| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Answer patients' calls and determine how to assist them. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Collect samples, such as blood, urine, or sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other healthcare team members as necessary. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts. |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles. |
| Importance: 90 (%) | Description: Supervise nurses' aides or assistants. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Assemble and use equipment, such as catheters, tracheotomy tubes, or oxygen suppliers. |
| Importance: 87 (%) | Description: Help patients with bathing, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, or standing and walking. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Record food and fluid intake and output. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Prepare or examine food trays for conformance to prescribed diet. |
Associate Degree Entry Level Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with an Associate's Degree or Less, having 1 year or less of work experience - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary, including % with Associate's Degree (or less), and % with 1 year experience (or less).
These entry-level roles are open to associate's degree graduates and offer a practical starting point for building experience and advancing. For recent graduates or career changers seeking their first role with a two-year degree. Compare starting salaries and degree-holder percentages, then access preparation resources built for new graduates.
Here is a short Helper Video
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Associate's Degree, to (1) Select an entry-level career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Associate's Degree entry-level careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover entry-level careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Associate Degree Jobs ![]()
What entry level jobs can you get with just an Associate's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are entry level careers (1 year or less work experience) related to the Associate's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having an Associate's Degree. - 356 specific careers are listed. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those occupations that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of occupations. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Associate's Degree or less) / (% having less than 1 year experience) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Description: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
688,100U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
751,900
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
63,800 (9.3%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
60,700
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Clean rooms and make beds. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Wash and dress bodies of deceased persons. |
| Importance: 57 (%) | Description: Set up equipment and prepare medical treatment rooms. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Make appointments, keep records, or perform other clerical duties in doctors' offices or clinics. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave. |
| Importance: 30 (%) | Description: Provide medical treatment or personal care to patients in private home settings, such as cooking, keeping rooms orderly, seeing that patients are comfortable and in good spirits, or instructing family members in simple nursing tasks. |
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 83 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Performing General Physical Activities: Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. |
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Administer basic health care or medical treatments. | |
| Administer intravenous medications. | |
| Analyze quantitative data to determine effectiveness of treatments or therapies. | |
| Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information. | |
| Apply bandages, dressings, or splints. | |
| Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities. | |
| Clean medical equipment or facilities. | |
| Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment. | |
| Collect biological specimens from patients. | |
| Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members. | |
| Maintain inventory of medical supplies or equipment. | |
| Maintain medical facility records. | |
| Manage preparation of special meals or diets. | |
| Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients. | |
| Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities. | |
| Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment. | |
| Order medical supplies or equipment. | |
| Perform clerical work in medical settings. | |
| Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use. | |
| Prepare patients physically for medical procedures. | |
| Provide basic information to guests, visitors, or clients. | |
| Record patient medical histories. | |
| Schedule patient procedures or appointments. | |
| Sterilize medical equipment or instruments. | |
| Supervise patient care personnel. | |
| Test biological specimens to gather information about patient conditions. | |
| Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses. | |
| Treat patients using physical therapy techniques. | |
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 78 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Psychology: Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Therapy and Counseling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. |
| Importance: 59 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Instructing: Teaching others how to do something. |
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Administer basic health care or medical treatments. |
| Activity: Administer diagnostic tests to assess patient health. |
| Activity: Administer therapeutic treatments. |
| Activity: Analyze health or medical data. |
| Activity: Assist healthcare practitioners during medical procedures. |
| Activity: Assist individuals with special needs. |
| Activity: Clean medical equipment or facilities. |
| Activity: Collect environmental or biological samples. |
| Activity: Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient care. |
| Activity: Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures. |
| Activity: Examine people or animals to assess health conditions or physical characteristics. |
| Activity: Explain medical information to patients or family members. |
| Activity: Maintain health or medical records. |
| Activity: Monitor health conditions of humans or animals. |
| Activity: Operate medical equipment. |
| Activity: Perform administrative or clerical activities. |
| Activity: Prepare medical equipment or work areas for use. |
| Activity: Provide information to guests, clients, or customers. |
| Activity: Purchase goods or services. |
| Activity: Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products. |
| Activity: Schedule appointments. |
| Activity: Supervise personnel activities. |
| Activity: Train others on health or medical topics. |
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||||||
| Medical software: | |||||||||
| eClinicalWorks EHR software Epic Systems MEDITECH software | |||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||
| Operating system software: | |||||||||
| Microsoft Windows | |||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||
| Video conferencing software: | |||||||||
| Zoom | |||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||
| Calendar and scheduling software: | |||||||||
| Scheduling software | |||||||||
| Categorization or classification software: | |||||||||
| Diagnostic and procedural coding software | |||||||||
| Cloud-based data access and sharing software: | |||||||||
| Google Drive | |||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||
| Microsoft Exchange | |||||||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||||||
| Web browser software | |||||||||
| Inventory management software: | |||||||||
| Inventory tracking software | |||||||||
| Medical software (scroll table below): | |||||||||
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| Video conferencing software: | |||||||||
| FaceTime | |||||||||
| Video creation and editing software: | |||||||||
| YouTube |
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed |
| Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. |
| Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. |
| These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants. |
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 38.2 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
| Frequency of Attainment: 34.8 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate |
| Frequency of Attainment: 15.9 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 11.1 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 34.5 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 22.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: None |
| Frequency of Attainment: 16.1 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months |
| Frequency of Attainment: 9.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.6 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Up to and including 1 month |
| Frequency of Attainment: 7.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months |
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
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Basic Life Support Certification | |
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Bloodborne Pathogens | |
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Certified Dialysis - Licensed Practical Nurse | |
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Certified Dialysis - Licensed Vocational Nurse | |
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Certified Urologic Associates | |
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Certified Wound Care Associate | |
|
Gerontology | |
|
IV Therapy | |
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Long-Term Care Certification | |
|
National Council Licensure Examination for Practical/Vocational Nurses (NCLEX-PN) | |
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National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) | |
|
Pharmacology Certification | |
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) | |
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus of Business Management at Mt. San Antonio College and author of the Harvard Business Impact article "What to Do When Students Ask You for Career Advice." - Full bio. © 2026 About This Page
