Career Readiness: College And Career Readiness Terms Explained

Plain-language definitions of every career readiness term your child meets in school, each with kid-friendly explanations, worked examples, and common mistakes to watch for.

Career

A career is the long-term path of work a person chooses, usually built around their interests, skills, and goals, often across many related jobs over time.

Career cluster

A career cluster is a broad group of related jobs and industries that use similar skills and knowledge, such as health care, information technology, or education and training.

Career pathway

A career pathway is a planned series of education, training, and work steps that lead from school into a specific type of career, with clear options to move forward at each stage.

Certification

A certification is an official document or digital badge that proves a person has learned specific skills or knowledge and has passed a test or other requirements set by a recognized organization.

Professional communication

Professional communication is the way people share information, ideas, and feelings in school, work, and other formal settings using clear, respectful, and appropriate language, whether they are speaking, writing, or using digital tools.

Teamwork

Teamwork is when people work together toward a shared goal, using their different strengths, listening to each other, and helping the group succeed instead of focusing only on themselves.

Time management

Time management is the skill of planning and using time wisely so important tasks get done on time without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

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