If you have any career- or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could provide valuable assistance with, please feel free to email careerdr@quintcareers.com.

In This Issue (7/29/99):

• Overcoming lack of degree and high past wages
• Researching the demand for RNs and LPNs
• Helping handicapped sister find new job
• Trying to gain some sort of career focus for college grad

Q:	B.M. writes: I am currently unemployed and looking for work on the internet. I have years of experience in accounting work, as well as 67 course credit hours completed at the local community college. Over the years I have managed to garner a wage that is higher than the industry standard, and this is my problem. I am good at what I do, and I've been doing it for a while, but everyone (recruiters) keeps telling me that I'm not being realistic in what I can expect to ask for my salary without a degree. Can you help answer some of questions and allay some of my fears.
A:	The Career Doctor responds: It totally depends on your level of expertise, the type of accounting work you perform, and the companies you are targeting. As I have mentioned in previous columns, some employers are much more degree-conscious than others, so you need to find the ones that value work experience and expertise more than a degree. But I am also a little surprised that you have gotten as far in the accounting profession as you appear to have progressed without a degree, but that may be my bias as a professor in a college of business where we have an extremely strong accounting program. I would suggest working with these recruiters, but if you sense a lack of confidence in them about you, you should look for other recruiters because a recruiter who lacks confidence in you is going to have a hard time selling you to a client. There are also places on the Web to look - for recruiters as well as jobs. Check out Oya's Recruiter Directory for a list of recruiters in the accounting field. Oya's is an amazing resource and a great tool for job-seekers. You should also consider visiting Quintessential Careers: Jobs in Business and Management, which lists some of the top accounting career and job sites.
Q:	Shawna writes: I am interested in finding out about the demand for RN's and LPN's, as well as what I can expect to be doing if I acquire either position. Thank-you for your time.
A:	The Career Doctor responds: According to the report on RNs from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, demand for RNs is expected to continue faster than average through 2006. Also according to the Handbook, demand for LPNs is also expected to rise faster than average through 2006. These sites are full of information besides just demand figures; the listings for the Handbook also include job descriptions, nature of the work, earnings potential, and sources of additional information. For more general information about nursing, a great Web site with a lot of information is NursingNet. Another great site is the National Institute of Nursing Research. Finally, you could get a pulse on current demand by viewing job postings at sites such as, Nursing-Jobs.com or Nurse Options USA.
Q:	Holly writes: I am trying to help my sister who is slightly handicapped find a new job. The company she works for is relocating and she can't move. Can you tell me where to start to find her a job? Thank you for any help,
A:	The Career Doctor responds: Thanks for writing, Holly. Since I'm not sure what you mean by slightly handicapped, I don't know how much assistance you need to give her, but I'll take a stab here at some general advice for her and others who are handicapped or disabled. While there are a few sites on the Web for disabled workers -- there is a list of them at this section of Quintessential Careers: Career Resources for Disabled-Amercans -- I think your best bet is looking in the phone book for your community's social service organizations and contacting them about programs for your sister. You could also conduct a job search for your sister, much as you would for yourself. If your sister lives in or near a major metropolitan area, there are probably several large employers that you should target for your sister. Once you have identified the companies, contact the human resource offices and see about job openings, and if necessary for her particular handicap, whether they participate in offering jobs for individuals with her handicap.
Q:	Sarah writes: I am entering my senior year in college with a major in Biology. I have done several things throughout my college career that would make me a competitive candidate in the work force (research projects, teaching, and excellent grades). Now that I am nearing graduation, I am feeling pressure and limitations. I am married and I live in a small town in southern Illinois. Moving is not really an option because my husband and I have a business here. I know that I will be an intelligent and strong person in the job market...but I am feeling a lack of direction. I want a job with an edge that keeps me active and interested. Government agencies like the EPA or FBI really appeal to me. I have also considered Pharmaceutical/Medical Sales or Administration and teaching college. I have a very outgoing personality and I strive for perfection. What can I do with all of this? I don't know where to begin. I also want to continue my education and strive for a master or Ph.D. Any advice would be appreciated.
A:	The Career Doctor responds: I think you have a lot of possibilities in front of you Sarah, but you need to sit down and decide what it is you want to do next with your life. Do you want to start working right away or are you interested in pursuing more education? Either way, it seems, you may need to do some traveling or commuting. If your decision is to work, then I have a great place for you to go on the Web. It's from the Career Center at the University of Minnesota-Morris. Check out: Career Planning & Decision Making: Biology. This site lists transferable skills of biology majors as well as job titles of biology grads. It also provides two pages of links on graduate education in biology and link to career and job sites for biology graduates. With an outgoing personality and your biology background, something like pharmaceutical sales does seem a match, but you should also be aware that sales people spend a lot of time traveling, so while you may not need to move, you also may be on the road quite a bit. If your decision is to continue your education, then you need to examine what universities in your area have a graduate program in biology. You also need to ask yourself what you plan to do with your advanced education. Do you really want to teach? If so, is there a local college(s) where you can do so without relocating? If there are not at least a couple universities in commuting distance, and you are still unwilling or unable to move, you may get all this education and find yourself without a job. Finally, I would also spend some time with some of your favorite professors discussing these options to get their advice -- they know you and the area better than I do. I would also spend some time in your college's career service's office talking with a counselor about your options. Good luck.