National Career
Development Month
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 2020 is National Career Development Month.
November 16-20 is National Career Development Week.
November 18 is National Career Development Day.
Celebrate National Career Development Month with the 55th Annual Poetry & Art Contest! This year's theme is "My Future Career: Imagine the Possibilities"! View the contest brochure for details and deadlines.
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 from the National Career Development Association a special certificate.
See the NCD Month Contest Brochure for complete details about the 55th annual contest.
Questions? Contact NCD Month Co-Chairs: Morgan Ray and Tovon Hamilton or email NCDA headquarters: info@ncda.org
Congratulations to the winners of the 54th Annual Poetry and Art Contest! The contest theme: "My Inspiring Future Career". Click here to view the list of winners.
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.
Quick Links
Art Contest Winning Entries
1st Place Michelle Liu
3rd Place Matthew Colclough
3rd Place Caleb Barker
2nd Place Cloey Davis
2nd Place Alyssa Culver Draper
2nd Place Nishka Patel
1st Place Sarah Nguyen
2nd Place Malissa Wright
2nd Place Lara Allyson Tijing
1st Place Ronda Branch
1st Place Mary Grace Dietrick
1st Place Selene Nguyen
1st Place Sabrina Bowman
3rd Place Nate Franklin
2nd Place Adrian Guerrero
1st Place Courtney Tyson
3rd Place David Stringfellow
1st Place Jamie Hopkins
3rd Place Carson England
2nd Place Matthew Hosler
1st Place Alissia Greene
3rd Place Conner Creech
1st Place Callie Seminavage
1st Place Jayme Martin
3rd Place Ambree Singer
NCD Month Resources
Creative Ways to Celebrate- a list of ideas submitted by those who have celebrated in previous years
NCD Month K-12 Activities - Provided by Liz Jones - Plainwell Counseling Center
Click Here to read from 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. This is a work in progress, and NCDA is striving to provide you with the best resources available.
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
-- 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
