The resources in this section will provide direct links to the websites described. The sites are divided into 8 sections. To quickly reach the section you are most interested in searching, click on the categories below:
http://www.k12.wa.us/communications/resources/washingtonhighschoolgraduationrequirements.doc
Certificate of Academic Achievement: http://www.k12.wa.us/graduationrequirements/default.aspx
U.S. News -- Best Careers 2008 [ http://www.usnews.com/features/business/best-careers/best-careers-2008.html ]
It's only been a year since U.S. News published Best Careers 2007, yet much has changed. As a result, in Best Careers 2008, five previously profiled careers were dropped and 11 new ones added. Click on the link above to view the full Best Careers feature. A new section on "Ahead-of-the Curve Careers" was added featuring 12 careers that are just emerging but are currently considered "viable" with promise to grow further in demand and importance to society. If you'd enjoy being on the cutting edge, they're certainly worth a look. To read about some trends and a word on how to search for your best career: Best Careers for a Changing Job Landscape.
O*NET Online [ http://online.onetcenter.org ]
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is a comprehensive database of occupational information, worker attributes and job characteristics.
Workforce Explorer – Washington [ http://www.workforceexplorer.com ]
Site contains useful economic information to help you make informed decisions about career options in Washington State. The site contains a Career Center to help job seekers find jobs based on occupational information and skills (over 800 occupations are listed). The site also provides current labor market information by local area and for Washington State. A unique feature is My Web Explorer which provides you with a ‘personal’ web page so you can save your search results.
Career Voyages [ http://www.careervoyages.gov ]
The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education joined forces to create this website. The site is designed as a career exploration tool for students to learn about high demand jobs nationally and in their local area. The site contains information for students, parents, career advisors/counselors and those who are changing careers. An interesting feature is video clips about various career options.
America’s Career InfoNet [ http://www.acinet.org ]
Smart career decisions start here! Find wages and employment trends, occupational requirements, state by state labor market conditions and an extensive career resource library online. Also features video clips about a variety of careers.
Careers.org [ http://careers.org ]
A directory of over 10,000 links to jobs, job search preparation, education, personal business and more. Information is sorted by topic and region, onto more than 1000 pages. An extensive website featuring links to a variety of career and education resources.
Vocational Information Center [ http://www.khake.com ]
Explore vocational and technical careers, check out the skills employers really want, find a trade school, research technical topics and take a look at the current job market with the Vocational Information Center. Doesn’t look “spiffy” on front page but highly interactive site with lots of good information.
Where Are You Going? A Guide to Careers and Occupations in Washington State [ http://wtb.wa.gov/cg2003.pdf ]
Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board published their newest resource to help students in their career search. Educators can order free copies from the WTECB or view/download a PDF version from the website (171 pages). Visit WTECB homepage ( http://wtb.wa.gov ), click on “Publications” and scroll down to “Where Are You Going” if you have trouble accessing the direct URL link listed above.
Washington State Occupational Outlook (2002-2012) [ http://www.workforceexplorer.com/article.asp?ARTICLEID=2658 ]
Washington State Occupational Outlook and Northwest Washington Occupational Outlook (Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties) publications are available at the Workforce Explorer website. Each publication reviews the Occupations in Demand for the state or region, the amount of preparation/training needed, the average annual job openings, and estimated mean wage rate.
ASVAB Homepage [ http://www.asvabprogram.com ]
An assessment program designed to help student learn more about themselves and the world of work, plus identify and explore potentially satisfying occupations.
Occupational Outlook Quarterly: Charting the Projections 1998-2008 [ http://stats.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm ]
It is projected that employment will grow to 20 million over the next decade. The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor and Statistics has developed projections of occupational employment and industry employment for the workforce. A special issue of the Occupational Outlook Quarterly contains five sections that focus on trends that will help policymakers in mapping activities around career counseling and career choice, training and education planning and policymaking and planning. There is also an introductory section on employment projections.
Guide to Healthcare Careers for Northwest Washington [ http://www.healthcarework.info ]
This website was developed by the Northwest Alliance for Health Care Skills in partnership with Northwest Workforce Development Council—Youth Council. The website provides information in the form of Occupation Reports covering a selected representation of career opportunities available in the health care sector. Students can use this information to help them make an informed choice about health care-related careers. The site provides information about employers, fastest growing career sectors, employment opportunities and even includes a Financial Aid Planner.
America’s Career Resource Network (ACRN) [ http://acrnetwork.org ]
Contains “Hot Topics” section with interesting articles. Good information for students, parents, teachers, counselors and administrators. Provides link to National Career Development Guidelines, and a Career Decision-Making Tool.
BLS Career Information [ http://bls.gov/k12 ]
U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics developed this site. Web site provides introductory career information for students in grades 4-8. Wording and labor market concepts have been simplified and some statistical detail has been eliminated. Occupations are categorized according to interests and hobbies common among students.
Career Builder [ http://careerbuilder.com ]
A job search website. Site can search by job category, city/state, keywords, company, industry or even international jobs. Site is also available “en Espanol.” Resumes can be posted. Also provides advice about career searches.
Monster Career Advice [ http://monster.com ]
A job search website. Click on “Get Career Advice” for helpful tips on finding a job, networking techniques, interviewing strategies, resume tips and salary/benefits information.
Michigan Career Portal [ http://michigan.gov/careers ] WA State Registered Apprenticeship Programs: Both sites provide an overview about apprenticeship programs in Washington State.
Each site below provides information about a variety of career options associated with the military. Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) [ http://www.k12.wa.us ] State Board for Community and Technical Colleges [ http://sbctc.ctc.edu ] Washington Colleges and Universities [ http://www.access.wa.gov ] MyMajors.com [ http://mymajors.com ] College Opportunities On-Line (COOL) [ http://www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool ] Think College Early-Students [ http://www.ed.gov/thinkcollege/early/students/students.htm ] College Net [ http://collegenet.com ] Mapping Your Future [ http://mapping-your-future.org ] Peterson’s Education Center [ http://www.petersons.com ] College Express [ http://collegexpress.com ] U.S. News College Center [ http://www.usnews.com ] The College Board [ http://www.collegeboard.org ] SAT Practice Questions [ http://www.testprep.com/practice.html ] ACT Test Preparation [ http://www.act.org/aap ] FinAid – The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid [ http://finaid.com ] FastWeb [ http://www.fastweb.com ] The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) [ http://www.uncf.org ] Scholarships.com [ http://www.scholarships.com ] Sallie Mae [ http://www.collegeanswer.com ] Sallie Mae [ http://www.salliemae.com ] Study Skills [ http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/stdyhlp.html ] AAUW [ http://www.smart-girls.org ] Pathways to Getting Ahead [ http://www.box.frb.org/consumer/pathways/index.htm ] WA Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) [ http://www.wa.gov/lni ] Job Safety for Youth [ http://www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRight/TeenWorkers ] Youth Rules [ http://youthrules.dol.gov ] Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) [ http://www.osha.gov ] National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – Dept. of Health & Human Services [ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html ]NIOSH provides national and world leadership to prevent work-related illnesses and injuries -- safety and health at work through research and prevention. Site contains multiple services and links to other related websites.
Even though this site was developed for residents in Michigan State, the Education and Training section contains outstanding information useful to anyone involved in career exploration. The site contains information about Apprenticeships, a Skills Profiler, Occupations with Largest Job Growth and one of the most comprehensive, easy to research and understand sections on Career Exploration. The Students and Parents section provides links to a variety of great resource tools.
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Apprenticeship Training
Military Careers
Education Planning
Site provides a variety of resources for educators, students and parents in regards to K-12 education in Washington State.
Site provides a variety of resources for educators, students and parents in regards to the community and technical college system in Washington State.
A website that takes students through a question process helping them focus on their educational goals. It starts with the basics: the student’s grade-point average, SAT scores and track record in more than a dozen high school courses, from art to physics. It provides sample fields of study and asks which sound interesting and which are turnoffs. And it asks what sort of activities the student likes. In 15 minutes or so, the survey is complete and the site provides information about six majors for the college-bound student to consider with plenty of helpful links to explore future careers.
Navigating the information maze about colleges and training programs is now easier with the Dept. of Educations new website. The site offers direct information on more than 9,000 U.S. colleges, universities and career schools. COOL can help students become better, more informed consumers when choosing the college or training program that’s right for them.
U.S. Department of Education developed this site. In upper right hand corner of the Home Page, click on Information for Students in the dropdown box provided. Provides information about financial aid, publications, career colleges and technical schools, international education and lots more!
The site search engine helps you narrow down colleges by region, sports, major, tuition, and several other criteria. Can review, compare and sort schools according to exclusive, detailed profiles provided by ACT. Site provides over 1500 customized Internet admissions applications built for college and university programs. When applying to more than one program you save redundant typing since common data automatically travels from form to form.
One stop site for students and parents with information on financial strategies, career options, and college planning. The site is also available “en Espanol.”
Petersons provides consumers with information about colleges and universities, career schools, graduate programs, distance learning, private schools, study abroad programs, financial aid, test preparation and career exploration. A comprehensive resource used by most high schools and colleges.
CollegeXpress was first developed as the online counterpart to Private Colleges and Universities (PC&U) magazine. The magazine (and website) provides college-bound students with helpful information about the college admissions process related to private institutions of higher education.
On the home page navigation bar, click on Education to begin your search. Annually, U.S. News publishes a review of colleges (America’s Best Colleges 2005), Graduate Schools and E-Learning opportunities.
Explore over 3,500 schools. Information about the SAT, preparation practice questions, and registration information. Site provides sections for parents, students and educators.
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Financial Aid and Scholarships
FinAid is a public service website. This award-winning site has grown into the most comprehensive annotated collection of information about student financial aid on the web. Access to FinAid is free for all users and there is no charge to link to the site. It’s comprehensive, it’s informative, it’s objective.
This site is a Financial Aid Search resource tool. Also provides a free college search option. The site was developed by Monster Company.
The UNCF is the nation’s largest, oldest, most successful and most comprehensive minority higher education assistance organization.
Free college scholarship search service and financial aid information resource on the internet. Can create a personal profile and matching search engine presents you with complete and accurate information on the most relevant, attainable college scholarship awards.
Sallie Mae is the nation’s leading provider of education funding, managing student loans for more than 7 million borrowers. The company primarily provides federally guaranteed student loans originated under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and offers comprehensive information and resources to guide students, parents, and guidance professionals through the financial aid process.
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Personal Growth
Site developed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Division of Student Affairs. Site provides “self-help” information related to study skills. Excellent information!
Science and Math at the Right Time for Girls (SMART-Girls).
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Asset Development Institute at Brandeis University have produced a booklet intended to help young people understand what it takes to be successful. The booklet contains information on education, job benefits, managing money, and savings. Hard copies can be ordered by calling: 1-800-409-1333.
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Teen Workers
Site contains information regarding various services L & I provides including employment standards and occupational health and safety regulations.
The Department of Labor and Industries has an excellent Teen Worker web page that contains a variety of informational resources about hiring teens who are minors and keeping them safe in the workplace. There is also a new section with Youth Safety Resources (see bottom of Teen Worker page) with various subject areas addressed, such as Construction, Agriculture, Noise Exposure, Ergonomics, etc.
This site was developed by the Department of Labor and to consolidate materials and corresponding Federal and State rules regarding youth employment. The website contains a wide variety of information sheets/publications written to meet the needs of employers, students, parents and educators.
OSHA’s mission is to assure the safety and health of America’s workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.