Category: FCD Training/Career Practitioners

We have NCDA Certified Instructors who deliver the Facilitating Career Development (FCD) Training for career practitioners. Read this category for stories and best practices specific to FCD and career development providers.

  • Insights from our NCDA Session about: Delivering Career Services to Diverse Populations with Inclusive Pathways

    Insights from our NCDA Session about: Delivering Career Services to Diverse Populations with Inclusive Pathways

    Jillian and I had a great time at NCDA in Chicago this month with our small group! We shared and learned about best practices for delivering career services to all groups.

    We started with a fun beachball toss to learn more about the diversity of the participants in our session. Who knew so many career professionals are introverts by nature! We shared these tips for supporting individuals and groups in their career development journey:

    1. Cater to Your Audience – Do you know your learning style and the style for those you serve? Take The Vark to find out. 
    2. Provide clear expectations while also giving individuals ownership and opportunities to drive their individual goals – Do you use SMART goals? Read about setting them in this article from Forbes.com: The Ultimate Guide to S.M.A.R.T. Goals.
    3. Be accessible and open to feedback – Do you ask for feedback? Here are some tips from a blog post written by Jillian: Feed Your Future with Feedback and Feedforward.

    As a group, we had discussions around having a People First mindset. It all comes down to serving others & meeting people where they are.

    Here are a couple of books we recommended during our session. You should check them out too!

  • FACD

    FACD

    Last week, HPC met with our contacts with the state department of education. The meeting centered around current training, plans for a focus group and specific grades that could potentially be our next area of focus. In reflection, we have worked in partnership with them for more than 10 years. What began as a grant funded training project grew into a wonderful partnership that has allowed us to provide professional development with educators across our state year after year. Currently, we are training 100+ educators on career development and providing state and program specific resources. 

    Here are the benefits I’ve seen from this partnership that continues to develop professionals who are literally preparing our future workforce.

    1. Teachers, counselors, administrators, and career coaches learn from one another, sharing resources that are most helpful in their area(s).
    2. Training content is being soaked up and is finding its way into lesson plans, field trips, and career days.
    3. Collaboration flourishes as participants have the opportunity to create a group within their cohort to work on an assignment about an in-demand career. The assignment ultimately becomes a resource library of presentations that anyone in the training can access.
    4. Completers of the course seek credentials and have the opportunity to receive continued education on topics most relevant for them and the students they serve.

    Do you have a need for training or professional development in your school or organization? If so, let us know and I’m sure we can help or point you in the right direction!

  • Create Bigger Impact by Aligning Your Interests with Your Work

    Create Bigger Impact by Aligning Your Interests with Your Work

    My first interaction with Horizon Point was in 2017 as a participant in Mary Ila’s Facilitating Career Development (FCD) Training. At the time, I was the Program Champion for the Department of Management at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, and my primary focus was professional and career development for undergraduate students. I completed the FCD course, became a Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) and a Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), and have since used the experience and knowledge to provide career development coaching and instruction for over 500 students and professionals. 

    After joining Horizon Point in 2019, I’ve seen the real-world application of career development theories outside of a formal education environment. In all areas of our work, from FCD Training to HR Consulting to Community Workforce Solutions, and across different industries, demographics, and team dynamics, we utilize career development theory, helping skills, and adult learner strategies. Learning about yourself and your interests will always make you a better teammate, employee, manager, friend, sibling, parent, etc. 

    Now, I am a Certified FCD Instructor with the National Career Development Association (NCDA), and today, I have the absolute pleasure of returning to Auburn University to deliver FCD Training to a new group of career developers! 

    As I prepared for this training, I looked back through my notes as a participant in the course for the first time. The first activity in the course is to complete O*Net’s Interest Profiler, which is adapted from The Holland Codes or Holland Occupational Themes (RIASEC). 

    Mary Ila once wrote about “Passions Via Your Holland Code” on The Point Blog, where she demonstrates the purpose behind assessing your interests. She says, “We typically enjoy what we can do well quite simply because we are good at it. This is where it is important to consider your passions and whether or not they align with the talents you possess.” 

    So, what does my Holland Code say about my interests, and am I working in a role that creates space for me to utilize them? My 2017 results indicated SCE, or Social, Conventional, and Enterprising (read about these here). In other words, I was interested in teaching and training others, I appreciated clear expectations and structure, and I enjoyed entrepreneurship and generating new business ideas. Because of all that, I thrived in my role as Program Champion, because my interests / passions aligned with the type of work and the environment. 

    Would you be surprised to learn that many people in coaching and/or counseling related fields have similar Holland Codes? People with careers as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors commonly have S, or Social, in their Holland Code. O*Net says: 

    People with Social interests like working with others to help them learn and grow. They like working with people more than working with objects, machines, or information.

    They like:

    • Teaching
    • Giving advice
    • Helping and being of service to people

    When I took the Interest Profiler yesterday, my results indicated SAC, or Social, Artistic, and Conventional:

    Turns out, Training and Development Specialists (closest match to my current role), are linked to the Holland Code SCA, or Social, Conventional, and Artistic. Over time, my interests have shifted away from enterprising activities and towards creative roles. With Horizon Point, I’m given the autonomy and the space to stretch my artistic/creative interests through creation of new training content and materials, amateur graphic and web design, and more. Clearly, I’m in the right role for me in this season of life. Are you? 

    As I work with this group of Auburn Career Developers over the next 8 weeks, we will talk about the application of career development theory like Holland with both our clients and ourselves. What can you learn about yourself today that will improve your effectiveness in your current role? 

    Learn more about FCD, Continuing Education, HR Consulting, and Training programs developed and facilitated by Horizon Point at horizonpointconsulting.com or email us at info@horizonpointconsulting.com.  

  • Here’s to Senior Year!

    Here’s to Senior Year!

    Here’s to Senior Year!hpc senior year group photo

    My daughter is returning home from a surprise senior volleyball girls’ beach trip today, and I’m realizing these are the last days of her final summer as a high school student. A new school year is quickly approaching, and I am trying to wrap my brain around the fact that she will be leaving the nest soon. The days are long, but the years are short has never hit home like it does now. Revisit this post by our Founder to learn more about College Prep for Seniors.

    Here is a collection of blog posts and articles I’ve saved over the past year or so to help me prepare for this year. I hope it helps you too:

    Finally, a dear friend gave me a gift that will help me through this year. Starting 31 Prayers for My Daughter now.

    Did you know we offer an assessment and coaching session for students who need direction? Reach out to us at HPC for more information.

  • Jump start your 2018 professional growth now!

    Jump start your 2018 professional growth now!

    Have you ever wanted to start your own business?
    Jump start your 2018 professional growth now!

     

    Introducing new coursework available,
    Getting Off the Ground: 7 Steps to Developing a Successful Business

    Entrepreneurship is one of our passions.
    First taught at Professional Development Institute (PDI)
    at the NCDA Conference Summer 2017.
    Customized for Career Development Facilitators.

    Take advantage of this opportunity now!

    If you missed it at PDI, you can now benefit from the course at your own convenience at an even lower cost. The course is set-up on Udemy.com for easy processing, payment, and participation.

    Get here: 7 Steps to Developing a Successful Business

    Use coupon code: 7STEPS