Framework 1: Job Exploration Counseling (JEC)

Short Name: PreETS-JEC
ID Number: PRE-ETS-JEC-001

Description: Students build awareness of personal strengths, interests, and work preferences while learning how labor market information connects to career options. Early competencies focus on identifying interests and career exposure, progressing toward analyzing job requirements and aligning personal goals with career pathways.

At higher levels, students demonstrate the ability to independently research occupations using online tools, interpret labor market information, and connect career clusters to their own postsecondary goals. They begin making informed decisions about potential employment directions based on self-assessment and exploration activities.

Category 1.1: Career Awareness (JEC-CA)

ID Number: JEC-CA

Skill Topic 1.1.1: Benefits of Employment & Career Motivation

  • ID Number: JEC-CA-BENEFITS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators (Student must be able to):

    1. JEC-CA-BENEFITS-A1: Identify the benefits gained by being employed (independence, income, community involvement, social connections, achieving goals).

    2. JEC-CA-BENEFITS-A2: Explain the difference between a job (short-term) and a career (long-term).

    3. JEC-CA-BENEFITS-A3: Explain how having a variety of job experiences can lead to a career that aligns with skills and interests.

    4. JEC-CA-BENEFITS-A4: Describe personal motivation for wanting to become employed.

Skill Topic 1.1.2: Knowledge of Career Fields & Clusters

  • ID Number: JEC-CA-CLUSTERS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CA-CLUSTERS-A1: Identify and describe the six major career fields.

    2. JEC-CA-CLUSTERS-A2: Explain how the 16 Career Clusters organize into the six fields and contain multiple pathways/types of jobs.

    3. JEC-CA-CLUSTERS-A3: Identify career fields, clusters, and pathways of personal interest.

Skill Topic 1.1.3: Utilizing Job Exploration Resources

  • ID Number: JEC-CA-RESOURCES

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CA-RESOURCES-A1: Explain how national, state, and community-specific resources support job exploration.

    2. JEC-CA-RESOURCES-A2: Navigate general career exploration sites (e.g., O*Net, CareerOneStop).

    3. JEC-CA-RESOURCES-A3: Navigate JOBS4TN.gov to find state and local labor market information.

    4. JEC-CA-RESOURCES-A4: Identify personal network connections that can support career opportunities.

Skill Topic 1.1.4: Employment Types & Labor Markets

  • ID Number: JEC-CA-LABOR

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CA-LABOR-A1: Define “labor market” and explain how LMI influences chosen career interests.

    2. JEC-CA-LABOR-A2: Explain differences between high-demand and low-demand industries.

    3. JEC-CA-LABOR-A3: Compare and contrast national vs. local LMI using bls.gov and JOBS4TN.gov.

    4. JEC-CA-LABOR-A4: Identify and define types of employment (Part-Time, Full-Time, Seasonal, Non-Traditional).

    5. JEC-CA-LABOR-A5: Define and identify non-traditional options (remote/teleworking, self-employment, customized employment, job sharing).

    6. JEC-CA-LABOR-A6: Identify at least two in-demand jobs of interest.

Skill Topic 1.1.5: Work-Specific Vocabulary & Environments

  • ID Number: JEC-CA-VOCAB

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CA-VOCAB-A1: Define common terms (job requirements, work culture, duties, soft/technical skills, salary, growth, job demand).

    2. JEC-CA-VOCAB-A2: Compare and contrast work environments (collaborative vs. individual, slow-paced vs. fast-paced, physically demanding vs. office-based, inside vs. outside, quiet vs. loud).

    3. JEC-CA-VOCAB-A3: Identify common soft skills required across most employment settings.

    4. JEC-CA-VOCAB-A4: Compare/contrast technical skills required across various clusters.

    5. JEC-CA-VOCAB-A5: Identify growth opportunities for at least two career options.

    6. JEC-CA-VOCAB-A6: Gather complete structured details (qualifications, environment, responsibilities, pay) for at least two careers.

Category 1.2: Career Exploration (JEC-CE)

ID Number: JEC-CE

Skill Topic 1.2.1: Vocational Interest Assessments

  • ID Number: JEC-CE-ASSESS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CE-ASSESS-A1: Complete self-assessments/inventories to identify workplace skills, preferences, and strengths.

    2. JEC-CE-ASSESS-A2: Explain how current skills align with assessment-identified interests.

    3. JEC-CE-ASSESS-A3: Complete targeted inventories specifically for vocational interest profiling.

    4. JEC-CE-ASSESS-A4: Map vocational interest results directly to specific job matches.

    5. JEC-CE-ASSESS-A5: Compile inventory results into a physical/digital portfolio or one-page profile.

Skill Topic 1.2.2: Career Skills & Academic Connections

  • ID Number: JEC-CE-SKILLS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CE-SKILLS-A1: Identify alternative employment options using completed assessment profiles.

    2. JEC-CE-SKILLS-A2: Develop a checklist of soft and technical skills needed for targets of interest.

    3. JEC-CE-SKILLS-A3: Identify high school academic skills that translate directly to desired jobs.

    4. JEC-CE-SKILLS-A4: Create a list of required trainings/certifications needed for target positions.

    5. JEC-CE-SKILLS-A5: Compare currently possessed soft/technical skills against those required by target careers.

    6. JEC-CE-SKILLS-A6: Identify specific skill gaps requiring intentional development.

Skill Topic 1.2.3: Integrating Interests, Values, & Career Fit

  • ID Number: JEC-CE-FIT

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-CE-FIT-A1: Research target careers using standardized search tools (O*Net, BLS, etc.).

    2. JEC-CE-FIT-A2: List potential jobs matching personal values and interests.

    3. JEC-CE-FIT-A3: Describe local labor market demand and competitiveness for target jobs.

    4. JEC-CE-FIT-A4: Match personal values and personality traits with corresponding corporate cultures.

    5. JEC-CE-FIT-A5: Perform a direct comparison of at least two jobs across comprehensive points (salary, benefits, duties, company values).

Category 1.3: Individualized Career Planning (JEC-ICP)

ID Number: JEC-ICP

Category 1.3: Individualized Career Planning (JEC-ICP)

  • ID Number: JEC-ICP-CONNECT

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-ICP-CONNECT-A1: Verbally describe or document personal traits, preferences, strengths, and needs.

    2. JEC-ICP-CONNECT-A2: List specific workplace factors important to personal satisfaction.

    3. JEC-ICP-CONNECT-A3: Map personal traits directly to critical elements of desired careers.

    4. JEC-ICP-CONNECT-A4: Isolate at least one realistic career goal aligned with personal characteristics.

Skill Topic 1.3.2: Self-Efficacy & Building Confidence

  • ID Number: JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A1: Connect personal strengths to target technical skill demands.

    2. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A2: Connect personal strengths to target soft skill demands.

    3. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A3: Align natural aptitudes with specific, real-world work tasks.

    4. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A4: List tasks capable of being performed entirely independently.

    5. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A5: Demonstrate positive receptivity to constructive criticism.

    6. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A6: Reflect on past work to identify areas requiring additional instructional support.

    7. JEC-ICP-CONFIDENCE-A7: Exhibit self-efficacy behaviors (speaking up for desired job, explaining skills, taking action to bridge gaps).

Skill Topic 1.3.3: Action Planning & Goal Setting

  • ID Number: JEC-ICP-GOALS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-ICP-GOALS-A1: Demonstrate self-awareness by mapping personal attributes to career choices.

    2. JEC-ICP-GOALS-A2: Select one or more specific jobs to target for application.

    3. JEC-ICP-GOALS-A3: Determine required education/training benchmarks for target roles.

    4. JEC-ICP-GOALS-A4: Draft realistic short- and long-term career goals based on portfolios.

    5. JEC-ICP-GOALS-A5: Construct a step-by-step action plan to reach career goals.

    6. JEC-ICP-GOALS-A6: Formulate backup/alternative career targets mapped to personal strengths.

Category 1.4: Experience-Based Job Exploration (JEC-EB)

ID Number: JEC-EB

Skill Topic 1.4.1: Engaging with Career Speakers

  • ID Number: JEC-EB-SPEAKERS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-EB-SPEAKERS-A1: Research a scheduled speaker’s host business, job title, and duties beforehand.

    2. JEC-EB-SPEAKERS-A2: Gather general career cluster and LMI statistics regarding the speaker’s role.

    3. JEC-EB-SPEAKERS-A3: Compose 2-3 targeted questions to ask the speaker.

    4. JEC-EB-SPEAKERS-A4: Actively listen, record notes, and ask questions during live presentations.

    5. JEC-EB-SPEAKERS-A5: Formally summarize new details learned from the speaker’s presentation.

    6. JEC-EB-SPEAKERS-A6: Reflect and self-evaluate personal interest in the speaker’s job role.

Skill Topic 1.4.2: Student-Led Informational Interviews

  • ID Number: JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS-A1: Identify a professional role to target for an informational interview.

    2. JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS-A2: Run standard preliminary research on the role’s basic schedule, path, and market context.

    3. JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS-A3: Locate local businesses employing professionals in this role.

    4. JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS-A4: Write a customized interview script with diagnostic questions.

    5. JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS-A5: Secure and conduct the interview (in-person, phone, virtual, or email) and record the answers.

    6. JEC-EB-INTERVIEWS-A6: Reflect on the interview transcript and evaluate fit.

Skill Topic 1.4.3: Workplace Observations (Job Shadowing Prep)

  • ID Number: JEC-EB-OBSERVE

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-EB-OBSERVE-A1: Isolate a target job role for on-site observation.

    2. JEC-EB-OBSERVE-A2: Investigate company functions and background before visiting.

    3. JEC-EB-OBSERVE-A3: Identify a specific local business willing to host an observation.

    4. JEC-EB-OBSERVE-A4: Complete an on-site visit to observe an employee executing work tasks.

    5. JEC-EB-OBSERVE-A5: Create structured field notes documenting key duties and workflows observed.

    6. JEC-EB-OBSERVE-A6: Write a reflective essay evaluating the role as a future option.

Skill Topic 1.4.4: Participation in CTSOs

  • ID Number: JEC-EB-CTSO

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-EB-CTSO-A1: Express motivation to join co-curricular activities to build employment skills.

    2. JEC-EB-CTSO-A2: Complete the Career Cluster Interest Survey to isolate potential CTSO alignments.

    3. JEC-EB-CTSO-A3: Identify available CTSO chapters (e.g., DECA, FBLA, HOSA, SkillsUSA) at school.

    4. JEC-EB-CTSO-A4: Choose and register for a CTSO chapter matching personal cluster profiles.

    5. JEC-EB-CTSO-A5: Participate in regular meetings, skill events, or team projects.

    6. JEC-EB-CTSO-A6: Reflect on how CTSO leadership duties support individual career pathways.

Skill Topic 1.4.5: Attending Career Fairs

  • ID Number: JEC-EB-FAIR

  • Evidence / Performance Indicators:

    1. JEC-EB-FAIR-A1: Describe the core purpose of a career fair (networking, LMI gathering, job leads).

    2. JEC-EB-FAIR-A2: Compile list of personal target career goals prior to attending.

    3. JEC-EB-FAIR-A3: Review the registered vendor list and research 3-5 target businesses.

    4. JEC-EB-FAIR-A4: Draft a checklist of specific booths to target and questions to ask.

    5. JEC-EB-FAIR-A5: Walk the fair floor, converse with representatives, and file follow-up notes.

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