Career Paths for Everyone
"The Journey to finding your passion is a lifelong endeavor"
The misconception is that one's career path is a straight line. From A to B. From school to job to retirement. This is a career myth that has deep roots and must be challenged.
The more traditional career path is that there is no traditional path. Everyone has a different journey. Everyone finds their way on their terms. The goal of Your Future: Make it Your Own (YF:MIYO) is to give students tools, information, and resources that will help them identify their strengths and abilities, and uncover their passions and interests, to help them find a meaningful career.
Essentially, identify what they're good at, what they like, and how they can get paid for it.
What Career Path is Best Suited for Your Skills and Interests?
Click the tabs + to see a snapshot of pros and cons for each pathPROS
- Higher entry-level pay
- Low stigma
- Breadth of access to career information
- Versatility in career changes
- High job mobility
CONS
- Delayed career gratification
- Student Debt
PROS
- Medium entry-level pay
- Breadth of access to career information
- Versatility in career changes
- Higher job mobility
CONS
- Medium stigma
- Low Student Debt
- Delayed career gratification
PROS
- Instant gratification
- Learning on the job
- Career experience
- Learn what you like/don't like
CONS
- Low entry-level pay
- Low upward mobility
PROS
- Immediate career
- Family-centric path
- Heritage and tradition
- High mobility
- Stability
CONS
- High stigma
- External negative perception
- Low entry level pay
PROS
- Quick way to upskill
- Higher job mobility
- Low Investment
- Learn while on the job
CONS
- Low availability across industries
- Hard finding the right certifying entity
PROS
- Instant gratification
- High job demand
- High entry-level pay
CONS
- Medium stigma
- Lack of path information
- Lack of available resources to identify opportunities
PROS
- Higher entry-level consideration
- Insight into what you like/don't like
- Higher job mobility
CONS
- Competitive
- Lack of availability for certain industries/paths
PROS
- On the job learning
- Higher entry-level pay
- Immediate skill and experience
CONS
- Hard to find
- Lack of breadth of programs
- Only for certain industries/paths
PROS
- Autonomy
- High risk, high reward
- On-the-job education
- Instant career
- High job mobility
CONS
- High risk, high reward
- Need assets or investment
- Low entry-level pay
- Medium to high debt
what does these different paths mean to me?
Let's Learn More About These Different Options
Select one of the career paths to learn more about opportunities and resources.
Apprenticeships
Employers across the country struggle to find workers with the right skills due to the growing skills gap in the workforce. Automation or technical innovation alone can’t overcome these challenges. American workers need to upgrade their skills and America’s businesses must become producers of the talent they need to thrive.
WHAT IS APPRENTICESHIP?
Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience, classroom instruction, and a nationally-recognized, portable credential.
Employers can choose to register their programs with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to show prospective job seekers that their apprenticeship program meets national quality standards.
Apprentices Work
Unemployment rates have decreased from over 15% in 2010 to approximately 2% in 2020, showing the high demand, and need, for this type of skilled worker, c/o of zippia.com.
TOP 5 Industries for Apprenticeships
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Technology
- Retail
- Professional
Things to Consider for Each Career Path
Look at the sliders to review this career path to see if it makes sense for your situation, needs, and wants.
