You are here
Meaningful Career Conversations
Overview
When students engage in Meaningful Career Conversations, they begin to understand how their unique aptitudes, skills, talents, self-identity, and values influence the decision-making process for life-long learning.Meaningful Career Conversations Prompts and Practices
Career Conversation Starters (Also available in Spanish)
The Career Conversations starters and questions provide a guide for families, educators, and community members - any caring adult - to engage with learners in their journey to Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR). They were created by the American School Counselors’ Association (ASCA) and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and are based on ecosystems theory, counseling theory and an extensive review of counseling and career counseling literature.
- Career Conversation Starters (website)
- Career Conversations Elementary School
- Career Conversations Middle School
- Career Conversations High School
- Career Conversation Starters Postsecondary
- Career Conversation Starters Business and Education Partners
- Promising Practices for High School Apprenticeships
Career Conversation Training
The Colorado Education Initiative and the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) developed a framework for training that includes hundreds of resources. Access the self-paced training that is free and open to the public.
Find resources for the seven steps of Career Conversations
- Understand your role
- Establish trust and Introduce the process
- Focus on the advisee
- Explore interests and aptitudes
- Envision the future
- Encourage action
- Celebrate success
Explore these Resources:
FREE, online Moodle Course
Career Conversation Workbook
Career Conversation Framework
Meaningful Career Conversations in ACTION!
- Pick one of many videos designed for each level, Elementary, Middle, and High School, each is about 3 minutes long.
- Created by: Lauren Jones, CTE program director for special populations, counseling, and equity
A Testimonial
- In the Career and College Ready Course at Colorado Springs Early College: students complete exercises, prompts, surveys, learning styles, values, and financial literacy.
"My counselor worked with me and gave me coping skills; my teachers actually understood, and they were aware of everything. They all helped me see my potential… Never allow others to tell you what you can’t do, never let the limitations of others limit your vision. If you can remove your self-doubt and believe in yourself, you can achieve what you never thought was possible."
- Idania Balbuena Erives, CEC graduate with a CNA certificate, Class of 2019
Meaningful Career Conversation Prompts: Answer their questions!
Jane Goff
Colorado State Board of Education
7th Congressional District
Sarah Heath
State Director of CTE, Associate Provost
Colorado Community College System
Jon Widmier
Coordinator of Social Emotional Behaviors
Littleton Public Schools
George Welsh
Superintendent
Canon City Schools
Explore More:
Financial information on schools and districts throughout Colorado. Learn more about financial transparency.
Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
Fax: 303-830-0793
Contact CDE
CDE Hours
Mon - Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See also Licensing Hours
UPDATED
November 4, 2022
Copyright © 1999-2023 Colorado Department of Education.
All rights reserved.
Title IX.
Accessibility.
Disclaimer.
Privacy.
Connect With Us
