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Own your future! The decisions you make before you graduate determine the life you’ll live in 10 years and beyond!

Check out all the ways you can start preparing for the career and lifestyle you want!

studentsPlanning now can make a big difference in landing better jobs and earning higher salaries. Instead of going it alone, GP Pathways helps you find info on:

  • Your options after finishing high school,
  • Careers that are your perfect match,
  • Internships and job-shadowing to gain experience,
  • Finding the right training or college program,
  • Activities and events to build your skills.

Keep reading to learn more….

Get Started With Career Coach

Are you using Career Coach? You should be! Here’s why and how….

Career Coach is a great way to start thinking about your future! Provided by Illinois Central College, Career Coach has all sorts of tools and information to help you as you prepare for the next chapter in your life. With Career Coach you can:

  • Take a Career Assessment! Career Coach’s assessment will tell you about your personality traits, and what careers will fit you best
  • Browse through all kinds of careers! Each career listing will tell you what a person in that job does, the average salary for the job, and the education required for the job; you can also learn about what degree and certificate programs at ICC that will put you on the path towards the career you want
  • Build your resume! Career Coach’s Resume Builder makes writing a resume very easy. All you have to do is create your profile, and then you’re ready to go! It does all the hard work for you.

How to Access Career Coach

Log in today→Career Coach is an exciting new tool that can help you get a head start on your future! It’s available for free, courtesy of Illinois Central College.

Utilize Junior Achievement’s Online Tools

JA My Way

junior_achievement-140x95Join JA My Way™ to get tips and tools to put your career on the express track. Take the Personality Quiz then visit My Career to find job matches. Explore buying a car and saving for college in My Money, create pro resumes at My Resume, or get tips to start a business at My Business.

Check it out →

JA Build Your Future

JA Build Your Future helps teens, their parents, and teachers break down the cost of achieving young people’s career goals. In JA Build Your Future, teens can assess more than 100 careers, see what levels of education are required, then calculate the cost of education. Teens can then adjust the level of money they and their parents may contribute, combined with student loans they may need to secure.

Check it out →

Are you a student living in Peoria’s city limits? You could qualify for tuition reimbursement!

logo2Peoria Promise is a scholarship fund available to many students living in the city of Peoria. The fund offers tuition reimbursement for Illinois Central College courses.

Learn more →

These are the Hot Jobs in Greater Peoria

Prepare for in-demand careers and watch your opportunities take off.

Healthcare

  • Registered Nurse
    Average Salary: $68,030
    Education: 4-year program
  • Licensed Practical Nurse
    Average Salary:$44,870
    Education: 2-year program
  • Certified Nurse Assistant
    Average Salary: $25,260
    Education: 1-semester program
  • Medical Assistant
    Average Salary: $31,230
    Education: 2-year program
  • Medical Lab Tech
    Average Salary: $43,070
    Education:  2-year program
  • Physical Therapy Assistant
    Average Salary: $32,970
    Education: 2-year program

Manufacturing & Engineering

  • Engine and Machine Assemblers
    Average Salary: $37,330
  • Welder
    Average Salary: $37,710
    Education: 1-semester & 1-year certificate programs
  • CNC Machinist
    Average Salary: $47,430
    Education: 1.5-year degree program
  • Maintenance Technician
    Average Salary: $48,180
    Education: 1.5-year certificate & 2-year degree program
  • Process Engineer 
    Average Salary: $79,120
    Education: 2 & 4-year degree programs
  • Mechanical Engineer
    Average Salary: $84,420
    Education: 2 & 4-year degree programs

Information Technology

  • Computer Systems Analyst
    Average Salary: $85,500
    Education: 4-year degree program
  • Applications Software Developer
    Average Salary: $85,740
    Education: 4-year degree program
  • Database Administrators
    Average Salary: $80,850
    Education: 2 & 4-year degree programs
  • Network and Computer Systems Administrators
    Average Salary: $77,520
    Education: 1-year certificate, 2 & 4-year degree programs
  • Computer Programmers
    Average Salary: $74,060
    Education: 2-year certificate, 2 & 4-year degree programs

See a career you think you might like? Access your Career Cruising account to learn about area schools and programs where you can get the education or training you'll need. Don't have your Career Cruising account info? Ask you school counselor.

Building Trades

  • Electricians
    Average Salary: $69,940
    Apprenticeship: 3 & 5-year paid
  • Boilmakers
    Average Salary: $64,270
    Apprenticeship: 4-year paid
  • Bricklayers
    Average Salary: $70,910
    Apprenticeship: 3.5-year paid
  • Elevator Constructors
    Average Salary: $83,020
    Apprenticeship: 5-year paid
  • Heat & Frost Insulators
    Average Salary: $78,420
    Apprenticeship: 5-year paid
  • Cement Masons
    Average Salary: $58,030
    Apprenticeship: 3-year paid
  • Iron Workers
    Average Salary: $79,600
    Apprenticeship: 3-year paid
  • Painters
    Average Salary: $57,020
    Apprenticeship: 3-year paid
  • Plasterers
    Average Salary: $76,620
    Apprenticeship: 4-year paid
  • Plumbers, Steamfitters, & Sprinklerfitters
    Average Salary: $71,810
    Apprenticeship: 5-year paid
  • Roofers
    Average Salary: $46,440
    Apprenticeship: 4-year paid
  • Sheet Metal Workers
    Average Salary: $65,230
    Apprenticeship: 4-year paid
  • Operating Engineers
    Average Salary: $69,980
    Apprenticeship: 4-year paid
  • Carpenters
    Average Salary: $56,860
    Apprenticeship: 4-year paid
  • Construction Laborers
    Average Salary: $51,630
    Apprenticeship: 3-year paid

Apprenticeships are your entryway into the building trades, and most apprenticeships are paid!

Do you like building things and working with your hands? The building trades may be your perfect match. Earn a great living while building your community!

Get Started with the Building Trades

0For more information on the types of building trades careers and how to begin apprenticing, download the Union Building Trades Apprenticeship Programs booklet.

trades

Wanted: Computer Programmers Who Write Secure Software.
Get trained at Illinois Central College!

Computer code for business, information technology, mobile apps, the web, and more must be written to withstand all sorts of storms. The Central Illinois Center of Excellence for Secure Software at ICC trains students in software security through course work and internships, giving them the skills to get hired in this growing and needed field of work. To learn more, download the brochure and talk to an ICC academic advisor.

Download the brochure →

Get Your Science On

A background in science can give you an advantage in landed an in-demand job, so get involved with local science learning.

Bradley’s BEST & CREST Summer Internships

bradleyThe Building Excellent Scientist for Tomorrow (BEST) and the Clinical Research for Excellent Scientists for Tomorrow (CREST) summer internships are for high school and undergraduate students interested in pursuingscience and technology-based careers. Interns research in labs throughout Greater Peoria, working side-by-side with top researchers and their teams to learn first-hand about the research process. Learn more →

4G Camp, Gadgets, Games, Girls, And GENIUS!

titleGirls entering grades 7 & 8 explore exciting engineering and scientific fields through daily field trips, hands-on activities, and group projects during this weeklong summer camp. Hosted by the Bradley University Center for STEM Education, University of Illinois Extension, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, and Illinois Infomatics Institute. Learn more →

Peoria Riverfront Museum Children & Teen Classes

prm1The Peoria Riverfront Museum offers a variety of classes and workshops for children and teens that build science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) skills.

Learn more about classes →
Learn more about workshops →

CU Community Fab Lab

banner-long.fw_The Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab is an open and collaborative workshop space for computer-driven innovation, design and fabrication where you can imagine, design and create using open source software and DIY equipment. Visitors can explore the space, get help from staff and volunteers, use tools, and purchase materials at-cost. Families and individual adults may wish to attend their low-cost weekly orientation sessions to learn about more specific tools and activities like laser engraving, 3D printing or digital embroidery. Learn more →

Don’t miss these Career Exploration & Development Events

Join up with one of these events and get a jump on your future.

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Congratulations! You made it to the bottom of the page

Here’s the deal: employers want you! They need your talent and energy. But there’s more to landing a great job than your education. You need what are called soft skills. Soft skills are skills related to people, not to your job role.

skills4

What are the soft skills?

  • A Strong Work Ethic…
  • Positive Attitude…
  • Good Communication Skills…
  • Time Management Abilities…
  • Problem-Solving Skills…
  • Acting as a Team Player…
  • Self-Confidence…
  • Ability to Accept and Learn From Criticism…
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