11/02/2007

Creative Ways to Celebrate

CREATIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE

The National Career Development Association's
Annual Poetry and Poster Contest

NCD Month is each November, and individuals all over the country participate in this contest by submitting original poetry or artwork emphasizing a theme of career development. NCDA has collected responses from school counselors and professionals on activities that they used to highlight this special event in order to help others plan for future NCD Month celebrations.

Women, Work, and Community, ME: Submitted by Susan Russell, Coordinator

Annual Conference for High School Girls and their Guidance Counselors

"Professional tradeswomen offer hands-on workshop experiences in their trade or technology and participate in a fashion show demonstrating their work gear. The girls learn about career options, salary ranges, and get to try out the work."

University of Cincinnati, OH: Submitted by Carly Dennis, Career Counselor

"We gave out popcorn to students with helpful career development tips on each cup such as choosing a major, networking, writing a resume, and goal setting." They held on-the-spot resume critiquing and career testing (using Holland's Codes)

Cleveland Early College High School, OH: Submitted by Karen Sweezy

Create a Career Vision Board

"Students had to create a bi-fold board for their career of interest, illustrate what the job might look like or involve, what colleges offer the program needed, what academic skills are needed, and list community service activities, summer jobs, or volunteer work related to the career."

Horry County Schools, SC: Submitted by Kathryn Hilgenkamp

"We had a "Dress for Success" day where students who dress for a job interview are given a raffle ticket and we had drawings for prizes. We had another day for "Dress for Your Favorite Occupation Day." Winners for the school's poetry and poster contest were announced and awarded prizes."

Greenville Technical College, SC: Submitted by Phyllis Utley

Activities for students included job shadowing and Interviews with entrepreneurs.

Sargent Central School, ND: Submitted by Rachel Olsen

"7th grade students dressed up in a career of their choice on career day. As they went around to classrooms other students we able to push a button and then they would reiterate information about their career. The knowledge they needed to remember included job description, salary & outlook, education, interests and similar occupations. Students chose various jobs from veterinarians, bakers, fighter pilots to stunt performers."