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Introduction to Education and Employment

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The more skills you learn, the better able you will be to land other, more desirable jobs and reach your goals in life.

What you will learn

  • Education
  • Paying for College
  • Employment
  • Getting into the Job Market
  • Writing Your Resume

What do you know?

Introduction to Education and Employment

Education and employment are important factors in everyone’s life. Students preparing to graduate from high school have important decisions to make about their future. Important questions to ask yourself are:

  • What are your interests?
  • How can you turn those interests into a potential career path?
  • What skills are needed to pursue a career that matches your interests?
  • How and where do you have an opportunity to learn these skills?
  • How will you pay for college?

While college is a great choice for many, it’s not necessarily a fit for every individual. One reason many choose to continue their education is because education opens up a new world of possibilities. For example, there are four-year, two-year, or technical colleges to attend; or you can pursue an apprenticeship in the trades. You might also consider joining the military to learn new skills and get work experience. College gives young adults an opportunity to pursue an interest, find a career passion, study with talented professors and instructors, and become part of a larger academic community. It also allows individuals to begin living independently while having the structure and resources of a college campus.

Is there anything wrong with not going to college? Absolutely not. However, most of us will spend 40 hours each week on the job for 40 years or more. Finding something where you can develop your skills and grow your income over your lifetime is important to both your personal and financial well-being. If you decide not to pursue college, determine what kind of jobs are available in the areas you’re interested in and look for employers who provide you the opportunity to learn, develop your skills, and realize growth in your job responsibilities and income. The more skills you learn, the better able you will be to land other, more desirable jobs.

A great tool that will help you is the College Navigator (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/).