Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Ellie writes:
I started attending college just last week. In college, everybody is asking
each other about their majors. I still haven't decide what I should major.
I have always had a interest in dramatic arts. But I'm afraid I can't do it.
I'm Chinese, and I have a hard time trying to speak in front of people. I
don't know if I should pick dramatic arts. If I pick a wrong major now, I'm
afraid I will regret it later.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
My best words of advice for you -- and the many, many other college students
experiencing similar feelings? The three R’s: relax, reflect, research. College
is a time to really discover what the adult within you wants to do with your
life -- or at least the next phase of your life. Use this first year of college to
really explore who you are, what you like, and what you want to do.
Experiment. Take a variety of classes. Talk with older students in different
majors. Meet with professors and talk with them about careers. Go to the
career services office of your college and take some career interest
assessments. Research potential majors, careers, and jobs. Join a
variety of student organizations.
And don’t feel pressured to make any decisions right away. Most first-year
students take very similar courses -- regardless of their major -- as most
colleges have a set of foundation or core courses that all students must complete.
Yes, some students enter college knowing exactly what they want to major
in -- perhaps even knowing their career goals too -- but that doesn’t mean
you have to jump to any decision right away.
What should you do? Consider trying out for a small role in a college play.
If you’re not taking one of these courses this semester, consider taking a
public speaking or theatre class next semester; even if you decide to go in
a different career direction, learning how to be comfortable speaking in front
a group will be invaluable skill to master. You should also examine what it
is about the dramatic arts that most interests you; this assessment will
help you better understand yourself and other potential careers/majors
should you decide not to major in dramatic arts.
Louis writes:
I am 31 years old and have just completed an associate's degree in computer
networking and then went on to complete a B.S. degree in computer science.
I am now studying for a B.S. in business administration then I will be
continuing on for my MBA. I am currently working as a computer analyst
making only $30,000 a year. What types of salaries should I expect
after completing all four of these degrees? I intend on being a project
manager. Am I wasting my time and money on education? Or will I be
able to command salaries of over 60 to 70 thousand because of the
education that I intend to complete. What is a good career progression?
And how should I go about progressing to that upper salaried positions.
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I think far too many job-seekers put too much emphasis on salary when
researching careers or conducting career planning. Yes, what we earn is
important to our feelings of self-worth and self-esteem, but let’s not
overlook the importance of the intrinsic value of enjoying what you do.
So, if project management really excites you -- and you can make a
good living doing it -- then that’s a good match for you. Please do be
careful of picking careers or jobs simply based on how much you’ll
be able to make. And in this job market, many job-seekers would
love a job where they are making only $30,000 a year.
I do want to congratulate you on the ability to balance working and
attending classes at the same time, because not everyone can do
that, and while it will take you longer to reach your educational and
career goals, you’ll be a more experienced and well-rounded job-seeker.
How can you best determine if project management is a good match for
you -- both in terms of your interests, skills, and education -- as well
as your salary requirements? Hit the online job boards and examine
as many project management positions as you can find. Not only will
this research help with your career goals, but you’ll be able to compile
a list of keywords and phrases that employers use when seeking project
managers. Once you have those keywords, you should be sure that you
use them in your resumes and cover letters.
You should also consider conducting a few informational interviews
with people who are currently involved in project management. Not
only will these interviews help build your network, you’ll also learn a
great deal about the skills, experience, and education valued in that
profession.
Go to this section of Quintessential Careers to find job sites where
you can conduct research: Best
Job Sites for Job-Seekers.
Rahul writes:
I am a college sophomore with computer science as my major. I am
really getting worried about the fact that there are absolutely no entry
level technology jobs for fresh graduates. Furthermore, I have been
hearing that about 35 to 50 percent of technology jobs will be offshored
by 2010. I am 26 years old and by the time I get my BS degree I would
be 28. I shall be grateful to you if you may please answer to the following
questions:
Is it really worth to pursue a computer science degree?
No jobs and also the prospect of offshoring -- is this career doomed?
(Interestingly the Department of Labor presents a rosy future for
technology career.)
Does my age could be a hindrance to my career?
If the offshoring does gain momentum what do you
expect to happen to IT job outlook?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
It certainly does seem to be a contradiction that is worth investigating.
Technology-related careers dominate the U.S Department of Labor’s list
of the fastest (projected) growing jobs over the next five to ten years. At
the same time, a report from Forrester Research predicts that during the
next 10-15 years, at least 3.3 million white-collar jobs - including IT jobs --
will move out of the U.S. to countries such as India, China, and others,
where labor is cheaper. Add to the mix the current job market -- especially
in the technology industry -- and you get one confusing mess about what to expect.
Regardless of the conflicting opinions about the future of IT jobs -- or any
career field for that matter - what I tell job-seekers is that if you love your
job/career, are good at what you do, have the necessary education/training/certifications,
and can master job-search skills, then you should be able to find a job.
Finding a job might take longer than you expect, you might have to be
open to relocating, you might need to readjust your expectations, and
you might have to work a lot harder than you expected, but you’ll find a job.
So, should you continue your computer science degree? Well, in reality
only you can answer that question…but the jobs will be there. They may
be harder to find, but they will be there. Will your age be a problem? No.
The currency of your skills and certifications will be more important.
And what will happen to the IT and all the other service professions as
more jobs are relocated outside the U.S.? The expectation is that slowly --
very slowly as the economy continues to recover and businesses start
hiring again -- that job creation in other companies will overtake the losses
from jobs going overseas. But in all honesty, it’s really too soon to tell
what is going to happen…thus you need to focus on making yourself
the strongest job-seeker possible.
As a college student, one of the best things you can do besides getting
your education is obtaining valuable experience. Consider internships
and freelancing to get as much experience as you can. Go to this section
of Quintessential Careers: Internship
Resources for College Students.
Q:
Christi writes:
Can you send me a list of all the opportunities in engineering?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
There are entire books published on careers in engineering (such as Careers in Engineering
by Geraldine Garner), so no, I can’t really send you an entire list of opportunities.
Engineers are professional problem-solvers. According to the U.S Department of Labor’s
Occupational Outlook Handbook, “engineers apply the theories and principles of
science and mathematics to research and develop economical solutions to technical
problems.” Read more of the report.
There are many different kinds of engineering specialties, including (but not limited to)
aeronautical engineering, automotive engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical
engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, environmental
engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, and petroleum engineering.
A good source with links to lots of engineering career and job sites is this page from the
Career Consulting Corner: Engineering
Careers.
Finally, another good source of general career information, as well as some specific
resources for women interested in pursuing a career in engineering is the
National Academy of
Engineering (NAE) Website. The NAE has a special section entitled
Engineer
Girl!, which has lots of resources and links for discovering the benefits of a
career in engineering for women.
