Job or Career?
Jordan works at a fast-food restaurant after school to earn spending money but does not plan to stay long-term. Is this a job or a career?
A. Career
B. Job
C. Both
D. Neither
Answer: B. Job
(It’s short-term and not part of a long-term plan.)
I am great at helping my friends with their emotions, problems and challenges. I am a good listener as well. Name one career that fits this:
Counselor, Therapist, Social Workers, Nurses, Teachers (Pick 1)
True or False: Lackawanna has plenty of job/career opportunities for its residents!
True
Located just a short drive from Lackawanna in East Aurora and Elma, Moog Inc. is a world leader in high-tech motion control. If you worked at Moog as an engineer or technician, your inventions might end up in which of the following?
A) The International Space Station
B) Formula 1 Racing Cars
C) Commercial Airplanes
D) All of the above
D) All of the above
Local Fact: Moog is one of WNY’s "hidden gems" for careers. They build parts for everything from satellites to medical devices, and they are famous for having a "Great Place to Work" culture where employees have a lot of freedom.
Lackawanna was historically built around which major industry that once employed thousands but later declined, significantly impacting local careers?
A. Automobile manufacturing
B. Steel production
C. Oil refining
D. Aircraft manufacturing
B. Steel production
(Lackawanna was home to Bethlehem Steel, one of the largest steel plants in the country. Its decline led to major job loss and economic change in the area.)
A person takes a temporary construction position during the summer but is studying to become an engineer. The construction work is:
A. A career
B. A job
C. Both job and career
D. A permanent career
Answer: B. Job
(It’s short-term and not their long-term goal.)
Name three of the most common careers that middle schoolers want to work in: **ALL 3 must be CORRECT!**
Content Creator (Youtuber, Tiktoker etc), Athlete, Musician, Scientist, Engineer, Doctor/Vet, Teacher/Educator
True or False: Doing poorly in school will help your future career...
False, work hard now and it will pay off!
On average, how many times will a person change careers (not just jobs) in their lifetime?
A. 1–2 times
B. 3–4 times
C. 5–7 times
D. 10–15 times
D. 10–15 times (People often switch career paths as interests and opportunities change.) Mr. Johnson had 10-15 jobs and 2-3 careers in his lifetime!
Western New York is home to the world’s largest flour mill, but it is also famous for a cereal factory that makes the entire downtown area smell like toasted oats. Which company employs hundreds of people in Buffalo to produce Cheerios and Lucky Charms?
A) Kellogg’s
B) General Mills
C) Pepsi Co
D) Quaker Oats
Answer: B) General Mills
Taylor starts as a nursing assistant, goes to school, and plans to become a registered nurse over time. Is this a job or a career?
Career
In this career field, you will need to be able to have public speaking skills, multi-tasking and networking skills to keep your audience's attention
Professional Streamer
According to the Mayor during the assembly, this is what I should do if I see someone vandalizing a playground/park or if I see violence there... (Need all 3 correct responses)
1.Call your parent/guardians
2. The police
3. The mayor's office
Question:
What is the fastest-growing type of job sector in the U.S.?
A. Manufacturing
B. Agriculture
C. Technology & Healthcare
D. Retail
Answer: C. Technology & Healthcare
One of the biggest employers in the Lackawanna/Buffalo area is the Catholic Health System, which includes Our Lady of Victory (OLV). In 2026, which of these healthcare jobs is in the highest demand in Western New York?
A) Registered Nurse (RN)
B) Hospital Gift Shop Manager
C) Professional Athlete Doctor
D) Janitor
Answer: A) Registered Nurse (RN)
Local Fact: Healthcare is the #1 growth industry in WNY. Nurses in Buffalo earn an average of about $41 per hour (roughly $85,000 a year), and local hospitals are constantly looking for new graduates from schools like Trocaire or D'Youville.
Alex works as a barista while going to school for business and hopes to open a coffee shop one day. The barista position is BEST described as:
A. A career
B. A job
C. Both a job and part of a career path
D. Neither
C. Both a job and part of a career path
(It’s a job right now, but it also builds experience toward a long-term career goal—making it both.)
If I want to be an accountant or work in finance, this is the class I need to focus extra hard on while I am in school
Math Skills
The age that you can become a firefighter or police officer in Lackawanna:
a. 16
b. 18
c. 21
d. 35
b. 18
People with a bachelor’s degree earn about how much more per week on average compared to those with only a high school diploma?
A. $100 more
B. $300 more
C. $500 more
D. $900 more
Answer: D. $900 more
(Education level often impacts earning potential significantly.)
With new companies like Agri-Plastics and Sucro Sourcing moving onto the old Bethlehem Steel site in Lackawanna, they need workers who can build and fix complex metal structures. Which Erie 1 BOCES program teaches students how to use heat and pressure to join metal together
A) Cosmetology
B) Welding
C) Early Childhood Education
D) Animal Science
B) Welding
Lackawanna Connection: Welding is one of the highest-demand trades in WNY. Students at the Potter Center can start learning this in 11th grade, and many go straight into high-paying jobs at the industrial parks right here in Lackawanna.
Which situation BEST represents a career instead of just a job?
A. Working different short-term gigs with no long-term goal
B. Staying in one role only for a paycheck
C. Building skills, gaining education, and planning for advancement over time
D. Quitting jobs often without a plan
C. Building skills, gaining education, and planning for advancement over time
(Careers involve growth, planning, and long-term development.)
On average, how long does it take a person to become a doctor?
a. 1-4 years
b. 5-8 years
c. 11-15 years
d. 15-20 years
C. 11-15 years! (This includes 4 years of undergraduate college, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 7+ years of residency/fellowship training, depending on the speciality)
The name of Lackawanna's Mayor:
A. Mayor Primillo
B. Mayor Iafallo
C. Mayor Smith
D. Mayor Redder
B. Mayor Iafallo
About what percentage of jobs in the U.S. require education or training beyond high school?
A. 25%
B. 45%
C. 65%
D. 85%
C. 65% (Most careers today need some type of college, certification, or technical training.)
Every year, Lackawanna Middle School students take a special field trip to the Potter Career Center to try out different jobs for a day. What is the name of this event where 7th and 8th graders get to do "hands-on" activities in the BOCES labs?
Taste of Tech