Glossary

All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Acronyms

  • Capitalizing on Alliances
    Recognizes alliances, either internal or external to the organization, that are complementary and benefit the competitive position of multiple parties. Strategically shifts orientation to capitalize on these alliances.
  • Career
    Profession or occupation for which one trains and pursues as a lifework (Webster's New World Dictionary, Second College Edition). Citation
  • Career (or job) Transition
    The process of making a career or job change (e.g., military to civilian employment, mid-life career change).
  • Career (or job) Transition Services
    Information and services available through Illinois workNet to assist with the process of changing careers. Some examples include resources for learning about careers, starting a career plan, creating a resume, searching for jobs, and interviewing for a job. These services are found throughout the Individuals area of the site.
  • Career Cluster
    A grouping of occupations and broad industries, based on what they have in common. The sixteen Clusters provide learners who are unsure of their career goals an avenue to explore a wide variety of options. Citation
  • Career Cluster Framework

    The "umbrella" term used to represent a coordinated system of career clusters, career pathways, and programs of learners that organizes educational preparation and occupational choices into a unified concept.

  • Career Development

    Includes career exploration, career planning within a career area, and understanding the world of work (specific elements depend upon the level of the bridge program and on whether participants are already incumbent workers in the specific field). 

  • Career Development Experience

    A supervised work experience relating to an individual’s career area of interest that:

    • Occurs in a workplace or under other authentic working conditions;

    • Is co-developed by an education provider and at least one employer in the relevant field;

    • Provides compensation or educational credit to the participant;

    • Reinforces foundational professional skills including, at a minimum, those outlined in the Essential Employability Skills framework;

    • Includes a Professional Skills Assessment that assesses skill development and is utilized as a participant feedback tool;

    • Takes place for a minimum of 60 total hours.

  • Career Exploration Activity

    An activity such as a job shadow, attendance at a career exposition, or employer site visit provides an individual with the ability to engage directly with employers, for the purpose of gaining knowledge of one or more industry sectors or occupations.

  • Career Path
    The way in which your career develops. This development depends on a variety of factors, such as your personal capabilities, skills, experience, and the opportunities available for training and advancement.
  • Career Pathway

    ​Multi-year programs of academic and technical study that align adult education, postsecondary education, and/or occupational training to create pathways to attaining recognized credentials that qualify individuals for career advancement in projected employment opportunities. 

  • Career Pathways
    The States' Career Cluster Initiative's 16 career clusters are made up of career pathways that frame student opportunities as they pursue postsecondary education and a wide range of career opportunities from career beginnings to professional and managerial careers.
  • Career Pathways Instructor

    ​​An adult education instructor who teaches a specialized class that explicitly focuses on transitioning learners to postsecondary education, bridging adult education learners to occupation-specific training through sequential or dual-enrollment training, or other related adult education/postsecondary-specific courses. 

  • Career Pathways Program

    A combination of rigorous and high-quality education, training, and other services that aligns both vertically and horizontally across Secondary Education, Adult Education, Workforce Training and Development, Career and Technical Education, and Postsecondary Education systems, pathways and programs.  It includes collaborative partnerships with these entities, business and industry, along with human services agencies, corrections and other community stakeholders, as a foundational structure for sustainability and high quality.  Multiple entry and exit points are included to facilitate individuals building their skills as they progress along a continuum of education and training and advance in sector-specific employment.

    Ten Elements

    The Illinois Workforce Innovation Board envisions ten success elements for serving opportunity youth. These elements demonstrate the principles, strategies, and criteria in the Illinois' Unified State Plan and how various funding sources may be blended for full regional ownership and sustainability:

    1.       Partnerships with education, employers, and workforce boards to plan and leverage resources;

    2.       Business engagement in developing and managing career pathway programs;

    3.       Credentials, certifications, and/or postsecondary access that result from career pathway programs;

    4.       High-demand industries and higher skill occupations that meet youth earnings and career goals;

    5.       Work-based learning opportunities to experience the work-place;

    6.       Individual career/employment plans for each youth participant;

    7.       Individual supports available to meet the unique needs of each participant;

    8.       Contextualized learning and work-based skills that prepare youth for employment;

    9.       Measurement of results and continuous improvement methodology to enhance program quality; and

    10.    Sustainability plans that connect the program to broader, long-term employment strategies.

  • Caretaker Relative

    ​Relative, within the 5th degree of kinship, who is primarily responsible for the care of a minor child.

    • Relationship may be by blood, adoption, or marriage.

    • 5th degree of kinship includes brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, cousin, great grandparent, great aunt or uncle, first cousin, etc.

    • A relative cannot qualify as a child’s "caretaker relative" if the parent of that child is in the home.

    • Legal guardianship is not required.

  • Central

    ​This region includes the following counties: Cass, Christian, Greene, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, Scott, and Shelby.

  • Certified Illinois workNet Advisor
    This is a career counselor or advisor, educator, employment specialist or other workforce professionals who have successfully completed the Certified Illinois workNet Advisor Online Course. Certified Illinois workNet Advisors are knowledgeable about the state and federal workforce system and can help others use technology, especially the Internet, to locate career transition assistance, education and training, and support services.
  • Championing Great Ideas
    Advances and promotes the best ideas, even in the face of organizational resistance. Shields the team from bureaucratic processes that interfere with an innovative climate, and works to change processes that interfere with growth and innovation.
  • Chronological
    Of, relating to, or arranged in or according to the order of time. Citation
  • Chronological Resume
    Resume format that emphasizes employment history in reverse chronological order. 
  • CIP

    ​The purpose of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is to provide a taxonomic scheme that will support the accurate tracking, assessment, and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. Visit the CIP website to learn more. Citation

  • Civics

    Classes that integrate English literacy with civics education to assist immigrants with acclimating to the American culture and gain the skills and knowledge necessary for productive citizenship.

  • Classification of Instructional Programs Code

    ​The purpose of the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is to provide a taxonomic scheme that will support the accurate tracking, assessment, and reporting of fields of study and program completions activity. Visit the CIP website to learn more. Citation

  • COBRA
    This law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act to require most group health plans to provide a temporary continuation on group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated. (An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, September 2006, p. Citation
  • Cold Calls
    Unsolicited phone calls or letters to businesses that have not announced job openings to determine the potential for employment.
  • Collaborative/Groupware Applications
    Employs collaborative/groupware applications to facilitate group work. Employs computer operations applications to manage work tasks. Uses computer-based equipment (containing embedded computers or processors) to control devices.
  • Combination Resume
    Resume format that combines the strengths of functional and chronological resumes.
  • Committee Meetings/Board Meetings

    ​Meetings convened for the purpose of updating, networking, involving, and/or setting policy related to workforce services.

  • Community Center

    ​Locations such as a local YMCA or community learning centers that offer access to computers to youth and adults.

  • Completing Forms
    Selects and completes appropriate forms quickly and completely; attends to and follows through on important information in paperwork. Expedites forms, orders or advances that require immediate attention.
  • Complies with Policies
    Follows written and verbal directions. Complies with organizational rules, policies and procedures.
  • Comprehends the Basics
    Understands and efficiently uses basic computer hardware (e.g. PCs, printers) and software (e.g. word processing software, spreadsheet software) to perform tasks. Understands common computer terminology (e.g., program, operating system) and is familiar with the fundamental capabilities of computers. Identify and define basic computer terminology (e.g., software, hardware, cursor, startup/shutdown, storage medium, file, memory); Identify and explain the functions and components of a computer system (e.g., monitor, central processing unit, storage devices, keyboard, mouse, printer); Demonstrate proper care and correct use of media and equipment; Demonstrate the correct use of input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard) and output devices (e.g. monitor, printer, speakers); Develop touch keyboarding techniques using both hands; Save and backup files on a computer hard drive, storage medium, or server; Operate basic audio and video equipment to listen to and view media programs; Identify and use a variety of storage media (e.g., hard drives, CD-ROM, flash drive); Demonstrate how to open and run a software program from a local storage device or network server.
  • Comprehension
    Locates, understands, and interprets technical and general written information in prose and in documents such as manuals, reports, memos, letters, forms, graphs, charts, tables, calendars, schedules, signs, notices, applications and directions; understands the purpose of written materials. Attains meaning and comprehends core ideas.
  • Comprehensive Center

    1. Each one-stop delivery system must include at least one designated comprehensive center where job seekers and employer customers can access the programs, services, and activities of all required one-stop partners (Section 121(b)(l)(B) of WIOA), along with any additional partners as determined by the LWIB.  Additionally, a comprehensive one-stop center must:

    a. Have at least one WIOA Title I staff person physically present;

    b. Provide the career services listed in 20 CFR 678.430, 34 CFR 361.430, and 34 CFR 463.430;

    c. Provide access to training services described in 20 CFR 680.200; 

    d. Provide access to any employment and training activities carried out under Section 134(d) of WIOA;

    e. Provide access to programs and activities carried out by one-stop partners listed in 20 CFR 678.400 through 678.410, 34 CFR 361.400 through 361.410, and 34 CFR 463.400 through 463.410, including the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Services (ES) program; and

    f. Make available workforce and labor market information.

    2. Customers must have access to these programs, services, and activities during regular business days and hours (20 CFR 678.305(c), 34 CFR 361.305(c), and 34 CFR 463.305(c)). The LWIB may establish other service days and hours to accommodate individuals unable to access the one-stop center during regular business hours.

    3. One-stop partner programs may deliver career services at a comprehensive one-stop in one of three ways (20 CFR 678.305(d), 34 CFR 361.305(d), and 34 CFR 463.305(d)):   

    a. By a program staff member physically present at the one-stop center;

    b. By a staff member from a different partner program physically present and appropriately trained to provide information to customers about the resources available through all partner programs; or

    c. By using technology to provide a direct linkage to a program staff member who can provide meaningful information or services.  The "Governor's Guidelines to State and Local Program Partners Negotiating Costs and Services" details Illinois' requirements concerning direct linkage under WIOA.

  • Computation
    Adds, subtracts, multiplies, and divides with whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and percents. Calculates averages, median, standard deviation ratios, proportions and rates. Converts decimals to fractions. Converts fractions to percents.
  • Computer Basics Using Free Online Courses
    This foundational training series, available at no cost to anyone, covers topic areas such as Computer Basics, The Internet and World Wide Web, and Computer Productivity.
  • Conflict
    A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash.
  • Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986
    This law amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act to require most group health plans to provide a temporary continuation on group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated. (An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA, U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, September 2006, p. Citation
  • Construct a Plan to Solve the Problem
    Effectively uses both internal resources (e.g., internal computer networks, company filing systems) and external resources (e.g., internet search engines) to locate and gather information. Examines information obtained for relevance and completeness. Recognizes important gaps in existing information and takes steps to eliminate those gaps; organizes and reorganizes information as appropriate to gain a better understanding of the problem. Integrates previously learned and externally obtained information to generate a variety of high-quality alternative approaches to the problem. Skillfully uses logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses, the costs and benefits, and the short and long-term consequences of different approaches. Decisively chooses the best solution after contemplating available approaches to the problem. Makes difficult decisions even in highly ambiguous or ill-defined situations. Quickly chooses an effective solution without assistance when appropriate.
  • Constructive Discharge
    Generally, the event in which a worker’s resignation or retirement may be found to be involuntary because the employer has created a hostile or intolerable work environment or has applied other forms of pressure or coercion that forced the employee to quit or resign.
  • Coordinating in distributed environments
    Coordinates schedules of colleagues, co-workers, and clients in regional locations (i.e., across time zones) to ensure that inconvenience is minimized and productivity is enhanced. Leverages technology (e.g., internet, teleconference) to facilitate information sharing in distributed work environments. Takes advantage of team member availability throughout business hours in multiple time zones to enhance productivity.
  • Correctional Education

    To assist in reducing recidivism, Adult Education is equipping incarcerated individuals with the basic and life skills needed to sustain meaningful employment upon their release.​

  • Counsels
    Counsels and encourages employees who have motivational or performance problems. Indicates a desire to help subordinates learn from mistakes and overcome performance problems.
  • Courses (*)
    An ISBE approved credit-bearing course or postsecondary CIP code that embodies a set of learning activities that culminate in the mastery of standards.
  • Cover Letter
    A one-page letter that is sent with a resume when you apply for job.
  • Creating Efficiencies
    Consistently seeks to perform work unit tasks in a cost efficient manner. Identifies ways to produce the same level and quality of work while utilizing fewer resources; creates an organizational climate in which cost effectiveness is valued and rewarded.
  • Credentials / Assessments (*)
    A widely recognized certificate that has market value and can be obtained through the completion of academic assessments and programs or through industry-recognized training and certificate granting institutions.
  • Critical and Analytic Thinking Reasoning
    Possesses sufficient inductive and deductive reasoning ability to perform job successfully. Critically reviews, analyzes, synthesizes, compares, and interprets information. Draws conclusions from relevant and/or missing information. Understands the principles underlying the relationship among facts and applies this understanding when solving problems.
  • Criticism (Constructive)
    Criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions. Citation
  • Customized Training
    Training a) that is designed to meet the special requirements of an employer (including a group of employers); b) that is conducted with a commitment by the employer to employ an individual on successful completion of the training; and c) for which the employer pays for
    (i) a significant portion of the cost of training, as determined by the local board involved, taking into account the size of the employer and such other factors as the local board determines to be appropriate, which may include the number of employees participating in training, wage and benefit levels of those employees (at present and anticipated upon completion of the training), relation of the training to the competitiveness of a participant, and other employer-provided training and advancement opportunities; and
    (ii) in the case of customized training (as defined in subparagraphs (A) and (B)) involving an employer located in multiple local areas in the State, a significant portion of the cost of the training, as determined by the Governor of the State, taking into account the size of the employer and such other factors as the Governor determines to be appropriate.