The Career Planning Toolkit
The Book Doesn’t Stop When You Turn the Last Page
Introducing the Career Planning Toolkit
Career Planning: Jump-Start Your Career for Teens and Young Adults comes with nine hands-on tools
Designed to help you do the work — not just read about it.
Reading about careers is one thing. Actually mapping yours out takes tools.
The Career Planning Toolkit gives you everything you need to take what you’ve learned in each chapter and put it into action — on paper, on screen, or both.
Whether you’re picking up the book for the first time or returning to it a year later, the toolkit meets you where you are.
It’s practical, it’s personal, and it’s designed to grow with you.
How the Toolkit Works with the Book
Every tool is anchored to a specific chapter — but you don’t have to use them in order.
As you read, you’ll notice callout boxes in each chapter pointing you to the matching toolkit tool. Hit Chapter 6? Pull out Tool C. Ready to apply the ADAPT Framework from Chapter 3? Open Tool I. Finishing Chapter 10 and writing your Letter to Your Future Self? Tool H will be waiting for next year’s check-in.
The result is a reading experience that’s also a doing experience — and a toolkit you’ll keep returning to long after you turn the last page.
A Note for Educators & Parents
Each tool is designed to function as a standalone exercise. You don’t need to assign the full book first — individual tools work beautifully as classroom activities, counseling exercises, or college and career prep assignments.
Toolkit Downloads
Pairs with Chapter 7 — Experience You Already Have (More Than You Think)
You have more to put on a resume than you realize — and this template proves it. Built for where you are right now, it captures experience from school, volunteering, side projects, and life — not just traditional jobs.
Pairs with Chapter 8 — Networking Is Just Curiosity with Follow-Through
Most people don’t reach out because they don’t know what to say. These fill-in-the-blank scripts take the guesswork out of cold emails, LinkedIn messages, informational interview requests, and follow-ups — so you show up confident, not cringe-worthy.
Pairs with Chapter 6 — Money Reality Check
Before you can plan your career, you need to understand the numbers. This worksheet walks you through real-world income, expenses, and savings goals — so you know exactly what your “enough” looks like and what it costs to get there.
Pairs with Chapters 2–3 — What Work Really Looks Like
What does a day in that career actually look like? What does it pay — starting salary, not the top? This checklist keeps your research honest and comprehensive, covering everything from daily tasks to long-term growth potential.
Pairs with Chapter 3 — AI and the Future of Work
AI isn’t coming for your career — but it is changing it. This five-question audit helps you assess how AI affects your target field, identify the human skills that will always matter, and build a plan to stay ahead. Honest, practical, and maybe a little eye-opening.
Pairs with Chapter 2 — Who Are You, Actually?
Forty questions. Four domains: Cognitive, Social, Creative, and Operational. This self-assessment maps your natural strengths to real career directions — so you’re not choosing based on what sounds good. You’re choosing based on who you actually are.
Pairs with Chapter 10 — The Long Game & Letter to Your Future Self
Career planning isn’t a one-time event — it’s a practice. This annual form guides you through five reflection questions each year: What changed? What stayed true? What’s next? Fill it out, date it, save it. Then read it a year from now and see how far you’ve come.
Pairs with Chapter 3 — The ADAPT Framework (Signature Method)
ADAPT is the book’s five-step career framework. This worksheet guides you through each step — Assess, Develop, Add, Position, Track — with specific questions and a personal strategy table, so the framework becomes your action plan, not just a concept.
Your gateway to updated links, tools, and extras
One scan connects you to the book’s full online library — recommended reads, career databases, AI tools, and more. Think of it as the bridge between the book in your hands and everything the internet has to offer.