Common Planner
K–12 Standards

Career Development: Grades 7-8 (2025)

Other Arkansas CTE sets

Develop a Self-Awareness Evaluation1

  • 1

    Develop Self-Awareness1.1

    1. 1

      Identify interests (likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, wants, and needs) and examine how that will affect choosing a career.1.1.1

    2. 2

      Evaluate how self-concept, self-esteem, and attitude could affect educational achievement.1.1.2

    3. 3

      Identify values and the effect they have in choosing a career.1.1.3

    4. 4

      Identify lifestyle preference and write steps to achieve that lifestyle.1.1.4

    5. 5

      Recognize different personality types and the effect of different types working in the same environment.1.1.5

    6. 6

      Identify how an individual's school experience connects to an individual's future success.1.1.6

    7. 7

      Develop the essential/soft skills and abilities needed to be successful in a career. (i.e. being on time; listening; knowing when to ask questions; understanding roles on team; following directions; work ethic; good attitude; the ability to be coached; taking responsibility for one’s own actions and choices; interacting with management.1.1.7

    8. 8

      Define emotional intelligence. Distinguish ways to handle positive and negative emotions.1.1.8

  • 2

    Identify Personal Ability1.2

    1. 1

      Catalogue successes and failures and then evaluate how to improve.1.2.1

    2. 2

      Identify how choices affect future education and career plans.1.2.2

    3. 3

      Explain the value of doing work well and creating opportunities for development and success in school and career.1.2.3

    4. 4

      Demonstrate how pride in your work produces personal satisfaction and success.1.2.4

  • 3

    Evaluate Appropriate Work Behavior1.3

    1. 1

      Evaluate the rewards/consequences of behavior towards others.1.3.1

    2. 2

      Discover and interpret ways to earn respect.1.3.2

    3. 3

      Explain how respect plays a positive role in interacting with diverse groups, which is essential to achieving success.1.3.3

Understand Career Information and Employment Trends2

  • 1

    Explore Career Fields, Clusters, and Pathways2.1

    1. 1

      Differentiate between the Arkansas Career fields, and the career clusters associated with each field.2.1.1

    2. 2

      Research and discuss the fourteen (14) Career Clusters using various sources of information.2.1.2

    3. 3

      Analyze pertinent facts that pertain to job growth and career opportunities in the pathways.2.1.3

  • 2

    Explain Transferrable Skills2.2

    1. 1

      Describe the transferable skills needed when transitioning between careers and/or jobs.2.2.1

    2. 2

      Compare and contrast skills necessary for specific careers.2.2.2

  • 3

    Research Employment Trends2.3

    1. 1

      Demonstrate understanding of the changing workplace due to the global economy and improvements in technology.2.3.1

    2. 2

      Identify types of work schedules--self-employed (entrepreneur), part-time, full-time, temporary, seasonal, volunteer, flextime, and rotational.2.3.2

    3. 3

      Identify the advantages and disadvantages of being employed in a non-traditional occupation.2.3.3

    4. 4

      Identify job benefits and forms of income.2.3.4

Understand Career Decision-Making Skills3

  • 1

    Demonstrate the Decision-Making Process3.1

    1. 1

      Identify steps in a decision-making process.3.1.1

    2. 2

      Demonstrate the use of a decision-making model in a personal career plan.3.1.2

    3. 3

      Recognize that decision-making often involves conflicts and compromise.3.1.3

  • 2

    Demonstrate Setting Goals3.2

    1. 1

      Describe the structure of setting short, medium, and long-term goals.3.2.1

    2. 2

      Define goals.3.2.2

    3. 3

      Identify resources needed to meet personal goals.3.2.3

    4. 4

      Describe how personal values affect decisions due to conflicting demands.3.2.4

  • 3

    Explore the Career Decision-Making Process3.3

    1. 1

      Compare and contrast postsecondary options leading to a career goal.3.3.1

    2. 2

      Identify the advantages and disadvantages of decisions when determining a tentative career goal.3.3.2

Understand High School and Career Planning Skills4

  • 1

    Explore Career Planning4.1

    1. 1

      Explain how career planning is a lifelong process beginning early in life.4.1.1

    2. 2

      Explain how career planning can save time, energy, and money.4.1.2

    3. 3

      Explore the education and training requirements to meet certain job qualifications.4.1.3

  • 2

    Develop an Education and Training Plan4.2

    1. 1

      Identify education requirements for graduation.4.2.1

    2. 2

      Identify training requirements or extended learning opportunities for entrance into the workforce for a chosen career focus.4.2.2

    3. 3

      Identify viable pathways of study with postsecondary education and training opportunities for a chosen career focus.4.2.3

    4. 4

      Demonstrate understanding of employment requirements concerning degrees, certifications, licenses, diplomas, experience, and job skills.4.2.4

  • 3

    Develop a Career Development Portfolio4.3

    1. 1

      Describe the components of a career portfolio.4.3.1

    2. 2

      Create a career portfolio.4.3.2

  • 4

    Identify Employment Factors4.4

    1. 1

      Determine opportunity costs over a lifespan for achieving a personal career goal.4.4.1

    2. 2

      Explain how distracters and barriers can hinder an individual from completing plans.4.4.2

    3. 3

      Assess the relative income and benefits of a future career goal with respect to personal goals and lifestyles.4.4.3

    4. 4

      Identify economic conditions that may affect career plans.4.4.4

    5. 5

      Identify the advantages and challenges of self-employment.4.4.5

Understand Career Readiness Skills5

  • 1

    Identify Employability Skills5.1

    1. 1

      Identify employment preparation activities (job application, resume, cover letter, follow-up letter).5.1.1

    2. 2

      Identify human resources requirements for employment such as drug testing and credit checks.5.1.2

    3. 3

      Recognize appropriate professional technology etiquette, i.e. social media.5.1.3

    4. 4

      Avoid projecting a negative social media image.5.1.4

    5. 5

      Describe and/or participate in job shadowing, mentoring, co-op, or internship.5.1.5

    6. 6

      Identify job search strategies and resources for finding job openings.5.1.6

  • 2

    Demonstrate Personal Skills5.2

    1. 1

      Describe the importance of earning an income and managing personal finances.5.2.1

    2. 2

      Explain the value of volunteering to gain experience, develop work relationships, including seeking mentorship, and obtain recommendations for jobs.5.2.2

    3. 3

      Identify leadership qualities and managerial skills, i.e. being a team player, showing eagerness for lifelong learning.5.2.3

Frequently asked questions

What grade levels do these standards cover?
Grade 7 and Grade 8
Where can I read the official document?
Career Development

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