Today’s workforce is one that changes regularly. No
matter which career you target, you will find shifts in
how to prepare for it. The good news is that there is an
unlimited array of job possibilities in many career fields
and unlimited ways to gain skills to reach them. Learn-
ing about career ladders and career lattices can help
you as you progress in your career.
Career Ladder
Many who find a career decide to stay with one com-
pany and climb something referred to as a career lad-
der. A career ladder is a sequence of work in a career
field, from entry to advanced levels. Each career level
is typically categorized by skill or education level, as
shown in Figure 1-9.
Entry-Level Position
An entry-level position is the first career step for those
seeking on-the-job experience. This is the best place to
start for those who have little to no experience or prior
training in a desired career field. Positions at this level
are often introductory with less salary than the other
career levels.
Career-Level Position
A career-level position requires preparation and skills as
listed by the employer for a particular job or position.
This may be where you are as a college student. Many
students may qualify for career-level positions after
they serve as interns, volunteers, or apply for a position
as college graduates.
Specialist-Level Position
A specialist-level position means that an employee has
worked in a specific career field for at least a few years.
He or she may be able to apply for a better position in a
company or navigate to a different corporation in order
to provide expertise. A specialist-level position is task
centered. In other words, this position does not require
managing or supervising other employees.
Supervisory-Level Position
A supervisory-level position is typically reserved when
specialists have the requisite people skills and specific
work knowledge to manage other employees well. These
are typically employees who have a wealth of knowledge
and experience or have been with the company for an
extended period of time. This level of employment car-
ries significantly increased responsibility and, for many
jobs, presents a ceiling above which an employee may
never climb.
Executive-Level Position
An executive-level position is the highest level in a career
ladder or lattice. Executive-level duties include all of
the above as career experience and also the ability to
plan, organize, and manage a company. This level is
reserved for presidents, vice presidents, and officers of
the company.
Self-confidence is being certain and secure about one’s own abilities and e
judgment. Self-confident people believe in their abilities to perform in a given
situation. They know what they are good at, and they trust their instincts.
Self-confidence is affected by self-talk, which is the practice of talking to one’s self.
Positive self-talk includes reinforcement of one’s appearance to abilities and boosts
a person’s self-confidence. Negative self-talk disparages a person and reduces
self-confidence.
What
Employers
Want
Executive Executive
Supervisory Supervisory
Specialist Specialist
Careerer Care
Entry Entry
Career Ladder
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
FIGURE 1-9
A career ladder is a sequence of work in a career
field, from entry to advanced levels.
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
11
Chapter 1 Preparing for Your Career