Enhancing the Career Exploration and Job-Seeking Skills of Secondary Students with Disabilities

Abstract

This study examined student outcomes from a career exploration and job-seeking skills instructional program designed and validated for use in special education programs in secondary education settings. Instruction was designed to address specific behaviors associated with (a) career exploration (vocational self-awareness, vocational decision-making confidence, and career decisiveness) and (b) job-seeking (completing job application forms and performing in a job interview). A state special education department, a university rehabilitation research and training center, and special education programs from two school districts coordinated resources to develop and evaluate the instructional program. Study results provide support for utilization of the program with secondary students with disabilities. Experimental group students demonstrated better vocational decision-making confidence and career decisiveness, and performed better completing a job application and in a simulated employment interview.