I clicked pretty quickly into this email from Advance CTE.
I got on their mailing list earlier this year. A search to explore the market for connecting students to careers, led to me stumbling across the National Career Clusters framework.
The framework I found looked a little different than what's on the Advance CTE site now. It hadn't been touched since 2008, so the career roles and implementation guide listed are nearly a generation old. On October 22, 2024 the updated version arrived in thousands of inboxes.
The updated National Career Clusters framework can help us show different career paths to students, so they can explore and find their career spark. Don't miss the resources linked at the end of the post to learn more.
Preview the exciting career options available in each career cluster
Students aren't limited to the roles they read in books or see on TV. Doctor. Lawyer. Banker. Accountant. These noble professions aren't dream jobs for every kid.
The Career Clusters wheel includes a vast number of possible roles that exist within each of these catch all, big industry categories.
By the time I realized what I wanted to do for a living, I was midway through college. My personal journey learning with a variety of tools as a kid and helping my brother and his peers do the same led me to my moment of clarity and industry that was my calling.
I wanted edtech >> I wanted marketing >> I wanted to be able to write.
So I researched all relevant careers in education. I still have the Google Doc entitled Post grad careers, with the list of careers I'd start to explore:
Teacher
UX designer
Product analyst
Technical writer
Textbook author
Content manager
Content marketer
Product manager
Curriculum designer
Education consultant
Education psychologist
Education policy analyst
Product marketing manager. Bingo
As you can see, working in an industry dedicated to caring for communities could mean one of many roles in healthcare. Or public service and safety. Or Education.
Show students skills that will serve them in any industry they choose
If I decided to stop product marketing edtech SaaS, I'd have transferrable skills that I could take to do marketing in another industry. If not big tech, then a makeup brand or sports company. The options really are endless for an increasingly relevant role like product marketing.
Roles like mine, can serve all industries. Advance CTE established a complete list of Cross-Cutting Clusters, including marketing, that are as versatile and central to the working world.
Students don't have to do direct sales or marketing. Their career spark may just include these activities as part of their larger purpose.
For example, a kid interested in a real estate career must also understand digital marketing, construction, and economic opportunity.
Match students with careers that position them as builders
I got my degree in Education, Technology, and Social Entrepreneurship. Here's why.
I started to realize how I leveraged my school years and the products that engaged me at that time to work in edtech. So I wanted to learn how to create businesses that empowered students to find their place in the working world while making a difference.
The innermost clusters have energizing labels. The active verbs alone indicate students pursuing careers that inspire:
Creating & Experiencing
Caring for Communities
Investing in the Future
Cultivating Resources
Building & Moving
Conclusion: Market different career paths for students
I grew up hearing I'd one day have a job that didn't exist yet. Then I was lucky enough to meander my way into a field and industry that I love. I hope this framework better equips adults to connect kids to different pathways that can serve them.
Students shouldn't be limited by their current working knowledge of what careers exist. There are so many exciting skills to develop and projects to work on if they end up down a particular path.
The framework says there's an opportunity to see something bigger than the specific role they're thinking about.
There is SO much connectivity and possibilities that come with selecting a career. If a student doesn't like a direction they're pursuing, they can keep their have the opportunity to PIVOT and explore something else!