description: myskills.org helps laid‐off workers and other career changers explore new occupations. Use: Users can identify occupations that require skills and knowledge similar to their current or previous job, learn more about these suggested matches, locate local training programs, and/or apply for jobs
My Next Move	Website: https://www.mynextmove.org/ Description: My Next Move is specifically designed to help you determine the right career for you and to help you find a job that you will enjoy. Use: Explore careers by keywords, industry sectors, or by matching them to your interests and abilities.
Career InfoNet Military Transition	Website: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Jobs/match-veteran-jobs.aspx Description: Keys to Career Success in the Career OneStop website is a resource guide that explains the tools and resources available to transitioning veterans and provides a tool to match military experience to civilian occupations. Use: Veterans can match their military skills to civilian occupations, learn about credentials, certifications, and licenses for those careers, get guidance writing a resume, search for jobs, and locate other state and local resources
Other Useful Sites	http://www.careeronestop.org/CompetencyModel/CareerPathway/CPWOverview.aspx

Staff Reminders:

• All the Career Connect assessments can be printed out and will save automatically under the Individual Profile/ Self Assessments Profile.

• The career exploration can be done before WIOA enrollment.
  • If completed before enrollment, no service is necessary
  • If completed after enrollment a service must be entered

• All assessments after enrollment must have a service opened.  Below are the service definitions for Adult/Dislocated and Youth 

• NEW! Adult/Dislocated Service Code 208: Career Information Services (staff assisted) Same Day Service: Provision of career and training information in a one-on-one setting with significant staff involvement designed to help participants find the right career path. This includes the provision of information (including information on local performance and eligible training providers), materials, suggestions, or advice intended to assist the job seeker in making occupation or career decisions. Examples of Career Information include providing labor market information (LMI) and demand occupations, wages, job openings, etc.

  Note: this basic career service differs from the Individualized Career Service "Career Planning" because it only provides information (requiring staff assistance), whereas the latter involves the day-to-day career counseling of a participant.

  This service replaces 224 Career Exploration

  NEW! Youth Service Code 431: Vocational Exploration (Same Day Service): Vocational Exploration is the process of learning about yourself and the world of work, identifying and exploring potentially satisfying occupations and developing an effective strategy to realize goals. This would include in-depth career awareness, career counseling, and career exploration services which consist of:
  a) Career awareness begins the process of developing knowledge of the variety of careers and occupations available, their skills requirements, working conditions and training prerequisites, and job opportunities across a wide range of industry sectors.
  b) Career counseling or guidance provides advice and support in making decisions about what career paths to take. Services may include providing information about resume preparation, interview skills, potential opportunities for job shadowing, and the long-term benefits of postsecondary education and training (e.g., increased earning power and career mobility).
  c) Career exploration can be described as the process in which you choose an educational path and training or a job that fits their interests, skills and abilities.

  Included under this element is Job Readiness/Workforce Preparation which provides for fundamental skills for finding a job and meeting general job requirements that are not specific to a career or industry. It may include the development of learning skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, punctuality, personal maintenance skills, and professional conduct services such as teamwork, collaboration, and customer service to prepare individuals for unsubsidized employment or training.

  WIOA Youth Program Element #13. 

  NOTE: This service cannot be entered until the 3 Non-Enrolling Youth Activities have been provided.