Professional Development Program

An employment skills program for vocational-technical students

Advisor’s Overview – SkillsUSA Professional Development Program

The SkillsUSA Professional Development Program (PDP) is a non-competitive, skill-building program for SkillsUSA members.

PDP gives instructors a practical vehicle for integrating employment skills into any vocational-technical program. Students are recognized for individual achievement as they develop professional and occupational skills. PDP also opens doors for the involvement of local employers in student understanding, development and evaluation.

PDP’s strength lies in its flexibility. The program can be used as an individual study course or as part of a traditional group instruction method of teaching. It can be integrated into the curriculum according to your schedule and the individual needs of your students.

The PDP Program is designed to teach skills that will help students make a smooth transition from school to the world of work. The program is based on competencies that have been determined by business and industry representatives to be important to success on the job.

Skills covered in the program include personal awareness, goal setting, community service, career awareness, communication skills, basic knowledge of government, and interaction with business and industry.

As the student completes each section he/she is awarded with a Certificate of Completion and an optional pin/patch. The curriculum is complete* with the exception of technical program competencies. Individual technical program instructors supply a list of competencies that the student must master to complete the level.

(*A SkillsUSA handbook is also required to complete many sections.)

The PDP Advisor’s Guide includes information for implementing the program, teaching strategies for individual and group instruction, model assignment sheets, transparency masters, strategies for special needs students, and suggestions for working with advisory committees.

PDP Curriculum Outline

The following information outlines the individual steps in the PDP Program. Included in the outline are the tasks the student will accomplish at each level (except for individual technical program requirements).

Starter Kit – Discovery Degree

Goals: Individual Development

  • Identify personal interests
  • Engage in a team negotiation activity
  • Identify effective communication skills
  • Describe workplace components
  • Design, conduct and evaluate a survey
  • Recognize stress factors
  • Identify personal qualities that are desirable for the workplace
  • Recognize the importance of goals
  • Produce a list of potential volunteer activities
  • Evaluate professional development traits

Level 1 – Trainee Degree

Goals: Set short-term and long-range goals, reach goals and develop skills and confidence.

  • Complete a self-assessment and identify individual learning styles
  • Discover self-motivation techniques and establish short-term goals
  • Determine individual time-management skills
  • Define future occupations
  • Develop awareness of cultural diversity and equity issues
  • Define the customer
  • Recognize benefits of doing a community service project
  • Demonstrate effective communication with others
  • Participate in a shadowing activity
  • Identify the components of an employment portfolio
  • List proficiency in program competencies
  • Establish short-term goals
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the SkillsUSA motto and the current theme
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the SkillsUSA colors
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the SkillsUSA Creed
  • Demonstrate knowledge of SkillsUSA history
  • Demonstrate knowledge of official SkillsUSA attire

Level 2 – Leader Degree

Goals: Learn basic meeting skills, speak in front of a group and fill out a job application.

  • Measure/modify short-term goals
  • Identify stress sources
  • Select characteristics of a positive image
  • Demonstrate awareness of government, professional organizations and trade unions
  • Apply team skills to a group project
  • Observe and critique a meeting
  • Demonstrate business meeting skills
  • Demonstrate social etiquette
  • Complete survey for employment opportunities
  • Review a professional journal and develop a 3- to 5-minute presentation
  • Identify customer expectations
  • Assemble your employment portfolio
  • Explore supervisory and management roles in an organization
  • Recognize safety issues
  • Evaluate your proficiency in program competencies
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the responsibilities of SkillsUSA officers
  • Describe the procedure for becoming a SkillsUSA officer
  • Create a SkillsUSA program of work and yearly calendar
  • Attend a local SkillsUSA meeting
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the purposes of SkillsUSA

Level 3 – Professional Degree

Goals: Review choice of occupation, interview worker in Weld, develop a personal resume and participate in a job interview.

  • Establish your career goals
  • Develop personal financial skills
  • Explore opportunities for advanced training
  • Market your instructional program
  • Serve as a volunteer in the community
  • Plan and develop a business
  • Conduct a worker interview
  • Develop and résumé and write a cover letter
  • Demonstrate interviewing skills
  • Understand the cost of customer service
  • Identify and apply conflict resolution skills
  • Demonstrate evaluation skills
  • Perform a skill demonstration
  • Exercise your right to know
  • Update program competencies
  • Serve on a committee or SkillsUSA program of work team
  • Prepare a meeting agenda
  • Demonstrate knowledge of parliamentary procedure
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the SkillsUSA emblem
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the SkillsUSA pledge

Level 4 – Master Degree

Goals: Establish long-range goals, learn about professional associations, select a mentor, construct a job search, plan and carry out a leadership project.

  • Forecast employment trends and risks of employment changes
  • Re-evaluate career goals and establish long-term goals
  • Compare ethical and nonethical workplace attitudes
  • Develop a working relationship with a mentor
  • Illustrate an organizational structure
  • Construct a job search network
  • Plan and implement a leadership project
  • Investigate entrepreneurship opportunities
  • Develop customer service skills
  • Apply supervisory skills
  • Manage a project and evaluate others
  • Evaluate professional competencies
  • Organize your employment portfolio
  • Demonstrate knowledge of SkillsUSA’s local and state constitutions and structure
  • Demonstrate knowledge of SkillsUSA’s national constitution and structure
  • Demonstrate your ability to speak in public
  • Demonstrate your skills by participating in a SkillsUSA Championships

ADVANCED DEGREES

The American SkillsUSA Degree and the International SkillsUSA Degree represent the highest honors an individual can receive in SkillsUSA. The degrees recognize outstanding achievement in occupational and leadership skills. To earn the American SkillsUSA Degree an individual must demonstrate professional and occupational development and test-out at the State level. To earn the International SkillsUSA Degree a student must earn the American SkillsUSA degree while in school, graduate from a vocational-technical program, work 960 full-time hours in their trade and demonstrate professional and civic service.

American Degree – Level 5 Requirements

  • Develop and make a presentation promoting your career choice
  • Reassess and analyze your entry-level job skills using Total Quality Management tools
  • Maximize customer service opportunities
  • Design and present a lesson plan on an aspect of your career choice
  • Write a professional paper or develop a team report on one aspect of your career area
  • Refine your employment portfolio
  • Demonstrate proficiency in entry-level job skills

International Degree – Level 6 Requirements

  • Verify 960 hours of employment
  • List job duties and functions
  • Create an organizational chart
  • Write a plan for professional development
  • Study your trade as practiced abroad
  • Join SkillsUSA Alumni
  • Participate in a civic organization
  • Participate in 2 community service projects

SPECIAL PROJECTS

The activities in the Special Projects Level will build multiple skills that involve high levels of thinking and problem solving. The activities can be undertaken by individuals or teams with the instructor’s approval. Achieving the skills in the Special Projects Level will require long-term commitment by the student, his/her instructor, and his/her mentor. Serve a one-year internship with a professional mentor

  • Write an occupation-related research article for publication in a professional journal
  • Design a program-funding marketing campaign to deliver to a state legislator
  • Formulate a strategic plan for a major local project
  • Generate a public service message addressing a public health issue
  • Analyze and assess a customer service system
  • Investigate how technology has made an impact on your Weld within the past two years
  • Evaluate a safety or health hazard in your profession and develop options for improvement
  • Create a strategic plan to start a business in your occupation
  • Analyze your lifestyle by observing a support group and making a presentation to another
  • Write a technical report on a completed project