Is Print Dead?

Minnesota’s Multi-format Approach to Career

Information

Tricia DahlmanMnCareers Editor

MN Department of Employment and Economic Development

Minnesota’s Approach Four Separate Products

Workforce Development Focus

Labor Market Information Integration

Career Information Partnerships

Enhanced by Customer Feedback

MnCareers Career and educational

exploration guide.

Most frequently used with high school students.

Also used with parents, post-secondary students, middle school students, adult jobseekers, welfare recipients, employers, and elementary students.

MnCareers: Purpose

PURPOSE:To provide a comprehensive

introduction to career management concepts and

educational and workforce development resources.

MnCareers: Distribution MnCareers is distributed

to MN schools at no cost for one grade level.

This year, over 100,000 copies were distributed to public, private and charter schools, colleges, adult basic education programs, libraries, WorkForce Centers, correctional facilities, and refugee programs.

Counselors and teachers rely on the publication in a variety of ways:

Classroom textbook for a career exploration unit.

Resource in a career resource center.

Tool for self-exploration or one-on-one career counseling.

MnCareers Website Contains same three

sections as publication: Start exploring Investigate careers Future planning

Website acts as a portal to other agencies and organizations.

MnCareers Facilitator Guide Includes resources,

lessons plans, career development activities, and worksheets.

Facilitators use with their students and clients. Use in conjunction with the MnCareers publication.

MnCareers Parent Guide Helps parents, guardians,

and mentors of young people understand the changing worlds of education and work.

Working with Saint Paul School District on how to engage parents as active participants in career information using the Parent Guide as main resource.

Total Costs Production and distribution costs for

the 2005 edition and electronic supplemental materials totaled $201,000.

We deliver the entire package (publication, guides, and website) for $1.55 each (quantity=130,000).

This is far less than the value ascribed by users in the April 2002 Survey (Median $5.00, Mean $8.55).

Partnerships State career information products

ISEEK (www.iseek.org) MCIS (education.state.mn.us/mcis)

National career information products ACINet (www.acinet.org)

Other state agencies and organizations Minnesota Army National Guard Minnesota Higher Education Services Office Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

ISEEK

MCIS

Customer Feedback Annual online survey conducted in April

Prerequisite for complimentary ordering

April 2004 Survey: 753 respondents Represented 77.6% of contacts from

previous year and 100% of those who ordered complimentary copies

Results: Satisfaction MnCareers compares favorably to

users’ ideal publication Average: 8.53

Users report MnCareers is exceeding their expectations

Average: 8.67

MnCareers users are highly satisfied with publication

Average: 8.92

Results: Satisfaction Scores over Time

Report Ideal Expectations Satisfaction

2004 8.5 8.7 8.9

2003 8.4 8.6 9.0

2002 8.5 8.4 8.7

2001 8.0 8.1 8.4

Results: Why Print?

This is one situation where hard copy is best. Some students do not have Internet access at home. Right now, students take

the books home and spend time just browsing. In addition, parents like to look

at the books; I have heard many compliments from them.

~High School Counselor

Results: Why Print?Reason #1: Feedback from users

Overwhelmingly (90.3%), users rank print as their first choice, followed by Internet (14.3%), and CD-ROM (3.7%).

The most common reasons for the print preference included the ability to hand out the publication to students, that print can be used anywhere, and that students and clients could take the information with them and share it with others.

Results: Why Print?Reason #2: How the publication is utilized

About three in four use the publication as a classroom textbook (76.3%), as a tool during counseling sessions (78.0%), or as a resource in a career center library (74.1%).

Results: Why Print?Reason #3: Leverage

Key objective: use the MnCareers publication as a portal to the resources available to serve Minnesotans.

The MnCareers website transitions users from the print publication, with a step-by-step design to career decision-making, to resources with additional career information.

State & National ActivitiesAmerica’s Career Resource Network (ACRN)

America’s Career Resource Network is a nationwide network dedicated to helping young people and adults get the academic and career skills they need to become productive citizens, workers, and community members.

www.acrnetwork.org

ACRN

State & National ActivitiesAmerica’s Career Information Network (ACINet)

A national, no fee, career information and labor market website for jobseekers, workforce professionals, and employers. Find national and local data using unique career tools, career reports, a career resource library and much more.

www.acinet.org

ACINet

Questions?

Thank you!

Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions.

Tricia Dahlmanpatricia.dahlman@state.mn.us

651.205.4513