Career Connection is an FCCLA national program that guides youth to link their options and skills for success in families, careers, and communities. Through individual, cooperative, and competitive activities, members— discover their strengths, target career goals, and initiate a plan for achieving the lifestyle they desire.

Career Connection Units:

Career Connection guides students to develop, plan, carry out, and evaluate projects that improve the quality of life in Six units where students focus activities on different aspects of career development. Students can choose a unit, then plan and carry out related projects that strengthen their awareness of skills needed for careers. Each unit includes information, related activity ideas, at least 14 specific project suggestions, three or four reproducible project tools, and more.

• PLUG IN to Careers — Understand work and the Career Connection Program
• SIGN ON to the Career Connection — Link personal interests, skills, and goals to career clusters
• PROGRAM Career Steps — Prepare with education, leadership, and work experience
• LINK UP to Jobs — Learn to find and land a job
• ACCESS SKILLS for Career Success— Practice being productive on the job and promotable
• INTEGRATE Work and Life — Manage interconnected roles in families, careers, and communities.

Awards:

FCCLA offers national recognition to chapters that complete FCCLA Career Connection projects. This honor includes cash awards and special recognition at the National Leadership Conference and in the online Teen Times magazine. Chapters apply for recognition for their hard work and innovative projects with the National Career Connection Program Award Application.  The 2009 National Career Connection Program Award Application is available online only.

• High School Award — $1,000
• Middle School Award — $1,000
• Runner-Up Award — $500 

Career Connection Online Application 

Deadline:  Applications must be submitted to FCCLA national headquarters by March 1.

Career Connection Info Sheet (.pdf)

Individual students can gain recognition for Career Connection projects in one of six units related to Family and Consumer Sciences through Leaders at Work.  Visit the Leaders at Work page for more information.

Partners Resources:

LIFE, Inc.
LIFE, Inc.: The Ultimate Career Guide for Young People includes a student journal, teacher's guide, companion website and other valuable tools to help middle and high school students begin thinking about possible careers. The Deloitte Foundation and Neale Godfrey teamed up to make these resources available to all FCCLA advisers and students!  Click here for more info!

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