All careers fall into one of six career fields. With so many options to choose from, it can be challenging to decide where to start. Career fields are a good place to start, if you are just starting to discover careers.
Your career can last your whole working life. Consequently, selecting a profession is a big decision that can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. For this reason, the process is something that requires time and planning. Luckily, long-term goals can help you think about the education you will need. Also, establishing these goals can also help you think about jobs you want in the future.
The first step, however, should be evaluating all your options. Thus, this guide gives you a sample of the different career fields and career clusters available, and can serve you as a starting point on your research of options.
What are career fields?
The six career fields are:
- Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
- Business, Management, & Administration
- Communications & Information Systems
- Engineering, Manufacturing, & Technology
- Health Science Technology
- Human Services
What is a career cluster?
A cluster is a group of jobs and industries that are related. Hence, the clusters are pathways that correspond to training opportunities to prepare you for a particular career. In other words, a cluster is a grouping of occupations and industries based on skills. Take time to inform yourself on the options available. The list below can help you define your long-term goals and plan your future.
Every career falls into one of 16 career clusters. Career clusters are divided into career pathways. For example, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics includes over 50 different career options.
How are career fields divided into clusters?
Each career field is divided into career clusters.
Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
In this career field, you would work with animals and plants. This career field includes only one career cluster. The career field and cluster name are the same: Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources career cluster.
Business, Management, & Administration
This career field is made up of four career clusters:
- In business, management, and administration, your work involves running a business.
- In finance, you deal with money, financial services or insurance.
- In hospitality and tourism, you help people have fun by taking care of guests at a hotel or restaurant, or by helping people plan trips and holidays.
- In marketing, sales, and service, you sell products and services.
Communications & Information Systems
This career field has two main career clusters:
- In information technology, you would be working with computers and software.
- In arts, audio/video technology, and communication, you would be a performer or artist, or you would work on film, magazine, book, or newspaper production.
Engineering, Manufacturing, & Technology
This career field includes these four career clusters:
- In Architecture and Construction you would construct buildings or design new structures or products.
- In Manufacturing you would make products.
- In Science, Engineering, Technology, & Mathematics you might do research or develop new products or systems.
- Transportation, Distribution, & Logistics you could drive the vehicles, trains, or planes that deliver the products.
Health Science Technology
In this career field, you diagnose and treat injuries or diseases. Or you might work doing preventative care to keep people healthy. This career field includes only one career cluster: the Health Science career cluster.
Human Services
This career field has four career clusters:
- In education and training, you help people learn.
- In government and public administration, you might work for your state, federal government or other governmental body.
- In human services, you care for people or help people solve problems.
- In law, public safety, corrections, and security, you keep people safe, or enforce the law.
What things should you consider?
You should consider what interests you, the grades that you are getting, which courses you enjoy, the college major or study program you choose, job prospects, job satisfaction and job wages.
- Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
- Architecture and Construction
- Arts, Audio/Video Technology, and Communications
- Business, Management, and Administration
- Education and Training
- Finance
- Government and Public Administration
- Health Science
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Human Services
- Information Technology
- Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
- Manufacturing
- Marketing, Sales, and Service
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics
About Sense of Purpose
Sense of purpose is the motivation that drives you toward a satisfying future. Hence, your sense of purpose helps you get the most of life and it helps you achieve what matters most to you. Most importantly, it feeds intrinsic motivation and it creates meaning from life. Purpose is our driver. Certainly, purpose is a fundamental component of a fulfilling life. Our purpose is to help you find yours.
Here are some additional resources that you might find helpful: