Career Clusters are a collective number of disciplines which students can pursue for a bright future. They encompass different occupations that a person can take up with various suggestions and instructions for every pathway. There are a total of 16 Career Clusters. Understanding the features and benefits of these Career Clusters will be very helpful for every aspirant. The central theme of the Career Cluster is bringing a group of aspirants under one umbrella. This is crucial because you need a platform to understand the perfect career option for you.

At times your career may be connected with your passion, hobby, or certification also. The 16 Career Clusters divide similar types of services, requiring a specific set of skills, under various categories. This helps determine the connection between many posts, designations, and the required qualifications. Studying the Career Clusters will help you explore the multiple but somewhat similar career options. Following is a brief introduction of each of the 16 clusters.

• 1

  Architecture and Construction - This is all about learning different techniques and concepts of architecture and designing and constructing infrastructure. Therefore, the cluster makes you enter the profession of safety engineers, carpenters, etc. You should be good at math and passionate about decorating homes and other places.

• 2

  Agriculture and Natural Resources - The cluster specifies careers in the agriculture, food, and natural resources sector. The farmers also come under this category. A bachelor's degree holder can continue further studies in this field for prospective careers as scientists, veterinarians, engineers, etc.

• 3

  Business Management and Administration -This cluster is ideal if you want a typical corporate job. It ensures that you get a job in the managerial area or can start as a receptionist, secretary, and similar entry-level job. The applicants in this cluster must be fluent in soft skills. You can also hold accounting positions if you are a Certified Public Accountant.

• 4

  Finance - This cluster is perfect for your career if you are from finance and accounting background. Furthermore, it is also appropriate for a treasurer, auditor, economist, insurance sales agent, and other related jobs.

• 5

  Arts, A/V Technology, and Communication -If you want to join the media sector and be creative in your approaches, find your place in this sector. Various certified programs are there for becoming a technician or sound engineer. However, you can also be a journalist, radio announcer, dancer, actor, and others.

• 6

  Government and Public Administration -This cluster applies to all government related jobs. However, to acquire the position of a magistrate or judge, you need additional degrees. The other job options can be military workers, tax collectors, customs brokers, and others.

• 7

  Education and Training -Jobs in the education sector fall under this category. The cluster will open paths for teachers, professors, school psychologists, counsellors, and others.

• 8

  Hospitality and Tourism -This cluster is related to the career paths involving travel agents, hotel receptionists, tour guide, or any other job at hotels, restaurants, resorts, ticket houses, etc.

• 9

  Law and Public Safety -This cluster recommends jobs in the most critical sector of any nation, that is, law and order management and public safety. You can get promising jobs as attorneys, Public Safety Corrections employees, police officers, emergency and fire brigade officers etc.

• 10

  Health Sciences -You will be attached to the health sector if you learn about this cluster. It involves doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, and others.

• 11

  Human Services -Counselling forms a significant part of people's lives, especially in today's era. Human Services is the cluster if you want to cultivate this discipline for a prospective career option. It includes services like social workers, counselling and mental health specialists, child advocacy professionals, psychologists, etc. Moreover, you may join the beauty and care industry too and become a hairdresser, nail artist, salon supervisor etc.

• 12

  Information Technology -If you are an aspirant in the technology and computing sector, this is the cluster you should concentrate on. Become a computer expert, software professional, developer, certified IT security analyst, computer teacher, web designer, etc.

• 13

  Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics -You may find the work environment surrounded by lots of packages or vehicles while joining any job in this cluster. Pilots, drivers, car repairers, mechanics, engineers, logistics workers, delivery personnel, transportation operator, etc., come under this category.

• 14

  Manufacturing -If you interested in getting involved physically with the making of a product then Manufacturing has the answers to all your desires. You can join the job roles like assemblers, logistics and inventory control personnel, equipment operators, and others.

• 15

  Scientific Research and Engineering -Individuals with advanced degrees in engineering, chemistry, and technology can join this cluster. You can be an operator in the laboratory or work as a geoscientist, biologist, chemist, data scientist, research assistant, etc. However, the passion for sciences and mathematics must be present.

• 16

  Marketing, Sales, and Services -Mostly, people with a degree or certificate in marketing and sales apply for a job in this cluster. However, some jobs, like customer service representatives, telemarketers, etc., may not require such a degree mandatorily. You can become a market research analyst, professional in sales, marketing manager, and others.

Features of Career Clusters

• 1

  Gives an idea about the sample occupations falling under each cluster

• 2

  It groups together subjects and jobs requiring similar abilities, skill set and interests

• 3

  Gives an idea about the work environment applicable for a person

• 4

  Gives an idea about the knowledge and skills required for the different job roles, and profiles

Benefits of Career Clusters

• 1

  Understanding why a particular career can be suitable for you

• 2

  Ascertaining how well you can cope with the work environment by knowing it from the clusters

• 3

  Help to match your personality traits and skills with appropriate career cluster

• 4

  Make you aware about the job roles and opportunities available and the eligibility for the same

The Career Cluster framework will help you select a career apt for your skills and personality traits. Expert opinion is also welcome in this aspect to judge the features of a career and how one cluster can be more beneficial than the other. Career Cluster is the gateway to acquire the information about related career disciplines and areas of specialization. This article is just a brief introduction to the concept of career clusters used in career counselling. Hence we encourage you to use this as a foundation and explore further as required.