Step 1
Start with "Why?"
Identify what drives you and what matters most in your life and career.
CASVE: Communication
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Counselor Prompt: Begin by exploring what the student values most. This is the foundation every future decision will be measured against. For students who seem stuck or anxious, start with the Future Success Exercise first to shift the frame from "I don't know" to "here's what I'm moving toward."
Future Success Exercise
Why we do this: Research shows that when people vividly imagine their best possible future self, they make more goal-directed decisions and are more likely to follow through (King, 2001). This exercise helps you define what success means to YOU — before anyone else defines it for you.
Your Community and Family Are a Career Asset
Research on Community Cultural Wealth shows that the values, connections, and experiences you gained from your family and community are genuine professional strengths — not separate from your career, but at the center of it.
What drives you? Select all that apply.
Family Support
Financial Security
Independence
Creative Freedom
Helping Others
Problem Solving
Leadership
Social Impact
Learning & Growth
Stability & Routine
Recognition
Community & Belonging
Core Work Values (select your top 5)
High Salary
Work-Life Balance
Career Advancement
Purpose & Meaning
Flexibility
Prestige
Job Security
Creativity
Teamwork
Autonomy
Variety
Physical Activity
Helping Community
Family-Friendly Hours
Barriers to Deciding
Too many options
Family expectations
Fear of being wrong
Financial concerns
Don't know enough
Negative self-talk
First-gen uncertainty
No barriers right now
In your own words
Counselor Prompt: Help the student build their Holland Code by exploring which environments and activities resonate. Then introduce abilities as realistic self-knowledge — not limitations, but data that helps the student build a path that fits. OCEAN goes last and is framed as a tie-breaker for Step 4, not an identity.
Build Your Holland Code (RIASEC) — Select the 2 to 3 types that fit you best
What is Holland Code? Psychologist John Holland discovered that people tend to be happiest and most successful in careers that match their personality type. Think of it as finding your best-fit work environment. Most people are a blend of 2 to 3 types. Click any type to learn what it really means.
R
Realistic
Hands-on, tools, machines, outdoors
I
Investigative
Research, science, analysis, solving complex problems
A
Artistic
Creative, expressive, design, writing, performance
S
Social
Teaching, counseling, helping, working with people
E
Enterprising
Leading, persuading, business, entrepreneurship
C
Conventional
Organizing, data, detail work, structured systems
Holland Code: ---
Top Skills (Select up to 8)
Communication
Math / Numbers
Writing
Technology
Critical Thinking
Leadership
Art & Design
Physical / Manual
Organization
Empathy
Teaching / Training
Research
Problem Solving
Bilingual
Caregiving
Community Navigation
Preferred Work Environment
Indoors / Office
Outdoors
Remote / From Home
Hospital / Healthcare
School / Campus
Community / Field
Lab / Studio
Travel Required
Quiet / Independent
Fast-Paced / Active
Abilities and Physical Considerations
Why this matters: O*NET data shows that different careers have different physical and cognitive demands. Being honest about your abilities right now helps you find the best-fit path — and understand where you might want extra preparation. This is information, not a barrier.
Select any considerations that are relevant to your situation right now:
Color vision challenges
Hearing considerations
Vision considerations
Limited physical strength / stamina
Fine motor challenges
Standing for long periods difficult
Working at heights / confined spaces
Shift work / night hours difficult
Exposure to hazardous materials concerns
Math / numbers challenging
Writing / reading challenging
Public speaking anxiety
No significant considerations
Your Personality Tendencies (Big Five / OCEAN)
How to use this: The Big Five personality traits describe how you naturally tend to think and work. This is NOT a test. There are no wrong answers. Rate each trait honestly — you will use this in Step 4 to evaluate which careers fit your natural work style. Think of it as a tie-breaker, not a label.
O
Openness to Experience
How much you enjoy new ideas, creativity, exploring, and thinking in abstract ways.
High O careers: artist, researcher, writer, architect, therapist. Low O careers: accountant, technician, quality control, admin specialist.
How would you rate yourself? (1=Prefer routine & concrete, 5=Love exploring new ideas)
C
Conscientiousness
How organized, disciplined, and goal-driven you naturally are.
High C careers: surgeon, lawyer, project manager, accountant, military. Low C careers: entrepreneur, artist, freelancer, emergency responder.
How would you rate yourself? (1=Flexible/spontaneous, 5=Very organized/structured)
E
Extraversion
How much you gain energy from being around other people versus working alone.
High E careers: sales, teaching, nursing, counseling, management. Low E careers: software engineer, researcher, writer, data analyst, lab scientist.
How would you rate yourself? (1=Recharge alone/introvert, 5=Energized by people/extrovert)
A
Agreeableness
How much you prioritize getting along, helping others, and cooperation over competition.
High A careers: social worker, nurse, teacher, counselor, HR. Low A careers: attorney, detective, entrepreneur, surgeon, financial trader.
How would you rate yourself? (1=Independent/direct, 5=Very cooperative/people-oriented)
N
Neuroticism (Emotional Stability)
How much you tend to experience stress, worry, or strong emotions vs. staying calm under pressure. Note: BOTH ends have value in different careers.
High N (sensitive) often found in: artists, therapists, advocates. Low N (calm/stable) often found in: ER doctors, pilots, police, military, traders.
How would you rate yourself? (1=Very calm/stable under pressure, 5=Feel stress/emotions intensely)
Counselor Prompt: Guide the student toward 3 to 7 career options that connect to their Holland Code and values from Steps 1 and 2. Encourage breadth before narrowing. When research checklist items are selected, use the O*NET link that appears to explore that data point together in real time.
Career Options (Add 3 to 7 careers to explore)
+
Add Career Option
Click any career card to edit. Aim for variety across industries. Tip: search your Holland Code in O*NET to find careers you might not have considered.
What I want to learn about each career
Select a research topic below to see the O*NET link for that data type.
Typical salary range
10-year job outlook
Education required
Day-in-the-life activities
Entry-level job titles
Companies that hire
Skills needed
Someone I can talk to
Reflection
Counselor Prompt: Before filling out the MAUT grid, use the Informational Interview section to help the student get insider knowledge that no website can fully provide. Then walk through the grid together. The number is a thinking tool — the conversation around it is the real work.
Get the Insider Perspective — Learn What a Career is REALLY Like
Why this matters: Research data tells you what a career pays and what skills it requires. But it cannot tell you what Monday morning feels like in that role, what the culture is like, or whether the day-to-day work matches what you imagined. This step fills that gap with real human perspective.
Choose your approach — all three are equally valid:
Pathway A
Live Informational Interview
Talk to a real person currently working in a career you are considering. Best option when available.
Pathway B
AI-Simulated Career Deep Dive
Use AI to simulate an expert career conversation. Uses the same questions as a live interview.
Pathway C
Job Posting + Review Analysis
Analyze real job postings and employee reviews to understand what employers actually want.
Pathway A: Informational Interview Guide
An informational interview is a 15 to 30 minute conversation with someone who works in a field you are considering. You are NOT asking for a job. You are gathering real-world insight. Most professionals are happy to talk when approached respectfully.
How to find someone to talk to
Ask a family member, neighbor, or community member. Search LinkedIn for "[job title] Norco / Riverside." Email a professional using the script below. Ask your counselor for a contact.Opening script (copy and adapt)
"Hi [name], my name is [your name] and I am a student at Norco College exploring careers in [field]. I am not asking for a job — I am doing research as part of a career exploration course. Would you be willing to speak with me for about 15 to 20 minutes by phone or video? I would really value your perspective." Questions to ask (use 4 to 6)
1. What does a typical day actually look like in your role?2. What do you wish you had known before entering this field?
3. What skills matter most that do not appear in job descriptions?
4. What is the most challenging part of this work?
5. How did you get your first job in this field?
6. Is there anyone else you would suggest I speak with?
Pathway B: AI-Simulated Career Deep Dive
Copy one of the prompts below into ChatGPT, Claude, or any AI tool. Then have a real conversation — ask follow-up questions, push back, get specific. Treat the AI like an expert you are interviewing, not a search engine.
Prompt 1: The Real Day-to-Day
"I am a college student exploring a career as a [career title]. Please roleplay as an experienced [career title] with 10+ years in the field. Tell me honestly what a typical Monday looks like — the best parts, the most frustrating parts, and what people do not tell you in job descriptions." Prompt 2: Values + Career Fit
"My top career values are [paste your values from Step 1]. I am considering becoming a [career title]. Based on these values, where is this career a strong fit? Where might there be tension? What should I know before committing to this path?" Prompt 3: The Honest Trade-offs
"I am comparing [career 1] and [career 2]. Both interest me for different reasons. What are the honest trade-offs between these two paths — salary trajectory, work-life balance, job security, and day-to-day fulfillment? Do not give me only positives." Prompt 4: What I Cannot Find on Google
"What do people commonly get wrong about a career as a [career title]? What surprises most people once they start working in this field? What does the data on job satisfaction say about this occupation?" Pathway C: Job Posting and Review Analysis
Find 3 real job postings for a career you are considering. Then read at least 5 employee reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed. This tells you what employers actually require AND what current employees actually experience.
Step 1 — Job Posting Analysis (use LinkedIn or Indeed)
Search your career title. Find 3 postings for entry-level or early-career roles. For each one, note: What education do they require? What 3 skills show up in every posting? What surprises you about the requirements?Step 2 — Employee Review Analysis (use Glassdoor)
Search the company or field on Glassdoor. Read at least 5 employee reviews. Look for patterns: What do employees consistently say they love? What do they consistently say is hard? What do "Pros" and "Cons" sections tell you about the culture? MAUT Evaluation Grid — Rate how well each career fits each value (1 = poor fit, 5 = excellent fit)
How to Use This Evaluation Grid — Read This First
This grid asks one clear question for every combination of your values and your career options: "How well does this career actually deliver this value to me?" That is it. You are not comparing careers to each other. You are comparing each career to what you said matters most to you in Step 1.
Column 2 — Weight: This is how important each value is to you personally, on a scale of 1 to 5. If salary matters more to you than flexibility right now, give salary a higher number. The math uses your weights so more important values count more in the final score.
The numbered boxes: For each row (value) and each column (career), click a number from 1 to 5 using this guide:
1
This career barely gives me this
2
It gives me a little of this
3
It gives me a fair amount
4
It delivers this value well
5
This career delivers this perfectly
Reading your results: The bottom row shows weighted totals. The career with the highest score is your best mathematical fit based on your own values. But the number is a thinking tool, not a final answer. If a lower-scoring career still feels right for reasons the grid cannot measure — talk about that. That conversation is the most important part of this step.
| Value | Weight (1-5) |
|---|---|
| WEIGHTED TOTAL | |
Counselor Prompt: Support the student in making a formal, named decision. Validate that this is a working decision, not a life sentence. Then walk through the SMART Goal builder one section at a time — most students have heard of SMART goals but have never been shown how to actually build one.
My Career Goal
Not yet declared
Declare Your Career Choices
Who Will You Share This With?
Build Your SMART Goal — Step by Step
What is a SMART Goal? A SMART Goal is a statement that is Specific (clear), Measurable (you can tell when you reached it), Achievable (realistic), Relevant (connected to your values), and Time-bound (has a deadline). Filling in each section below builds the goal for you automatically.
S
Specific — What exactly do you want to achieve?
Be concrete. "Get a good job" is too vague. "Become a licensed registered nurse" is specific.
M
Measurable — How will you know when you reached it?
Name the credential, the degree, or the milestone that marks success.
A
Achievable — Is this realistic given where you are right now?
Name one thing that makes this possible for you specifically.
R
Relevant — Why does this goal matter to YOU personally?
Connect it to your values, your family, or your community from Step 1.
T
Time-bound — By when will you achieve this?
Set a realistic target date. A goal without a timeline is just a wish.
Your SMART Goal Statement
Fill in the fields above and your goal will appear here automatically.
Counselor Prompt: Now that a decision is in place, build three connected plans. Begin with the education plan. Use the Financial Calculator to make the cost of the path visible and tangible — this is where abstract career goals become real-life planning.
Education Plan
Career Development Plan
Financial Plan Calculator — What Will This Path Actually Cost?
How to use this: Adjust the sliders and selectors to match your situation. The calculator estimates your total cost for each stage of your educational path, accounts for financial aid, and shows you a realistic monthly budget. Use the "What If" buttons to explore different scenarios.
Stage 1: Norco College
Units per semester
Full-time = 12+, Part-time = 6-11
12 units
Semesters at Norco
Average for AA/ADT = 4 semesters
4 sems
Financial Aid at Norco
Stage 2: After Norco (if transferring)
Transfer Destination
Years at transfer school
2 yrs
Financial Aid at Transfer School
Living Expenses (While in School)
Living situation
Work income while in school
Norco College tuition + fees$0
Books + supplies$0
Living expenses (full period)$0
Transfer school tuition$0
Financial aid (estimated)-$0
Work income (estimated)-$0
Estimated Out-of-Pocket Total$0
Estimates based on 2024-25 cost data. Actual costs vary. This tool is for planning purposes only. Always confirm with the Financial Aid office.
What if I get full Pell + Cal Grant?
—
Maximum federal and state aid
What if I have no financial aid?
—
Zero aid scenario
What if I live with family the whole time?
—
Living with family throughout
What if I work part-time throughout?
—
20hrs/wk while in school
Reflecting on My Journey
I feel clearer about my direction
I still have questions
This process helped me see new options
My values shaped my decision
I feel more confident
I need more time
My community influenced my choice positively
Anticipated Life Transitions
Career decisions get revisited when life changes. Check anything that may affect your path.
Graduating this year
Starting a family
Moving / Relocating
Changing jobs
Health change
Financial change
None anticipated right now
My Action Items
Quick adds — tap a suggestion or type your own:
Next Counseling Session
Where you are is information, not a verdict.
Norco College Career Center • jethro.midgett@norcocollege.edu
👤 Counselor Tools
Negative Career Thoughts
Financial Barriers
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Needs Ability Assessment
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Counseling Follow-Up Priority