1. Educational Choices You Won’t Regret Later
What You Need to Know and Do to Ensure You’re Making Wise Decisions
Presented by:
Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., CCSP, GCDF-I
Independent Education/Career Consultant
Your Dreams & Goals
Presented to:
Clients of:
Orange County One-Stop Center

2. Learning Outcomes Participants Will:
Identify Why They Need to Do to Make Good Decisions
Identify What Activities Contribute to Good Decisions
Register How Today’s World Impacts Education Choices
Learn to Research Career Options
Learn to Research Education Options
Acquire Tools for Researching Education Options
Recognize Appropriate Academic Preparation Activities
Recognize Appropriate Career Preparation Activities
Identify Effective Job Search Strategies

3. Why This Workshop? Too Many People Jump Into Education Programs and…
Don’t finish because:
They didn’t properly research their options
They didn’t choose the right program to begin with
They’re not ready to begin
Finish but can’t get a job in the field
Didn’t take all the necessary steps to success
Video: “Success in the New Economy”

4. Why This Workshop? (Continued)
Regardless of all of the above
THEY STILL HAVE STUDENT LOAN DEBTS THAT CAN’T BE WRITTEN OFF IN BANKRUPTCY

5. Reflection: What Challenges Do You Face?
Do You Know:
What You Want?
What You Need to Do?
Where to Go for Help?

6. What Goes into Wise Decisions?
Self Knowledge
Understand Education
Recognize Today’s World
Knowledge of the Career
Know the Education Requirements
Know How to Pay for the Education
Diligent Research
Academic Preparation
Career Preparation
Effective Job Search Strategies

7. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Self Knowledge
Realistic Self Knowledge
Who You are (Personality, Abilities, Values, Skills, Interests)
Your Motivation for Learning
How You Best Learn
Your Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
What Personal Challenges Can Potentially Derail You?
Personal Responsibility
What Affects Success
Readiness: Maslow & Motivation & Personal Problems
Priorities Defined
Seek Professional Help
Listen to Your “Inner Voice”

10. Refection: Self Knowledge
How Much Self Knowledge
Do You Possess?
How Do You to Take
Personal Responsibility?

12. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Understanding Education
Degree vs Certificate vs Credential vs License:
Degrees (Usually Long-Term, Universal/Transferable)
Associates of Arts or Science (AA/AS)
Bachelor’s Degree (BA/BS)
Master’s Degree (MA/MS/M.ED., etc.)
Doctorate Degree (Ph.D, Ed.D., PsyD, etc.)
Certificates
Short-term version of degree or supplemental to degree
Credentials
Third-party verification of qualification for job
Licenses
Granted by the state convey legal authority to work in occupation1

14. Reflection: Education
What is Your Highest Level of
Education Obtained?
How Much Education Are You
Willing to Pursue at This Time?

15. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Recognize Today’s World
Understanding Today’s World
A Changing World
Video: “Did You Know?”
Understanding Labor Market Trends
Short-Term vs Long-Term
Cyclical vs. Permanent
Predictions Based on Demographics and Technology
Cannot Anticipate Unanticipated Unknowns

16. Reflection: Today’s World
How Do You See These Changes Affecting Your Life and Career?

17. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Knowledge of the Career
Trends in the Industry
Qualifications for the Career
Minimum vs. Desired
How Important are Specific Credentials?
Experience Required
Minimum vs. Competitive

18. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Knowledge of the Career (Continued)
Education Required
Degrees vs. certificates
Exact, ‘Closely Related’, or Any Degree
Skills Required
Technical vs. Transferable
Credentials or Certificates?
How to Prepare for That Career
How Do You Get Your Foot in the Door?
How Do You Get Your First Job?

19. Reflection: Career Do You Know What Career You Want?
If Yes, How Much Information
Have You Found?

20. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Know Education Requirements
Entrance Requirements
What You Will Learn
Total Financial Commitment
Tuition, Books, Supplies, Tools, Equipment, Parking, Test & License Fees, & Misc.,
Time off work, How You will Support Yourself, etc.
Total Time Commitment
Class time, Homework time, Time off work, Time away from personal life
Are There Special Programs
(i.e. online, accelerated, sponsored, apprenticeships, etc.)
Is it a Good Fit?
How Will You Get Experience?

21. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Know How to Pay for Education
Total Cost - Determine How to Pay for It:
Own Financial Means
Family, Spouse, Community (i.e. church), etc.
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, fee waivers, scholarships, etc.
Employer
Special Program Funding
Veteran’s, Unemployment, SSI, etc.
What Is Covered and What is Not Covered

22. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Conduct Diligent Research
Diligent Research of Your Educational Options
What Schools and Programs are Appropriate Options?
Will It Meet Your Goals?
Are the School and Program Accredited?
Are the School and Program Respected by Future Employers?
How Competitive is the School and/or Program?
Is the Program Compatible with Your Learning Styles?
How Much and What Kind of Support is Offered?
Academic Support
Student Services
Career Acquisition

23. What Goes into Wise Decisions? How to Do Diligent Research?
Know Your Resources
Understand the Link Between Education and Career
Recognize How Trends Affect Demand in the Field
Understand How Education Works
Know What to Look For
Know What Questions to Ask
Seek Input and Counsel From Qualified People

24. What Goes into Wise Decisions? What are Some Good Resources?
Your Dreams & Goals Documents:
Life-Long Learning Options
Understanding Educational Systems
School Research Project
Researching Career Interests (Using Appropriate Sources of Information)
Basic Career Research - Options Exploration (Part 1)
Career Research Assignment - In Depth (Part 2)
Different Types of Counselors
Workshop: “Meeting Financial Responsibilities”

25. What Goes into Wise Decisions. What are Some Good Resources
What Goes into Wise Decisions? What are Some Good Resources? (Continued)
Other Resources
Career One-Stop: “Find Local Training” training.aspx
CaliforniaColleges.Edu
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Database of Accredited Post-secondary Institutions
Your College’s Catalog
See website for more:
EducationChoices.html

26. Reflection: Education
Do You Know What
Education You Need?
What Research Tools Have You Used?
If Yes, Do How Much Information
Have You Found?

27. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Be Academically Prepared
Before Beginning Training, Be Sure:
Meet the Minimum Requirements for Admission
Or Competitive Requirements
Identify Any Program or Class Pre-Requisites
Test Scores, GPA, Degree/Certificate, Other Classes, etc.
Your Technology is Current
Technology Skills are Sufficient and Current
Navigate the Campus and Its Resources and Catalog
Know Where to Find Academic Help (i.e. Tutoring)
Have Education Plan (List of Classes and Order to Take)

28. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Be Prepared for the Career
While You Are Attending Classes, Ask:
How Will You Practice New Skills Outside of Class?
When and Where Can You Get Work Experience?
Where Do You Find “Entry-Level” Job Opportunities?
What are the Industry-Related Professional Associations?
What Professional Development Opportunities Available?
Who Can You Network With?
What are My Professional Strengths/Unique Identity?
What Job Search Skills are Appropriate for This Industry?

29. Reflection: Academic & Career Preparation
What Have You Done in the Past to Prepare for Future Careers?
How Did That Help You Get a Job?

30. What Goes into Wise Decisions? Know How to Get a Job
The Degree or Certificate is Not Enough
Meeting All Job Requirements (i.e. Physical, Legal, etc.)
Understanding How to Get a Job in Your Desired Field
Identifying Entry-Level Jobs
When to Get an Entry-Level Job
How to Get an Entry-Level Job
Possess Effective Job Search Skills

31. Reflection: Job Search
Have You Thought About How
You Will Get That First Job?
Can You Identify People to Network With?
What Can You Do Now to Prepare?

32. Summary: Wise Decisions are Possible
Self Knowledge
Understand Education
Recognize Today’s World
Knowledge of the Career
Know the Education Requirements
Know How to Pay for the Education
Diligent Research
Academic Preparation
Career Preparation
Effective Job Search Strategies

33. Wrap Up: What Have You Learned Today?
What is Your Inner Voice
Saying to You Right Now?
What Should Be Your Priority Now?

34. Wrap Up: Want a Follow Up Consultation?
Free Initial Follow Up Consultations Available
Further Appointments Available at Discounted Rates for Workshop Participants
Provide Contact Information on Sign-up Sheet

35. References:
United States Department of Labor. (2018, March 10). Retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics: