Career Tools for Parents

Help Your Child Find a Career!!!

Parents as Career Coaches

As parents, you help children explore careers. You aid your children as they search for meaning, purpose, and direction. You see their talents. You know their interests, abilities, and skills. You help children plan for the future. You search for the right tools that will help you unlock their potentials.

Parent Tips for Finding the Right Career Tool

Career tools help your children explore who they really are. Career tools include career tests, assessments, games, web sites, and books. Parents use career tests to answer the question "Who am I?" Career assessments point out your children' likes, dislikes, or interests. Read the complete article below.

Get Career Exploration Resources for Parents.
Find Career Tests and Tools Sorted by Grade Levels.

The Products According to Grade Levels Map

For parents, here is a list of specific grade levels tools for children and teens.

Click on the link to go to the product web page.

Categories
	Assessments
Books/eBooks	Holland Code Assessments		Career Cluster/ Transferable Skills Assessments		CD ROMS/ Downloads
	Printed Assessment	On-line	Printed Assessment	On-line	CD-ROMS	Downloads
Elementary School
	Paint Careers with Colors for Children				Career Clusters and Holland Codes Poster Set	Career Clusters and Holland Codes Poster Set
	Picture Interest Survey				Holland Codes Resource Toolkit Children	Holland Codes Resource Toolkit Children
	Self Directed Search Form Career Explorer				Paint Careers with Colors for Children	Paint Careers with Colors for Children
					Unlock Your Treasure Chest Children	Unlock Your Treasure Chest Children
Middle School
	Paint Careers with Colors for Children				Career Clusters and Holland Codes Poster Set	Career Clusters and Holland Codes Poster Set
	Picture Interest Survey				Holland Codes Resource Toolkit Children	Holland Codes Resource Toolkit Children
	Self Directed Search Form Career Explorer				Paint Careers with Colors for Children	Paint Careers with Colors for Children
					Unlock Your Treasure Chest Children	Unlock Your Treasure Chest Children
High School Students College Students and Adults
50 Best Jobs for Your Personality	Career and Life Explorer Inventory	Career Explorers Guidance System	Career Exploration Inventory	Kuder Career Planning System	Holland Codes Resource Toolkit Adults & Teens	Holland Codes Resource Toolkit Adults & Teens
Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes	Career Interests Inventory	Career Planner	Guide for Occupational Exploration Interest Inventory		Unlock Your Treasure Chest Adults & Teens	Unlock Your Treasure Chest Adults & Teens
Enhanced Occupational Outlook Handbook	Self Directed Search Form R and E	Kuder Career Planning System	Transferable Skills Scale
Holland Career Materials: A Practitioner's Guide		Make a Career Profile
Making Vocational Choices		Myers Briggs Type Indicator
Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens		Self Directed Search Form R
		Strong Interest Inventory

 

Assessment Test Ratings and Recommendations

The ratings are based strictly on staff evaluations:

The Test Rating System is

UU= somewhat useful
UUU = very useful
UUUU = extremely useful

Assessment	Format	Measures	Ease of Use	Audience	Rating
My Career Profile has the following resources - Self-Exploration Assessments Occupational Exploration Resources Career Search Tools Record Keeping Portfolios Access to Database of Career Resources Cost: $20.00	On-line Holland Code Assessment and Career Guidance System	Career planning readiness, Interests, Values, Personality, Skills, and Leisure Time Activities	Easy to use with multiple tests Career Database: More than 700 occupations. You will be able to learn about the duties, educational requirements, skills and abilities needed, specific working conditions, training, salaries, typical work activities, and additional information.	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Kuder Career Planning System has a Kuder Test Survey, an on-line Holland Code test, and career portfolio. Kuder Career Planning System has helped youth and adults discover their interests, skills, and work values. Cost: $18.00	On-line Holland Code Assessment and Career Guidance System	Interests, Skills, Work Values	Easy to use with multiple tests There are three lists of Career Clusters – Kuder Career Clusters, Federal 16 Career Clusters, or state-specific cluster/pathway system. The report for the work values test displays 12 work-related characteristics in rank order of preference.	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
My Career Profile Guidance System has the following resources - Self-Exploration Assessments Occupational Exploration Resources Career Search Tools College Search Tools Record Keeping Portfolios Bonus Item: Unlock Your Treasure Chest Guidebook Cost: $40.00	On-line Holland Code Assessment and Career Guidance System	Interests, Values, Personality, and Skills, Career Search Tool College Search Tool	Easy to use with multiple tests Career Database: More than 700 occupations. You will be able to learn about the duties, educational requirements, skills and abilities needed, specific working conditions, the training employers look for, the job outlook, the current and expected earnings, the type of activities you would typically encounter, and where to find additional information.	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) measures how people think, communicate, and interact. MBTI identifies strengths and weakness that may influence the career exploration process. MBTI identifies job families or potential careers, provides information on colleges or other forms of training, creates strategies to evaluate a possible career transition or job shift, and develops a career plan. Cost: $50	On-Line Assessment	Interests, Holland code Themes, and preferences Matches Holland Codes to careers	Easy to use, computer generated report	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Self-Directed Search Assessment & Finders Form R Assessment provides students with information on the relationship between job personalities, key characteristics, careers, hobbies, abilities, and related, college majors. Cost: $10	Printed Assessment and Finder On-Line Assessment	Interests, Personalities, Skills Matches Holland Codes to careers	Easy to use, Self-scoring.	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Self-Directed Search Assessment & Finders Form E Assessment provides students with information on the relationship between job personalities, key characteristics, careers, hobbies, abilities, and related, college majors. Cost: $12	Printed Assessment and Finder	Interests, Personalities, Skills Matches Holland Codes to careers	Easy to use, Self-scoring.	Adults and High School Students who need “Easier to Read Format”	UUUU
Self-Directed Search Assessment & Finders Form Career Explorer (CE) Assessment provides students with information on the relationship between job personalities, key characteristics, careers, hobbies, abilities, and related, college majors. Cost: $15	Printed Assessment and Finder	Interests, Personalities, Skills Matches Holland Codes to careers	Easy to use, Self-scoring.	Middle School Students	UUUU
Strong Interest Inventory Assessment provides information on the relationship between interests, work activities, skills, values, work styles, learning environments, leadership styles, and college majors. Scores on the level of interest on each of the six Holland Codes or General Occupational Themes. Holland Code Themes include – Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Scores on 25 Basic Interest Scales (e.g. art, science, and public speaking) Scores on 211 Occupational Scales which indicate the similarity between the respondent's interests and those of people working in each of the 211 occupations. Scores on 4 Personal Style Scales (learning, working, leadership, and risk-taking). Scores on 3 Administrative Scales used to identify test errors or unusual profiles. Strong Interest Inventory Editions – Standard, High School, and College. Cost: $50	On-Line Assessment	Interests, Holland code Themes, Occupations, Personality Styles Matches Holland Codes to careers and college majors	Easy to use, computer generated report	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
The Transferable Skills (TS) Scale is a researched and validated assessment. The TS Scale is a short assessment that identifies an individual’s strongest transferable skills. The eight (8) TS Skills are: Analytical Numerical Interpersonal Organizational Physical Informational Communicative Creative skills Cost: $7	Printed Assessment	Transferable Skills	Easy to use. The results match Transferable Skills to hundreds of related occupations. Supplemental sheet matches Transferable Skills to Holland Codes.	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Career and Life Explorer is a Holland Code assessment that helps students to explore careers. Cost: $7	Printed Assessment	Interests, Values	Easy to use. Look up related jobs in a chart listing hundreds of job titles from the Occupational Outlook Handbook.	Middle School Students and High School Students	UUU
Career Interests Inventory is a version of Dept. of Labor's O*NET Interest Profile. Career Interests Inventory is a 6-panel foldout inventory with 180 statements. The inventory takes about 30 minutes to complete. The responses are added. Cost: $7	Printed Assessment	Interests	Easy to use. The results are matched to the Holland (RIASEC) Career Model and hundreds of related occupations. The occupations are divided into categories based upon education, preparation, or training requirements.	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUU
The Career Planner Test has 180 true/false - like/dislike questions that will assess your interest and skill levels. The CareerPlanner Test will show you what types of careers are a good match for you and what types you should avoid. Cost: $19.95	On-line Holland Code Assessment	Interests Skills	Easy to use. Your test report will be approximately 8 to 11 pages long and will includes 30 to 100 careers that match your interests, values, and skill sets	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUU

 

Toolkits and Books Ratings and Recommendations

For parents, we have prepared toolkit and book ratings.

The ratings arebased strictly on staff evaluations:

The Test RatingSystem is

UU= somewhat useful
UUU = very useful
UUUU = extremely useful

 

Resource	Format	Versions	Ease of Use	Audience	Rating
50 Best Jobs for Your Personality is a career assessment tool and the major reference book for Holland Codes and occupational careers.   50 Best Jobs for Your Personality has the following information - ·         Holland Code Personality Assessment ·         Holland Codes matched to Best Job Lists with Highest Pay, Fastest Growth, and Most Openings ·         Holland Codes matched to Best Jobs sorted by Education, Job Training, Work Experience, Age, and Gender ·         Job Descriptions for 50 Best Jobs for Each Personality ·         Occupational careers ordered by 2-Letter Personality Codes ·         Definitions of Skills ·         GOE Interest Fields and Groups   Cost: $25.95	Book	NA	Career Exploration	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
The Holland Code and Career Cluster Posters comes with - Over 200 colorful, illustrated posters Updated instruction sheets Alphabetized poster list State Career Clusters/ Pathways Fact Sheet Super State Career Clusters/ Pathways Fact Sheet The Holland Code and Career Cluster Posters are an excellent supplement to any career education, counseling, coaching, and exploration program. Use the posters in conjunction with any career cluster or Holland Code resource. Cost: $15	CD-ROM, Download	Clip Art	Easy to use	All ages	UUUU
Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes lists the following information for 12,860 Occupations - ·         Personalities ·         Environments ·         Values ·         Perceptions ·         Avoidances ·         Demands ·         Rewards and ·         Occupational information   Cost: $88	Book	NA	Career Exploration	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
The Enhanced Occupational Outlook Handbook is: Must-read resource for counselors and teachers An essential reference book that is a requirement for any career advisement, counseling, or counseling program, library, or resource room The Enhanced Occupational Outlook Handbook is the best reference guide available that lists information about: Career Clusters/ GOE Interest Groups Holland Codes ONET Codes Job descriptions The Handbook has more than 6,500 job descriptions — more than in any other career research book: All job descriptions from the Occupational Outlook Handbook Plus thousands more from the ONet and Dictionary of Occupational Titles Cost: $49.95	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, or coaches	UUUU
Holland Career Materials: A Practitioner's Guide is a book that provides practical applications for the Holland Code Career Model. The Holland Career Materials: A Practitioner's Guide discusses - ·         Introduction to Holland RIASEC Model ·         Relationship to other career theories, e.g. Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) ·         Detailed descriptions, comparisons, and uses of the four SDS forms (R,E, CP, and CE) ·         Other Holland Code career guidance materials	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, or coaches	UUUU
Holland Codes Resource Tool Kit is used to - ·         Identify Holland Codes ·         Match careers to Holland Codes ·         Match college majors to Holland Codes The Holland Codes Resource Tool Kit includes - ·         Holland Code Resource Guide ·         Eight (8) Holland Code Crossword Puzzles ·         100 Holland Codes Occupational Poster Cards ·         100 Holland Codes Bingo Cards ·         On-Line Resource Guide ·         Flash Cards ·         Career Model Overview Cost: $40/ CD-ROM or $30/ Download	CD-ROM, Download	Clip Art, Photos	Easy to use	All ages	UUUU
Making Vocational Choices presents the fundamentals of the Holland Code Career Model. Making Vocational Choices has information on - ·         Explanation of vocational behavior ·         Practical ideas to help people select occupational jobs, change jobs, and attain vocational satisfaction ·         Explanation of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social Enterprising, and Conventional ·         Listing of personality type activities, skills, talents, model environments, and person-environment interactions	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, or coaches	UUUU
Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens is an excellent, easy-to-read resource for teens. Teens use the Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens to gather valuable information about potential careers. With this information, teens are better prepared to select the right high school courses. Later, teens make better career decisions and choices for post-secondary training. In the Introduction, there are lists – Jobs Career Clusters/ GOE Interest Groups Holland Codes Careers for Me Clusters The Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens comes with a detailed key that outlines - Education & Training Employment Opportunities Average Earnings Each job listing includes - Job descriptions Working Conditions, e.g. work outdoors, indoors, working with people School subjects Skills required for future jobs Related Occupations Career Clusters Holland Codes Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens is an excellent introduction to career exploration. Cost: $15.95	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, coaches, teachers, parents, or teens	UUUU
O*NET Codes and Holland Codes FACT Sheets are - Low cost Easy to read format Comprehensive and detailed lists Latest career information Links between Holland Codes and O*NET Codes Summary of information from reliable source - Occupational Information Network   O*NET Codes and Holland Codes FACT Sheets highlight the relationship between careers, O*NET Codes, Holland Codes, and the following factors – Tasks Knowledge Skills Abilities Work Activities Work Context Job Zone Interests Work Values Cost: $7.00	Download	Tasks Knowledge Skills Abilities Work Activities Work Context Job Zone Interests Work Values	Easy to use	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Paint Careers With Colors System comes with – ·         Starter Kit ·         Facilitator's Manual ·         Paint Careers With Colors Overview ·         Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents ·         Paint Careers With Colors Career Test ·         Colors to Careers Poster Instruction Sheets ·         Colors to Careers Color Chart ·         Colors to Careers Occupational Posters with Colorful Graphics ·         Web Site and Book Resource Guide Cost: $50/ CD-ROM or Download	CD-ROM, Download	RIASEC, Children	Easy to use Good for Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/ YWCA Programs, Afterschool Programs, Kids Go To Work Days, Career Days, Summer School Programs, ESL/GED programs,	Elementary school, Middle school Limited reading ability, limited knowledge of English, developmentally delayed, learning disabled, special needs,	UUUU

 

The ratings arebased strictly on staff evaluations:

The Test RatingSystem is

UU= somewhat useful
UUU = very useful
UUUU = extremely useful

 

Resource	Format	Versions	Ease of Use	Audience	Rating
50 Best Jobs for Your Personality is a career assessment tool and the major reference book for Holland Codes and occupational careers.   50 Best Jobs for Your Personality has the following information - ·         Holland Code Personality Assessment ·         Holland Codes matched to Best Job Lists with Highest Pay, Fastest Growth, and Most Openings ·         Holland Codes matched to Best Jobs sorted by Education, Job Training, Work Experience, Age, and Gender ·         Job Descriptions for 50 Best Jobs for Each Personality ·         Occupational careers ordered by 2-Letter Personality Codes ·         Definitions of Skills ·         GOE Interest Fields and Groups   Cost: $25.95	Book	NA	Career Exploration	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
The Holland Code and Career Cluster Posters comes with - Over 200 colorful, illustrated posters Updated instruction sheets Alphabetized poster list State Career Clusters/ Pathways Fact Sheet Super State Career Clusters/ Pathways Fact Sheet The Holland Code and Career Cluster Posters are an excellent supplement to any career education, counseling, coaching, and exploration program. Use the posters in conjunction with any career cluster or Holland Code resource. Cost: $15	CD-ROM, Download	Clip Art	Easy to use	All ages	UUUU
Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes lists the following information for 12,860 Occupations - ·         Personalities ·         Environments ·         Values ·         Perceptions ·         Avoidances ·         Demands ·         Rewards and ·         Occupational information   Cost: $88	Book	NA	Career Exploration	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
The Enhanced Occupational Outlook Handbook is: Must-read resource for counselors and teachers An essential reference book that is a requirement for any career advisement, counseling, or counseling program, library, or resource room The Enhanced Occupational Outlook Handbook is the best reference guide available that lists information about: Career Clusters/ GOE Interest Groups Holland Codes ONET Codes Job descriptions The Handbook has more than 6,500 job descriptions — more than in any other career research book: All job descriptions from the Occupational Outlook Handbook Plus thousands more from the ONet and Dictionary of Occupational Titles Cost: $39.95	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, or coaches	UUUU
Holland Career Materials: A Practitioner's Guide is a book that provides practical applications for the Holland Code Career Model. The Holland Career Materials: A Practitioner's Guide discusses - ·         Introduction to Holland RIASEC Model ·         Relationship to other career theories, e.g. Cognitive Information Processing (CIP) ·         Detailed descriptions, comparisons, and uses of the four SDS forms (R,E, CP, and CE) ·         Other Holland Code career guidance materials	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, or coaches	UUUU
Holland Codes Resource Tool Kit is used to - ·         Identify Holland Codes ·         Match careers to Holland Codes ·         Match college majors to Holland Codes The Holland Codes Resource Tool Kit includes - ·         Holland Code Resource Guide ·         Eight (8) Holland Code Crossword Puzzles ·         100 Holland Codes Occupational Poster Cards ·         100 Holland Codes Bingo Cards ·         On-Line Resource Guide ·         Flash Cards ·         Career Model Overview Cost: $40/ CD-ROM or $30/ Download	CD-ROM, Download	Clip Art, Photos	Easy to use	All ages	UUUU
Making Vocational Choices presents the fundamentals of the Holland Code Career Model. Making Vocational Choices has information on - ·         Explanation of vocational behavior ·         Practical ideas to help people select occupational jobs, change jobs, and attain vocational satisfaction ·         Explanation of six personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social Enterprising, and Conventional ·         Listing of personality type activities, skills, talents, model environments, and person-environment interactions	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, or coaches	UUUU
Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens is an excellent, easy-to-read resource for teens. Teens use the Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens to gather valuable information about potential careers. With this information, teens are better prepared to select the right high school courses. Later, teens make better career decisions and choices for post-secondary training. In the Introduction, there are lists – Jobs Career Clusters/ GOE Interest Groups Holland Codes Careers for Me Clusters The Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens comes with a detailed key that outlines - Education & Training Employment Opportunities Average Earnings Each job listing includes - Job descriptions Working Conditions, e.g. work outdoors, indoors, working with people School subjects Skills required for future jobs Related Occupations Career Clusters Holland Codes Occupations Outlook: An Exploration for Teens is an excellent introduction to career exploration. Cost: $15.95	Book	NA	Career counseling	Counselors, consultants, coaches, teachers, parents, or teens	UUUU
O*NET Codes and Holland Codes FACT Sheets are - Low cost Easy to read format Comprehensive and detailed lists Latest career information Links between Holland Codes and O*NET Codes Summary of information from reliable source - Occupational Information Network   O*NET Codes and Holland Codes FACT Sheets highlight the relationship between careers, O*NET Codes, Holland Codes, and the following factors – Tasks Knowledge Skills Abilities Work Activities Work Context Job Zone Interests Work Values Cost: $7.00	Download	Tasks Knowledge Skills Abilities Work Activities Work Context Job Zone Interests Work Values	Easy to use	Adults, High School Students, and College Students	UUUU
Paint Careers With Colors System comes with – ·         Starter Kit ·         Facilitator's Manual ·         Paint Careers With Colors Overview ·         Introduction to Teachers, Counselors, and Parents ·         Paint Careers With Colors Career Test ·         Colors to Careers Poster Instruction Sheets ·         Colors to Careers Color Chart ·         Colors to Careers Occupational Posters with Colorful Graphics ·         Web Site and Book Resource Guide Cost: $50/ CD-ROM or Download	CD-ROM, Download	RIASEC, Children	Easy to use Good for Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA/ YWCA Programs, Afterschool Programs, Kids Go To Work Days, Career Days, Summer School Programs, ESL/GED programs,	Elementary school, Middle school Limited reading ability, limited knowledge of English, developmentally delayed, learning disabled, special needs,	UUUU

 

Parents, Help Your Children Become Career Explorers

As parents, you help children explore careers. You aid your children as they search for meaning, purpose, and direction. You see their talents. You know their interests, abilities, and skills. You help children plan for the future.

You understand children. You know that children -

• Are curious
• Love colorful, multimedia presentations
• Use their senses and imaginations in career exploration

You have searched for tools that will help you unlock their potentials.

Parents, Tips for Finding the Right Career Tool

As parents, you use career tools help your children and teens explore who they really are. Career tools include career tests, assessments, games, web sites, and books. Career tests answer the question "Who am I?" Career assessments point out your children' likes, dislikes, or interests. Kid career tools should be fun, educational, and not boring. Teen career tools provide information that is necessary to identify potential careers and college majors.

Search for the resource that meets your children' or teens' needs. Look at the benefits. Find tests, assessments, games, web sites, and books that are -

• Eye appealing
• Easy to use
• Full of resources

With the right resource, children or teens are ready and willing to -

• Explore
• Investigate
• Learn
• Ask questions
• Enjoy discovering who they are
• Gain knowledge, wisdom, and understanding

An effective career tool motivates your children and teens to explore careers. Creative career tools build a foundation for more detailed career exploration.

Step One: Parents Select a Career Test

How do you choose the right career test? Look at 3 major areas -

• Format, e.g. Printed, CD-ROM, or on-line
• Cost
• Resources - Information on interests, skills, and careers

When you look at a career test, ask yourself the following questions -

• What do your children or teen prefer? Printed or on-line career test?
• What is your budget for the tests?
• What resources do you have? Do you have a computer lab?

Find career tests that your children or teen are interested in and that provide valuable information about careers and your student's interests. Look at career tests that use well-known career models. Match children' or teens' interest clusters to career or job codes. Use newer color-coded career tests that simply career models. The use of colors improves attention span, concentration, memory skills, and understanding. As children grow older, continue to use career models expand their knowledge of careers and college majors. There are a variety of career tests for teens, college students, and adults.

Step Two: Parents Explore Career Web Sites and Books

Career tests prepare children and teens to explore careers. Gather information about fun, informative, and attractive career exploration web sites and books. Look for web sites and books that provide career information about -

• Tasks
• Wages
• Career outlook
• Interests
• Education
• Knowledge
• Skills
• Similar careers

Step Three: Parents Prepare Teens for College

For parents, we have some additional college admission rated resources.

Save 1000's of dollars in higher education costs.

Get information about -

Factors for college admissions, Calculating the Real Cost of College, and Scholarships – Where do you begin?
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