National Career Development Month
NCDA Poetry & Art Contest
NCDA promotes career development through its annual celebration of National Career Development Month. Every November, career development professionals are encouraged to celebrate with career related activities. In particular, NCDA sponsors an annual Poetry and Art Contest.
November 2023 is National Career Development Month.
November 13-17 is National Career Development Week.
November 15 is National Career Development Day.
Announcing the 58th annual Poetry & Art Contest!
Art of the Mind: The Connection Between Wellness and Career Success
Participants are encouraged to use artistic expression to reflect on their personal journey, career goals, and aspirations while promoting well-being, self-awareness, and resilience, which are essential as they progress through their careers.
View the 58th annual Poetry and Art Contest brochure for complete details. See the new social media toolkit below for advertising graphics.
Entries will be judged on how they celebrate and inspire career development with a positive tone while emphasizing the national theme. Your ideas are valuable and worth celebrating!
Every adult and student enrolled school is eligible, as well as adult practitioners who are not in school. Entries may be either poetry or art. Contest divisions areas include:
- Primary - grades K-2
- Intermediate - grades 3-5
- Middle - grades 6-8
- Senior - grades 9-12
- Adult Student - ages 18 and older, enrolled in school
- Open Adult - ages 18 and older, not enrolled in school
The winning entries for each division will be recognized and displayed on the NCDA website in June, as well as at the annual Global Career Development Conference to be held in each summer. National winners will also receive a special certificate from the National Career Development Association. Complete contest rules are listed in the brochure.
Questions? Contact NCD Month Chair Kymmie Cartledge or email NCDA headquarters: info@ncda.org
Announcing the winners of the 57th Annual Poetry & Art Contest!
This year's theme is "Career Development Around the World: Making Connections and Increasing Access to Impact the Global Labor Market"
NCD Month Resources:
NEW! Social media toolkit. This link will allow you to make a copy of the CANVA template, which can be edited to fit the needs of school and state contest coordinators to advertise the contest. Thanks to Logann Dolan, who created these graphics.
NEW! Career Lesson Plans for specific grades. Thanks to Meredith Brown for creating these plans.
NCD Month K-12 Activities - Provided by Liz Jones.
NCD Month Celebration of Work. In the presidential year of Jane Goodman, 2006 Eminent Career Award Winner, many NCDA members, such as LeeAnn Bernier-Clarke (Editor), Pat Wickwire, Judith Ettinger, Victoria Wildermuth and priceless others, collaborated to create one of the most remarkable NCD Month Activity Books available.
Creative NCD Celebrations - see how others have celebrated!
Career Convergence offers many articles detailing activities for all age groups. Here are a few that might help you help your students celebrate NCD Month:
- Career Exploration in First Grade - By Deb Osborn
- Why Career Exploration Matters for Middle School Students - By Richard Wong
- K-12 College and Career Readiness Standards: Transforming Postsecondary Planning - By Leann M. Morgan
- Positive Psychology Techniques for K-12 Career Counseling - by Louis V. Paradise and Dawn Romano Ironside
- 21 Strategies for K-12 Career Development - by Deb Osborn
Click here for the NCD Month State Contacts
Each NCD Month entry must go through a state contest! If your state contact is not listed or your state is not participating in NCD Month, please contact NCDA Headquarters or e-mail the national chair for further instructions: Kymmie Cartledge at kcartledge@lexington1.net
