Task

Task #1

Take a look at the Restaurant Career Ladder example below:

Restaurant Career Ladder Example: 1st and lower level host/hostess, 2nd level server, 3rd level front of house manager, 4th level assistant manager, 5th and upper level manager.

Not all jobs require a degree. Look at a typical progression in food service where you move "up the ladder" by gaining job experience.

Download and complete 1.04 Career Ladder.

Visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook website to get started.

  1. Choose an Occupation Group on the left and choose one of interest or find your career using the A-Z index on the home page.
  2. To determine career paths, you should look at the "How To Become One" tab and find key words that indicate beginning and advanced.
  3. You can also use the Similar Occupations tab.
  4. Finally, look at the Pay tab. You can sometimes find a career ladder there. Also pay attention to the levels of education for each job within the ladder.

Example

Let's say I want to become an actuary. Actuaries work in the insurance industry and look at facts and statistics. They basically decide how much you pay for insurance. Once I locate the career, I can see what they do, what level of education is needed, experience required, and salary amounts. I also have the option of looking at similar occupations and a description of How to Become One.

The following appears on the Actuary page:

Most entry-level actuaries start out as trainees. They are typically on teams with more experienced actuaries who serve as mentors. At first, they perform basic tasks, such as compiling data, but as they gain more experience, they may conduct research and write reports. Beginning actuaries may spend time working in other departments, such as marketing, underwriting, and product development, to learn all aspects of the company's work and how actuarial work applies to each one.

What words indicate entry-level? See the highlighted words.

You might have to have some creative thinking to determine the career paths and levels within a career. In this case, the entry-level job could be Trainee. It might also be Administrative Assistant in the marketing department.

Sometimes, it is easier to find the top level before the mid-level.

What is the top level job for actuary?

Under the Advancement tab, it reads:

Advancement depends largely on job performance and the number of actuarial exams passed. For example, actuaries who achieve fellowship status often supervise the work of other actuaries and provide advice to senior management. Actuaries with a broad knowledge of risk management and how it applies to business can rise to executive positions in their companies, such as chief risk officer or chief financial officer.

The highlighted words indicate how to determine what is "top-level." The top-level job then would be chief risk officer or chief financial officer.

The mid-level job is actuary, in this case. The career ladder would look like:

  • Top-level- Chief Financial Officer
  • Mid-level- Actuary
  • Lower level- Trainee

Submit your completed work to the 1.04 Career Ladder Dropbox.