Career Pathways

There are many pathways to reach a career goal. Sometimes a student may know in advance and they can plan ahead as to the education and training needed. Other times a student can join the workforce and then discover where a passion or opportunity may exist. From that discovery they can take the education and training steps necessary to reach that new career goal. Understand that there is not always one correct way. There are options because life has many variables that makes each person's path different. This is why it is not just a pathway but career pathways.

Key Terms

High School Diploma- Straight into the Work Force

-Your career of choice may not require higher education to enter. Possibly for advancement though.

-These jobs can be found through word of mouth, help wanted ads in newspaper/ internet sites, postings in windows, etc...

-You can earn and save money right away without accruing the debt typically brought on by higher education.

Apprenticeships

-Apprenticeship combines supervised, structured on-the-job paid training with paid related classroom instruction.

-Apprenticeships are paid for by employers, employer associations of labor/management groups (Joint Apprenticeship Committees) that have the ability to hire and train in a working environment.

Certifications (Adult Vocational Training)

-A certification is a credential that you earn to show that you have advanced proficiency in specific skills or knowledge. They are usually tied to a skill set for an occupation, technology, or industry.

-They are typically for minimal cost compared to college and can take anywhere from 2 months to 16 months to complete depending on the skill set you wish to be certified in.

-These can be taken on top of the High School diploma, Associates Degree or College Degree you may already have.

Associates Degree

-High School Diploma or equivalent required.

-An associate's degree is normally earned at a community college and is earned in 2 years (full time).

-It usually focuses on a mix of general education courses as well as career specific courses such as one in the healthcare industry, computer technology, business administration, etc...

-Associate Degrees from a community college are a huge cost savings compared to a University. It is also often easier to work and live at home while completing an Associates Degree which keeps your amount of debt down.

-Many Universities allow you to transfer in your Associates Degree credits to be used towards a Bachelor's Degree. This cuts down the amount of time and money needed to complete a Bachelors from 4-5 years to 2-3 years at the University.

-A Community College, like College of Lake County, costs on average $4,400 a year full time. For comparison Illinois State University averages $32,000 a year full time for an Illinois resident living on campus.

Bachelor's Degree

-High School Diploma is a minimum requirement.

-An Bachelors degree is normally earned at a College or University and is earned in 4-5 years (full time).

-It focuses on a mix of general education courses as well as career specific courses.

-It is a higher cost option than Community College. Typically student loans are needed which instantly puts you in debt.

-Many careers require a Bachelor's Degree before being allowed to apply.

-Remember that in-state schools are typically cheaper than out of state. Public Universities are typically cheaper than Private Universities.

Master's Degree

-Master's degree programs are graduate programs that let students specialize in an area of study. They typically take 1-2 years to complete.

-A Bachelor's Degree is required for admittance.

Doctorate Degree

- Doctoral degree programs, also known as Ph.D. programs, are the highest degree programs available.

-A majority require a Master's Degree for admittance and may take 2-4 years to complete depending on the program.

A Good Conversation

There is a lot of information throughout this site. Even though we tried to simplify it as best we could it is understood that it may still be confusing. Remember that this website is designed as a means to start the exploration process. When you have questions about our site or are ready to learn more about a college or career please see one of the following people:

-Your instructor or your counselor

-One of our Warren College & Career Counselors:

Ms. Hartley @ O'Plaine 847.599.4532 thartley@wths.net

Ms. McGahan @ Almond 847.548.6709 cmcgahan@wths.net