What are nontraditional careers?

Occupations or fields of work, including computer science, technology, and other emerging high skill occupations, in which one gender accounts for less than 25% of the number of individuals employed.  Examples of nontraditional occupations include males in nursing and females in engineering.

What are the benefits of nontraditional careers to Men?

• Opportunities for advancement in an area of interest 
• Fulfilling work
• Opportunity for adventure
• Broader job opportunities

What are the benefits of nontraditional careers to Women?

• Economic self-sufficiency
• Higher wages
• Better benefits
• Physical challenges in many jobs
• Broader job opportunities
• Advancement potential
• Job satisfaction

Examples of Nontraditional Career Activities

• Switch Days with Career and Technology Education classes
• Nontraditional Career Panel at 8th Grade Career Fair Switch Days with Career and Technology Education classes
• Nontraditional Career Panel at 8th Grade Career Fair $75 Mini-Grants for middle and high school teachers to expose their students to nontraditional careers through field trips.
• Career and technical education teachers will visit middle schools to educate the 8th graders on the elective courses available in the high school career and technical education departments
• Plan, promote and deliver a Girls Tech Nontraditional Career presentations
• Tours of postsecondary schools will be planned as optional activities for special population students
• Promote, organize and accomplish a nontraditional career fair for all students at Community High School
• Collaborate with the Society of Women Engineers at UND to plan hands on activities with nontraditional students
• Review the sexual harassment policy of the Grand Forks Public Schools Provide hands-on forums related to technology education careers for students in the middle schools
• Incorporate a nontraditional careers component and leadership training into the Helping Hands Service-Learning Camp during summer 2008