This section examines the right side of the college and career readiness framework: the essential skills and knowledge that students need for career readiness. These elements are critical to students achieving access to and success in entry level work positions and upward mobility in viable career paths.
A career is a sequence of positions or occupations that one person engages in during his or her working life. In today’s rapidly changing economic landscape, it is increasingly common for individuals to move through a variety of positions within a career path and to transition through multiple careers throughout their working lives.
To have a successful career, an individual must have the required education, training, and experience in a specific field or industry. While lifelong learning is to be expected for most careers, many young people will need some formal preparation before being hired into entry level positions.
The concept map below depicts four components of career readiness and their corresponding elements, each of which focuses on a subset of knowledge, skills, and abilities.
A Concept Map of Career Readiness
Career Planning and Preparation
Technical Knowledge
Technical Skills
Career Awareness and Engagement
The use of written education and career plans (ECPs) helps students chart paths between where they are and where they want to be. The ECPs can help students identify the specific steps needed to achieve their education and career goals, including coursework and both curricular and extracurricular experiences. Based on the student’s education and career goals, the plan should be aligned with both high school graduation requirements and postsecondary entrance requirements.
Component: Career Planning and Preparation
Career planning and preparation enables young people to explore career options, identify career goals, learn about the requirements to enter their chosen careers, and take the steps they need to meet their career goals. Click the links below for more information on the elements of career planning and preparation.
- Element 1: Understanding education and training requirements for specific careers (PDF)
- Element 2: Understanding workplace cultures (PDF)
- Element 3: Learning how to find and keep a job (PDF)
- Element 4: Knowing the concrete steps needed to pursue and complete the education, training, or skill development required for specific careers (PDF)
Component: Technical Knowledge
Technical knowledge encompasses the technical content of a specific industry, sector, or career. Click the links below for more information on the elements of technical knowledge.
Component: Technical Skills
By mastering technical skills, students acquire the professional abilities needed to enter and progress in a specific industry, sector, or career. Click the links below for more information on the elements of technical skills.
Component: Career Awareness and Engagement
By demonstrating career awareness and engagement, young people show they are informed about, invested in, and motivated by career goals. Click the links below for more information on the elements of career awareness and engagement.
- Element 1: Understanding the benefits of a productive career and its importance to lifelong success (PDF)
- Element 2: Having specific, realistic career goals (PDF)
- Element 3: Knowing about different career opportunities and being aware of local, regional, and national variations in job opportunities (PDF)