Career and Technical Pathways
Whether you are looking at pursuing full-time employment, furthering your education or training (such as an apprenticeship, a technical school, a two-year or four-year college), or beginning a military career- you start exploring those options now.
Choosing a career is one of life’s big decisions. Will a future career be exciting and fulfilling? Will it pay enough to support a family? Will there be opportunities to grow? Deciding on a career to pursue is exciting. But because there are so many career paths, it can be hard to choose.
Explore Options by:
Thinking about your interests and do some research. Need help? Here are some resources:
- Try a career quiz by YouScience. Ask Jill or your counselor for a code to get started!
- One great resource to explore career fields, education needed and job growth is O*Net Online.
Learn about an occupation, educational requirements and employment trends here at Employment Security Department for Washington State.
Try it out!
Volunteer where you’re likely to meet someone who has one of the jobs you’re interested in.
Look into a paid or unpaid internship
Job-shadow for a day.
Conduct research at the library or online.
Find a mentor who can give you perspective and advice.
Talk to family members and friends who work in those careers or know others who do.
Washington community and technical colleges teach specific subjects like computer programming, graphic design, early childhood education, and automotive technology, as well as general subjects.
If your plan is to prepare to compete for employment in an occupational field, you may choose to earn an Associate in Technical Arts or an Associate in Applied Science degree. Click here for more information
APPRENTICESHIP Information:
Apprenticeship is a great opportunity to prepare yourself for the future with on-the-job training in a highly skilled career. Additional information can be found at the CCR Center and using the links below: