Your gender doesn’t have to determine how you make a living
Probably the best question to ask yourself when you’re deciding on a career is “What do I really love to do?” But what if the answer to that question just brings up more questions?
What if your career choice challenges a few stereotypes? What if it requires you to swim against the cultural current?
The men working in daycare centers and the women on construction sites know how it feels to be one of only a few in their occupations. It takes a certain amount of courage to choose a career that others feel they have to preface with your gender such as “male nurse” or “female engineer.”
What’s the definition of a non-traditional job for either men or women? A non-traditional occupation (NTO), by U.S. Department of Labor definition, is one in which employees represent 25 percent or less of one gender.
Women and men who choose a non-traditional career program at York Tech gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be successful in their field.
What’s right for you?
Don’t let a career stereotype be the barrier to a great career choice that is right for you. Experts say there are no jobs that are “pink” or “blue,” only jobs that you choose based on interests and talents. And more and more people are looking to break tradition when it comes to their futures.
York Technical College works every day with men going into nursing, early childhood development, and other fields where women workers outnumber men. The women they work with are learning skills for careers in welding, machine tool technology, and automotive, just to name a few.
The decision to pursue an associate degree in Early Childhood Development seemed to come naturally for John McGoogan. He grew up in a large—very large—family. Taking care of children is something everyone did in his family of 16 kids—John being the youngest. But even as the youngest, he did his share of babysitting and caring for siblings after his parents later adopted seven more children.
“I just have a passion for young people,” John said. “It’s important to me that they get off to a good start and are well taken care of.”
John knows he is pursuing a career where men are rare, but his confidence in what he is doing and where he is going—for himself and his family—has been a big help.
“I am the only man in the program, but I don’t feel out of place in my classes,” John said. “I do get called on a lot to represent the man’s perspective,” he added with a smile. “But I like the challenge.”
John is currently halfway through the two years it will take him to earn his degree. His goal is to find a good job in early childhood development after graduation, but he and his wife have the long-term goal of starting their own child development center through their church.
As if any more proof was needed of John’s passion for kids, his wife gave birth recently to their first child, a son.
One of the fastest-growing and in-demand fields is manufacturing. With the “baby boom” population aging and retirements looming, these fields are expected to experience a critical shortage of skilled workers. York Tech offers associate degree, technical diploma, and certificate programs in several manufacturing program areas and encourages women to consider them. Not only do these jobs pay well, but employment opportunities are widely available. Options to complete many of the programs are available in the evening as well.
Defying a stereotype or two can result in career satisfaction, but sometimes it takes courage to make the leap. Even though you’re a female, a single parent, or middle-aged, take the time to learn something that will provide a better life for you and your family that is financially and emotionally rewarding.
Some non-traditional occupation programs offered at York Tech for women:
- Computer Technology
- PC Technical Support
- Digital Design
- Web Programming
- Chemical Operator
- Criminal Justice
- Emergency Medical Technician
- Automotive
- Air Conditioning/Refrigeration Mechanics
- Residential/Commercial Carpentry
- Industrial Electricity/Electronics
- Engineering Technology
- Industrial Maintenance
- Machine Tool
- CNC Machinist
- Welding
Some non-traditional occupation programs offered at York Tech for men:
- Administrative Office Technology
- Medical Office
- Legal Office
- Data Entry
- Early Childhood Development
- Dental Hygiene and Assisting
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Nursing
- Radiologic Technology
- Surgical Technology