Career Planning Before and During High School

High School Graduate
Jobs that are listed as requiring work experience or on-the-job training typically don’t require education beyond high school. However, when there are many people looking for jobs, there are times when degrees are used as a selection criteria even though they aren’t required. Nearly all jobs require reading for information, locating information and applied math. Regardless of whether you plan to acquire more education and training, high skills in all three areas are beneficial. Taking a test called WorkKeys and acquiring a Career Readiness Certificate will be valuable in that it provides proof to employers that you have these skills. There are three levels of certification - Gold, Silver and Bronze. Research shows that jobs paying $30 per hour or more require a Gold level, $20 - $30 per hour requires a silver level and $10 - $20 per hour requires a bronze level. If you wish to improve these skills, training programs are available by contacting your local workforce center. The local workforce center can also help you find a job.

High School Graduate

Jobs that are listed as requiring work experience or on-the-job training typically don’t require education beyond high school. However, when there are many people looking for jobs, there are times when degrees are used as a selection criteria even though they aren’t required.

Nearly all jobs require reading for information, locating information and applied math. Regardless of whether you plan to acquire more education and training, high skills in all three areas are beneficial. Taking a test called WorkKeys and acquiring a Career Readiness Certificate will be valuable in that it provides proof to employers that you have these skills.

There are three levels of certification - Gold, Silver and Bronze. Research shows that jobs paying $30 per hour or more require a Gold level, $20 - $30 per hour requires a silver level and $10 - $20 per hour requires a bronze level.

If you wish to improve these skills, training programs are available by contacting your local workforce center. The local workforce center can also help you find a job.

Low Skill Jobs
Low-skilled jobs are those requiring workers to have no more than a high school education. They still require employability, academic and technical skills for job success. Typically low skill jobs are also low paying, although that isn’t always the case. Some low skill jobs have difficult working conditions or are in isolated locations and pay more as a result. Others require substantial on the job training and work experience to earn higher wages. Most of the higher paying jobs are not the first job one would have after high school. High school students and recent high school graduates are usually hired in lower paying jobs. The number of low skill jobs is getting smaller and more jobs require some education or training.

Low Skill Jobs

Low-skilled jobs are those requiring workers to have no more than a high school education. They still require employability, academic and technical skills for job success.

Typically low skill jobs are also low paying, although that isn’t always the case. Some low skill jobs have difficult working conditions or are in isolated locations and pay more as a result. Others require substantial on the job training and work experience to earn higher wages.

Most of the higher paying jobs are not the first job one would have after high school. High school students and recent high school graduates are usually hired in lower paying jobs.

The number of low skill jobs is getting smaller and more jobs require some education or training.

Military Training
Maintaining a strong national defense requires workers who can do such diverse tasks as run a hospital, command a tank, program a computer system, operate a nuclear reactor, or repair and maintain a helicopter. The military provides training and work experience in these and many other fields for more than 2.6 million people. More than 1.4 million people serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and more than 1.2 million serve in their Reserve components and the Air and Army National Guard... read more U.S. Air Force U.S. Army U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Marines U.S. Navy

Military Training

Maintaining a strong national defense requires workers who can do such diverse tasks as run a hospital, command a tank, program a computer system, operate a nuclear reactor, or repair and maintain a helicopter. The military provides training and work experience in these and many other fields for more than 2.6 million people. More than 1.4 million people serve in the active Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and more than 1.2 million serve in their Reserve components and the Air and Army National Guard... read more