Use 16 “career Clusters” to Help You Find the Right Job for You

The Career Technical Education (CTE) program aims to provide students with the technical skills and training so they can excel in their chosen career, but CTE can also help you understand which industry you are best suited for. Consider using the National Career Cluster Framework to find paths that match your skills and interests.

You can find 79 career paths out of 16 career clusters that were actually created by the US Department of Education in an attempt to better organize educational programs. Conduct a student survey to identify your clusters; While you’re at it, many community colleges also offer online quizzes to help you. Physical workbooks are also available . If you are in the CTE program, you can use more self-assessment rubrics or more extensive training to understand the different paths. They are not meant to limit you, but rather help you narrow down your interests, talents, and goals in order to find career options for you.

According to Career Key , you can work on identifying your best cluster on your own, or work with a school counselor, counselor, or other workforce development professional. However, before that, let’s just see what clusters are .

What are the 16 career clusters?

The 16 career clusters are as follows:

1. Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Some of the career options in this cluster are farmer, rancher, veterinarian and scientist.
2. Architecture and Construction It’s all about the design, construction and maintenance of buildings (whether private or commercial) or infrastructure. This category includes carpenters, plumbers, builders, architects and repairers.
3. Arts, Audio/Visual Technology and Communications This includes everyone from actors to production assistants, telecommunications professionals and journalists. This is best for those who have a real passion for performance, theater or communication in some other way.
4. Business, Management, and Administration HR professionals, accountants, managers, and office workers fall into this cluster, which mostly includes positions that require a four-year degree or certification of some sort, but is also great for people with little background who are interested in plowing their way. paths in a company or industry.
5. Education Although this cluster includes teachers and professors, it also includes anyone who works in education, such as consultants or administrative assistants.
6. Finance If you have an interest in mathematics and a degree or certificate, you can become a banker, insurance agent, accountant or treasurer – and end up in the financial cluster. Almost all of these paths require a degree or special training and you will be working in an office, so if any of these options don’t work for you, this may not be your cluster.
7. Tourism and hospitality Travel agents, restaurant waiters and hotel managers are included in this cluster. Many of his jobs only require a high school diploma and on-the-job training, so this is a great option for those who want to advance their careers without needing a special education.
8. Social services The social services cluster includes psychologists, social workers and counselors, as well as health and personal care workers. Whether you’re doing therapy or coloring your hair, you’ll need specific training and a desire to help others.
9. Information Technology Information technology professionals, programmers and developers are part of the IT cluster, but are also computer science teachers and forensic analysts. Don’t look into this cluster if you don’t want constant learning; the evolution of the sector almost guarantees that you will always learn something new.
10. Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security This cluster includes a wide range of occupations such as FBI agents, police officers, and lawyers. There are job options in this cluster that also cover a range of education and training requirements, so some entry-level positions do not require specific training.
11. Manufacturing Warehouse workers and electricians are two career options that belong to the manufacturing cluster. If you enjoy physical labor and often work in new environments, this could be a good cluster – and many of the jobs don’t require a four-year degree.
12. Marketing, Sales, and Service This cluster includes public relations and telemarketers and may be of interest to you if you consider yourself a social person. Four years of study in marketing can be helpful, but faster certification is also a good way to get a job in the sector.
13. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM get their own cluster, meaning all chemists and research workers fall into it. Many of these jobs require a degree. There will also likely be continuing education.
14. Government and public administration Just as there is an intersection between educational clusters and others such as social services, there is an intersection between the legal cluster and this one. This includes the military, some lawyers and municipal employees. Not only do many of the jobs in this cluster require a bachelor’s degree, but many of them also require even more advanced ones, so only look into this cluster if you’re willing to spend a few years on a formal education.
15. Medical Science In this cluster you will find nurses, pharmacists, doctors, first aid specialists and everyone who works in the health sector. While all of these positions require specialized training, the time and effort required to do so varies. For example, certified nursing assistants need less training than nurses, who have less training time than physicians.
16. Transport, Distribution and Logistics This includes pilots, truck drivers and logistics planners, but each requires a different level of training. If you enjoy working in new environments often or are interested in mechanics, this cluster might be for you.