Career Development · Start early
Know your why, know the pay, and find your path
How to start exploring careers early, figure out what you want and why, learn what jobs really pay, and get free help from career programs across Connecticut.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question most of us hear as kids and keep asking ourselves as adults. The earlier you start exploring, the more choices you have, and it's never too late to change course. This guide walks through the basics and connects you with free career help close to home.
Beat the Street Career Development Program
Understanding careers early
What to do at every stage
Elementary and middle school
Explore and ask questions
- Notice what they love. Building, drawing, helping, animals, numbers, games: interests are clues to future careers.
- Talk about jobs everywhere. Ask the nurse, the mechanic or the librarian what a day at work looks like.
- Try things. Camps, clubs, 4-H, scouting, library programs and science fairs are low-pressure ways to test interests.
Try thisAsk your child to name three jobs they saw today and what each person does.
High school
Test-drive careers
- Job shadow or intern. Even one day watching someone work tells you more than hours of reading.
- Take career classes. Connecticut's technical high schools (CTECS), dual-credit college courses and career academies let students earn credits and certifications early.
- Get a part-time or summer job. Many regional workforce boards run paid summer youth employment programs.
- Look beyond four-year college. Apprenticeships, trade programs, community college and the military are all strong paths.
Try thisInterview two adults whose jobs interest you. Ask what they wish they knew at your age.
Adults and career changers
Build on what you know
- List your transferable skills. Customer service, scheduling, leadership and problem-solving move with you to new fields.
- Look for short-term training. Many in-demand certificates take weeks or months, not years, and some are free for eligible residents.
- Visit an American Job Center. Free career coaching, résumé help, workshops and training funds are available across the state.
Try thisSet up a free account on CTHires, the state's job and career site.
Why do you want to be what you want to be?
Your why keeps you going
A career is more than a paycheck. Knowing your reasons helps you choose a path that fits and stick with it when training gets hard. Ask yourself which of these matter most to you.
- PurposeDo you want to help people, protect your community, create something or solve problems?
- InterestsWhat could you happily learn about for hours? What do people ask you for help with?
- LifestyleDo you want regular hours, travel, working outdoors, working from home or running your own business?
- IncomeWhat salary supports the life you want? Look up what the job pays where you live.
- TrainingHow much time and money can you put into school or training? Are there paid apprenticeships?
- DemandAre employers hiring in Connecticut? Will the job still be needed in 10 years?
Learn the income potential
What jobs pay and what it takes
Before you commit to a path, look up typical pay, the training it requires and how many openings there are. Pay in Connecticut is often higher than the national figure, and it grows with experience, certifications and specialization.
Sample careers: training and approximate yearly pay
| Career | Typical training | Approx. median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Certified nursing assistant | State-approved course, a few weeks | $39,000 |
| Medical assistant | Certificate, about 1 year | $44,000 |
| Welder | Training program or apprenticeship | $51,000 |
| HVAC technician | Trade program or apprenticeship | $59,000 |
| Electrician | Paid apprenticeship, 4 to 5 years | $62,000 |
| Plumber | Paid apprenticeship, 4 to 5 years | $62,000 |
| Elementary school teacher | Bachelor's degree and certification | $63,000 |
| Police officer | Police academy | $76,000 |
| Accountant | Bachelor's degree | $81,000 |
| Registered nurse | Associate or bachelor's degree, license | $93,000 |
| Dental hygienist | Associate degree, license | $94,000 |
| Software developer | Bachelor's degree or equivalent skills | $133,000 |
Rounded national median yearly pay based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Half of workers earn more and half earn less. Actual pay varies by employer, town and experience.
National
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Pay, training, job outlook and day-to-day duties for hundreds of careers. bls.gov/ooh
Connecticut
CT Department of Labor wage data
What jobs pay in Connecticut and its regions, plus which fields are growing. CT DOL Labor Market Information
Explore
CareerOneStop and O*NET
Free interest quizzes, skills matching and career videos. careeronestop.org · mynextmove.org
Career research tool
Coming soon
Coming soon
Find careers that fit you, right here on CT Info Press
We're building a free career development research tool for Connecticut students, parents and job seekers. Want to know when it launches? Check the box in the referral form below.
- Search careers by interest and training time
- See typical pay and job demand in Connecticut
- Find local training, apprenticeships and college programs
- Connect with community partners near you
Get a free referral to career help
Free · Connecticut residents
Tell us a little about yourself and what you're looking for. We'll refer you to a local community partner for career development program support in Connecticut, such as career coaching, job training, apprenticeships or youth employment programs. Referrals are free.
Career development partners in Connecticut
Free and low-cost programs
You can also reach out to these programs directly. Each region of Connecticut has a workforce development board that funds training and runs American Job Centers.
Statewide
- American Job Centers (CT Department of Labor): career coaching, workshops and training funds. CTHires
- Apprenticeship Connecticut and the CT DOL Office of Apprenticeship Training: earn while you learn.
- CT State Community College: certificates, degrees and workforce training at campuses statewide.
- CT Technical Education and Career System (CTECS): technical high schools and adult programs.
- Bureau of Rehabilitation Services: career help for people with disabilities.
- 211 Connecticut: dial 211 to find job training near you.
Eastern CT
- Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board (EWIB), Franklin: job training, youth programs and the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative for jobs at Electric Boat and other employers.
- American Job Centers in Norwich, New London area and Danielson.
Hartford region
- Capital Workforce Partners: career services, training and summer youth employment.
- Hartford Job Corps Academy: free training for ages 16 to 24.
New Haven and shoreline
- Workforce Alliance: career services and training for South Central Connecticut.
- New Haven Job Corps Center: free training for ages 16 to 24.
- Goodwill of Southern New England: job readiness and placement.
Fairfield County and Northwest CT
- The WorkPlace, Bridgeport: training and career programs for southwestern Connecticut.
- Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, Waterbury: services for the Naugatuck Valley and Litchfield Hills.
PartnersRun a career program in Connecticut? Become a referral partner