Facilitator Guide Career DecoderFACILITATOR GUIDE Lesson: Career Power-Up Facilitator Resource Mission Empower adult learners with complex backgrounds to own their life experiences and confidently navigate topics like gaps, criminal records, and new careers in Healthcare Admin. Time / Group 60-90 min • 4-8 players Interactive/Empowerment focus Instructional Flow 25m Intro & Case Studies (Slides 1-5) Define transferable skills. Discuss employment gaps and criminal backgrounds. Deep-dive into the Healthcare Admin case study to show how "keeping family records" translates to professional confidentiality. 20m Activity: The Skill Swap Pairs match the "Everyday Win" cards to "Career Power-Up" titles. Emphasize that these 10 scenarios represent real work-ready behaviors. 35m Game: Skill Slam (Rulebook Page 1) Use the new Job Challenge cards. Challenge participants to pitch for the "Healthcare Admin" card using their "Schedule Master" or "Watchdog" hero cards. Facilitation Tips The Background Reframe If someone is nervous about their record, focus on Slide 4. Owning the past and showing current stability is a high-level skill called Integrity. The Gap Reframe Homelessness or recovery aren't gaps—they are periods of Resilience and Self-Management. Reframe "surviving" as "strategic persistence." Facilitator Guide • Career Power-Up Series • Module 02
The Skill Swap ActivityTHE SKILL SWAP Part 1: Life Win Cards (Cut these out) Activity Sheet Mission: Cut out these cards. Match each "Everyday Win" to its "Career Power-Up" on the next page. "I keep my family's schedule organized—appointments, meetings, and bills—so nothing gets missed." Card A "When something breaks in the house, I figure out how to fix it using whatever tools I have on hand." Card B "I had to calm down an upset neighbor about a parking spot without getting angry or yelling back." Card C "I planned a route using the bus system to get to four different offices across town in one afternoon." Card D "I organized a community food drive and made sure everyone knew exactly where to drop off donations." Card E "I taught my younger cousins how to cook a healthy meal so they could take care of themselves." Card F "I managed to feed my family healthy meals on a $50 budget for the entire week without overspending." Card G "I stood up for my rights at the housing office and got them to fix the heating in my apartment." Card H "I kept track of all medications and appointments for my parent to make sure they stayed healthy." Card I "I noticed a leak in the basement and turned off the water valve before the whole floor got ruined." Card J The Skill Swap Activity • Page 1 THE SKILL SWAP Part 2: Career Power-Up Cards Logistics & Records "I manage complex schedules." Problem Solving "I fix things on my feet." De-escalation "I handle difficult people." Time Management "I plan and execute routes." Coordination "I organize community events." Leadership "I can teach and lead others." Budgeting "I maximize limited resources." Self-Advocacy "I clearly state needs." Case Management "I handle complex health needs." Crisis Response "I act quickly in emergencies." The Skill Swap Activity • Page 2 MY SKILL BLUEPRINT Part 3: Your Professional Profile Name: 1 The "Everyday Win" Write down one thing you're proud of handling well this week (at home, in the neighborhood, etc.). 2 The "Career Translation" If you were telling an employer about this, what professional skill would you call it? My Professional Skill: Fact Your Secret Weapon When an employer asks, "Tell me about a time you solved a problem," they want to know how you think. Handling a crisis at home is 100% proof of your skill. Your experience is your expertise. The Skill Swap Activity • Page 3
Career Power-Up SlidesProfessional Re-Entry CAREER POWER-UP Turning your Life Experience into your greatest professional asset. The Transferable Bridge Skills don't care where you learned them. "Whether you managed a kitchen at home or a kitchen in a restaurant, you were still managing logistics, budgets, and people." Life Wins → Job Skills Resilience Overcoming difficult personal hurdles. Operations Management Keeping a household running on time. Handling Employment Gaps The Reframe A "gap" on a resume is never an "empty" space. You were doing something valuable. "I took a period of time to focus on family care and personal development, where I strengthened my scheduling and crisis management skills." Keys to Success: Be Honest but Brief Focus on the Future Highlight Volunteer Work The "Elephant" in the Room Discussing a criminal background. Employers respect accountability and growth more than a perfect past. The Winning Pitch: "I made mistakes in my past, but those experiences taught me the importance of responsibility and hard work. I am now fully focused on being the most reliable member of your team." Owning the Past Showing the Change Case Study: Healthcare Admin "Must be detail-oriented, maintain strict confidentiality, and manage patient records with care in a busy medical office." The "Life" Translation: Confidentiality = Keeping Secrets Detail-Oriented = No Mistakes Patient Management = Customer Service SKILL SLAM It's time to take your "Hero Cards" and slam them down to solve real-world job challenges! LET'S PLAY You are the Key. Resilient • Reliable • Ready "Your past doesn't define you. Your skills and your drive to move forward do."
Skill Slam Game Cards PackSkill Slam: The Rulebook Bridging the Gap between Life and Career Guide The Objective In this game, your life experiences are your weapons. You win by proving that your "Life Wins" are actually professional skills a "Hiring Manager" needs. 1. Preparation 1 Shuffle Job Challenges and place them in the center. 2 Shuffle the Hero Deck and deal 3 cards to each player. 3 Pick a "Hiring Manager" for the round (this role rotates). 2. Playing the Game A Reveal: Manager flips a Job Card and reads the challenge aloud. B Slam: Players choose a Hero Card and "slam" it down. C Pitch: Explain why your life win makes you perfect for this hire. Win the Manager Over The Winning Script Try these words: "Manager, you need [Skill]. My 'Hero Card' shows I have it because I [Your Story]. I'm ready to use that skill for you." The Hiring Manager awards the card to the best pitch. Most cards wins! Discussion Guide • Which challenge felt most like a real-world job? • Can you think of a real "Hero Card" from your own week? • Why is growth more important than a perfect past? Pro Tip: If you have a background or gap, don't hide it. Reframe it as a period of resilience. Employers value grit! Skill Slam • Rulebook & Facilitation Guide • Module 02 Job Challenge Cards • Set 01 10 Cards Total Chaos Hub "The warehouse is a mess, 4 trucks just arrived, and the system is down. I need calm leadership." Need: Crisis Mgmt Peacekeeper "Patients are waiting and one is shouting at the front desk. Cool them down without a scene." Need: De-escalation Safe Hand "Heavy loads and fast machines. One mistake and someone gets hurt. Follow rules 100%." Need: Safety Focus Juggler "Phones ringing, deliveries arriving, and walk-ins. Keep eyes on everything at once." Need: Multitasking Detail Detective "If records are off by one digit, the system crashes. Spot errors in a pile of paper." Need: Accuracy Improviser "Short-staffed and machines are breaking. Don't wait for orders—jump in and fix it."
