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"I am more than who I am on paper."

Find resources to advance your career and tear the paper ceiling, Let's get to work.

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STARs are Rising

You are not alone! There's a growing movement to recognize the skills and potential of the 70+ million STARs like you - workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes, rather than a bachelor's degree. In fact, 4 million STARs have already torn the paper ceiling⁴. proving that STARs have the skills for jobs that pay over $70,000/year. Here you'll find profiles of some of those STARs to inspire you, resources to help you find higher-wage jobs or build new skills, and other ways you can help tear the paper ceiling while advancing your career.

STAR

When STARs make themselves heard, 
employers listen

19%

of STARs nationwide publicly describe themselves as a "STAR".¹

83%

of U.S. employers think that the system is biased, unfair, and needs to change.²

95%

of U.S. employers who have seen this campaign are interested in hiring STARs.³

STARs are All Around Us

Get inspired by stories of STARs and companies tearing the paper ceiling, then create a custom story card to share your own story on social media. Every story matters, especially yours.

Paperless Pathways Podcast

Want more stories of STARs, employers, and the paper ceiling? Subscribe to our podcast hosted by LaShana Lewis — a business owner, STAR, and the face of the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign.

STARs Resource Library

Filter By

Skills Accelerator

Skills Accelerator

Job opportunities, company culture, employee stories, and pathways for different career stages.

Cognizant

Job Boards

Skills Accelerator

Skills Accelerator

I Want That Job!

I Want That Job!

Videos of promising career paths for early-career workers of all education levels.

Working Nation

Career Exploration

I Want That Job!

I Want That Job!

Learning Tracks Online Learning

Learning Tracks Online Learning

Prepare for tech entry-level jobs with this online learning platform.

Climb Hire

Trainings & Certifications

Learning Tracks Online Learning

Learning Tracks Online Learning

Find a Future Online Platform

Find a Future Online Platform

Career opportunities across Stores & Clubs, Corporate, Healthcare, and Technology.

Walmart

Job Boards

Find a Future Online Platform

Find a Future Online Platform

Career Explorer

Career Explorer

A tool to uncover career paths by matching your skills to thousands of job titles.

LinkedIn

Career Exploration

Career Explorer

Career Explorer

My IT Path

My IT Path

Plan your IT career, step by step, with CompTIA's My IT Path career certification planning tool.

CompTIA

Career Exploration

My IT Path

My IT Path

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Join your peers in
signing the pledge

Tear
the Paper Ceiling

I am a STAR. My skills are real. My experience is valuable. I pledge to see myself clearly and define myself not by what's missing from my resume, but by everything I have to offer.

I pledge to own my story and to speak openly about the skills I've built through work, training, and life experience.

I pledge to stand with the community of 70+ million workers in America like me, and to support them by sharing my own lessons from encountering and overcoming barriers.

I pledge to tear the paper ceiling, to see the world beyond it, and to let all STARs shine.

Sign the pledge to tear the paper ceiling

Let’s send a clear message that it’s time to tear the
paper ceiling.

Thanks for signing the pledge.

You’ve taken the first step in tearing the paper ceiling. Stay tuned for important updates, information and stories related to the campaign.

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