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Precision Optics Manufacturing Careers On-Demand

Meet three people that got into the precision optics manufacturing through a variety of career pathways.

Training for the Optics Field Through Community College: Jake Thurston likes working with both hand tools and sophisticated equipment in his work in the optics field. He has always liked to design and innovate. He took programs at Monroe Community College that gave him the right skills for a job as an optician, but he thinks people with a variety of job skills in applied sciences, technology or the trades can be good candidates for the optics sector. He works at Optimax Systems as an optician.

On the Job Training to Become An Optician:

Finding a career you love that let’s you learn new skills on the job as a maker was what drew Genny Kingsley to optician training. Genny Kingsley tried a variety of jobs out of high school after getting an art degree. Nothing felt right until she started her optician training at Optimax Systems. She takes joy in being a maker and continuing to learn new things. She has options for apprenticeship, on the job training and higher education. She advises that someone could do well in her job out of high school with on the job training to further her career. She loves being creative and the hands-on nature of making products that have value.

Precision Optics Manufacturing Apprenticeship:

An apprenticeship in precision optics manufacturing can lead to higher education paid for by your employer. Travis Montgomery started working part time at Optimax Systems while going to a BOCES Career and Technical Education program in high school. He didn’t plan on going to college, but when Optimax Systems had a program that would pay for his higher education degree, he decided to take advantage of working and going to school full-time. He is an apprentice in the precision optics manufacturing sector.

Learn More About Precision Optics

Browse Related Career Fields at Career Coach

Search terms or areas might include: used in manufacturing, optics, photonics, and more.

Careers Using Drones On-Demand

Learn about how drones (Small Unmanned Aerial Systems) are used in a variety of industries connected to various career pathways and how to acquire these skills and certifications.

Training and career sectors using drones Skyop’s CEO Brian Pitre, describes the field and curriculum for how people train for FAA cerification at places like high schools, community colleges, on-the-job training or private courses such as Skyop’s offers. Drones are used in real-estate, police work, agriculture, construction, surveying, inspections, media and news reporting and other fields. Special thanks to to Oneonta Jobs Corp Academy and Finger Lakes Drone Service, and The Pike Company for providing footage to use in this video.

Drone certification and owning your own business

Finger Lakes Drone Services was started by Luke Didion after he got his drone certification through SkyOp. He gets contracts to do real estate aerial photography. He would like to work in the agricultural area and 3-D mapping.  Special thanks to Finger Lakes Drone Service for providing their drone footage to use in this video. Luke Didion is currently CEO of Altavation. Here is how he got started in the drone industry.

Learn About Drone Certification Courses

Browse Related Career Fields at Career Coach

Search terms or areas might include: used in real-estate, police or law enforcement, agriculture, construction, surveying, inspections, media and news reporting, journalism, aerial photography, new media and other fields.

Construction Careers Through YouthBuild Rochester On-Demand

 

YouthBuild Rochester is a training program run by the Urban League of Rochester that allows students to learn about construction through hands-on training and career exploration. YouthBuild Rochester serves young adults ages 18 to 24 to attain workforce skills, education, and gainful employment. Follow one student’s journey to explore their career pathway.

Some of the students continue into the field of construction and others discover new career pathways and skills.

Urban League of Rochester Workforce Programs
Browse Construction Related Careers at Career Coach

Veterans Coming Home: Careers On-Demand

 

Watch On-Demand VETERANS COMING HOME: CAREERS showcases veterans finding new career paths and adapting to the civilian work world. From Local USA. Many discover that the skills they learned in the military can help them. Stories include the successes and stumbling blocks of a post-military career, and how a former Rear Admiral is using her leadership skills to save her community from rising waters.


    State of Change On-Demand

     

    Follow along as three young people explore how innovations they see will lead us all into the future. 

    Whether in agriculture or engineering, software development or aviation, progress and ingenuity are moving out in every direction from the Crossroads of America. Come along for the ride.

    Watch State of Change On-Demand

    More Roadtrip Nation Specials

    Skill Powered On-Demand

     

    Skill Powered: Roadtrip Nation from KQED

    Follow along as three young people explore what’s happening in the exciting world of skilled trades and learn about promising jobs where a four-year degree isn’t necessary.

     In the culinary arts and sound engineering, woodworking and welding, people are finding purpose and fulfillment. Come along for the ride.

    Watch Skill Powered On-Demand

    More Roadtrip Nation Specials

    Intelligent Lives: Opening Doors Playlist On-Demand

     

    4 Short Postsecondary Transition Film Playlist Above

    These four postsecondary transition films show effective transition practices enabling students with disabilities to gain job skills. Each film also has a discussion guide to aid in classroom discourse. Films include: Dream Outloud; Garrett shows: I’m in Charge; Jamia and Peyton: I Can Work; Untapped

    Intelligent Lives: Opening Doors Films & Discussion Guides


    Journey To Jobs On-Demand

    JOURNEY TO JOBS is hosted by PBS Newshour’s Hari Sreenivasan During the show, Hari takes viewers across the country, highlighting individuals and organizations who are connecting job seekers to employment at each stop.

    The program tells the story of how communities are providing support, advice, and intervention services to youth, veterans, and adults in career transition. In JOURNEY TO JOBS, viewers hear directly from job seekers and the newly employed, business and nonprofit leaders, as well as program staff, volunteers and mentors as they work to create pathways to high-demand skilled careers.

    JOURNEY TO JOBS is a one-hour special, presented as part of the American Graduate: Getting to Work initiative, public media’s commitment to help communities illuminate pathways to gainful employment in America. 


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