Jobs At The Entry Level Can Offer Valuable Career Skills For A Lifetime
As the old saying goes, “everyone has to start somewhere.” It’s true, but not all of us choose to begin in the same places. No matter what career field you decide on, however, the odds are good that an entry level job will be the position available, to teach you the proverbial ropes. Entry level jobs actually have a lot to offer in terms of building foundational skills sets, and the skills they teach can be valuable throughout your entire career.
As we look at entry level jobs that offer beneficial skills for a strong foundation, we will be discussing role examples from six major economic industries: healthcare, information technology, business, criminal justice, agriculture, and manufacturing. So, let’s get into it…
The home health aide in the field of healthcare
There’s perhaps no better role in healthcare for completely understanding the everyday needs of people with health conditions than the home health aide. While some companies that hire home health aides do require a certification or a class, other companies offer on-the-job training. This is the perfect position to work in to decide if a long-term career in healthcare may be for you. As a home health aide, you will be responsible for providing basic personal care to your clients. Care for people in their own homes often involves bathing, dressing, grooming, light housekeeping, monitoring any changes in health status, and ambulatory assistance. Not only will this role teach you the basics of individualized healthcare, it can also teach you how a household functions, and how daily tasks have to be organized for maximum efficiency.
Computer technicians as critical team members in information technology
Kick-starting a career in IT will often mean taking on an entry-level role, even with certifications or an Associate’s degree. And, this particular role does a great job of giving new hires a strong set of cross-training skills, which are valuable in any other technology job one might decide to pursue later. As a computer technician, you will wear many hats, and by doing so, you can get a feel for what area of technology specialization you might want to invest in, as you further develop your career. Computer technicians generally work independently, for a big business or company, or in a small computer repair shop. By being self-reliant, you will not only have to investigate and learn technology from the bottom up, but your own scheduling and routines will be your responsibility, too. You will quickly learn how a computer is built, in order to diagnose and fix any hardware issues. And, this information will come into play even if you later decide to go into software development or help desk support.
The administrative assistant in a dynamic business environment
Taking on the job responsibilities of an administrative assistant, in a bustling business setting, teaches the true nuts and bolts reality of how a functioning office runs. Administrative assistants often receive on-the-job training in customer relations, client referrals, event planning, travel planning, human resources, office software, basic accounting, and even some marketing. If you are interested in any of these key areas of the broader, professional business field, then having experience as an administrative assistant is fertile ground for learning. It also generates strong people skills over time, with is imperative in the world of business.
Investigating backgrounds in the field of criminal justice
Everyone has a past, and good background investigators gain a deeper understanding of human nature by looking into that past. If the thought of working in the criminal justice field has ever crossed your mind, then beginning at entry level, with the role of background investigator, is a great way to learn skills on the job and beef up your resume. Background investigators, also sometimes called field investigators, focus on performing background screenings on behalf of paying clients, such as private businesses or government agencies. Investigators conduct interviews, retrieve records, conduct research, and prepare reports in compliance with federal standards, all laws, and other required agency or business regulations. Investigators type comprehensive reports for their clients based on all of their findings, to summarize the facts obtained from field source interviews and record information. If digging into the past and putting together puzzle pieces intrigues you, then the skills you gain from this sort of entry level job will be invaluable in a criminal justice career.
Micro-greens producers, who bring nutritious food up to the gourmet agricultural level
For those who love to work with their hands, have a passion for sustainable food sources and the environment, are invested in nutrition, and are lured by the gourmet world then becoming a micro-greens producer will check off a lot of boxes. Farming is going through something of a Renaissance. Forget large-scale, machined mono-cropping, like only growing acres of corn or soy. These days, suburban micro-farms and small regeneration farms are taking the field by storm. Just ask Steven Cornett of “Nature’s Always Right.” Based out of California, his farm is only a quarter-acre, but it produces enough micro-greens to sell to gourmet restaurants for a very healthy profit. Want more variety in your growing endeavors? You can try suburban micro-farming. If you have even a tenth of an acre to grow on, you can produce enough edibles to feed a family of four, on average (according to “Tenth Acre Farm”)… and you can teach sustainable permaculture to your local community, too, and charge a fee for the classes, to make extra income on the side.
Machine operators specialize in needed production for manufacturing
Items don’t just arrive on store shelves all by themselves. Someone has to custom create, produce, and package them. All of that often takes machining, and machines need operators. If you are fascinated by the world of manufacturing and machining, then beginning at the entry level is a way to build a strong career foundation, and machine operator jobs often only require on-the-job training to get you started. As a machine operator, your duties will often include loading raw materials into the machine you oversee, watching the machines for correct precision, removing the finished products from the machines, and further inspecting items for accuracy and safety. Packing and stacking boxes and crates for shipment is often involved, as well. In this role, you will also get a great overview of how a machining company and a warehouse work, which are transferrable skills for higher-level jobs down the road.
And, to find out more about Stride Career Prep’s online programs in critical economic industries, be sure to visit the site: https://www.stridelearning.com/career-prep.html
Considering enrolling your child in a Stride K12 school, for further education and career prep options and experiences? The best time is always now!