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Job Sector Guides
Overview | Guides | Campus Examples | Documents to Download
Sector Guides
Below is the introduction for each of the Job Sector Guides. This information is then linked to a sub-page with the full guide. You may also download each Job Sector Guide in a pdf format.
The K-12 Education sector describes the industry invested in helping students learn in schools. This industry is comprised of careers associated with teaching or supporting learners in kindergarten through 12th grade. Though K-12 education typically refers to public schooling systems, which are funded by federal, state, and local sources, the sector also includes private schools, charter schools, virtual schools, technical and trade schools, and alternative education. Currently, there is a demand for educators who have background in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, special education, foreign language, and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The career that is most commonly associated with this sector is a school teacher, directly instructing and mentoring k-12 students in a classroom. However, like our Bonner service work, there are both direct and indirect opportunities to get involved. The indirect opportunities could involve work in consulting, curriculum development, instructional design, administration, and more. Here, you can find categories of jobs that fall within the field of K-12 education.
Drawing on the work of Ernest Boyer, civic engagement is defined as “working to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference” (Ehrlich, 2000). The civic engagement sector in higher education is a recognizable field offering professional employment and advancement opportunities. In roles such as center and program directors, leaders of engaged scholarship programs, and even deans, professionals manage the work of college and university constituents (i.e., students, faculty, and staff) with nonprofit and government agencies. While most of these partners are local or “place-based” in communities neighboring the college or university, these professionals also build sustained partnerships and projects in national and international contexts.
This sector offers professionals a complex mix of roles and responsibilities that bridge being an educator, visionary, manager, advisor, mentor, and more. Over the past three decades, in particular, the civic engagement sector within higher education has grown significantly. As documented by Campus Compact (a national membership organization for institutions that supports this work), in the mid 1980s few campuses reported dedicated centers and offices to coordinate and manage the engagement of students. Today, nearly 100% of the more than 1,300 institutions in its network report having at least one (and often multiple) dedicated centers, offices, and units. As a Bonner Scholar and Leader, you are exposed to this sector throughout your four years in the program. The staff that lead and manage your Bonner Program are considered professionals in this sector. These offices may be housed in Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, specific departments, the President’s Office or other units. Regardless, these positions are now recognized as professional educators requiring a complex set of competencies and even advanced training and graduate education.
This sector is now regarded as “Community Engagement Professionals,” requiring a sophisticated range of knowledge, skills, and professional competencies (Dostilio et. al, 2017). Many Bonner alumni may be inspired by the work of individuals in this sector, who seem to devote their professional lives to building and sustaining partnerships and projects, community change, and student success.
At colleges and universities, learning transcends classrooms. Opportunities for growth and development happen in residence halls, on athletic fields, and in social settings. Student affairs professionals provide services, structural and relational support to students engaging in learning both inside and outside the classroom. According to National Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA), a few core values within student affairs are encouraging an understanding of and respect for diversity, believing in the worth of individuals, and supporting students in their development. Though most colleges and universities in the United States have a division of student affairs, the actual departments that fall under this division varies. Thus, careers in the field of student affairs vary greatly too. The Handbook of Student Affairs Administration and professional associations, NASPA–Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and ACPA–American College Personnel Association, identify eight typical departments within a division of student affairs.
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, “Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities.” These communities can range from local neighborhoods to an entire country or even the world. “Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening or recurring through implementing educational programs, recommending policies, administering services and conducting research” (CDC, 2018). Public health differs from clinical professionals (i.e. doctors, nurses) that are concerned with treating individuals after they are sick or injured. Public health is a multidisciplinary, diverse and growing field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 15.6 million new healthcare positions by 2022 - in which research, education, and social work will see consistent growth in the next decade. Bonner alumni often are drawn to the field to combine their interest in health with their values of addressing disparity and contributing to the welfare of others. Careers in public health commonly fall into several key categories.
Other Resources
Campuses may also want to acquaint themselves with some other resources from other nonprofit organizations that specialize on particular careers or on providing information about job sectors and careers. These organizations provide a plethora of information, and there is no substitute for students or job seekers perusing their information or even signing up for searches and emails.
- Idealist.org: Students and graduates interested in the nonprofit sector should know about Idealist. Idealist is all about connecting idealists – people who want to do good – with opportunities for action and collaboration. With more than 120,000 organizations and 1.4 million monthly visitors to our English, and Spanish (idealistas.org) sites, Idealist helps people move from intention to action all over the world. Idealist allows users to search for jobs, internships, organizations, and even resources from nonprofit and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in countries around the world. Historically, Idealist has also sponsored graduate school and career fairs that focus on the sector on campuses or in bigger cities. Visit the website to learn what resources are available in your area or in areas where you may be interested in living.
- Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health: Students and graduates interested in public health should know about ASPPH. ASPPH is a membership association for graduate schools in public health. It aims to prepare tomorrow's public health leaders by advancing education, research, practice, and advocacy. ASPPH is one of the Bonner Foundation's national partners, interested in helping Bonner graduates and alumni who are interested in careers in public health find their ways into graduate school and the profession. As such, they provide a financial discount for students to use their portal to search for and apply to graduate schools in the sector.
- Indeed.com: Students and graduates interested in the private sector (or jobs more broadly) should know about Indeed. Indeed is the #1 job site in the world, with over 200 million unique visitors2 every month. Indeed strives to put job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. Every day, we connect millions of people to new opportunities. One of the features of the website is the ability to look up salary information (averages) for particular positions in specific locations.
- Partnership for Public Service: Students and graduates interested in the government and public sector (i.e., federal, state, county jobs) should know about the Partnership for Public Service. The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that strives for a more effective government for the American people. Acknowledging the government's powerful role in addressing national security, economic growth, the environment and virtually every other issue we face, this organization provides a range of resources about jobs and careers in the sector, including a list of "Best Places to Work" in federal government.
