CIP with Student Veterans

Seth Hayden Ph.D., NCC Kathy Dorsett Ed.S., NCC Leigh Eskin B.A.

ACA Conference 2013 Shengli Dong Ph.D.

Outline Introduction

Challenges of Student Veterans

Cognitive Information Processing (CIP)

Connecting Career with CIP

Research on the Issue

Application/Implications

Questions/Comments

Introduction

Seth Hayden Ph.D., NCC• Program Director of CACP – FSU Career Center

Kathy Dorsett Ed.S., NCC• Assistant Director of CACP – FSU Career Center

Leigh Eskin B.A.• 2nd year – graduate counseling student – FSU

Shengli Dong Ph.D.• Assistant Professor of Counseling - FSU

Challenges of Student Veterans The Post 9/11 GI Bill, authorized by Congress

in 2008, has contributed to a large number of veterans seeking post-secondary degrees(Sander, 2012).

About 800,000 military veterans now attending U.S. colleges:• An estimated 88% drop out of school during their first

year• 3% graduate (% varies depending on study)Study by the Colorado Workforce Development Council (Briggs, 2012).

Challenges of Student Veterans

Unemployment rate for veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq) is roughly 20% (Lang & Powers, 2011).

Cognitive Information Processing (CIP)

Theoretical approach to career counseling focuses largely on knowledge of self and options, knowledge of decision making, and thinking associated with making decisions (Sampson, Reardon, Peterson, & Lenz, 2004).

CIP Pyramid of Information Processing

Knowing About Myself

Knowing About My Options

Knowing How I Make Decisions

Thinking About My Decision Making

Connecting Career with CIP

The use of CIP can be helpful to address negative career thoughts as well as assist in clarifying self and options knowledge (Bollock, Braud, Andrews, & Phillips, 2009; Clemens & Milsom, 2008)

FSU Student Veterans 350-400 student veterans FSU Veterans Center Collegiate Veterans Association (CVA)

“[The] FSU Veteran Center will lead the effort to make Florida State University the most veteran-friendly public university in the United States.”

• -FSU Veteran Center Mission

FSU Career Center Veteran Initiatives

Career Center Liaisons Library Links Print Materials Tabling Events Veterans Networking Night Veterans Guide SDS 3340

Research Purpose The purpose of this study will be to

investigate the application of the Cognitive Information Processing (CIP; Sampson, Reardon, Peterson, & Lenz, 2004) approach to career counseling in assisting student veterans in their career decision making

Primary Goals Expand veteran student self knowledge and

career options through the CIP approach

Explore transferable skills gained in the military

Gain knowledge on resources that can assist student veterans in the job search

Decrease negative metacognitions, as measured by the Career Thoughts Inventory and the My Vocational Situation

Research Stages

Needs Assessment

Group Counseling or Workshop Series

Needs Assessment Focused on career needs Surveyed desired intervention

• Group Counseling, workshop, or other Solicited input from Director of FSU

Veterans Center Emailed via Veterans Center

Results of Needs Assessment

40 students responded 53% graduate students 88% heard of Career Center; 31% had

visited 59% group career counseling vs. 28%

workshop series Top 3 expressed needs:

Transferring skills gained in military to the workplace Preparing a resume/CV Negotiating job offers

Group Structure Psycho-educational group

6 sessions   1 month   Closed group

Voluntary membership

Student veteran members  Group leaders: 

• Must be currently working on obtaining a Master’s degree or have a Master’s degree in a counseling field

 • Must be under supervision if currently working on obtaining a Master’s degree

 

Group Activities ILP: Individual Learning Plan

SDS: Self-Directed Search and Opportunities Finder

The Guide to Good decision Making

CTI: Career Thoughts Inventory

CTI Workbook Exercises

Resume development

Informational interviewing

Transferring skills from the military to the workplace

Resource discussion

CASVE Cycle

Communication

AnalysisExecution

SynthesisValuing

Group Session One: Communication

Co-leaders begin with introductions and goals for the group

Career Thoughts Inventory and My Vocational Situation

CIP Pyramid, CASVE Cycle Diagram, and CTI workbook

Member backgrounds /goals; Guide to Good Decisions Making (GTGDM)

Group rejoins and members share information

Co-Leaders distribute and explain SDS- Self-Directed Search

Self-Directed Search is written on Individual Learning Plan (ILP)

Goal: one new item is added to ILP each week

Group Session Two: Analysis

Self-Directed Search turned in; summary print-outs prepared

Interests, values, and skills-Guide in GTGDM discussed

Group rejoins and transferable skills are given extra concentration

Students receive SDS results; group results are tallied on a white board

SDS interpretation discussion and how to use the SDS Opportunities Finder

Co-leaders discuss career thoughts and reframing items in workbook

Students write down any options on the GTGDM

HW: reframe at least 2 thoughts, and to bring in a copy of current resume

 

Group Session Three: Synthesis

Students share and process cognitive reframes

Resources such as the Military Crosswalk Search discussed

Students computers to start 2nd page of the GTGDM

Co-leaders discuss resume-writing

Students critique each other’s resumes, highlighting transferrable skills

HW: Conduct an information interview through ProfessioNole network, Student Veterans Association, or LinkedIn

HW: Set up a LinkedIn account and make revisions to resumes

Group Session Four: Valuing

Student presents on their informational interview

Students work together complete page 4 of the GTGDM

Discussion of Organizational Culture and “fit”

Job-hunting resources such as VetJobs explored

HW: Sign up on LinkedIn and “connect” with each other if they haven’t already

HW: Bring in an updated resume and cover letter geared towards a specific job posting

Group Session Five: Execution

Evaluate each other’s resumes and cover letter

Co-leaders discuss Elevator Speech and career expos

Practice elevator speeches in pairs

Evaluating and negotiating job offers is discussed

Co-leaders review information on evaluating and negotiating job offers, interviewing, applying for graduate school, and networking.

Veteran students receive a new ILP and write down steps they want to take in completing their career goals

Group Session Six: Communication

Co-leaders lead a discussion on the ILPs, and students share what they have written

The Career Thoughts Inventory is re-administered, and students compare results to their first CTI.

Co-leaders answer any lingering concerns or questions

Co-leaders conclude the group and wrap up

Implications/Applications Linked to benefit of providing

evidenced based practices to those receiving services.• Lots of $ allocated for veterans services• What works well?

Examination of process of career decision-making and problem solving• Can be beneficial now and into the future• Providing fish vs. teaching how to fish

Questions & Answers

ReferencesBriggs, B. (2012). Thousands of veterans failing in the latest battlefield: College. Retrieved from http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/02/12509343-thousands-of-veterans-failing-in-latest-battlefield-college?lite

Bullock, E. E., Braud, J., Andrews, L., & Phillips, J. (2009). Career concerns of unemployed U.S. war veterans: Suggestions from a Cognitive Information Processing approach. Journal of Employment Counseling, 46, 171-181.    Clemens, E. V., & Milsom, A. S. (2008). Enlisted service members’ transition into the civilian world of work: A Cognitive Information Processing approach. The Career Development Quarterly, 56, 246-256.

Lang, W. A., & Powers, J. T. (2011). Completing the mission: A pilot study of veteran students’ progresstoward degree attainment in the post-9/11 era. Operation College Promise and The Pat Tillman Founda-tion. http://www.pattillmanfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Completing-the-Mission.pdf

Sampson, J. P., Jr., Reardon, R. C., Peterson, G. W., & Lenz, J. G. (2004). Career counseling and services: A cognitive information processing approach. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Sander, L. (2012). With GI Bill’s billions at stake, colleges compete to lure veterans. Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/With-GI-Bills-Billions-at/131723/