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## Other Youth Topics

## Breadcrumb

            -  Youth Topics 
            -  Employment 
            -           Career Exploration and Skill Development      

# Career Exploration and Skill Development

Finding a job can be a challenge for youth. They must determine what careers are available, what their interests are, and what skills they have or need to develop. Numerous resources are available to help youth get a sense of their interest and skills as well as gain employment experience and learn about employment opportunities.

## Mentoring

Mentoring—matching youth or “mentees” with responsible, caring “mentors,” usually adults—has been found to be an important support for youth as they transition to adulthood and the workforce.1 Mentoring provides opportunities for youth to develop emotional bonds with mentors who have more life experience and can provide support, guidance, and opportunities to help them succeed in life and meet their goals.2

Mentoring relationships can be formal or informal, with substantial variation, but the essential components include creating caring, empathetic, consistent, and long-lasting relationships, often with some combination of role modeling, teaching, and advising. One form of mentoring, called *instrumental*or *topic-focused mentoring*, focuses on a particular problem and aims at helping mentees reach specific goals, such as improving academic performance or preparing for employment opportunities.

*Career-focused mentoring*, a type of instrumental or topic-focused mentoring, can take a variety of forms and may focus on different pieces of career development and employment. Some examples include assisting with the following:
                        - writing resumes and cover letters;
                        - conducting mock interviews and providing support for answering interview questions;
                        - exploring possible careers and assisting with job, internship, or program searches;
                        - developing on-the-job skills (soft skills or technical skills);
                        - modeling behavior, attitudes, or skills in the workplace (job-shadowing); and
                        - career planning and goal setting. 3

Apprenticeships and internships can provide on-the-job opportunities to integrate mentoring into employment experiences for youth. You can find out more about both apprenticeships and internships for youth below. Learn more about mentoring and the benefits for youth and their mentors.

## Assessment, Testing, and Counseling 

Self-assessments help teach youth about themselves so that they can find a career that is a good fit for their interests and skills. They allow youth to explore
                        - what they do and do not like,
                        - how they react to certain situations,
                        - their skills, and
                        - values. 4

A professional, such as a counselor at a high school, trade or vocational school, college, or career training center, can help in selecting an appropriate assessment, interpreting the results, and providing career counseling.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration sponsors two valuable resources to assist youth identify career pathways. CareerOneStop is a website that provides a range of career-exploration help:
                        - Up-do-date information on job salary and benefit information and related education and training opportunities
                        - Job search tools, resumes, and interview resources, and people and places to help jobseekers virtually, such as  What’s My Next Move  (PDF, 10 pages), a guide to exploring careers for youth

The American Job Centers (AJCs), also known as One Stop Centers, provide job referrals, counseling, and other supportive services to help with both job search and location of training and education resources. AJCs have locations across the United States.

The National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability provides a range of assessments that can help with the transition from school to employment. In addition to their focus on career planning, these resources recognize unique challenges faced by students with disabilities.

An additional online resource, Students and Career Advisors, allows students, career advisors, and parents to learn more about potential career opportunities. This resource provides opportunities for students to explore their interests, learn about potential careers, learn how to get job experience, and find additional educational opportunities to support career development.

## Individualized Learning Plans

The goal of an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP), can also be known as Individual Service Strategy (ISS), is to connect what youth are doing in the classroom with their career and college goals and aspirations. ILPs help youth discover their skills and interests, match their interests with degrees and careers, set goals, and follow through in a thoughtful and meaningful way. The Office of Disability Employment Policy has a number of resources and information about ILP. Follow the links below to learn more.
                        - “Kickstart Your ILP” Toolkit
                        - Individualized Learning Plan Information and Resources
                        - Using Individualized Learning Plans to Produce College and Career Ready High School Graduates
                        - Individualized Learning Plans How-to Guide
                        - Individualized Learning Plans Fact Sheet

## Job Search Assistance

Finding available jobs can be difficult. It is important for youth to recognize that finding a job often takes time and it is important to develop a plan, schedule, and goals when conducting a search. Many sources list available jobs, from newspapers to listservs to online directories. CareerOneStop has online job listings that provide information, and knowledgeable staff at its American Job Centers are available to assist with counseling youth on various employment options. Tools such as GetMyFuture, which allows youth to search for career opportunities based on past employment experiences, can help young people identify future careers that may be available based on their previous work experience. College career centers, CareerOneStop, and American Job Centers can help youth prepare their resumes, write cover letters, and practice interviewing. State vocational rehabilitation agencies are typically represented at or can be accessed through American Job Centers to provide assistance for youth with disabilities in the job search process. College career centers can also provide valuable resources for students as they search for jobs and internships.

## Soft and Technical Skill Development and Training

Soft skills are generally defined as personal qualities, not technical, that translate to good job performance. They have been named by employers to be most important for successful job performance. Soft skills can be learned through a variety of means, including classroom instruction, youth programs, volunteering, and service-learning. Learn more about soft skills and how they can be developed.

More than 50 percent of manufacturers who completed the 2005 skills gap survey reported that technical skills will play an important role in meeting the needs of employers in the upcoming years.5 Vocational training courses or work-study programs can teach marketable technical or occupational skills. CareerOneStop and American Job Centers can make referrals to local postsecondary institutions and youth-serving agencies when training and other services are needed. Not only are the people there knowledgeable about these resources, but they also can approve vouchers to defray training costs. The Center for Employment Training (CET) is a nonprofit organization that has partnerships with the U.S. Department of Labor. CET has pioneered the practice of open-ended, competency-based training that uses the workplace as the context for simulations. The individualized training allows youth to train at their own pace and explore career options firsthand. The majority of training is provided through hands-on experience. The Office of Vocational and Adult Education within the U.S. Department of Education also helps states, schools, and community colleges support technical and vocational education.

## Apprenticeships

Youth apprenticeship programs grew out of the school-to-work movement and offer youth classroom instruction combined with structured on-the-job training with a mentor. The training is split between academic courses and vocational training, while the on-the-job portion provides opportunities for practice in and understanding of work-based contexts for classroom instruction. 6 Youth apprenticeships may lead to admission to adult registered apprenticeship programs after graduation. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsors registered apprenticeship programs that meet its standards. The minimum requirement for participation in a registered apprenticeship program may vary by the skills demanded for the program, but to be eligible, youth must be at least 16. Because of restrictions, some hazardous jobs are limited to individuals over 18. Participation in apprenticeships allows youth to receive the following:
                        - A paycheck : From day one, youth earn a paycheck guaranteed to increase over time as they acquire new skills.
                        - Hands-on career training : Apprentices receive practical on-the-job learning in a wide selection of programs, such as health care, construction, information technology, and geospatial careers.
                        - An education : Apprentices receive hands-on learning and related instruction to supplement the hand-on-learning and have the potential to earn college credit, even an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, in many cases paid for by the employer.
                        - A career : Once the apprenticeship is completed, youth are on their way to successful long-term careers with competitive salaries and little or no educational debt.
                        - National industry certification : When an apprentice completes a Registered Apprenticeship program, he or she will be certified and can take that certification anywhere in the United States.
                        - The opportunity to work with recognizable partners :Many of the nation’s most recognizable companies, such as CVS Health and UPS, have Registered Apprenticeship programs. 7

For an example of a youth apprenticeship program, visit Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development: Youth Apprenticeship Program Information.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) provides a toolkit and other resources to increase the capacity of programs to provide integrated inclusive apprenticeship training to youth and young adults with a full range of disabilities, including those with the most significant disabilities. ODEP also provides guidance on how to use the increased flexibilities in the U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship regulations.

## Internships

Internships, both paid and unpaid, provide youth with short-term, practical experiences to learn about careers, develop networks, and experience the workplace. The Wage and Hour Division at the U.S. Department of Labor has identified six criteria (PDF, 2 pages) to help determine whether interns must be paid the minimum wage and overtime under the Fair Labor Standard s Act. Internships are available in a diverse array of career fields and can be formal or informal. Internships give youth the opportunity to explore what they like and do not like about certain careers. They allow youth who might not know what career they want to pursue with a chance to see whether a certain environment, job, or management style fits their needs. Both on-the-job experience and the application process allow youth to develop skills so that they are able to enter the job market with relevant career experience. According to a 2005 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 60 percent of employers hire college graduates who had completed internships. Further, on average more than half the students who completed internships were offered full-time positions upon internship completion.8

## Resources

**U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: K‒12**This section of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website includes interactive resources that students and teachers can use to explore different career options, view employment projections, and learn more about the history and work of the BLS.

**Connecting At-Risk Youth to Promising Careers (PDF, 5 pages)**This brief, developed for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, discusses promising occupations for at-risk youth. The occupations are based on their potential for reasonable wages, the required educational prerequisites, projected growth and demand in the labor market, and potential for individual advancement. Opportunities in the healthcare and construction fields are highlighted, as well as work-based learning and career pathway programs.

**Youth Jobs+**Youth Jobs+ is an initiative that connects young people with jobs, internships, and other employment opportunities by bringing together businesses, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, and elected officials to help create pathways to employment for youth. The website includes resources for finding a job and learning about the careers that celebrities, athletes, politicians, and government employees held when they were growing up.

**Workforce3 One Podcast Series on Allied Health Occupations for Young Adults**Workforce3 One, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA), is an interactive communications and learning platform designed to build the capacity of the Workforce Investment System. It has released a series of podcasts that feature young adults who have been trained through the public workforce system and are currently working in different allied health occupations. This series provides practical information about allied health occupations to assist both young adults and workforce staff in developing a career plan.

**Kids.gov**Kids.gov is the official kids’ portal for the U.S. government. It links to more than 2,000 Web pages from government agencies, schools, and educational organizations, all geared to the learning level and interest of youth. Specifically, Kids.gov provides information about and descriptions of different careers so that youth can learn more about available opportunities. Separate information is targeted directly to youth in grades K‒5 and youth in grades 6‒8. There are also resources for youth-serving professionals and educators.

**Youth-Focused Job Links from the U.S. Department of Labor**The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration provides links to a range of free, online resources and Department resources for youth to help them develop career plans.

**CareerOneStop and American Job Centers**The U.S. Department of Labor’s CareerOneStop is a free online resource that provides employment information and inspiration; a place to manage careers; a place to develop a pathway to career success; and tools to help job seekers, students, businesses, and career professionals. American Job Centers, which are career centers funded under the Workforce Investment Act’s (WIA) Employment and Training Administration, help both adults and youth explore careers, search for jobs, develop interviewing skills, receive education and training, and write resumes. Approximately 2,500 American Job Centers are located in communities across the United States.

**Occupational Outlook Handbook**The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It is designed to help individuals make decisions about their future work lives. The handbook, which is revised every two years, includes information on hundreds of jobs and describes the training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions.

**Occupational Safety & Health Administration: Young Workers You Have Rights!**This site provides safety and health information for young workers and their parents, employers, and educators. It answers questions often asked by working teens. Details about workers’ rights, links to training, information about state youth employment laws, and other educational tools can also be found here.

**Office of Disability Employment Policy**The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) was authorized by Congress in the U.S. Department of Labor’s FY 2001 appropriation. ODEP works to influence national policy and promote effective workplace practices to ensure that today’s—and tomorrow’s—workforce is inclusive of all people, including people with disabilities. ODEP provides a range of resources and information for youth with disabilities transitioning to adulthood, including a focus on soft skills, apprenticeships, and data, among others.

**GetMyFuture**As a CareerOneStop website, this tool allows youth to explore careers, learn about education options, identify ideas for employment and job opportunities, and find support. The site also includes a toolkit to find local resources and information to find a job, obtain unemployment benefits, or get contacts to help with next steps.

**My Next Move**This electronic tool gives individuals three main ways to explore careers, including an online O*NET interest assessment, and provides a profile of each occupation highlighting important knowledge, skills, abilities, technologies used, simplified salary and outlook information, and links to find specific training and employment opportunities.

**National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability**This website, supported by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), provides a range of information on youth employment, including assessments that can help with the transition from school to employment. The website pays specific attention to youth with disabilities.

**Students and Career Advisors**This tool from CareerOneStop allows students, career advisors, and parents to learn more about potential career opportunities. It provides opportunities for students to explore what their interests are, learn about potential careers, learn how to gain job experience, and find additional educational opportunities to support career development.

**What’s My Next Move?**What’s My Next Move? is a career planning tool designed to assist high school students in managing education and career plans. This document guides students along the career planning process from self-assessment and career/occupation exploration to job searching and interviewing. Learn more.

## References

1 Timmons, Mack, Sims, Hare, & Wills, 20062 DuBois & Karcher, 20053 Timmons et al., 20064 CareerOneStop Centers, n.d.5 Deloitte, 20056 Crosby, 20027 U.S. Department of Labor, 20108 Jones, 2006

## Other Resources on this Topic

### Agencies 

                          - AmeriCorps
                          - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
                          - Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor
                          - Office of Disability Employment Policy, Department of Labor
                          - Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor

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### Collaboration Profiles 

                          - Navicate
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                          - Program Components
                          - SBIRT/YouthBuild
                          - Worcester Youth Development and Professional Leadership Symposium
                          - YouthGo.gov

### Data Sources 

                          - American FactFinder

### Feature Articles 

                          - A Hand and Paw Partnership Benefits Homeless Youth
                          - Add Us In
                          - America’s Young Adults, 2014
                          - Developing Programs for Youth in Allied Health Careers
                          - Expanding Access to Health Care Services and Work-Based Experiences for Youth with Chronic Health Conditions and Disabilities
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### Internships 

                          - AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC)
                          - Share with Youth: #ApprenticeshipWorks

### Job Opportunities 

                          - Department of Health and Human Services: Public Policy Internship
                          - Interns Graduate Project SEARCH-NIH Program, Eight Hired at NIH
                          - Registered Apprenticeship

### Programs 

                          - 2013 Youth Jobs+ Initiative
                          - Division of Youth Services
                          - FEMA Corps
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                          - John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood
                          - National Academies Board on Children, Youth, and Families
                          - Neighborhood Networks
                          - Registered Apprenticeship College Consortium
                          - Reintegration of ExOffenders Program
                          - ServiceWorks
                          - Workforce Investment Act Youth Programs
                          - YouthBuild

### Publications 

                          - “It Changed My Life Forever”: Our Job Corps Stories
                          - 21st Century Registered Apprenticeship: A Shared Vision for Increasing Opportunity, Innovation, and Competitiveness for American Workers and Employers
                          - Aftercare Services
                          - Are You A Teen Worker?
                          - Connecting At-Risk Youth to Promising Occupations
                          - Disability Employment 101
                          - Economic Costs of Youth Disadvantage and High-Return Opportunities for Change
                          - Employment and Training for Court-Involved Youth
                          - Employment and Unemployment Among Youth - Summer 2013
                          - Employment and Unemployment Among Youth – Summer 2014
                          - First Step: A Youth Practitioner’s Resource Guide to Supportive Services
                          - Helping Students Prepare for Employment
                          - High School Apprenticeship Toolkit
                          - Indian and Native American Summer Youth Employment Initiatives and the 2009 Recovery Act
                          - Interim Report for the Department of Labor Youth Offender Demonstration Project: Process Evaluation
                          - Joint Letter on Informing Career Decisions from the Departments of Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services
                          - Joint Letter Regarding Building Partnerships With American Job Center Network
                          - Life Changes Require Health Choices, Know Your Benefit Options
                          - My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Report to the President
                          - New Employee Savings Tips – Time Is On Your Side
                          - Opportunity for All: Supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander Families
                          - Report on Young Adult Employment
                          - Report: Combatting Religious Discrimination Today
                          - Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future
                          - Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)
                          - Shaping History Through STEM Careers
                          - Soft Skills to Pay the Bills: Mastering Soft Skills for Workplace Success
                          - Teaching Soft Skills Through Workplace Simulation in Classroom Settings
                          - Teaching the SCANS Competencies
                          - Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement
                          - Training and Employment Guidance Letter on WIA Youth Program
                          - Trends Among Young Adults Over Three Decades
                          - Using TANF Funds to Support Subsidized Youth Employment: The 2010 Summer Youth Employment Initiative
                          - Virtual Workplace Flexibility Toolkit
                          - Youth Apprenticeship

### Resources 

                          - Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
                          - Healthy Transitions: A Pathway to Employment for Youth with Chronic Health Conditions and Other Disabilities
                          - Report: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Life Opportunities
                          - Report: Exploring Cross-Domain Instability in Families with Children
                          - Report: Fulfilling America’s Future: Latinas in the U.S., 2015
                          - Report: High School Students’ Views on Who Influences Their Thinking about Education and Careers
                          - Report: Participation in High School Career and Technical Education and Postsecondary Enrollment
                          - Resource: 2017 Summer Jobs Resources Pages
                          - Resource: Mental Health Needs of Youth
                          - Resource: Mythbuster! WIOA Titles I and II
                          - Resource: Native One Stop Website
                          - Resource: Next Level Now (NLN) Collaborative Community
                          - Resource: NHSC Poster
                          - Resource: Program-Level Gainful Employment Earnings Data
                          - Resource: School’s Out, But Safety Should Always Be In
                          - Resource: Supporting Success of Youth under WIOA
                          - Resource: Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
                          - Resource: Youth Workforce Development
                          - Share with Youth: Career Video Collection
                          - Share with Youth: Educational Opportunities for a Career in Cybersecurity
                          - Share with Youth: From Fear to a Love of Nature: One Arctic Youth Ambassador’s Journey
                          - Share with Youth: Helping Teens Find Their Right Job
                          - Share with Youth: Hitting the Open Road After High School
                          - Share with Youth: TA Series for Youth Practitioners
                          - Understanding Taxes
                          - USDA Awards $200 Million for Skills Training to Help SNAP Recipients Get Jobs

### Technical Assistance 

                          - CareerOneStop Centers
                          - Homelessness Resource Center
                          - National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety
                          - National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability
                          - National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center
                          - PACER Center's Technical Assistance on Transition and the Rehabilitation Act (TATRA) Project

### Tools & Guides 

                          - Charting the Course: Supporting the Career Development of Youth with Learning Disabilities
                          - Child Labor Rules Advisor
                          - Explore Career and Educational Opportunities
                          - MySkillsMyFuture
                          - Occupational Outlook Handbook
                          - Regulations for Unpaid Internships
                          - State-based Occupational Health Surveillance Clearinghouse
                          - Ticket to Work Program
                          - Tunnels and Cliffs: A Guide for Workforce Development Practitioners and Policymakers Serving Youth with Mental Health Needs
                          - USDA Living Science
                          - Young Workers

### Training Resources 

                          - Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Flash Training Series

### Videos & Podcasts 

                          - Know Your Health Benefits Rights Video
                          - Saving Matters Video
                          - Share with Youth: CareerOneStop's Video Collection
                          - Share with Youth: Health Profession Opportunity Grant Spotlight on Kelly
                          - Share with Youth: Job Corps Means — Feeling Needed
                          - Share With Youth: Job Corps Voices: Kevin and Green Career Training — Career Training and Education Program
                          - TechGirls 2013: A Network of Young Innovators
                          - Video: Job Corps Voices — Brittany and Making a Better Future — Career Training and Education Program
                          - Video: Reflections on The White House Internship Program

### Websites 

                          - Apprenticeship.gov
                          - Federal Network for Young Worker Safety and Health
                          - Help Youth Connect to Internships!
                          - Interagency Council on Homelessness
                          - Kids.gov
                          - Recovery.gov
                          - Resource: Disability and Apprenticeship
                          - Resources to Assist Apprenticeship Programs
                          - Saving Matters
                          - Student Leaders Speak About Preparing for 21st Century Careers
                          - The Campaign for Disability Employment
                          - Workforce System Strategies
                          - www.MyFuture.com
                          - Young Worker Safety and Health
                          - Youth@Work
                          - Youth@Work: Talking Safety
                          - YouthBuild AmeriCorps: A Path Out of Poverty

### Youth Topics 

                          - Employment
                          - Opportunity Youth

## Youth Briefs

How Individualized Education Program (IEP) Transition Planning Makes a Difference for Youth with Disabilities
Youth who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and especially young adults of transition age, should be involved in planning for life after high school as early as possible and no later than age 16. Transition services should stem from the individual youth’s needs and strengths, ensuring that planning takes into account his or her interests, preferences, and desires for the future.

Youth Transitioning to Adulthood: How Holding Early Leadership Positions Can Make a Difference
Research links early leadership with increased self-efficacy and suggests that leadership can help youth to develop decision making and interpersonal skills that support successes in the workforce and adulthood. In addition, young leaders tend to be more involved in their communities, and have lower dropout rates than their peers. Youth leaders also show considerable benefits for their communities, providing valuable insight into the needs and interests of young people

How Trained Service Professionals and Self-Advocacy Makes a Difference for Youth with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Co-occurring Issues
Statistics reflecting the number of youth suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders highlight the necessity for schools, families, support staff, and communities to work together to develop targeted, coordinated, and comprehensive transition plans for young people with a history of mental health needs and/or substance abuse.

Young Adults Formerly in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions
Nearly 30,000 youth aged out of foster care in Fiscal Year 2009, which represents nine percent of the young people involved in the foster care system that year. This transition can be challenging for youth, especially youth who have grown up in the child welfare system.

Coordinating Systems to Support Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Needs
Research has demonstrated that as many as one in five children/youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Read about how coordination between public service agencies can improve treatment for these youth.

Civic Engagement Strategies for Transition Age Youth
Civic engagement has the potential to empower young adults, increase their self-determination, and give them the skills and self-confidence they need to enter the workforce. Read about one youth’s experience in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

## Main navigation

- Employment
- Employment During COVID-19
- Experiences for Youth
- Summer and Youth Employment Resources
- Qualifications and Attributes Critical to Employers
- Connection to Education
- Career Exploration & Skill Development
- Federal Transition Programs
- Considerations for Youth With Disabilities
- Rules & Regulations
- Health & Safety
- References

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## Latest Resources

### Announcements

Share with Youth: Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship Program

Resource: Change and Implementation in Practice: Teaming Worksheets

Share with Youth: Youth Reentry Technical Assistance (YRTA) Center Fellowship Program

### Collaboration Profiles

Program Components

Program Collaboration

Worcester Youth Development and Professional Leadership Symposium

### Feature Articles

YE4C Accepting Applications for the Editorial Board

New Toolkit on Education & Careers for Youth on YE4C

Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C

### Publications

High School Apprenticeship Toolkit

Youth Apprenticeship

Report: Combatting Religious Discrimination Today

### Resources

Resource: Next Level Now (NLN) Collaborative Community

Report: High School Students’ Views on Who Influences Their Thinking about Education and Careers

Report: Participation in High School Career and Technical Education and Postsecondary Enrollment

### Youth Topics

Opportunity Youth

Employment