Preparing for Current and
Future Career Paths
L
et’s take a minute to remember our high school days. What
comes to mind? The musical, sports, homecoming, prom,
your favorite teacher and all those best friends you would
never forget?
Fast forward to recent graduates, and you may find their
memories of those 720 days may be similar to ours with
additional recollections of the pressures of making sure their
transcripts, GPA and class rank will ensure a future of success.
While walking through the halls of today’s high schools, one
notices word processors have been replaced by iPads and
laptops, the old wood shop has evolved into technology labs
equipped with state of art equipment, i.e. 3D printers, to rapidly
create student designed prototypes and English classes utilize
Maker Spaces to bring their academics to life through project-
based learning.
In addition to these changes, students are facing the realization
that the jobs/careers that exist today may be gone or significantly
changed when they are ready to enter the workforce. Remember
these young adults have grown up in a fast-paced, on-line cyber
world and are more adaptable to change than generations prior.
However, making the right choice for their future career paths
is more challenging than it was back in the day. The decision that
will ensure success can also be as fleeting as the job that is here
today and gone tomorrow.
Hopefully, the following information will help students with
informed post-secondary preparation and decision making. It is
never too early to start.
Research has shown the main factors for teens in making
job/career decisions to consider are within the following
questions:
1. What is my personal goal in life?
2. What am I passionate about and what kind of career
will fulfill this?
3. Am I willing to put in the extra effort to be successful?
4. Is money my primary focus in selecting a career path?
5. Do I prefer to work alone or on a team with co-
workers?
6. Do I want to work in an office everyday or have the
flexibility to travel and/or work from home?
Below are familiar jobs/careers for current and projected
growths for future graduates.
Medical Field
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), Nurse
Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Registered Nurses
Technology Sector
Software Architects, Systems Engineers, Software
Engineers, IT Analysts
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SOUTH FAYETTE
Financial Services
Accountants, Actuaries, Financial Advisors
Technical Careers
Physical Therapist Assistants, Dental Hygienists, Vet
Technicians, Electricians, Plumbers, Machine Operators, HVAC
Installers, Construction Workers, Welders, Pipe and Steam
Fitters
Business Services
Environmental Health Specialist, Construction Estimator
Sales Careers
Sales Director, Sales Executive, Senior Sales Professional
Engineering Jobs
Project Engineer, Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer,
Environmental Engineer, Biomedical Engineer
Education
Primary and Secondary teachers, Early Childhood
Development Specialists, College Professors and Technical
School Instructors
Each of the above career/jobs require either an 18 month,
2 year or 4+ year post-secondary education.
The baby boom generation is at or beyond retirement age,
and as a result 62% of firms are struggling to fill the following
positions. Under each of the titles are the approximate amount
of open positions as of January 1, 2019: https://www.adeccousa.
com/employers/resources/skilled-trades-in-demand/