Strategic Employment Overview
Strategic employment is entry-level employment within the industry you're interested in. Entry-level employment provides valuable opportunities for building both the employment soft skills, such as communication and time management, and technical skills needed in your industry. Oftentimes, employers offer additional training and professional development opportunities, called professional upskilling, for devoted entry-level staff to continue advancing. Strategic employment is beneficial to build your professional network and to learn more about an industry before committing to formal education or training, or while enrolled in formal education or training. Don't be discouraged if it takes some time to find an entry-level job in the industry that you're most interested in! Even if you need to find an unrelated job to pay the bills, keep researching, applying to, and preparing for opportunities that interest you. When the right opportunity comes up, you'll be ready. It is typical for people to stay in an entry level role for one to three years while they are building their skills and experience to be eligible for promotion opportunities. Read more about this approach in the Enrollment section below. See the "Applying to Jobs" resources in our video library for tips on resume writing, cover letter writing, interviewing, using LinkedIn, and networking.
Strategic Employment
This short video gives an overview of what this pathway is all about.
To pursue this as a strategy, begin by researching the careers in your desired industry that require little or no preparation. Then, research the best companies to work for in the desired industry in your geographic region. Next, follow those companies on LinkedIn, Indeed, or their company website so that you're aware when entry-level employment positions become available. When applying to jobs, it's important to maintain a growth mindset and gather feedback on your job search strategy whenever possible. Get feedback and support from friends, family members, mentors, and even hiring managers in your job search process. For example, ask a hiring manager for feedback on your application or interview if you don't move forward in the hiring process.
High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED or HiSET)
High School GPA Does Not Impact Enrollment
