Jobs, Careers, & Education

Work-study Program

Program providing financial aid to a student of an institution of higher learning in exchange for employment services.

Blue-collar Career

Relates to labor and working with your hands.

White-collar Career

Relates to working in an office setting.

Bachelor's Degree

Requires 120 hours of coursework, usually taking 4 years to complete; include general education courses and courses specific to the student's major.

Associate Degree

Requires 60 hours of coursework, usually taking 2 years to complete; vary based on school and subject area.

Employability Skills

Skills needed to be effective in any job market and workplace.

Economy

State of wealth, resources and employment in a country or region; has a lot of influence on the job market and workforce.

Major

Subject of specialization chosen by a student of an institution of higher learning.

Glass Ceiling

Term used to describe a barrier preventing minorities and women from rising to positions of power or responsibility.

Career Ladder

Term used to describe the vertically structured sequence of job positions through which a person can progress.

Leisure

Time for hobbies, ease and relaxation.

Mentor

Trusted guide or counselor who provides information, advice and support.

Lifestyle

Way or condition in which a person lives; reflect a person's values, morals, culture, and financial situation.

Initiative

Ability or instinct to act or take charge independently.

Discrimination

Act of treating people differently based solely on physical characteristics such as age, gender, race, disability, etc.; Is illegal in the workplace; lowers morale in the workplace and is bad for business.

Extracurricular Activities

Activities falling outside of the normal, required curriculum of school.

Master's Degree

Advanced degree earned after completing a bachelor's degree; requires at least an additional 30 hours of coursework after the bachelor's degree.

Work-life Balance

Balance between work and personal responsibilities.

Portfolio

Collection of past work used to document skills and achievements.

Resume

Document listing a person's education, work experience and accomplishments used by employers to determine job eligibility.

Burnout

Emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by overloading.

Scholarship

Financial aid awarded to a student, as for the purpose of attending an institution of higher learning, often offered for academic achievement; does not require repayment.

Grant

Financial aid given to a student of an institution of higher learning by the federal government, state government, college, or organization; usually offered due to financial need; does not require repayment.

Loan

Financial aid provided on the terms it will be repaid.

Career Cluster

Group of similar occupations and industries.

Doctoral Degree

Highest level of degree available; requires between 90 and 120 additional hours of coursework after the bachelor's degree. (could be less if you already have a master's degree.)

Community/Junior College

Institution of higher learning which offers associate degrees; often government-supported and less expensive than universities and colleges.

College

Institution of higher learning which offers bachelor's degrees in liberal arts, science, or both.

University

Institution of higher learning which offers teaching and research facilities and awards a variety of bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctorates.

Technical School

Institution of higher learning which offers training for specific careers, such as welding, culinary arts, plumbing, medical assisting, cosmetology, etc.; sometimes provide students with licensure, certification or associates degrees, also known as vocational college or trade school.

Employability

Level to which someone is likely to gain employment and be successful in a career.

Socioeconomic Status

Measure of position based on social and economic factors including education, income, occupation, and wealth.

Morale

Mental and emotional well-being of a person or group.

Lifelong Learning

Ongoing, voluntary pursuit of knowledge.

Stereotype

Oversimplified or biased mental picture which characterizes a person or group of people.

Recession

Period of reduced economic activity; affects the job market and unemployment.