Career Planning for Your Child

Everyone wants their child to be happy and successful. For a lot of us, happiness and success might start with a good job. How do you make sure that happens? As a parent, it is important to encourage your child to start career planning as early as possible. Your child should explore his/her interests, identify career goals, and connect those goals to the education and training needed to pursue his/her future dreams.

How can we help?
Iowa College Aid , in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education is pleased to provide Iowa students and families with the right tools to make their education and career goals come true! The Iowa Choices^® web-based career and education planning system helps students identify education and career goals and develop plans to help meet those goals.

Help your child plan for the future now!

Career Planning Steps

1. Self-Assessment
   What does your child like to do? What is your child good at doing? What is important to your child? The assessments available in Iowa Choices^® can help your child find out! Learn which careers may fit his/her interests, skills, and values.
2. Research
   Once your child has identified some possible career choices, use Iowa Choices^® to browse the profiles on thousands of careers to help your student learn more about each job. For example, research average starting salaries, required skills and education, job outlook, and more. Also encourage your child to get hands-on experience whenever possible through job shadow activities, volunteer work, or part-time jobs.
3. Plan
   Once your child has decided on a career, he/she needs to set goals and create a plan to make it happen. Academic and career goals should be set as early as possible. Iowa Choices^® can be used to research majors and create a career plan.
4. Achieve  Once your child decides on a career goal, it is time to begin carrying it out. Investigate the type of education or training that is required for the career your child has chosen. From there, find the training programs that will be necessary to achieve the goal. Iowa Choices^® offers a comprehensive college search to help you find a college program to meet your child's needs and preferences.

More About Iowa Choices^®
Iowa Choices^® is the State designated Career Information and Decision-Making System. Choices^® Planner offers 5 different assessments to help match students to various careers, programs and majors. Students can also search for specific career and labor market information, postsecondary schools, scholarships, create a resume and cover letter, and design a career plan.