March 8, 2022 - It is widely known that My Colorado Journey (MCJ) connects individuals to education, career, and support resources. But how does that work? One component of the process is in the form of Outcomes, which breaks down the steps to reach a desired point in pathway discovery.
Knowing what steps to take, and when to take them, can be daunting for students and job seekers alike as they consider where their career path will take them. MCJ guides students and adults to informed decisions as they consider options for future success.
MCJ breaks the discovery process down into manageable steps, and these steps are grouped into topic-specific Outcomes. MCJ recommends specific Outcomes to individual users based on information they provided during account creation. As a user completes Outcomes, MCJ recommendations become more specific, and include activities related to possibilities for additional education, certifications, and training, as well as how to prepare for college, trade school, or other post-secondary options.
So far, 102 Outcomes are available in MCJ. These are aligned with several different user scenarios, including high school, trade school, and college students (undergraduate and postgraduate), and adult job seekers. Some common Outcomes include:
- Find careers I will love
- Determine what I need on my journey in high school
- Find and apply for my financial aid
- Connect my high school, work, and career choices to program options
Outcomes are available for individuals who know what jobs are of interest to them, and for those who want to explore a variety of occupations based on their aspirations and strengths. If a user is uncertain about what they want to pursue, the Outcome “Learn about my motivational Drivers” may be a recommended starting point. This Outcome consists of four activities for the user to complete, which lead to a better understanding of which occupations might be a good fit for them.
School counselors and workforce advisors who work with MCJ users have the ability to recommend and assign Outcomes to users as well. As these professionals gain visibility into the interests, challenges, and journey of the beneficiaries, the opportunities to maximize meaningful conversations increases as the MCJ Outcomes replace process-heavy activities and data collection exercises.
To learn more about MCJ, contact susan.paulsen@state.co.us, or follow this link to request an informational presentation about MCJ.