As schools and districts begin to shift their attention from solely focusing on graduation rates to intentionally understanding more about where their graduates end up and how they’re doing after they leave the system, a number of key indicators for preparation emerge. College and career readiness is not just about having a strong academic foundation; it’s about understanding the available paths and how to achieve success in each. In other words, even when students have a strong transcript, resume, and experiences outside of school, they still need a clear picture of where to look for work, what it takes to land a job, and how to be successful in it. 

In the distant past, having a bachelor's degree was sufficient for access into the workforce. And, a high school diploma meant much more to employers than it does today. Both are still key milestones, but the world of work is far more complex, often requiring specific training and special qualifications. In some cases, it’s not necessary to go beyond a 2-year degree program or specialized credential, which means that more schooling doesn’t have the return on investment it seemingly promises. In other cases, getting a graduate degree opens doors to expanding career opportunities. The point is that students must know their pathway options and the best next steps to take. The more that students know within the following three areas of college and career readiness, the better off they’ll be when they’re on their own after graduation. 

Educational Attainment and Credential Stacking

The first thing that students ought to know about their chosen career path is the levels of educational attainment necessary for access and upward mobility. Lots of great careers don’t require college, but nearly every high-wage job entails a credential of some sort. The skilled trades will always be in demand, but it’s not likely that a student can become a certified electrician without the associated credential. And, specialized credentials, such as avionics technician, within a particular trade, can provide even more opportunities. 

Another clear example is in the field of nursing, whereby there’s a vast array of possibilities depending on education and credential attainment. Registered nurses make a substantial salary, but earnings are significantly higher for nurse practitioners, which typically requires a masters or doctorate degree. When students are equipped with information about different career paths and the education levels necessary to access each, they can start their careers in a better financial position with a greater potential for advancement along the way. Without this essential knowledge, it may cost them both time and money. 

Local High Demand Jobs

A great way to search for jobs is by interest and skills. When students like the specific work activities for a given career choice and they’re good at those activities, there’s often a solid fit. But, searching for jobs by local demand is another great way for students to make lists of jobs that are currently available or have a trajectory to be in the future. In fact, every major metro area is projected to lack qualified workers in one or more job functions. It’s also true that while some of these jobs are ubiquitous, many of them are very unique to a particular region. 

As students conduct research about high demand jobs in their city or town, they can backwards map those jobs to the things that interest them and the level of education they want to achieve rather than the other way around. In the past, the path to above-average salaries was mostly based on picking the right college major; now, that path presents a number of options, but only if students understand them, where they lead, and how to get there. Schools and districts that help students to conduct career research, to write career plans, and develop career ready strategies are providing students with a substantial advantage over those that don’t. 

Related Career Options

In most cases, students’ knowledge about available careers is limited to their personal network. They know about the jobs that they see and hear from their care takers, neighbors, and friends. Students with a large diverse network benefit from this and get to explore various career fields as they make decisions for themselves and their future. Students with a narrow network don’t get to see themselves in as many options. Unfortunately, this can also perpetuate generational poverty. Schools and districts with a vision to combat these limitations are deliberate about helping students build their network and learn about jobs that they might not have otherwise come across. 

One effective way for students to become more aware of career options is for them to use their current list of career choices and career clusters to do further research about related options. As students uncover jobs they didn’t previously know about, they can journal about those jobs, including the education and credentials necessary for entry into them. The deeper that students dive into career exploration in middle and high school, the more options they have for later in life, even as they change careers and exercise those options long after graduation. 

Conclusion 

Exposing students to careers and career clusters doesn’t have to be complicated work. The strategies included above can be great additions to advisory periods and other spaces where students are learning about themselves and making plans for their future. Schools and districts can build a program of work for students in every grade level so that students have viable postsecondary plans, and we feel confident about them executing the plans in a time when they might have less access to advisement. 

If you already use MaiaLearning, you know that we help to facilitate your vision for college and career readiness (CCR). We not only make the strategies discussed here possible, we bring them to life with tools, dashboards, activities, lessons, and more. We hope you’ll schedule a demo today to learn more about how we can help your students and meet your state’s CCR requirements.