Imagine a Non-Traditional Career

Careers that place you outside of the box!

Sometimes we choose a career because it fits our traditional image of boys growing up to be fire fighters or engineers, while girls become teachers or nurses. But that no longer is the case. There are no limits when it comes to choosing a career. The only limit is your imagination!

Today, many males are choosing to become nurses, health care workers, social workers, teachers, and executive assistants. More males are finding rewarding careers with plenty of opportunities for advancement – swapping tool belts for nursing scrubs, chalkboards, and Blackberries. It takes courage to stand up and break from tradition. But, it’s your life and you’re in charge!

Hard hats and safety goggles come in all sizes and more females are making career choices in non-traditional jobs such as construction trades, automotive technology, precision production technology, computer information systems, and welding. There are no limits when it comes to jobs for females in these fields. Dare to be who you want to be – your career opportunities are endless!

Choose a career that fits your interests and talent!

Business

Faster-than-average growth can be expected for professional accountants and auditors as a result of changing financial laws and regulations. Traditionally, occupations dominated by females, more males are finding career opportunities in accounting and as executive assistants, which both offer career advancement. SMC offers an associate in applied science in accounting, business, and executive assistant.

And for an added bonus, students enrolled in SMC's School of Business can get a two-year accounting or business degree and then enroll in the Bachelor’s of Science degree in business administration through Ferris State University. The four-year program, which is offered on SMC’s campus, also saves students money by offering three of the four years at SMC’s tuition cost.

Females will find ample career opportunities in the rapidly expanding field of information technology. SMC offers an associate in applied science degree in three specialty areas and a one-year certificate in IT help desk. Choose a career in health information technology – ideal for males and females who want a job in the fast growing health care field but who don’t want to work with patients.

Health Care, Education & Social Work

Careers which have traditionally been dominated by females – health care, education and social work – are fast becoming occupational choices for many males. Health care careers make up 12 of the 20 fastest growing occupations. There is also a growing demand for elementary and secondary teachers, as well as social workers and human services assistants.

At Southwestern Michigan College, the student sitting next to you in nursing class would just as likely be a male as a female these days. More and more males are finding career opportunities in the health care field, including nursing, practical nursing, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, paramedic, emergency medical technician, or phlebotomy, as well as fire science. SMC offers certificates and associate in applied science degrees in a number of the health care programs.

There is a high demand for teachers, especially early childhood educators where job openings are available as preschool teachers, program directors for childcare agencies and family educators or paraprofessionals in early childhood programs such as Head Start. SMC offers two-year associate in applied science degrees in early childhood education and education paraprofessional. Additionally, SMC offers a two-year associate in applied science degree in social work.

Students can find out more information about health care, education and social work programs at SMC by following the School of Nursing and Human Services link on the left.

Technology

The U.S, Dept. of Labor has identified the following careers as high-demand, highskill, high wage occupations where less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in that field are considered a non-traditional gender: computer-aided drafting and design (CADD), graphic design technology, electrical systems technology, welding, automotive technology, manufacturing and production technology, and construction trades.

Typically, females do not choose careers in technology because they may feel they do not have the right skills, particularly in math and science, to perform the job or that they are not physically strong enough to handle some the work required of them. However, some female workers will find rewarding career opportunities.

SMC has one-year certificates in automotive technology, CADD, construction trades, electrical systems technology, precision production technology, and welding. Additionally, SMC offers two-year associate in applied science degrees in automotive technology, CADD, electrical systems technology, graphic design technology, manufacturing systems technology, and precision production technology.

Students can find out more information about technology programs at SMC by following the School of Technology link on the left.