Career Hacks for Workforce Readiness

Success in one’s career depends on much more than just earning good grades in school. Help increase learners’ workforce readiness by building strengths in key interpersonal skills, such as problem solving, leadership, communication, teamwork and collaboration, and critical thinking, using this collection of resources produced by WGBH. The resources can be used to engage learners with media and prompt rich discussion in the classroom and other educational settings. The collection is currently in development. Browse the initial set of resources—focused on nonverbal communication—and return for new content to be added over time.

Material Type: Lesson, Primary Source

Author: PBS LearningMedia

Career Education Jenga

On the blocks of the Jenga game, the teacher will write different career-related questions for students to answer.  These questions should help students further explore Career Education curriculum Goals and Outcomes.This game can be played different ways, be creative!

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson

Author: Aujalee Moore

Rock Your LinkedIn Profile

Explore how to create a LinkedIn profile that brings your personal career story to life, whether you’re just starting out, seeking to advance, or making a career change. This course offers tips on tailoring each section, starting with the key insight that a LinkedIn profile is unique and shouldn’t be approached exactly like a resume. The class covers ways to add media to a profile, methods for showcasing your career accomplishments and aspirations, and specific examples of profile phrases and language that can help inspire your personal story.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson

Author: Michael Sledzinski

Employability Skills

UNIT GOAL:     To create a resume and cover letter for job search and to research skills needed for employment.UNIT OBJECTIVES:Effectively demonstrate the components of a resumeKnow why a cover letter must be included with a resumeUnderstand the importance of a resumeUnderstand the importance of a cover letterDemonstrate how to research companies for employment purposesMATERIALS:Computer with MS Word and Internet AccessComputer Template for Cover LetterComputer Template for ResumeBefore class:  List objectives on projection screen using PowerPoint slideDISCUSSION:Why is research important in job search?What is research?When do you research a company?How do you research a company?How do you find out about companies hiring for postions you are interested in?What is a cover letter?What is a resume?ACTIVITIES:Use MS Word template to type a resumeUse MS Word template to type a cover letterPrint both documentsGo onto the internet and search for specific jobsWrite down three jobs that are of interest to youPrint out the web page for each company 

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Michelle Di Liberto

Job Application Tips

In this lesson teaches some tips for completing a job application, so students can avoid those common errors often done when filling out an application for the first time.

Material Type: Lesson

Career Development Toolkit: K-12 Lesson Plans

This site is a comprehensive program of career development including lessons for students in every grade between K-12. These 99 lessons are aligned with the Nebraska Career Development model, which consists of three segments: self-awareness, career exploration, and career planning and management. Our goal is to inspire individuals to turn their passion, talent, and abilities into successful careers and fulfilling lives. The program toolkit is appropriate for schools including Special Education and High Ability Learners, vocational rehabilitation programs, and with business, industry, and community partnerships, programs can achieve systemic career development for every student.

Material Type: Lesson Plan

Author: Nebraska Department of Education

ENGAGE

This is a project based course designed to help middle school students explore career options using the Nebraska Career Education Model and understand the Nebraska Career Readiness Standards. The course is organized by three themes – Making it My Choice, A World of Options and Charting a Direction – with culminating individual and group projects. Students will define career clusters and pathways, describe examples of career readiness, utilize self-assessments to better understand interests, establish a career portfolio and create a personal learning plan to provide direction to high school and post-high school activities. This course is aligned to American School Counselor Association Standards for Students, uses Nebraska Career Connections an online career information system and integrates EducationQuest tools and resources for middle school students.Recommended Level: Grades 7-8Course Code:  320300

Material Type: Full Course, Lesson Plan, Unit of Study

Authors: Terri Donahue, Dorann Avey, Sydney Kobza, Katie Graham, Donna Hoffman

CareerOneStop: Career and Cluster Videos

These videos show the types of work people do in nearly 550 careers, organized by the 16 career clusters recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Material Type: Lecture

Understanding algorithms and big data in the job market

This interactive lesson helps students understand how companies use algorithms to sort job applicants. It also encourages students to reflect on how digital data mining also can contribute to the hiring process. Students examine resumes and digital data to consider the ways in which our data may open or close opportunities in an increasingly digitized hiring market.

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Shana Ferguson

Employability Skill Development

Provides exercises to prepare learners for searching for and accessing employment. Interactivity Type: Active - requires user to respond to prompts, questions, etc. Quality of Subject Matter was assured by: -Consultations during development of instructional materials -Participation as an ongoing member of team developing the instructional materials

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson

Author: Bridges2Healthcare

Job Search Infographic

Poster with 5 tips for job searching

Material Type: Diagram/Illustration

Author: Becky Rhoades

Cover Letter Handout

What is a cover letter? Use this handout with students to teach them Dos and Don'ts 

Material Type: Reading

Author: Aujalee Moore

Handout: How to Navigate a Career Fair

Career fairs are great places to learn about job openings, to network, and more -- but job-seekers need to be prepared. Career fairs can be critical tools for job search success -- whether job-seekers use them to get an internship or job, or, whether job-seekers use them as a networking tool. Regardless of how you plan to take advantage of your next job expo or career fair, here are some key resources to help you make the most of the experience -- as well as key resources for finding your next career or career fair.

Material Type: Reading, Student Guide

Author: Aujalee Moore

Job Search Presentation

Slides about searching for a job/career

Material Type: Lesson

Author: Aujalee Moore

Designing a Resume

This asynchronous e-learning course will introduce the learner to effective resume formatting and design. By the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:Recognize the elements of a well-designed resumeCategorize resume components under appropriate headingsUse design principles to format a resumeEvaluate a completed resume for flaws

Material Type: Assessment, Interactive, Module

Author: Katy Weseman

Reviewing the Steps of Resume Development

This asynchronous e-learning course will introduce the learner to effective resume formatting and design. By the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:Recognize the elements of a well-designed resumeCategorize resume components under appropriate headingsUse design principles to format a resumeEvaluate a completed resume for flaws

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson

Author: Sarah Hickman

Resume Writing

This is a four-part interactive lesson that can be completed in a virtual setting. Student can work through the individual parts on their own. The lesson includes the following learning outcomes: 1) Learn what a resume is and why you need one 2) Gain an understanding of the distinct sections that make up a resume 3) earn tips on editing a resume to make sure that it is organized and error free 4) Create your own resume to use now or in the future

Material Type: Interactive, Module

Author: Marina McCullen

Careers and Resumes

In this collection you will find all the resources shared originally at our Careers and Resumes workshop on March 10, 2021.  This includes videos, resume templates, Kahoot! game, and websites.  Topics include resumes, cover letters, job interviewing, job hunting, communication skills, and tips.  

Material Type: Game, Teaching/Learning Strategy

Authors: Linda Gallivan, Financial Education Public-Private Partnership, Washington OSPI OER Project

Help Wanted: Writing Professional Resumes

Students will create a beginning resume that represents their current work experience and demonstrates their knowledge of rhetorical situations for professional writing.

Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lesson Plan, Unit of Study

Job Resume and Cover Letters

This is a unit plan. It covers seeking job openings relative to a student's residence in Wyoming. We focus on writing a professional resume and cover letter to match a job opening found on the Wyoming at Work website.  (other states have similar sites through their state Department of Workforce).

Material Type: Unit of Study

Author: Loyce Ellingrod