This is the stage in the process where end users first learn about the CareerBooster tool.  This can be done by visiting theNew Horizons of Minnesota website, through a Google search, through their center's training advisor request, a confirmation letter received for their class attendance, or on the day of the class they are attending. 

                        For example the New Horizons of Minnesota and other participating center websites have various pages and links to CareerBooster because their business strategy is based on customized solutions and adaptive learning.  With customized solutions, assessments play a big part of the overall delivery of the training recommendations, therefore, you will see multiple references to assessments on this company website.

                        The google search engine has been a strong way to increase our overall recognition as an assessment expert by bringing in over 500 new contacts each month who have registered and/or have taken an assessment.  There are many individuals looking for new career goals and career changes and our CareerBooster tool will help them in justifying their education dollars.

                        A Training Advisors may also recommend that you take an assessment as part of their profiling strategy.  They can use the tool to help make training recommendations or to help validate the training recommendations that they offer to an individual.

                        Upon registering for a class, you will receive a confirmation letter from your center via email that asks you to take the assessment for that class.  These results are reviewed by their instructors, who can learn some valuable information about the skill level of their class, prior to the first day.

Phase 2:  Completing the assessment

However you found CareerBooster, you obviously want to access your skills to determine if gaps exist and then understand the education solution to close those gaps.  CareerBooster offers several assessment options:

·         When a student registers for a class they are asked to complete the assessment for the class.  The results are used by New Horizons of Minnesota instructors, who gain insight into the skill levels of the students prior to the first day of the class.

·         Individuals may also see other classes listed in the course selection area which sparks their interest, therefore an assessment is looked at to determine if the student wants to take a certain class.    New Horizons of Minnesota training advisors, who may contact them for additional training needs, look also at these reports.

·         Individuals may be pursuing classes by their employers or for their own personal growth to gain a better handle on the technology and they are unsure of what class or level to take.  CareerBooster makes training recommendations based off of the results.

·         Certifications play a role in most technology careers.  A lot of organizations are requiring their staff to have certifications in order to move up in their career.  End users are faced with the dilemma of what courses to take in order to help them with their certifications.  CareerBooster has a section that breaks the assessments down by certification and makes training recommendations based off of those results.

Phase 3:  Individual Reports

Once the assessment is completed, there are three reports available to an end user (although these reports can only be turned on by contacting your training advisor at  New Horizons of Minnesota). 

Achievements Report:   This report will show you all of the assessments you have completed as well as the rating you gave within each skill. 

Gaps Report:   This report shows you all of the assessments you completed, the rating you gave as well as the recommended rating.  Anything less than the recommended rating is established as a “gap” and should be filled by completing a course and/or module of that course.

Summary report:   This report shows you an overall percentage toward completing your goal within each education solution presented as part of your solution. 

Phase 4:  Center Reports

There are several reports that are generated for New Horizons of Minnesota within CareerBooster.

Training advisors receive a report that an assessment has been completed by an individual.  They can then use the information in the report to validate their training recommendation.

Instructors use the reports for classes to gain valuable information about their students prior to the first day of class.  This information will allow the instructor to see their classes’ skill level on a modular basis.  This information can be used to view overall strengths and weaknesses in their classes to adjust their curriculum based on the students’ needs.