Publications and Resources

This powerful book, Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce, by Hans Meeder with JoLynn Fletcher, demonstrates how youth can develop these skills, and how schools and colleges across the country are using a proven, replicable approach called Career-connected Learning to help young people develop these skills. Through the research findings, the practical strategies for students and parents, and the implementation steps explained in this book, your school and your community can help students develop their talents today to make a positive difference in Tomorrow’s Workforce!

 

In writing this book and sharing it with you, I ask you to envision a better future in which every young person in America is ready for careers and life and can set off on their personal journey—one that includes work that is more than a job, but a career that allows them to make a meaningful contribution. —Hans Meeder

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Structure of the Book

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The book is organized into 10 chapters 

 

Chapter 1. The Hidden Skills Gap

This chapter explains how today’s youth and young adults are experiencing the Career Navigation Skills Gap, how the AI Convergence is rapidly changing the workforce, and why developing Career Navigation Skills is an essential and often overlooked strategy to effectively prepare youth for navigating the changing world of work.

 

Chapter 2. The Career Navigation Skills Gap

This chapter provides detailed evidence about the Career Navigation Skills Gap, and how this deficit is creating short-term and long-term challenges for youth and young adults entering the workforce.

CCL: Profile: Henley Middle School and High School

 

Chapter 3. Developing Career Navigation Skills

This chapter explains how today’s youth can develop Career Navigation skills through a process of discovery and thoughtful reflection, clarifying their motivations, building their confidence, understanding their innate aptitudes and developing career interests, and applying a series of decision factors to identify viable career options. 

CCL Profile: Jefferson County Public Schools

 

Chapter 4. The Student Journey and the Power of Career-connected Learning

This chapter explains in more detail how the student experiences Career-connected Learning through three interrelated components: Career Discovery, Career Exploration, and Career Navigation. The chapter also presents the wealth of data that supports the efficacy of CCL strategies.  This chapter concludes with  three strategies for getting started with Career-connected Learning.

CCL Profile: Washington County School District

 

Chapter 5.  Building a Career-connected Learning System

This chapter explains in significant detail the 10 action steps that school and community leaders can take to create an integrated system for Career- connected Learning in their district and community.  These steps include gathering collaborators, organizing data and information about current practices, policies, and systems, and creating an action plan for forward progress.

CCL Profile: Metro Nashville Public Schools

 

Chapter 6. The Power of Aptitude-based Career Exploration

This chapter provides an overview of the two primary tools used for career exploration, aptitude discovery and helping students identify their career interests. The chapter provides a brief history of how the two approaches have emerged in recent decades, and why a blended approach is the most promising way to help youth explore a range of career options in pursuit of finding a strong career fit.

CCL Profile: Lowndes County Schools

 

Chapter 7. The Career and Life Readiness Skills Graduates Need Today for Tomorrow’s Workforce

This chapter explores the broad mix of knowledge, skills and mindsets that every youth needs to be Career and Life Ready.  It provides guidance for how schools and districts can develop and implement a Profile of a Graduate as a tool to align the school’s mission and curriculum around developing Career and Life Readiness.

CCL Profile: Shawnee Mission School District

 

Chapter 8. What Parents and Caregivers Can Do

This chapter is aimed at parents and caregivers, providing 10 tips for how adults can develop their own knowledge about Career-connected Learning, and actively engage with their children to support Career Navigation Skills and their ability to pursue a strong career fit.

CCL Profile: Grand Forks School District

 

Chapter 9. What Policymakers Can Do

This chapter is aimed at education policymakers, and provides suggestions for how policymakers can conduct a policy audit and action planning to align their policies and practices to the goals of Career-connected Learning.

CCL Profile: Greater Springfield Partnership

 

Chapter 10. What You Can Do

This final chapter encourages all readers, whatever their perspective or position, to take positive action to advance the goal of developing Career Navigation Skills for all students through implementing Career-connected Learning strategies.