High School

In high school, a core curriculum provides a solid foundation for career and employment technician work. Take courses in English, history, mathematics, business, psychology, and sociology. Computer science classes are essential for this type of work. Learning a foreign language is also useful for communicating with international students.

Postsecondary Education

When hiring a career guidance technician, most employers look for applicants who have completed two years of training beyond high school, usually at a junior, community, or technical college. These two-year programs, which usually lead to an associates degree, may combine classroom instruction with practical or sometimes even on-the-job experience. Some of the skills you will need as a career and employment technician, such as testing-procedures, can be acquired only through on-the-job training.

Certification or Licensing

Career and employment technicians with voluntary certification may have an advantage in the job market. The International Association of Administrative Professionals, for example, offers the Certified Administrative Professional designation for students who meet education requirements and pass the certification exam.

Career and employment technicians have strong organizational and detail-oriented skills because the job entails handling a variety of materials. Teachers and students share with technicians the resources they need for their career and employment searches, and rely on technicians to meet these needs. Technicians, therefore, must be customer-service oriented, with strong listening and communication skills. They must have a good background in career resources and have knowledge of testing techniques and measures of aptitude, achievement, interests, values, and personality is required.