Chapter 12 CAREER CLUSTERS

Career Pathways

Adolescent occupational preference is influenced by numerous aspects, including

life situation, personal capacities, and educational accomplishment. Whether college-
bound or work-bound, meeting the challenges of this developmental milestone is
significant in adolescents lives.

The cultural and social context of family and community are found to be influential
in how youth learn about careers and in the selection process. Extension strategies that
intend parents and community to boost their participation in youth career selection can
promote sound career judgements.

For most people, career development is a lifelong course of involving oneself in

occupations by choosing among employment opportunities presented to them. Each
person undertaking the process is influenced by many factors, together with the outlook in
which he/she lives by, his/her personal abilities and educational attainment.

A key defining moment in adolescents lives entails the career choice that they
make while in high school. Normally, family and community as a simple start view it to
workplace readiness; however, this decision plays a major role in launching the youth in a
career path that unlocks as well as shuts opportunities. In fact, family and community play
an important role in shaping young adults career choices.

Young adults, during interaction with the framework of family, school, and
community, learn about and discover careers that eventually guide career selection. The
economic and social circumstances of the broader community also influence the youths
perceptions of appropriate career choices.

Your career pathway is the journey you take to attain your goals throughout your
life. It is the combination of your experiences in life, your education and training unpaid
work and your interests. Your career pathway will entail formal education and training,
non-formal learning, developing your personal skills and interests, and community
services and programs.

Personal Pathways

All career pathways are personal. The following should be considered when
planning your career pathway:

What you like

What is essential to you
What you are excellent at
 The people you know who may be able to help you.

Education and training

Your career will probably involve a combination of formal and non-formal learning.
Non-formal learning is particularly important as it depends on you and your own need to
improve your skills.

Formal learning programs are listed below:

Schools: preschools, primary schools, secondary and senior secondary schools

Technical and trade schools, colleges and universities, community facilities,
schools and workplaces, etc.
Non-formal learning which includes workshops, seminars, adult community
education courses, conferences, professional development activities, and self-
directed learning
Recognition of proper learning gives you credit for your existing knowledge and
skills, such as your: life experience (for example, voluntary work, hobbies, sport),
work experience (including unpaid work), previous study (for example, courses at
school or college, adult education classes, training at work).

12.2 Career Cluster

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Do you like to work outside? The agricultural and natural resources industry is a
good career choice for people who like to work with the earth and its resources. These
include agricultural science, earth sciences, environmental sciences, forestry, horticulture,
and wildlife.

There are seven career pathways in this cluster:

1. Agribusiness Systems

Occupations involved in the management of all activities that contribute to the

production, processing, marketing, distribution, financing and development of agricultural
produces, plant and animal products, and other natural resources.

2. Animal Systems

Jobs associated with raising and caring of animals and developing more effective
ways of producing and processing meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Employees
study genetics, nutrition, reproduction, growth and care of domesticated farm animals.
Consist of workers who deliver medical service to farm and nonfarm animals.

3. Environmental Service Systems

Jobs involved in water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public
health issues. Works includes hazardous waste management, exploration and quality
control.

4. Food Products and Processing Systems

Occupations involved in bulk food manufacture, the innovation of new food sources,
the examination of food content, and the expansion of ways to process, preserve,
package or store food according to consumer needs. Those who observe compliance with
industry, and government regulations are also included.

5. Natural Resources Systems

Occupations that cultivate, use, maintain, manage, and examine natural resources.
Work includes catching and trapping many types of marine life. Work might relate to
recreation, wildlife, conservation, mining, logging, or oil drilling.

6. Plant Systems

Occupations associated to growing food, feed, and fiber crops and the study of plants
and their growth to help producers meet consumer demand while preserving natural
resources and sustaining the environment. Work may consist of nutritional exploration or
genetic engineering.

7. Power, Structural and Technical Systems

Employees apply understanding of engineering, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics,

power, structures, and controls to the field of agriculture. They design agricultural
structures along with machinery and equipment.

Some of the career pathways in this cluster are:

Agricultural, Business and Management

Agriculture
Animal Sciences
Applied Horticulture and Horticultural Business Services
Botany/ Plant Biology
Culinary Arts and Related Services
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services