Employment & Career Development

Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is a comprehensive database of occupational information that can be accessed in multiple ways depending on the focus of your search: for example, you can search for specific jobs or occupational grouping of jobs, or search according to the specific knowledge, skills, abilities, work values, work context, or work activities that align with student’s strengths, interests or preferences.
My Next Move is an easy-to-use electronic tool developed as part of the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) system. My Next Move includes an on-line interest assessment with 60 questions targeted to help individuals learn what she/he likes to do and suggest potentially suitable occupations and careers.
CareerOneStop includes skills and abilities videos: Skills and abilities employers are looking for in job candidates. Each video also includes examples of careers that require the skills or abilities discussed.
Career Planning for High Schoolers provides resources to help students think about and plan for their future.
Iowa Core Standards and Expectations for Employability identifies skills necessary for employment.
- Grades 9-12 Iowa Core Employability Rubrics editable rubrics that can be downloaded and used to tailor to specific student needs (scroll down to end of the page where you will see “21st Century Skills Rubrics”)

Future Ready Iowa A user friendly site that provides tools to build employment skills, research careers, and locate educational and training resources in Iowa.
National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT) Comprehensive resource of evidence-based and promising practices that supports students for success in post-secondary education and employment. NTACT hosts “toolkits” of resources on a variety of topics, including competitive integrated employment, post-secondary education and training, and transition assessment.
Skills to Pay the Bills a free curriculum developed by the United States Department of Labor; focus is on teaching “soft” or workforce readiness skills to youth, including youth with disabilities. Created for youth development professionals as an introduction to workplace interpersonal and professional skills, the curriculum is targeted for youth ages 14 to 21 in both in-school and out-of-school environments. All materials are available as downloadable pdfs.
Iowa College Aid The Iowa College Student Aid Commission website provides articles regarding useful information concerning colleges, careers, financial aid, etc.
Placement assessments provide identification of reading, writing, and math skill levels needed in preparation for higher education and training: ACCUPLACER, ACT WorkKeys Assessments, and ASVAB.
Checklists for High School Juniors and Seniors to help students focus on steps to plan and prepare for the future.