Getting to know the Career Clusters
8th Grade FACS
Name________________________
Directions: Use South Dakota MyLife Magazine to answer the following questions about the 16 career clusters.
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
What is the main responsibility of people working in this cluster? Providing a safe and efficient
food supply for the rest of the world.
Which career in this cluster has an average annual salary of $39,180?
Microbiologist
Architecture & Construction
By 2018, the demand for South Dakota workers in this cluster is expected to grow by more than 10%.
Name three careers found in the architecture and construction cluster: wiring buildings, road construction,
cost estimator, architects, industrial machinery mechanics, concrete masons
Arts, A/V Technology & Communication
What program did Justin Thiesse graduate from at Mitchell Technical Institute? Satellite communications
What classes does he recommend you take? Computer, math, construction
Business Management & Administration
What are two skills you might possess that would make this cluster a good fit for you? Desire to be your own boss,
organized, good time management, evaluation and communications skills.
Which career in this cluster requires a bachelor’s degree and has an annual salary of $71,600? Purchasing managers
Education & Training
Where is the South Dakota Children’s Museum? Brookings
List four careers that fit into this cluster: teachers, university presidents, librarians, social workers, health educators,
training and development specialists, child and family social workers, education administrators, librarians.
Finance
List three major banks found in South Dakota: Citibank, Wells Fargo, Premier Bankcard, Plains Commerce Bank
A Financial Analyst makes around $39,600 annually. What two year degree is needed for this career? Associate’s
Government and Public Administration
What are two tasks that government officials and public administrators do? Represent local citizens, enforce laws,
defend our nation.
List three additional careers in this cluster: city planners, compliance officers, driver’s license examiners, urban or
regional planners, building inspectors, transportation inspectors, budget analysts, mail carriers.
Health Science
List two careers, other than doctors and nurses, that fall under the health sciences cluster: radiology, anesthesiology,
lab tech, research and administration.
How much will this cluster grow in the next six years? More than any other cluster
Hospitality & Tourism
How many visitors come to the Brown County Fair every summer? 230,000
List three tourist stops in South Dakota: Reptile Gardens, Wall Drug, Storybook Island, Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead,
Falls Park.
Human Services
How might a person in Human Services describe their work? Difficult but rewarding
Most careers in Human Services involve ethics, regulations and reporting.
Information Technology
How much will this cluster grow between now and 2018? 11%
The IT industry in South Dakota employs 1500 people and pays an average wage of $60,206.
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security
Which career in this cluster pays $25,830 and requires excellent communication skills? Police, fire and ambulance
dispatchers
What non-profit agency is suggested as a possible place to start volunteering in this cluster? American Red Cross
Manufacturing
What does Justin Ploof’s job entail? Setting up and operating machine tools that produce aluminum components.
List three possible careers in this cluster: machinery mechanic, process control programmer, welder, machinist,
boilermaker, woodworker.
Marketing
Marketing is needed in how many of the career clusters? All 16
Which one career in this cluster do you think you might like best?__________________ Why?__________________
Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)
What are two careers found in the STEM cluster? Chemist, industrial engineer, mathematician, biological tech, medical
scientist, industrial engineer tech, mechanical engineering tech, civil engineer, electrical engineer
What is Jill Weimer’s primary job focus? Mammalian central nervous system development
Transportation & Logistics
What skills do you need to work in this cluster? Critical thinking, problem solving, risk management and communication.
Why did Matt Schmitt decide over the road trucking wasn’t for him? He didn’t want to be away from home.
Reflection:
After learning about the 16 career clusters, which career cluster seems the most interesting, or the best fit for
you?
List three reasons why: