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 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 Supervisory Specialist Career 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