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Career Timeline

You can start your career right now. Or you can keep moving from job to job. Learn how your choices affect how much you might get paid.

Where Can Career Planning Take You?

Two people go to work every day. They both change jobs in the next few years. One person has a career plan. The other person does not have a plan. Look at the charts below. Which person has a career?

Person Five Years Ago Three Years Ago One Year Ago Today Future
Person A
  • Taking English classes at ABE Center
  • Working at a restaurant cleaning tables and helped the servers
  • $6.15/hour
  • Decides to find out how to get skills for better paying jobs in restaurants
  • Finished English classes
  • Promoted to assistant cook
  • $10/hour
  • Passed three of the GED tests
  • Thinking of going to college for restaurant management degree
  • Quit job for assistant manager position at a restaurant that just opened
  • $13/hour
  • Passed all of the GED tests
  • Taking college prep classes
  • Looking at college options
  • Researching financial aid
  • Laid off when new restaurant goes out of business
  • New job as assistant manager at different restaurant
  • $12/hour
  • In two years, goal to be working as an assistant manager at same restaurant
  • Wants raise to $15/hour
  • In two years, will be enrolled in associate's degree program for Hospitality Management
  • In five years, wants to work in hotel management
  • Wants to make $22/hour
Person B
  • Taking English classes at ABE Center
  • Working at a restaurant cleaning tables and helped the servers
  • $6.15/hour
  • Wants job that pays more money
  • Laid off from the factory job
  • Working as janitor
  • $7/hour
  • Passed one GED test
  • Quit job
  • Working as a Home Health Aid
  • $8/hour
  • Passed three of five GED tests
  • Looking into potential health care careers
  • Working same job as Home Health Aid
  • Got raise to $9/hour
  • In two years, will have passed all GED tests
  • Will consider going to college for heath care program
  • In five years, plans to work in health care job
  • Wants more than $12/hour

 

career earning timeline for different personas