Career awareness is especially important in adult education for incarcerated individuals because it helps them see realistic pathways to success beyond incarceration. Many adults in correctional settings have had limited exposure to career options or labor market information, and career awareness builds motivation by connecting education and training to meaningful employment goals. Understanding available careers, required skills, and certifications empowers incarcerated learners to make informed decisions, develop relevant job skills, and plan for reentry. Ultimately, career awareness supports successful reintegration, reduces recidivism, and promotes long-term self-sufficiency and personal growth.
This page is dedicated to the tools that make that transition possible. A shared space to exchange the best ways to prepare our students for the workforce. Together, we’re not just teaching—we’re helping them build a future.
Nationwide Resources
- Apprenticeships
- Select one of our recognized Industries below to browser through in-demand apprenticeship occupations. Then select an occupation to view a description and search for available apprenticeship programs nationwide.
- Career One Stop
- Career exploration, training and much more
- Clean Slate
- The Clean Slate Clearinghouse provides people with juvenile and adult criminal records, legal service providers, and state policymakers with information on record clearance policies in all U.S. states and territories.
- Employability Skills Framework (U.S. DOL)
- Department of Education compiled the Employability Skills Framework and developed related tools, media and resources.
- Employability Guide
- Emerge Career:
- Discover essential reentry resources for formerly incarcerated individuals, including vocational training, job placement, housing, legal aid, and more. Start your career journey with Emerge Career—the top choice for justice-impacted students
- Have a Criminal Record?
- Article written by Lashon Amado that can be supplemental to instruction
- Inspiring Career Development and Action
- The original edition of this curriculum guide was called Integrating Career Awareness into the ABE and ESOL Classroom, commonly referred to as the ICA.
- Justice Center
- National, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that combines the power of a membership association, serving state officials in all three branches of government, with policy and research expertise to develop strategies that increase public safety and strengthen communities
- Roots of Success
- Roots of Success has developed customized curricula for prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities across the United States. Our program prepares incarcerated individuals for 100+ jobs and career pathways and successful reentry into their communities.
- Skills to Pay the Bills (Office of Disability Employment Policy)
- The activities in this publication were created to introduce the “basics” of soft skills. This is a booklet of activities to be used in the classroom
- Take Charge Of Your Future
- This guide is for people who are incarcerated and for those on probation and parole. It’s also for those who were previously involved with the justice system. The guide will help people get started — or continue — on their path to further education and training.