CAREER COMPARISON RESEARCH

AVID 10

As a college student, you may work to help support yourself. Although happy to get a paycheck you’ll find that the work does not
remain interesting for long. Good thing you are in college; soon you’ll trade that job for a profession, the first stop in your career.

What’s the distinction between a job, profession, and career? The students working at the local frozen yogurt shop have jobs; they do
a few tasks under the direction of others. Not hard, but also not very rewarding. In contrast, the yogurt shop owner is a professional,
creating the business plan, making the decisions, and assuming responsibility for the businesses success. Over time, s/he moves
from frozen yogurt to a restaurant, then into wholesale wine, and finally to an organic food distributorship; in other words, a career in
the food and beverage industry.

Directions: Take an interest survey and do web research (use linked resources) on professions; complete the table.

Profession Primary tasks and Total years of Average Number of Job outlook Related Careers
responsibilities college + salary AND jobs in US (projected
training + Salary growth)%
experience + Range
certifications
(degree)

Maintain updated client Bachelors Salary:$46 125,200 17% Health & Counseling
records with plans, notes, degree or , 590
Communit appropriate forms, or associates Salary
related information, Government
y Health degree range:$30,
Advise clients or
Workers community groups on usually 440 and
issues related to needed, $70, 720
Service
improving general health,
such as diet or exercise,
and Identify or contact
members of high-risk or
otherwise targeted
groups, such as members
of minority populations,
low-income populations,
or pregnant women.
Critical They provide specialized care Need a Salary:$77 3, 080, 100 9% Health and
Care Nurse for patients critical or bachelors ,600 counseling
coronary care units on the degree or an Salary
job they evaluate patients, associates range:$59,
monitor patients, and degree 450-$120,
administer medications. 250

Provide social services and Need a Salary:$49 715,600 12% Government

assistance to improve the bachelors or ,150
social and psychological masters Salary
Child, functioning of children and degree Range:$35 Health & Counseling
Family, & their families and to ,820-$78,7
School maximize the family 10
Social well-being and the academic Education
Workers functioning of children. May
assist parents, arrange
adoptions, and find foster
homes for abandoned or
abused children. In schools,
they address such problems
as teenage pregnancy,
misbehavior, and truancy.
May also advise teachers.