Illinois residents seeking guidance in career planning have access to valuable resources through the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) and the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT). One prominent tool is the Reality Check mobile app, designed to help teens, young adults, and career changers make informed decisions about their future. This app offers practical insights into various career paths and the necessary steps to achieve them.
Reality Check: A Practical Approach to Career Planning
The Reality Check app provides a step-by-step process for evaluating career options. By asking questions about lifestyle preferences, such as desired living location and transportation, the app calculates estimated monthly expenses. It then generates a list of occupations potentially aligning with the user’s financial goals. Users can explore each occupation’s educational requirements, typical daily tasks, work environment, and potential salary range. This allows for a realistic assessment of career viability and encourages informed decision-making.
Three Ways to Utilize Reality Check
Reality Check offers flexibility in how users approach career exploration:
- Wish List: Users can input desired lifestyle elements, allowing the app to calculate associated costs and suggest suitable careers.
- Salary-Based Exploration: Users enter an expected salary and deduct expenses to determine financial feasibility.
- Occupation-Specific Analysis: Users select a specific occupation and compare potential earnings with estimated living expenses in various Illinois cities.
Cost of Living Considerations
The app incorporates cost of living data from 13 diverse Illinois cities, providing a realistic picture of expenses across the state. This feature enhances the accuracy of financial projections and helps users make informed choices based on their preferred location.
Broad Application for Illinois Residents
Reality Check serves a wide range of users, including:
- Students: High school and college students can explore career options and align their educational choices with future goals.
- Career Changers: Adults considering a career transition can assess new paths and gain insights into required training and potential earnings.
- Educators: Counselors and teachers can utilize the app as a valuable tool for career planning and financial literacy education.
- Parents: Parents can introduce children to basic work concepts and financial responsibility.
Beyond Reality Check: The Illinois Career Information System
In addition to the Reality Check app, Illinois offers the comprehensive Career Information System (CIS) available online at ilcis.intocareers.org. This platform provides detailed information on occupations, financial aid, apprenticeships, educational institutions, salary trends, and self-employment opportunities. It also offers specialized guidance for veterans, individuals with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. The CIS provides resources such as resume building tips, interview techniques, and advice for workplace success.
Empowering Informed Career Choices in Illinois
The Reality Check app and the Illinois Career Information System are powerful Illinois Career Planning Tools, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their future. By providing realistic insights into career paths, educational requirements, and financial considerations, these resources contribute to successful career journeys for Illinois residents.
