high school videos

Everyday we’re surrounded by signs and written information. Now imagine not being able to read. For too many Americans, that nightmare is a reality. That’s why Adult Literacy teachers are so important. They help people who never learned to read…to read. They also teach English as a second language courses. Another group in need are those who never graduated from high school. Without a high school diploma, many job opportunities are out of reach for them view more

While many manufacturing jobs have been automated, there are still many processes that may require manual assembly. And that’s the job of precision assemblers. These skilled workers build intricate products from manufactured parts or subassemblies -- ranging from electrical appliances and computers, to turbines, airplanes and cars. Precision assemblers must be able to do accurate work at a fast pace view more

One of the key players on any sports team never takes the field -- the athletic trainer. This member of the team keeps players in top shape. The most important part of the job is helping athletes prevent and recover from sports injuries. Working closely with team doctors, trainers wrap injuries and supervise physical therapy. Athletic trainers study practice sessions, and provide individualized exercise routines for athletes to improve their performance view more

When you need the services of Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers—the need is usually urgent. Whether due to theft or an accident, a broken car window renders an important part of someone’s life vulnerable to rain, snow, cold and criminal intent. The ability to fix this problem quickly and efficiently is a specialized skill in the field of auto repair. Glass installers carefully remove broken, cracked or pitted windshields and window glass view more

Like nearly every other professional today, automotive technicians need to be comfortable with computer-based equipment. Today's cars are more computerized than ever. But it will be a long time before a computer can listen to an engine or an exhaust system and know instantly what adjustments need to be made to which components. Yet that's precisely the kind of thing an experienced and skilled technician can do view more

When you’re rushing to catch a plane or train… or heading for a hotel room…you may need the services of baggage porters and bellhops. These service workers make life easier for travelers with luggage. These are jobs that require physical strength. While wheeled luggage carriers may be available at some locations, you are often called upon to lift heavy objects. You also have to be a good communicator, even if the people you’re helping don’t speak your language view more

The smell of just baked bread, rolls and muffins or the taste of a fresh pastry is hard to resist. Bakers measure and mix ingredients according to recipes, bake the dough in ovens and decorate and finish the final products. Large commercial bakeries and bakeries in hotels and restaurants may turn out thousands of items daily, while neighborhood and supermarket bakeries turn out smaller quantities, just enough to supply their local customers view more

Bill and Account Collectors contact customers with overdue bills. Collectors call customers, inform them of the amount due and ask for payment. If the Customer disputes the amount or the transaction, the Collector investigates the matter. When customers move without leaving a forwarding address, collectors check with the post office, phone companies and computerized databases to find a new address and contact the customer view more

If you enjoy developing scientific theories and devising tests to prove them, a career as a biological scientist could prove challenging and rewarding. Biological scientists study living organisms. They specialize in a particular area of biology, such as the study of animals: zoology, or the study of tiny organisms: microbiology. Their research can lead to improvements in medicines and the environment view more

Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks have different assignments, but they all have the same job -— to help keep track of the money a business makes and spends. Bookkeeping clerks help by preparing balance sheets and other documents that summarize an organization’s financial position. Accounting clerks enter sales and purchasing transaction data. And auditing clerks verify that the figures are accurate and that the calculations are correct view more

53-6011.00 Bridge and Lock Tenders- 198 Bridge and lock tenders help commercial and pleasure boats navigate inland waterways. Many boats are too tall to pass underneath certain bridges. It’s the bridge tender’s responsibility to go through the procedures and operate the machinery needed to safely open the bridge. This involves stopping traffic on the land, as well. Once the boat has passed through, the tender closes the bridge, making sure to correctly lock it back in place view more

Wading through the frenzy of the trading floor… or surrounded by computers humming miles away from Wall Street… brokerage clerks track the progress of every player in the game of high finance. Their wide-ranging responsibilities in this growing field all involve computing and recording data on securities transactions. The most common type of brokerage clerk is called the Broker's assistant or sales assistant view more

Butchers and Meatcutters work in supermarkets and small retail shops. They cut large animal carcasses into serving sized cuts like roasts, chops and steaks, which are sold to customers. In addition, butchers often make special orders for customers, especially around the holidays. Butchers use tools like band saws, cleavers, knives and grinders. These tools can be dangerous, and can cause serious injuries if not used properly view more

When buying furnishings for their homes or offices, customers often select fine wood furniture that is made by cabinet makers and bench carpenters. Cabinet makers are precision woodworkers who design, cut, shape, and assemble wood components into a finished product. They work from blueprints and drawings, select lumber for proper grain, texture and color, and use power and hand tools to fabricate and finish the pieces view more

Businesses need orders filled and shipments moved as quickly as possible. Cargo and freight agents are the people who help make that happen. Whatever the size, route or nature of the shipment, these agents handle the details of getting cargo from place of origination…to destination swiftly and efficiently. Cargo and freight agents take orders from customers and arrange getting the freight to the loading platform view more

Finding a new job is difficult enough. Having to support yourself while looking for work makes being unemployed all the harder. That’s why the work done by Claims Takers for Unemployment Benefits is so important. They help people get access to funds made available through state unemployment insurance. Working in state unemployment offices, claims takers usually spend their days in phone banks, fielding calls from applicants view more

We usually don’t see them, but below the surface of oceans, lakes and rivers, Commercial Divers are doing a lot of important work. Divers are used to inspect and patch the hulls of ships. They’re specially trained in how to attach cables to sunken objects so they can be hoisted to the surface without damage. Divers help install pilings for construction projects…check underwater pipes and cables for breaks…and they maintain underwater machinery such as pumps view more

Communications Equipment Operators keep the world talking. They may be switchboard operators, telephone operators, or directory assistance operators. They might work at a company with an internal phone system…or at a global long distance provider…but the basic task is the same: they connect callers with the people they’re trying to reach. These days that process might include a lot of automation, with machines handling key functions such as message taking and routing calls view more

Fast food cooks work in local diners, bars, and restaurants, and in locations operated by national fast food chains. They prepare hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, French fries, fried chicken, deli sandwiches, and other basic menu items. The hours are long. The work is often part-time. The pay is not much above the minimum wage. And there are usually no benefits. Yet being a fast food cook has a lot to offer those with their eyes on a career in food services view more

In large and small businesses alike, clerks are the backbone of the back office. They are responsible for processing and maintaining large streams of financial information for customers and other workers. Billing clerks review sales data for products sold or services rendered, and prepare itemized bills to send to customers for payment. Cost clerks create production or sales cost reports for departments and prepare reports showing total cost and selling prices view more

Before a judge can bang the gavel to call a court to order…a court clerk organizes the whole procedure. It is up to the clerk to prepare a calendar of cases to be called in court, and to contact every person who will be needed to try the case. All the documents submitted for the case have to be pulled together and distributed. And the all-important procedures must be explained to those who will participate view more

For passers-by, it seems amazing that any one person can handle the crane towering over a construction site. It appears to have a life of its own—a gigantic creature bending, turning, and lifting materials, machinery, or other heavy objects. But someone is very much in control: crane and tower operators are highly trained construction professionals who have reached the height of the equipment operation ladder…literally! Material-moving equipment operators are classified by the type of equipment they operate, and nothing is more complex or important than the cranes and towers that make big building projects possible view more

The Crossing Guard helps keep pedestrians of all ages safe. Near schools, they are responsible for helping students cross streets safely, stopping traffic when necessary. At construction sites or other hazardous locations, Crossing Guards guide vehicle traffic and pedestrians around obstacles and workers, using signs, flags, and hand signals. At railroad crossings, they activate warning signal lights, lower crossing gates until trains pass, and raise gates when crossings are clear view more

Our world is overflowing with numbers and information. Now that most businesses and institutions store that data in computers, we need an army of people to put the information into the system …and get it out again. That’s the job of Data Entry and Information Processing Workers. They often learn their skills in high school, or through career school courses. Once hired, employers also provide training on particular systems view more

Many of our modern conveniences work on electricity. And while they may be simple to use, the circuitry inside is often complex. The people who build these products are Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers. Following detailed blueprints and diagrams, they assemble pieces that control the flow of electrical currents inside various types of mechanical apparatus. They need to have steady hands and good eyesight view more

Want the “scoop” on an interesting and challenging job? Consider Excavating and Loading Machine Operators. These are the people who operate machinery equipped with scoops, shovels or buckets. They are called upon to excavate for the mining or construction industries. Or they may be needed to dredge up dirt from the bottoms of waterways. Another part of the job may entail loading ore and other loose material view more

Behind almost all successful business executives are executive secretaries. Sometimes called administrative assistants, these invaluable workers handle a variety of office activities that keep their employers' businesses running smoothly. While they usually possess excellent clerical and computer skills themselves, executive secretaries tend to delegate many of those duties to others. They are more likely to be reviewing correspondence and writing responses…preparing presentations…or conducting research for a report he or she is writing for the boss view more

Fire inspectors fight fires by trying to keep them from starting. As part of a department's fire prevention division, inspectors examine commercial buildings for compliance with fire codes, looking for conditions that might cause a fire. They may even test the fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. Developers often call on them to check and approve plans for new structures. Fire inspectors communicate what they know about preventing fires to the public view more

Few jobs in the construction industry are as exciting as a heavy equipment operator’s job can be. Grader, bulldozer and scraper operators maneuver bulldozers, front-end loaders and other vehicles that have shovels or large plows and scrapers attached to them. They prepare the land at construction sites, by uprooting trees, grading terrain, and removing boulders. Bulldozers and scrapers are controlled by levers, foot pedals, switches and dials, which often need to be operated at the same time view more

Have you ever wondered who decides that an egg is “Grade A” …or that a cut of beef is “Prime”? Consumers rely on the professional judgment of Agricultural Graders and Sorters. They determine what’s best, what’s second best…and what’s unacceptable. Graders and sorters examine agricultural products and unprocessed foods headed for market. They rate them according to size, weight, appearance and condition view more

The first century of the Industrial Revolution left a legacy of hazardous waste that government and environmental experts are trying to clean up. Hazardous Materials and Waste Technicians are at the forefront of this effort. Some hazardous waste technicians work on-site; others, in a hazardous materials center, called a “hazmat facility.” There, they perform a variety of tasks including transportation, treatment and storage of hazardous wastes view more

Despite all the advances made by automation, there’s still the need for human helpers on the factory floor. Production helpers perform unskilled tasks around the work area. They may help assembly line workers set up or tend machinery, fetch or hold materials or tools, or feed items into the machines. They use carts, dollies, and hand trucks to move materials between work areas. They may keep records of machine processes…or clean the machinery after use…or sort and load finished products view more

Production, planning, and expediting clerks keep manufacturing plants operating smoothly. They ensure the continuous flow of work and material within production schedules. They deal with inventory of raw materials or subassemblies and production quotas. They track output and expedite orders when necessary. In small firms, one person may do the job; larger companies may need more. Working under the supervision of industrial managers, these clerks can boost production efficiency view more

Industrial truck and tractor operators are responsible for the movement of manufactured goods, grain, coal, construction materials, or other heavy items, around a factory or on and off ships. Operators must have the ability to judge distance, a good sense of balance, and good eye-hand-foot coordination to operate such equipment. Their primary responsibilities are to protect the materials they carry, to ensure that the goods arrive at the proper destination, and to adhere to strict safety practices so they avoid roll-overs and collisions view more

Whether making products or making laws, businesses, organizations, and governments all require up-to-date information about the people they serve. They often rely on professional interviewers to get the information. Interviewers usually work by asking a set of prepared questions and then carefully recording the responses. They look for lifestyle information about spending habits, political preferences and the like view more

Someone once said that what a gardener needs is a cast-iron back with a hinge in it. That was before the invention of backhoes, chain saws, edgers, and other power tools used by today’s gardeners and groundskeepers. But much of the work is still physical, and almost all of it is done outdoors — in all kinds of weather. Gardeners prepare flowerbeds, plant trees and shrubs, de-thatch lawns, and apply fertilizer and pesticides view more

occupy the top spot on a librarian's support staff. They free librarians up for other tasks while helping to acquire, prepare, and organize materials. They also guide library users to the information they need. In larger libraries, technicians often specialize in an area, such as audiovisual equipment or the reference or periodicals sections. In smaller libraries they handle a range of duties, from helping librarians with customizing databases to helping patrons wade through a computerized cataloguing system view more

So many of the things that end up making our lives easier…started off deep underground. Helping to extract coal, metal and non-metallic minerals from the earth's interior is the job of miners. Loading machine operators help clear the mine of debris. They control machinery equipped with power shovels, scrapers or scoops… or with gathering arms and a conveyor. Rock, coal or other materials are loaded into vehicles that will transport them away from the job site view more

Whether applying for a credit card…or a home mortgage, you need to go through an approval process. And that’s where Loan Interviewers and Clerks come in. They play a vital role in helping lending institutions determine if you are a good …or bad credit risk. They do this by examining your credit history. The first step is often interviewing the loan applicant…either in person or on the phone. Speaking clearly, listening carefully and taking accurate notes are essential qualities view more

Certain situations require that we change…or temporarily store…our street clothes while away from home. That’s why we need locker room, coatroom and dressing room attendants. Locker room attendants perform varied tasks in athletic facilities. They assign lockers and rent footwear or other gear. They answer members' questions and explain how equipment is used. They're often responsible for cleaning and maintaining the locker room, including restocking supplies view more

The mailroom is a place to start in a company, and gain experience to advance if you stand out as a reliable, efficient, energetic employee. It’s an entry-level job that provides an opportunity for people without much work experience. Mail clerks handle mail that moves in and around a company, as well as the mail being sent out. So some mail clerks load mail into carts that they take around the building view more

The U.S. Postal Service handles more mail than any other postal system in the world. Organizing this vital stream of letters and packages is the responsibility of Postal Service Sorters, Processors, and Machine Operators – also called Mail Processing Clerks. In small post offices, mail may be sorted by hand. In larger facilities, huge electronic letter sorting machines and computer scanning equipment are used view more

Mechanical engineering technicians assist Mechanical engineers in designing, developing, testing and manufacturing machinery, parts and other mechanical equipment. They troubleshoot design problems, compile flow charts, prepare drawings, take accurate measurements, lay out production lines, perform quality control testing, analyze data and write reports. Advancing from simpler, routine duties under close supervision, they go on to more difficult jobs and general supervision view more

Medical appliance technicians combine a knowledge of human anatomy with math and power tools to create artificial limbs and braces. They work as assistants to orthotists and prosthetists, medical experts who use specially-designed devices to help patients overcome a physical disability. The technicians read prescriptions and detailed information about what the patient needs. They often work from a cast or impression of the limb as a pattern, taking careful measurements with precision instruments view more

From construction digs to assembly lines, businesses rely on a key equipment specialist to set up the work area: the millwright. Millwrights install, repair and dismantle heavy, motor-driven equipment at construction sites, and in large manufacturing and processing centers, industrial plants…and any place with a conveyor belt or assembly line.. Even before the equipment gets to the site, the millwright is already there, consulting with managers, checking blueprints and choosing the best location for the machinery view more

When it comes to fixing our cars, we go to an automobile mechanic. But there are many other types of mechanics. Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics service industrial equipment used in construction, logging and mining. Service technicians employed by the Federal Government may work on tanks and other armored equipment. From towering cranes…to giant drills deep underground, mechanics keep equipment running properly and safely view more

If tinkering with mechanical devices and being near the water are what floats your boat, consider a career as a motorboat mechanic. These marina service technicians repair and overhaul gasoline and diesel engines, often specializing in one type or the other. Mechanics rely on a variety of skills, whether performing routine service on a portable outboard motor in a repair shop, or trouble-shooting a larger craft's inboard engine dockside view more

Whether in big cities or small towns, local municipal governments are at the heart of every community. The people who keep these government offices organized and functioning are Municipal Clerks. To do this job well, you need to be able to multi-task, because municipal clerks wear many hats. They do typical office work like contacting city officials, filing, typing, and data entry. They also maintain the official records for the municipality view more

If you’re task-oriented and detail-minded, becoming a general office clerk can be a great way to “get your foot in the door” at a company and place it firmly on the career advancement ladder. That’s because nearly every organization needs people who can type and file, operate photocopiers, fax machines, and other office equipment and perform many other jobs. Specific duties vary widely. Someone working in a doctor’s office won’t perform the same tasks as someone else working in an auto parts wholesaler or in a financial institution view more

Operating engineers quite literally operate power-driven construction machines like shovels, cranes, tractors, bulldozers, pile drivers, concrete mixers, and industrial pumps. If something is massive and heavy, and if it requires a big, powerful machine, an operating engineer will probably be involved. Work sites include building and road construction projects, mines, steel mills, warehouses, and heavy manufacturing plants view more

Nearly every product made is sold in its own unique packaging. Making sure those items are properly packaged is the job of a packaging and filling machine operator. Whether it’s bagging items, rolling sheets, filling containers, making blister packs, wrapping, or boxing, packaging readies the product for display and purchase. Operators move materials to and from production areas -- manually or with forklifts, dollies, carts, or handtrucks view more

A pharmacy is literally a lifeline for the community it serves. This is where people come to obtain the medicine and equipment their health care professionals have prescribed. While prescriptions must, by law, be filled by a licensed pharmacist, pharmacy aides keep the operation running smoothly. Applicants for these positions usually need a high school degree—and a record clean of drug or substance abuse view more

Pharmacists used to fill prescriptions by preparing and dispensing doctor-specified pills, creams, and liquids, by hand. Today, most medications are manufactured by drug companies and shipped in bulk to pharmacies. As a result, pharmacists are able to focus more on providing clinical services. But someone must still measure the doses, count out the pills, and type up instructions for the patient view more

Between the click of a camera and the enjoyment of the photographs, comes the work of photographic processing machine operators. These are people trained to load and operate photographic printing machines, film developing machines, and mounting presses. Familiarity with computers is increasingly important for these workers. When the work is completed, they make sure the images were developed properly view more

If you enjoy helping the others, you may want to consider working as a Physical Therapist Aide. You don’t need formal training or a license to be hired. Physical Therapist Aides assist patients receiving treatment by physical therapists. They help disabled patients move to treatment areas; they keep the areas organized and clean, and prepare them for each patient’s therapy. Some Aides also do clerical work, such as ordering supplies and filling out medical insurance forms view more

The U.S. Postal Service handles more mail than any other postal service in the world. That makes the typical post office a very busy place. Making sure that everything is operating properly is the responsibility of Postmasters and Superintendents. These senior managers oversee all aspects of the post office. From the mechanical systems that move the mail… …to the personnel that comprise the staff, this is a career that requires solid business, management and interpersonal skills view more

We're so used to a reliable supply of electricity for our everyday needs, that it can come as a shock when it's suddenly not there. Power plant operators keep us plugged in. These workers control the machinery that generates electricity. They monitor the function of key power plant equipment, such as boilers, turbines and generators. They direct the output of the system to meet constantly changing demands for power view more

also check the work of other people. Just about every manufactured product, from the clothes we wear, to the food we eat, to the cars we drive, are subject to inspection. And we’re fortunate to live in a country that maintains strict standards to make sure food, drugs and products are as safe as possible. Some inspectors, testers and graders work for the government. But most work for the companies whose products they check view more

No matter how sophisticated modern rail travel can be…the trains still run on rails. So there are still jobs for rail track layers, just as there were in the early days when the railroads opened up America’s west. They go wherever on the system they’re needed, from the rail yard…to an underground tunnel down the line. The rails may also be in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits and mines view more

Sheet metal workers make and install products from large metal sheets. Roofs, siding, air ducts, gutters – even outdoor signs – are made by these highly skilled craftspersons. Following detailed plans, they cut, mold, bend and fabricate the large pieces for installation at a job site. Sheet metal workers should have knowledge of drafting, reading blueprints, handling tools, and welding. The job also requires standing for long periods, bending, squatting, and lifting heavy materials view more

Heating, air-conditioning and ventilation systems keep apartment buildings and commercial complexes comfortable year round. Stationary Engineers make sure these vital systems operate properly. In addition, engineers oversee the building’s electrical and fire safety systems. So they need to be knowledgeable about running various types of mechanical and electrical equipment. Being able to follow instruction manuals and complex diagrams is essential view more

Companies, plants and stores use Stock Clerks to receive, sort, unpack, store and keep track of materials or products. Most stock clerks work in grocery and department stores. Stock clerks check deliveries against invoices for accuracy and for damages. The items are then organized, marked and placed into the inventory system. Bar code scanners and computers are often used to track the items view more

Some manufacturing workers like their jobs super-sized. Structural metal fabricators and fitters construct enormous metal objects from tanks and water towers…to frames for buildings and bridges. Though the projects can be massive, the work is quite intricate. Following blueprints, fabricators make patterns and templates as guides. Fabricators use special machinery to cut the metal into the required pieces or plates view more

Surgical technologists and technicians are indispensable members of the modern medical community. They are needed to help set up the operating room, sterilizing and setting out the necessary surgical instruments, making sure equipment is working properly. They may also prepare patients for a procedure, by shaving and cleaning incision sites. The job also can involve transporting patients to the operating room and covering them with sterile “drapes” view more

While it can be enormously rewarding to help a child learn, the teaching job is also exhausting, difficult and stressful. Teacher assistants, often called teacher aides, can help relieve some of the pressure teachers face in the classroom. They handle tasks that allow the teacher more time for lesson planning and teaching. Teacher assistants may correct or grade papers… prepare visual aids to enhance the lesson… supervise students in the cafeteria, schoolyard, or on field trips… or tutor students view more

It used to be that the telephone operator was the heart and soul of the phone industry. Over the years, as technology became more sophisticated, it began to replace the live voice at the switchboard. But there are some things automated phone systems can’t handle without human help. For example, operators step in when customers are having difficulty finding a phone number. Operators help people place collect or credit card calls view more

Pruners learn their skills on the job. But they must possess a talent that is difficult to teach: A good eye for creating even lines and a balanced appearance. A pruner usually works for a landscaping firm or garden service, and uses hand and power tools to trim and shape bushes, shrubs and trees. Satisfying the customer and the boss is important, so you have to work quickly and carefully—once a hedge has been cut, you can’t put the branches back again! To be a pruner you have to be strong view more

Veterinary assistants work with veterinarians and veterinary technicians to treat animals for disease, administer shots or pills, and assist during surgery. As such, they are the rough equivalent of the aides who assist nurses and doctors in caring for people. The job may include doing the "dirty work" of cleaning kennels and sweeping out cages. But it also includes such gratifying tasks as grooming an animal and bringing it food and water view more