Career Paths/ Ladders

Driving Question: What is a career path/ladder?

A career path is a smaller group of jobs within a career cluster that use similar skills. Each career cluster contains several career paths. ... A career path helps you find out how you might move from one job to another within a career cluster.

Here are a few examples of career paths:

• "Patient Care" is a path within the "Health" career cluster

  • Home Health Aide → Nursing Assistant → Licensed Practical Nurse

• "Administrative Support" is a path within the "Business" career cluster

  • Receptionist → Office Clerk → Office Manager

• "Safety" is a path in the "Public Safety" career cluster

  • Security Guard → Fire Fighter → Fire Inspector

Learning Targets:

• Understand the difference between a career path and a career cluster.

• Analyze different career paths within a variety of career clusters.

• Design a career path within a career cluster of interest.

Online Resources:

• Career Paths, What are they?-The Balance Careers

• Career Path Tool-Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

• Career Pathways-Newport News Public Schools

Activities/Assignments:

Using the “Career Path Tool”, create a career path within a career cluster that you are interested in.

Video Resources:

Career Pathways-Smart Futures

CareerOne Stop

Minnesota State CAREERwise