Zillah High School Career Pathways

 

 

A  part of our comprehensive guidance plan, students are encouraged to explore the various career pathways and specific career clusters and individual occupations prior to completion of the 9^th grade year.  The number following the occupations is a WOIS reference number.  Detailed information about this careers are available via computer access in the Guidance Center, Library and online at www.wois.org.  (See Mr. Griffin for password access) Hardcopy booklets are also available in the Guidance Center.  

How much education do you wish to invest in?

The more education that you will invest your time, money and energy to, the greater choices will await you.  These are three general categories based on education levels completed.

 

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.  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.  

 

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Recommended Course Completion

 

The chart gives students and parents an outline for course completion during their 4 years at Zillah High School.  Each year 2 semesters of English, Math, Science are required in grades 9-10-11 and 2 semesters of Social Studies are required in grades 9, 10 and 12. These recommendations will allow students the greatest flexibility in post secondary education and career choices.

4 Year Sample Plans

 

4 year plan: The ZHS Faculty recommends all students complete the following:

 

English -8 semesters,

        Mathematics-8 semesters

Social Studies-8 semesters

        Science -8 semesters

Applied-Technical-Career Education-4 semesters

Foreign Language-4 semesters

Health-Fitness-4 semesters

Fine Arts-2 semesters

 

 

4 Year Sample Plans

 

FRESHMAN YEAR		SOPHOMORE YEAR
English 9A & B (2 Semesters)		English 10 A & B (2 semester)
Math (Algebra 1 A & B) (2 semesters)		Math (Geometry A & B) (2 semesters)
Integrated Science A & B (2 semesters)		Biology A & B (Lab Science) (2 semesters)
WA History & Government (2 semesters)		U.S. History A & B (2 semesters)
Health (1 semester)		Fitness Activity Course (1 semester)
Fitness Activity Course (1 semester)		CTE Elective (1 semester)
CTE Elective (1 semester)		Electives (5 semester choices)
Electives (4 semester choices)

 

JUNIOR YEAR		SENIOR YEAR
English Choices 11/12 (2 semesters)		English Choices 11/12 (2 semesters)
Math (Algebra 2 A & B) (2 semesters)		CWP A & B (2 semesters)
Chemistry A & B (Lab Science) (2 semesters)		Math (Pre-Calculus A & B) (2 semesters)
Social Studies Electives (2 semesters)		Lab Science choice (2 semesters)
Foreign Language (2 semesters)		Foreign Language (2 semesters)
Fitness Activity Course (1 semester)		Fitness Activity Course (1 semester)
CTE Elective (1 semester)		CTE Elective (1 semester)
Electives (3 semester choices)		Electives (3 semester choices)

 

NOTE: 2 semesters are required in Fine Arts for graduation requirements and for college entrance. Starting with the Class of 2008 1 semester of Health is required.  These may be taken at any time that the student chooses.  All students are encouraged to develop microcomputer and technology skills prior to graduation.

   

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Arts and Communications: Creative Careers

 

Interest Areas: Artistic, Musical, Literary, Creative, Design, Dramatic, Performing, Broadcasting

 

Careers in this pathway include a wide variety of occupations in which individuals prefer free, unsystematic activities that manipulate physical, verbal, or human materials to create art forms or products. 

This pathway is for students who enjoy: doing creative work with their hands, using design, color, and materials, and/or going to concerts, playing musical instruments, signing, going to plays, and/or reading, writing, reporting, performing, broadcasting.

 

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT OCCUPATIONS: People in art and entertainment occupations provide services directly to people.  The labor itself is the final product.  They often create and entertain people.  Employment Outlook: The outlook is limited.  Competition is extremely stiff to enter and keep a job in this area.  Most persons in this area only work part time and support themselves in another occupation or by teaching their craft or skill.  The Outlook is best for those who have excellent job-seeking skills, talent, persistence, and luck.

 

GRAPHIC ARTS AND DESIGN OCCUPATIONS: People in graphic arts occupations possess a variety of specialized skills which they use to design and print graphic materials such as catalogs, brochures, posters, newspapers, advertising, and displays.  Employment Outlook: The number of jobs is growing moderately.  Computer assisted design is the fastest growing field and will hold much promise for future employment.  Competition for jobs in this area is often high and many people are interested in these kinds of jobs.

 

RESEARCH AND SOCIAL WRITING OCCUPATIONS: People in research and social writing occupations examine human problems and events, may write about them or plan corrective actions.  Employment Outlook: The need for people in these occupations will remain strong, but the number of job openings is controlled by society’s willingness to pay workers for these positions.  Competition is stiff for openings and often require a high level of education.  Many persons choose to teach their occupation at the university level.

 

 

Entry Level Careers  

Actors	Advertising Workers
Announcers	Crafts Workers
Disk Jockey	Dispatcher
Makeup Artists	Media Buyers & Sellers
Merchandise Displayers	Models
Singers

 

 

Skilled Level Careers

Professional Careers

 

Actors	Camera Operators
Choreographers	Composers and Arrangers
Fashion Designers	Film/Video Editors
Fine Artists	Graphic Designers
Industrial Designers	Interior Designers
Landscape Architects	Musicians
Musical Directors	News Reporters
Photographers	Technical Writers

 

 

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Business Operations: Management, Marketing & Clerical 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.

 

Entry Level Careers

Baggage Porters & Bellhops	Bailiffs	Bill/Account Collectors
Billing Clerks	Bookkeeping Clerks	Brokerage Clerks
Buspersons	Cashiers	Casino Workers
Counter/Retail Clerks	Counter Attendants	Couriers and Messengers
Credit Check Clerks	Customer Service Reps	Data Entry Clerk
Demonstrators/Promoters	File Clerks	Funeral Attendants
General Office Clerks	Hotel Desk Clerks	Insurance Claims Clerks
Library Assistants	License Clerks	Life Guards/Ski Patrols
Mail Carriers and Clerks	Meter Readers	Order Clerks
Parking Lot Attendants	Parts Salespeople	Payroll Clerks
Personnel Clerks	Postal Clerks	Production Clerks
Proofreaders	Real Estate Clerks	Receptionists
Recreation Workers	Reservation/Ticket Clerks	Restaurant Hosts
Retails Salespeople	Route Salespeople	Shipping/Receiving Clerks
Statistical Clerks	Tax Preparers	Telemarketers
Telephone Operators	Title Examiners & Clerks	Tour Guides
Train Conductors	Transportation Agents	Travel Agents
Typists/Word Processors	Ushers/Ticket Takers	Waiters/Waitresses

 

 

Skilled Level Careers

 

Professional Careers

   

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Scientific & Health Careers: Problem Solving 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.

 

 

Entry Level Careers  

Chemical Dependency Aides	Fitness Trainers
Gardeners & Groundskeepers	Hatchery Workers
Home Healthcare Aides	Numerical Control Programmers
Nursing Assistants/Orderlies	Occupational Therapy Aides
Personal/Home Care Aides	Physical Therapy Aides
Psychiatric Aides	Veterinary Aides

 

 

Skilled Level Careers

 

Broadcast Technicians	Cardiovascular Technicians
Chiropractic Technicians	Computer Programmers
Database Administrators	Dental Assistants
Dental Hygienists	Dental Lab Technicians
Dietetic Technicians	Drafters/CAD Technicians
Electronics Technicians	Emergency Medical Techs
Forensic Science Technicians	Irrigation Technicians
Licensed Practical Nurses	Mathematical Technicians
Medical Assistants	Medical Lab Technicians
Nurse Midwives	Opticians
Pharmacy Technicians	Pollution Control Technicians
Physical Therapy Assistants	Psychiatric Technicians
Occupational Therapy Assistants	Radiation Therapists
Radiological/X-Ray Technicians	Respiratory Therapists
Robotics Technicians	Scientific Technicians
Surgical Technologists	Surveying/Mapping Technicians
Veterinary Assistants	Veterinary Technicians
Web Page/Network Specialists	Winemakers

 

 

Professional Careers

 

Actuaries	Acupuncturists	Aerospace Engineers
Agricultural Engineers	Agricultural Scientists	Anesthesiologists
Animal Scientists	Anthropologists	Archeologists
Architects	Archivists/Curators	Astronomers
Athletic Trainers	Biologists	Cartographers
Chemical Engineers	Chemists	Chiropractors
Civil Engineers	Computer Systems Mgrs	Computer Engineers
Computer Programmers	Computer Analyst	Conservation Scientists
Coroners	Dentists	Dietitians
Economists	Electrical Engineers	Engineering Managers
Environmental Engineers	Fire Investigators	Food Scientists
Forensic Scientists	Foresters	Geographers
Geologists/Geophysicists	Industrial Engineers	Materials Engineers
Mathematicians	Mechanical Engineers	Meteorologists
Mining Engineers	Nuclear Engineers	Nurse Practitioners
Occupational Health Sps.	Occupational Therapists	Optometrists
Petroleum Engineers	Pharmacists	Physical Therapists
Physician Assistants	Physicians	Physicists
Psychologists	Recreation Therapists	Registered Nurses
Sociologists	Speech Pathologists	Statisticians
Surgeons	Veterinarians	Zoologists

   

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Social Service Careers: Helping and Service People Careers

 

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.

 

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

 

 

Entry Level Careers