|
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual |
Career assessment is a broad spectrum of assessment tools that W-2 agencies, applicants, and participants use to obtain greater awareness about an individual’s work styles, skills, and interests. Results can be used to define a career path, assign meaningful activities, highlight strengths, identify training needs, and match the individual to employment opportunities.
More than one tool may be required to capture the three required elements:
· Work styles – Refers to an individual’s patterns of action or conduct, such as attendance, punctuality, appropriate appearance, ability to work with others, obeying rules, following directions, and completing tasks. Work style-focused career assessments can demonstrate the individual’s attitudes and job readiness.
· Skills – Refers to an individual’s skills or understanding of specific tasks related to employment, like cooking or computer programming. Skills-focused career assessments can include knowledge, aptitude, and ability. Skills can relate to a particular occupation, as typically listed in a job announcement to describe the tasks of a position.
· Interests – Refers to an individual’s likes of particular objects, activities, and values using the theory that people with the same career tend to have the same interests. Interest-focused career assessments help individuals identify work-related interests and find the types of careers that match. The results can be used to help individuals learn which careers they are most likely to enjoy.
Do not use educational needs assessment tools in place of career assessment tools. Use educational needs assessment tools in tandem with career assessment tools to identify the education and training needed to allow individuals to obtain employment that fits their work styles, skills, and interests. The results of both assessments complement each other and inform the EP development and assignment of meaningful activities. (See 5.1.2)
The W-2 agency must offer career assessments to all applicants and participants. However, career assessments are not required to be completed as a condition of eligibility for the W-2 program. An applicant or participant may decline completing a career assessment for any reason.
History: Release 24-07; Release 19-07; Release 19-02; Release 11-06: Release 11-01.