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What is a Career Cluster?

To have a good career, you must make good choices and work hard. First, you should know what your options are.

Good careers don't just happen.

Think about when you make dinner. To make a good meal, you must plan what you're going to have, get the food, cook it, and serve. To have a good career, you must also plan, then make good choices, and work hard.

You can plan a dinner in one night, but a good career takes longer to plan. Hard work may not be fun, but it can lead to good things.

The first step in planning a career is to know what your options or possibilities are. To make good choices, you will need to know how to compare your career options.

Learn About Career Clusters and Your Options

A career cluster is group of careers that share common features. If you like one occupation in a cluster, you will probably find other jobs in that cluster that you will like as well.

Every career you can think of fall into one or more of 16 career clusters.

Here are examples of three different career clusters.

  • Manufacturing. Workers in this cluster design, assemble, or repair products and equipment. This cluster contains jobs such as electronics repairer, sheet metal worker, and sawing machine operator.
  • Business. Workers in this cluster help companies run smoothly. This cluster contains jobs such as office clerk, receptionist, and bookkeeping.
  • Hospitality and Tourism. Workers in this cluster work in restaurants, sports arenas, or hotels. This cluster contains jobs such as fast food worker, chef, housekeeping, and hotel manager.

Thinking about what career cluster you want to work in will keep you from being stuck in a job you do not like for too long.

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