Archive for the 'Career Planning' Category

Education Portal has compiled the top 10 paying college majors. If your goal was to go to school to make wads of dough, this is an article worth reading and these are major areas you may want to pursue. Naturally, college is usually a 4 year program, so you should still look into majors you’re passionate about and subjects that you want to learn. If the subject matter is not interesting to you and you major it in it for the money, you won’t be happy overall. After all, while you can change careers later on, these jobs — for the most part — are for life.

Here are the majors and their respective careers. For more, read the full article:

1. Chemical Engineering: $59,218 - manufacturing, health care, and business
2. Electrical Engineering: $55,333 - design and develop circuitry and other electronic parts for computers, automobiles, etc.
3. Mechanical Engineering: $54,057 - design and develop power-producing machines in agriculture, manufacturing, and business
4. Computer Science: $53,051 - programming and research on computer systems
5. Civil Engineering: $48,998 - building design, transportation development, water systems planning, etc.
6. Economics: $47,782 - research or consulting and government jobs
7. Management Information Systems: $47,407 - all areas of business, infinite industry opportunity
8. Finance: $46,442 - banks, government institutions, etc.
9. Accounting: $46,292 - government/public accounting or auditing
10. Business Administration/Management: $43,256 - any industry!

Does that mean there’s no hope for an English major or someone who would much rather pursue liberal arts rather than more of the maths and sciences? Definitely not! Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and business people I know have had their roots embedded in liberal arts programs. These are the jobs in demand now, and they’re likely to continue throughout the years, but our arts, history, culture, and language are still in heavy demand — think about jobs at museums, as research professors, as lecturers, and more — the possibilities are endless.

I wanted to be a historian. It started when I was just a naïve first year (which, for me, was at the first of three colleges I’d attend before finally finding myself on track to graduation). I loved the feeling of being better informed about the world around me through learning about what got us to where we are. I thought about how neat it would be recite stories of the past like professors and using that to investigate more.

Then I transferred to a school that, believe it or not, didn’t have a history major. So I wouldn’t be majoring in history. Suddenly, I was majoring in urban planning. I grew to love that too and, for awhile, thought about graduate studies in the field. Then, after taking a graduate urban planning course as an undergrad, I thought otherwise. So history and urban planning were out.

Soon thereafter, I shifted to political science. That’s my major to this day. I can’t say I got much out of it, to be fair. Most of what I’ve learned has been in some way repeated on political news pages. And of course it’s very heavy on the front-loading and, unfortunately, most professors at universities seem to be in a Bush-bashing mood, for better or for worse, though it can take away from the learning.

The funny thing is that after I graduate, I can still probably be whatever I want. If I want to take a job with a firm on Wall Street, that door’s still open. If I want to stay home and write music, I could probably do that too. If I wanted to be a doctor, I could still go through a post-bacc program. That’s the funny thing about college – beyond helping to better structure a curriculum, majors don’t mean a whole lot.

There are always going to be courses I’ll regret taking across multiple disciplines, maybe because of a scheduling conflict or a prerequisite I didn’t have, but I’ll always have the nine or ten political science courses with me as a foundation. Truthfully, I’ve forgotten most of what I’ve been taught (which generally happens about a week after the final exam), but I’m sure they helped me to think better when tackling issues in the future. It didn’t subject me to a career as a Washington bureaucrat or a first year law student, but it did awaken me to how much else is out there and how much more colleges offer outside of fields of specialization.

Some believe a college education to be as important as a high school diploma, especially as it relates to earnings. If that’s true, specialization doesn’t come until long after we move on from the undergraduate experience.

Yesterday, I wrote about the difficulty that 2008 graduates are experiencing in their job search.

Today, I report that not everyone agrees with that truth. JobWeb gives students hope. In a recent study, they determined that 2008 is the healthiest job market in three years. A survey, performed by Job Outlook 2008, found that employers plan to hire 16% more graduates than they did in the previous year.

Why now? What about the financial sector? (The answer: don’t go there until things improve.)

The answer: talent. The future leaders of tomorrow are graduating college today. Furthermore, as more and more individuals consider retirement, the gaps are opened and are waiting to be filled by students just like you.

Some statistics may be helpful:

• The Midwest plans to see the biggest growth in hiring this year.
• Computer science is still in heavy demand. Programmers rock!
• If you have a bachelor degree, your starting salary will probably be better than a BA or BS graduate from previous class years.
• Best majors for the task include accounting, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science (what did I say?), business administration, communication, liberal arts, psychology, English, sociology, and political science/government. Some firms are explicitly looking for computer science majors with some business know-how.
• If you’re an international student with academic achievement in the aforementioned areas, you may fare better than your American peers.

It still pays to work hard to find a job. While employers are hiring, an early start is crucial, especially if you’re looking and you’re in the class of ‘09. Or even ‘10. The experience you can gain in the meantime is invaluable and the benefits (401K, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, social activities, tuition reimbursement, bonuses) are awesome.

Start looking for your job if you haven’t already. And if you found the right one, share your success story in the comments.

The Wall Street Journal says that the class of 2008 is having a difficult decision finding jobs amid the economic recession of 2008, saying that it is the “rockiest job market” of the past few years.

Most people who haven’t secured a job early (which should ideally be done in October or November of your senior year) will have difficulty, according to experts. The biggest people hit will be people who have a low GPA (B- or lower). In the past few weeks alone, more people filed for unemployment than ever before. The percentage of unemployed stands at 5.1%.

What does this mean for you? You may not get your first choice of job, but don’t give up trying. Don’t be too picky about it either. It’s a job, not the rest of your life. It isn’t necessarily a “career move.” In the meantime, government positions are aplenty and health care and technology still seem to have job openings. In my personal experience, I’ve seen several firms looking for solid web programmers.

At this point, the financial market is not the way to go. But there are plenty of ways to find a job in addition to taking advantage of areas that are relatively open wide for the taking. But amid a recession that may not necessarily be faring well for college graduates, escaping from the corporate world may be a great option. If you have a dream, pursue it. Become a freelance coder or writer. Better yet, if you can still live with your parents for a few years, go for it.

Does that mean you should give up and take a job you don’t want? It’s something you need to decide. I know several people who job hunted several times for several years before finding something they truly loved. If you’re in the class of 2008 and are having difficulty, you’re not alone. And if you want to pursue higher education and grad school, chances are there are still other students with you.

Dear Digital Student,

I’m an incoming college freshman about to start school in the fall. I’m holding my own and am looking for ways to make money. What are some reasonable jobs for college students?

Sincerely,
Will work for food

Dear incoming freshman,

First of all, congratulations on your acceptances to school! There are several jobs you can look for once you get on campus. Some of the best jobs don’t require too much work, and they will make you some easy money. Here are a list of my favorites that don’t require you to venture far from campus.

Desk Attendant: Some schools allow student security guards to watch students enter and leave dorms and other campus buildings. Depending on the job description, you may have to sign guests in and out or disallow non-residents entirely. During the hours that aren’t that busy, you can even do your homework. It’s also a great way to meet new people.

Resident Assistant: This probably isn’t an option for an incoming freshman, but an RA usually gets offered free housing in return for leading a group of students residing in the same dorm (usually assigned per floor or per building). Resident assistants get pretty sweet digs and are required to hold monthly meetings with their residents. They also enforce the rules and offer a helping hand to students looking for guidance.

Babysitter: Face it, babysitting is a commodity to many working parents and it also pays a lot better per hour than on-campus jobs. Many college work programs have lists filled with parents who are looking for a mature college student to take care of their kids while they go out. And in reality, most of these kids go to bed early, giving you more time for homework.

Library Assistant: The college libraries are begging for students to help take care of book check out, audio/video systems, computer access, and the copy machines. There are a lot of positions and some good experience to be had.

Computer Lab Technician: Computer-savvy students will be happy to know that there are a variety of computer-related positions in on-campus labs and in college dormitories. Labs always need technicians during their open hours to troubleshoot problems with monitors, printers, and other peripherals. Many colleges also offer a “residential network” program, also known as ResNet, where students can get help from fellow students on computer network troubleshooting issues (wired or wireless) at any time of the day. All you need is to make an appointment.

Working alongside your professor: These individuals are also known as Teaching Assistants and get some incredible exposure on specific areas of study. You’ll often hold office hours, grade papers, and offer academic guidance on a specific course. You’ll also establish a relationship with a professor, which can open some huge doors for you. If anything, this is the job you want to put on your resume, especially if you’re headed up the graduate school route.

Internships: The other route is to take a paid internship in an area that you are interested in pursuing post-graduation. This is also a great way to build experience and pad your resume. Internships are a great option for financial aid and give you hands-on experience in a field — often well before your peers.

What jobs have you held during college?

If web technology is your thing — and chances are, it’s a huge part of your future, you’ll be happy to know that Google Code University offers courses and lectures on AJAX technology, web security, distributed systems, and languages. Fortunately, if you’re a computer science major, you’ll already have your foundation established to understand the basics, but even if you’re looking to delve into web technologies in the future and have no idea where to begin, this is a good starting point.

Of course, there’s also a search function for computer science courses around the world. Better yet, if you’re in San Francisco on May 28 and 29 of 2008, the Google I/O conference will be held where you can get a close look at all of these technologies and speak with Google engineers about how to build the next groundbreaking application. Student admission is only $50.

A study reported by ComputerWeekly says that 80% of university graduates only use the web to search for jobs. A mere 3% use newspapers.

What other statistics did the report find?

• 57% of students spend less than an hour researching the company before a job interview (who has time for more?)
• 9% of college graduates do not research companies at all before attending a job interview (bad move, grads)
• 18% of students utilize recruiters to find jobs
• 8% of graduates apply to the job in person

This is generation Google, generation Facebook, and others. Eighty percent of these users are also heavy users of Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube.

What does that mean for future employers? It’s time to rethink the strategy when it comes to targeting students, as social networks are where the students flock. As an example, awhile ago, the CIA brought its recruiting to Facebook. While the recruiting group doesn’t exist anymore, it turned out to be a huge success among students.

Getting a job typically requires your resume and a phone or face-to-face interview. Sometimes you’ll go through rounds of interviews as you meet with different department heads and your future bosses. The important thing is to know what questions to expect and be prepared to answer them. The Michael Page site goes through these questions and highlights possible expected answers. You’ll be asked questions like:

• Tell me about yourself. Talk about why you’re sitting in your chair looking for this job and what qualifications you have that make you a good candidate.
• What was your most difficult problem at work and how have you tackled it? Find something really tough and show them your problem-solving skills.
• What are your strengths? Don’t be overly egotistical but explain how these strengths have helped you at your job.
• What are your weaknesses? Turn those weaknesses into strengths.
• Why are you leaving your current job? If you’re already in some position, explain why you’re moving on. Be professional. Saying “I hate my boss” won’t get you anywhere. Perhaps revise that with “the job wasn’t at all that challenging.”

Some companies ask logic questions too. Bear in mind that you may be asked why a manhole is round and other questions that test your logic while on the spot. Obviously, if I give you too many of those questions, you might be already too prepared for the interview. Be sure to make it look like you’re thinking because you’ll be challenged with more difficult tasks on the job as well.

Oh, and here are some ways to ruin a job interview (or to screw up your job):

In today’s day and age, college will very likely determine your financial status in the future. College graduates are likely to score higher-paying jobs, even if the work experience is equivalent. The hard work pays off.

Source: The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (PDF)

Similar reports from the US Census Bureau show that a professional degree really is the way to go. The expected lifetime earnings, in numbers:

Professional degree: $4.4 million
Doctoral degree: $3.4 million
Master’s degree: $2.5 million
Bachelor’s degree: $2.1 million
Associate’s degree: $1.6 million
Some college: $1.5 million
High school graduate: $1.2 million
Non-high school graduate: $1 million

I think that college, and then some, is an obvious choice.

What’s your mission? What do you want from your life? As soon as you determine the answer, you can get started on setting goals for the ultimate college achievements.

Let’s outline what you need to do to get started. Ask yourself these questions:

What are my values?
What interests me?

Your values are the most important things to you such as principles and beliefs. Is it family? The desire to pursue medicine? You already should have a few strong ideas in your mind. Similarly, look at what you enjoy doing. Look at the skills you’ve gained both inside and outside the classroom, including part time work experience. Make the connection between these experiences and your core beliefs.

Now start setting goals. Write down reasonable goals that both work for the short-term and long-term. Take a piece of paper and write all the steps required to reach that goal, from start to finish. Keep reviewing your actions to keep yourself motivated.

Finally, do some research: what do you want to be when you grow up? Or, if you don’t know, what is your dream job? Learn how people with your job got to where they are: learn what skills are necessary, what the salary is, the work conditions, and anything related to the job at hand. Can you envision yourself in that position? If so, you have just set for yourself a goal.

Remember, life is worth living, so enjoy it too while you’re aiming for the stars.