DOL Vocational Training Workshop Participant Guide U.S. Department of Labor DOL Vocational Training Workshop Participant Guide 2019 Edition DOL Vocational Training Workshop Participant Guide Table of Contents Section 1: Getting Started ............................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Objectives........................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Course Overview ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 High-quality Civilian Career ................................................................................................................ 6 1.4 Career Transition Journey .................................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Activity: What I'd Be Doing If I Wasn't Here? .................................................................................... 8 Section 2: Vocational Training Foundation ................................................................................................... 10 2.1 What Is Vocational Training? ........................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Why Pursue Vocational Training? .................................................................................................... 10 2.3 The Career Clusters .......................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Career Clusters and Their Pathways ................................................................................................ 12 2.5 Activity: Identify Occupations Using the Career Cluster on O*NET ................................................. 15 2.6 Activity: Career Cluster Game .......................................................................................................... 16 Section 3: Self-assessments .......................................................................................................................... 19 3.1 What Is an Assessment? .................................................................................................................. 19 3.2 Holland Codes – Personality Types .................................................................................................. 20 3.3 Activity: RIASEC Game ...................................................................................................................... 21 3.4 Activity: O*NET Interest Profiler ...................................................................................................... 23 3.5 Career Clusters and the Holland Codes ........................................................................................... 25 3.6 Aptitude Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 27 3.7 Activity: CareerScope® Assessment ................................................................................................. 31 3.8 Values Assessment ........................................................................................................................... 35 3.9 Activity:O*NET Work Importance Locator-Assessment .................................................................. 36 3.10 Status Check ..................................................................................................................................... 42 3.11 Activity: Putting the Pieces Together ............................................................................................... 42 Section 4: Labor Market Research ................................................................................................................ 45 4.1 External factors ................................................................................................................................ 45 4.2 Occupational Research .................................................................................................................... 46 4.3 Activity: O*Net Summary Report ..................................................................................................... 46 4.4 Getting Help at the American Job Center (AJC) ............................................................................... 48 4.5 Activity: Access the AJC Online ........................................................................................................ 48 2 DOL Vocational Training Workshop Participant Guide Section 5: Exploring Training Opportunities ................................................................................................. 51 5.1 Why Are Credentials Important? ..................................................................................................... 51 5.2 Common Types of Credentials ......................................................................................................... 52 5.3 Activity: Identify Qualifications and Requirements ......................................................................... 53 5.4 Ways to Gain Credentials ................................................................................................................. 55 5.5 Activity: Apprenticeship.gov ............................................................................................................ 56 5.6 Activity: Identify Training and Credentials Opportunity .................................................................. 61 5.7 Gaining More Skills Before Transition .............................................................................................. 62 5.8 Activity: United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) ............................................. 63 5.9 Activity: Using COOL ........................................................................................................................ 64 5.10 Funding Your Training and Education .............................................................................................. 65 5.11 Activity: GI Bill Comparison Tool ...................................................................................................... 68 5.12 Factors to Consider When Seeking Vocational Training .................................................................. 70 5.13 Red Flags to Avoid When Seeking Vocational Training .................................................................... 71 5.14 Comparing Programs ....................................................................................................................... 73 5.15 Activity: Compare Programs ............................................................................................................ 73 5.16 Additional Resources ....................................................................................................................... 77 Section 6: Designing the Path ....................................................................................................................... 81 6.1 Making a Plan for Success ................................................................................................................ 81 6.2 Activity: Create an Action Plan ......................................................................................................... 81 6.3 Summing It Up.................................................................................................................................. 85 Section 7: Appendix ...................................................................................................................................... 87 7.1 O*Net Occupational Lists by Work Value ........................................................................................ 87 7.2 Job Zone Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 109 7.3 Index of Online Resources ............................................................................................................. 111 3 DOL Vocational Training Workshop Participant Guide 1 Getting Started 4 t DOL Vocational Training Workshop Participant Guide Section 1: Getting Started Welcome to the Department of Labor’s Vocational Training Workshop. The purpose of this training is to provide you with information and a range of tools and resources to help you evaluate your career options and gain the necessary training or credentials needed to pursue your vocational career goals. 1.1 Objectives Upon completion of this training, you will have learned how to • Define the concept of vocational training • Complete and review self-assessments on skills, knowledge, and values to make informed career decisions • Identify and explore career opportunities in each of the 16 nationally recognized career clusters • Identify the training requirements and types of credentials and qualifications needed for your occupations of interest • Identify the associated costs and potential benefits of various apprenticeships, credentialing, or licensing goals • Develop a plan of action by which you will accomplish a specific career goal 1.2 Course Overview The goal of this course is to provide you with the essential tools and resources you need to evaluate career options, gain information for training and employment, and identify the next steps you should