Today we are going to talk about preparing for life after high school; getting a job;
finding a career; and earning a living. The question, of course, is what does success
really look like? The American workforce has changed a lot recently. Occupations in every
industry now require a combination of both academic knowledge and technical skills. One
without the other is no longer enough; having both makes you more employable.
Today, we want all high school students to graduate ready for both college and careers.
In the next few minutes, you’ll understand how to match who you are with who you want
to be and ultimately how to get there. As you prepare for your future, you’ll need
to develop skills in four specific areas to achieve your dreams.
Every day in school, you are gaining academic skills and knowledge. The classes you are
taking matter in the world of work. But it’s not just about getting good grades. Challenge
yourself to learn how to apply the knowledge you are taught. Apply theories and concepts
to real-world problems. This will help you be more competitive upon graduation and you’ll
have additional options. You can also earn college credit now while still in high school
through articulation, dual enrollment, or concurrent enrollment. So, take your classes
seriously and become the strongest reader, writer and thinker you can be.
Adults are expected to know other things, like life skills. These are about every-day
real world survival. They include things like how to bounce back after a bad experience,
how to manage money and create a family budget, and how to remain healthy through good nutrition.
Life skills will give you a strong foundation for your future.
Local employers also expect certain things of people they hire; these are called employability
skills. In fact, people who get the best jobs and keep them have this nailed. Employers
expect you to have these skills from your very first day on the job. Things teachers
often ask you to do, like meeting deadlines, working in teams, and organizing projects;
these are employability skills. Learning how to manage your time, creatively solve problems,
and communicate appropriately will help you prepare for the world of work.
Then, there are technical skills. These can be very industry-specific. They include the
ability to apply what you have learned to working a computer, running a machine, or
monitoring a patient’s heart rate. High school students that are savvy with skills
in areas of interest to them will find jobs, keep them, and get promoted more quickly.
Find ways now to earn certificates and industry credentials in technical fields on your way
to graduation.
Each of these four areas matter to adults, including college professors and employers.
Local employers will want to know what you can do, and what you can do well; not just
what diploma hangs on your wall. In fact, technical skills are part of the new currency
in today’s world.
So, how do you position yourself for high-wage, in-demand jobs?
First, you need to understand the difference between average wages versus what you can
project to earn. Let’s say you were considering a career as either an electrician or a business
manager. You would find that the average annual income for electricians is $51,000, only about
half of the $105,000 average wage for management occupations. So, at first glance it looks
as if getting a bachelor’s degree in business is a no-brainer, but adding skills and ability
into the picture adds a whole new dynamic. What if you have the potential to become an
excellent electrician, but lack the skills and ability to be an excellent manager? Then
you should be looking at projected incomes towards the bottom of the pay scale for managers
and towards the top for electricians. You would then discover that electricians near
the top of the pay scale make around $86,000; far higher than the income of a manager near
the bottom of the pay scale at $52,000.
Now, this is just one example, but the concept is true throughout all industries. The claim
that you will make more money with an increased amount of education is not necessarily inaccurate,
it’s just incomplete. That advice is based just on the averages. But no one is perfectly
average. Everyone has unique skills, talents, and interests. Truth is, the income for the
top people in a wide variety of technical jobs is higher than the average income for
many occupations that require a Bachelor’s degree.
So, you’re probably wondering what you need to do to get started. Here are 4 steps to
position yourself for a successful career at the top of the pay scale.
First, learn about yourself and your talents. You must take a career assessment to really
get to know your personality strengths and your interests. Ask yourself, “What do I
love to do?,” as well as “What am I good at doing?” These are very different questions.
Identifying your core talents and skills will help you select some careers that align with
your strengths. Knowing yourself is the first strategy to really figuring out what you will
be successful at and enjoy doing.
Second, explore all of your possible career options. Today there are over 800 different
jobs organized into 16 industry clusters. That’s a long list of possible careers.
Research the jobs you are interested in and find out the education, experiences, and cost
required. There is a lot of information online, and we also encourage you to talk with someone
already in that field to learn more. It is not too soon to find out as much as you can.
Identifying those careers that align with your personality and interests will help you
make better decisions about your first career.
After researching all the possibilities, the third step is to then set a tentative career
goal based on your interests and abilities; and be sure to consider the range of wages
in your local area in alignment with what you learned about yourself. This career doesn’t
have to be what you want to do for the rest of your life; just set a goal of what you
want to do first.
The fourth step is to create a 10-year plan. This plan should include your tentative career
goal, the education and training you’ll need, and the realistic steps you plan to
take to get there. Having such a plan will help you when you pursue an internship, select
a college major, and seek employment. Also, be sure to make both a Plan A and a Plan B.
Setbacks are inevitable; but don’t worry! It’s how you respond to these challenges
that matter. We suggest developing strong coping skills and learning how to work well
in teams. It is important to be able to pivot quickly and persevere down an alternative
path towards your goal when obstacles arise.
The academic knowledge, career awareness, and technical skills you gain during high
school will serve you well as you pursue your next steps in life.
And that’s how you position yourself for a successful career. Focus on acquiring academic
skills & knowledge, life skills, employability skills, and technical skills while you work
through these 4 steps. Just always be true to who you are, strive to fulfill your full
potential, and bring passion to whatever you do.