Career Choices

Everyone will need to provide for themselves as they enter the adult world.  As part of our comprehensive guidance plan, students are encouraged to explore the various career pathways and career clusters and individual occupations during their first years at ZHS .  Students should find options that are enjoyable, interested, and rewarding.   While you do not have to identify "The Career" of your life, you should have some idea of areas of interest.  This can then be matched up to post secondary (after high school graduation) placement.  Hopefully you have completed a few job shadows prior to your senior year to experience a career in the real world.

To secure desirable employment some form of post secondary training/education is needed. A question that each student must answer for themselves is "How much education do you wish to invest in after high school?"   In general, the more time, money and energy that you invest in education and train, the greater the career choices and rewards.  Three general categories based on education levels completed are:

Entry Level Careers: Entry level occupations are usually the lowest skill level positions.  While they may be obtained with a high school diploma, many are minimum wage positions with little advancement opportunity.  This is a declining area in the economy as more occupations require some skilled training.  About 25% of all jobs fall in this category.

Skilled Level Careers: Skilled occupations require candidates to complete specialized training such as completion of a technical or community college program of 1-3 years in duration earning An Associate Degree. or some level of certification.   Many of the skills for these jobs can be obtained through free training in the military.  Higher wages and more opportunity for advancement are found.  This category is the fastest growing segment of our economy.  About 50% of all jobs fall in this category. 

Professional Careers: Professional occupations require candidates to complete specialized training such as completion of at least a 4 year college degree.  Many of the skills for these jobs require a masters or doctorate level degree.  This category has remained steady in demand for the past 20 years.  About 25% of all jobs fall in this category.  

Career Pathways

Freshman were advised to explore Career Pathways.  ZHS operates 5 major career pathways (Arts/Communications, Business, Science/Health, Social, Technical). Go to Zillah Career Pathways Information to view detailed information on each pathway. We don't wish you to stress out trying to pick “THE” career, but rather look at clusters/areas of career interest.  Often picking a pathway will open the door for further research of many closely related careers. 

Business: Administration, Management, Marketing, Clerical Support Careers

Interest Areas: Business, Computational, Clerical, Persuasive, Economic.  Careers in this pathway include a wide variety of occupations in which individuals supervise or influence others to achieve business goals or economic gain, or which individuals manipulate data, file, operate computers, and organize written and numerical information according to a prescribed plan to achieve business or economic goals.    This pathway is for students who enjoy working with numbers, doing tasks which require precision, accuracy and attention to details, being a persuasive person, meeting, dealing with and convincing other people or promoting projects, products, or causes. 

ADMINISTRATIVE: People in administrative occupations plan, develop, implement and communicate the policies of their organization.  They may also supervise operations and/or production and coordinate the staff. Employment Outlook: The demand for managers is rising slightly faster than most occupations.  Successful managers have little difficulty changing employers because their skills are always in demand.

 

BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING: People in bookkeeping and accounting occupations help management control the operation of an organization by obtaining and recording information about accounts and business transactions.  Employment Outlook:  The demand for people in these occupations is steady.  Some experience higher turn over due to some relatively low wages in entry positions.  These occupations are generally less influenced by minor economic downturns.

 

CLERICAL: People in clerical occupations aid communication and the flow of business by typing letters, keeping files, greeting visitors and answering phones.  They may also use new technologies such as computers to accomplish these goals.  Employment Outlook:  The demand for clerical occupations is strong and steady.  Turnover can be high due to relatively low wages earned by many, but not all workers.  Those with computer skills receive greater compensation.

 

SALES: People in sales occupations assist consumers in making purchases of goods and services.  Some help customers to buy certain products and others try to persuade customers to buy certain products.  Salespeople can work for manufacturers or wholesalers. A significant number of salespeople work for retail stores.  Employment Outlook:  Opportunities are generally good.  Most persons willing to work on a commission basis can find jobs easily.  There are often large numbers of openings each year as turn over is high.

 

STOCK CONTROL: People in stock control occupations handle, store and control goods and materials during production, warehousing, and distribution from the producer to the consumer.  Employment Outlook:  There is a strong need for warehousing occupations since products in our state are most often shipped to other states and countries.  Growth is slow in some areas, while competition for these jobs are moderate.  Automation can also limit new opportunities.

Science and Health Care Careers

Interest Areas: Scientific, Computational, Health Care, Engineering & Mathematics, Research,

Investigative, Inquisitive, Inventive.  Careers in this pathway include a wide variety of occupations in which individuals prefer activities that include the investigation of physical, biological and cultural phenomena in order to understand and sometimes control their behavior. This pathway is for students who enjoy: investigating, working to discover or understand nature, solve problems, do experiments, work with research, and/or discover new ways to do things. 

 

AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES OCCUPATIONS: People in agriculture and natural resources occupations plan and work to get increased production from farms, gardens, forests and streams.  Employment Outlook: Demand varies by occupation and may depend on demand for products or on government funding.  Most openings are for technicians.  Competition is moderate for most jobs.  Technicians require skill developed with college training.

 

ELECTRONICS OCCUPATIONS: People in electronics occupations have knowledge and skills which they use in generating, distributing and using electrical power.  They must also  know the construction, installation, and maintenance of electrical parts, components, systems and equipment.  Employment Outlook: Most occupations in this group are growing, particularly as population grows.  New technologies require new skills and some automation may eliminate some jobs.

           

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN OCCUPATIONS: People in engineering and design occupations use their scientific skills and their creative ideas to plan and design land areas, buildings, machinery and other structures and equipment.  Employment Outlook: Civil, mechanical, environmental and chemical engineers will be needed to address environmental problems.  Industrial engineers will be in demand to increase production efficiency.  Engineers of all kinds are in demand, but the demand is usually cyclical.  A great demand for several years is followed by a lower demand for several years.  This happens when the supply of highly trained workers exceed the demand for workers.

 

HEALTH OCCUPATIONS: (This career area is cross listed with Social Service Careers, since many health occupations also deal with social service). People in health service occupations use a variety of skills to treat the health and personal needs of patients and clients.  Employment Outlook. The outlook is expected to remain extremely favorable for the next 10 years due to the aging population and expansion of health care industries.  Rural and inner city health opportunities will increase the greatest.  An increase is also seen for providing patient services directly in the home.

 

INSPECTING OCCUPATIONS: People employed in the inspecting occupations use scientific understanding and technical laboratory skills to perform tests for quality control, research, or diagnosis.  Employment Outlook:  Environmental related jobs and medical related jobs are increasing in demand.  Other jobs in this cluster are stable and are often very competitive, particularly those that require advanced education.  Often retirements create new openings.

 

MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING OCCUPATIONS: People employed in mathematical and computing occupations use their numerical skills to solve problems, analyze results, and make decisions in areas such as science, engineering and management.  Employment Outlook: Demand for workers in computer related jobs is high.  Strong employment growth is expected.  The number of management and accounting firms that use computers is growing, also increasing demand.

Social Services

Interest Areas: Social, Service, Education, Recreation, Health Services.  Careers in this pathway include a wide variety of occupations in which individuals prefer to work with others to inform, train, cure, or assist.  This pathway is for students who enjoy meeting, working with, and helping people.  Please note that often health care careers can fall in both the Social and in the Science/Health Care Pathways.

FOOD SERVICE OCCUPATIONS: People in food service occupations prepare and serve food and beverages and clean up afterwards.  They work for various dining establishments, restaurants, cafeterias, fast food operations, bakeries, coffee shops, institutions, etc. Employment Opportunities: Opportunities in these occupations are growing faster than the average for all occupations.  Turn over is high and there is a shortage of the more highly skilled workers.  Most job seekers can find employment in this area.  Wages can be low for entry level.

 

HEALTH OCCUPATIONS: (This career area is cross listed with Science & Health Careers, since many health occupations also deal with science skills). People in health service occupations use a variety of skills to treat the health and personal needs of patients and clients.  Employment Outlook. The outlook is expected to remain extremely favorable for the next 10 years due to the aging population and expansion of health care industries.  Rural and inner city health opportunities will increase the greatest.  An increase is also seen for providing patient services directly in the home.

 

PERSONAL CARE OCCUPATIONS: People in personal care occupations provide services related to personal appearance, and hygiene for both humans and animals.  They help people with a variety of needs including personal services.  Employment Opportunities: Job turn over is high creating many openings.  Pay is often low, but it is an area seeing an increase in opportunities.  The recreation and fitness areas are seeing growth and new interest and more leisure time is found.

 

PROTECTIVE SERVICE OCCUPATIONS: People in the protective service occupations are responsible for guarding all types of property and for the safety of people as established by law.  Employment Opportunities: The outlook varies.  Private industry demand is greater than governmental demand.  There is great demand and need for government jobs, but funding often falls short and causes stiff competition.  Many persons find employment in this field with a branch of the military.

 

SOCIAL SERVICE , SOCIAL RESEARCH & EDUCATIONAL OCCUPATIONS: Workers in social service, social research and educational occupations provide direct service to people.  Their main role is to encourage other people to reach their fullest human potential. Employment Opportunities: This is a growing part of the economy, but expansion often depends on economic progress and stability.  Occupations working with small children, school children, and the elderly show the greatest demand

 

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Technical and Industrial

Interest Areas: Mechanical, Outdoor, Inventive, Realistic.  Careers in this pathway include a wide variety of occupations in which individuals prefer activities that require working with objects, tools, machines, computers, and animals.   This pathway is for students who enjoy: working with machinery tools, putting together models, repairing items, building things and generally working with their hands.  Many of the occupations involve working outdoors.  This pathway has many career opportunities that require less than a four year college degree.  In fact many can be obtained by skills learned in a trade or technical college or specialized vocational community college programs that are one to two years in length.  Apprenticeship and Military training are other pathways to obtain some of these careers.  Entry level may also involved on the job training.

 

BUILDING MAINTENANCE OCCUPATIONS: People in building maintenance occupations clean, repair, and maintain the interior and exterior of buildings such as schools, office buildings, and housing complexes.  Employment Outlook:  Many job openings due to low pay.  There are generally more jobs open than people who are looking for them.

 

CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONS: People in construction occupations usually have specialized skills which they use when working with people from other building trades.  They may build and maintain roads, houses, office buildings and other structures. Employment Outlook:  Demand for workers depends on the strength of the economy and levels of new construction and remodeling.  Unions restrict the number of people who can enter most fields.  Competition for apprentice programs is stiff.  Seasonal work is common.

 

FOOD PROCESSING OCCUPATIONS: People food processing occupations clean, sort, and pack food, convert raw food into bread and pastry, package fish, meats, canned fruits, vegetables and beverages.  Employment Outlook:  The overall outlook is fair. Some occupations are seasonal.  Slow growth and low turnover are predicted in this area.

 

MECHANICS OCCUPATIONS: People in mechanics occupations use specialized mechanical skills to repair and maintain automobiles, power equipment, and other mechanical devices.  Employment Outlook:  Mechanics continue to be in demand with some competition for jobs.  However,  people must continue to upgrade skills and be able to use advancements in technology and computers.  More occupations are expected in electronics and computer repair.  Competition is moderate.

 

METALWORKING OCCUPATIONS: People in metalworking occupations use specialized tools and machines to shape metal gears, cylinders, heating ducts, auto bodies, and assemble parts.  Employment Outlook:  Outlook is mixed  and depend on economic stability.  Some areas have a surplus of workers.  Computer controlled machinery occupations are common.  Even apprenticeship programs seek candidates with some technical skill.

 

OTHER PRODUCTION OCCUPATIONS: People in other production occupations possess specialized skills which they use in a variety of industries to produce goods and services.  Most work with equipment and tools in a production process.  Employment Outlook:   Opportunities vary in each job category.  A positive outlook depends on economic growth.

 

TEXTILE/APPAREL OCCUPATIONS: People in this group manufacture, clean, and repair clothing and other products made of fabric, rubber, fur, and leather.  Use of machinery is common.  Employment Outlook: The outlook is mixed.  Some employment increases are anticipated because of population growth. Occupations involving industrial machinery is on the decline due to automation.  Turnover is high in some areas due to low wages.  The competition for jobs is low.

 

TIMBER PRODUCTS OCCUPATIONS: People in timber products occupations work with wood in various stages of production. Employment Outlook:  Jobs in this area are declining.   Outlook is extremely limited and considered a poor choice.   Job openings are often effected by supply of timber available for processing.  New machinery are replacing jobs.  Most jobs are seasonal.

 

TRANSPORTATION OCCUPATIONS: People in transportation occupations operate transportation equipment to move freight and passengers, either directly as a pilot or driver or indirectly as  controllers.  Employment Outlook:  Some occupations will grow steadily as the state population increases and more people rely on mass transit.  Demand to transport goods will be steady or grow slightly.  Competition for jobs is stiff because many people enjoy the travel opportunities.

 

 

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    Career Interest Surveys

Career Interest Surveys are recommended for all students at ZHS, but particularly for those who are undecided about future careers.  Some free sources of these surveys include:

WOIS-Washington Occupational Information Service,  has an online surveys to try.  You will need to get the current password from Mr. Griffin in the guidance center in order to access the site.  Once logged in go to ASSESSMENTS and then to EXPLORE OCCUPATIONS. There you can try the following

• Schoolfinder.com's 3-step Career Quiz:  Ever wonder about your "dream job". You'll find it here. Take the 3 Steps Career Quiz and find out what careers suit you best.
• CareerLab's Career Advisor: How to create your career blueprint or vision
• JOBehaviors: Provides job-specific online compatibility assessments in a variety of high-demand industries including, Automotive, Banking, Childcare, Construction, Customer Support, Distribution, Education, Healthcare, Insurance, Management, Sales, Sports, and Transportation. Candidates are able to create an account and complete as many assessments as they wish free of charge.
• Jung - Meyers-Briggs Typological Approach: A test based on the to personality to link careers.
• Keirsey Temperament Sorte: Designed to identify different kinds of personality available in English and Spanish
• Learning Style Assessment: Check your Learning Style and match to careers.
• O'NET Skills Search: Start by selecting as many skills as you have or plan to acquire and match them to careers.
• The Princeton Review Career Quiz:
• TypeFocus Personality Type Profile:
• What Can I Do With My Personality Type?: A list of careers related to Meyers-Briggs personality types from Ball State University
• Campbell Interest and Skill Survey: (fee charged)
• The Career Key: (fee charged)
• Holland Self-Directed Search: (fee charged)
• MAPP - Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential: (fee charged)

Where Are You Going?: From the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board. Where are you going? provides a step-by-step process for making career choices—whether you’re a student selecting your first career or an adult making a career transition. This book will help you assess your interests and abilities. It will match your interests to one or more occupations within the 16 broad occupational categories known as Career Clusters. You’ll examine employment data, salaries, and training requirements.  Once you’ve matched who you are with what you want to do, Where are you going? outlines where you can get the appropriate training to prepare you for work. It includes information about how to expand your career search on the Internet, how to apply for a job, and where to go if you need special services.

Washington Workforce Training: This site offers an Interest Profiler, a Work Importance and an Occupations by Skill program.