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.
