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COLLEGE STUDENTS GOT THE DEGREE…NOW WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A CAREER?

I remembered when I graduated college with a Bachelors degree in Speech Communication and Interpersonal Organization, I felt about the same way you do now as your reading that degree title…

Huh?

I enjoyed my academics in it, but I often wondered what the heck I was supposed to do with that degree. I certainly knew I would be involved in some sort of business, but I was also quite qualified to work in public relations, non-profit, government, etc. I had many options, but I didn’t know where to turn and really what the jobs actually entailed.

What were the kinds of jobs I could have with that degree?

That was the question that remained with me through college and well after. It’s an often recurring thought among many college students, and parents alike. Do you ever wonder that? What exactly can you do with that degree, and how do you know you would like it?

In my frequent conversations with students and parents, I find that many of them know the kinds of work they want to do, but not sure of the industry with which it falls in order to get more details on the outlook of those jobs. For this and anything else occupation-related, I always refer to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.GOV) to get the most accurate statistics and data, as well as definitions. BLS.GOV provides you with the most accurate and latest details on whatever you need to know with regard to occupations, and job outlook.

Those of you that know what you want to do, and are looking at a few options, consider checking out BLS.GOV for more specific information. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is the best resource for this kind of information. I visit this site weekly for the latest information on occupations and career outlook. Recently in my research I ran across some pretty usable information that I thought I would share with you. No matter where you are in your education or career choice journey, it’s always to learn more and more about occupations to make sure that is the best fit for you.

“With more degree programs and education options than ever before, these questions can get complicated. For example, how important is the exact wording of that degree title? Will the top college classes online be as useful as a classroom course in a traditional school? How can you choose the best option before you’re even out of high school?”

Listed below are industries that cover a huge variety of jobs and careers. Check this out to gain more knowledge about your chosen career field and occupation. For those of you that have no idea what you what to do, or those of you that have several career choices, this list and a visit to BLS.GOV ca give you the best information to make the best decision. Going through this list may generate ideas or bring out old talents and interests that you may have forgotten you had!

This list gives a great outlook of various occupations as well as the kinds of jobs within those occupational categories. Some of this information I got right from the site.

Further questions? Go to BLS.GOV or email me!

Management, business, and financial occupations: Workers in these occupations plan and direct the activities of business, government, and other organizations. Their employment is expected to increase 11 percent by 2018.

Professional and related occupations: This occupational group, which includes a wide variety of skilled professions, is expected to be the fastest growing major occupational group, at 17 percent, and is projected to add the most new jobs—about 5.2 million.

Employment among healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, as well as education, training, and library occupations. Other occupations in this category include: Computer and mathematical science occupations, community and social services .

This category also includes employment in arts, design, entertainment, sports, media work, life, physical, and social science occupations. Others include Architecture and engineering as well as legal occupations like paralegal, legal secretaries, etc.

Service occupations: The duties of service workers range from fighting fires to cooking meals. Employment in service occupations is projected to increase by 4.1 million, or 14 percent, which is both the second-largest numerical gain and the second-largest growth rate among the major occupational groups. The largest increase certainly comes from healthcare support occupations. Personal care and service occupations is also anticipated to grow by 20 percent over the projection period.

Other jobs within this category include food preparation, serving, building/grounds cleaning and maintenance type of occupations.

Sales and related occupations: Sales and related workers sell/solicit goods and services for businesses and consumers. Sales and related occupations are actually expected to grow about 6 percent over the next ten years.

Office and administrative support occupations: Employment in these occupations is expected to grow by about 8 percent. Employment in this occupational category include Customer Service representatives which is the fastest growing occupation within this category. Business nowadays are looking more and more to increased service to the customer to ensure retaining business.

Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations: Farming, fishing, and forestry workers cultivate plants, breed and raise livestock, and catch animals. These occupations are projected to actually decline by about 1 percent.

Construction and extraction occupations. Construction and extraction workers build new residential and commercial buildings and also work in mines, quarries, and oil and gas fields. Growth for these jobs will increase by about 13 percent.

Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations: Workers in installation, maintenance, and repair occupations install new equipment and maintain and repair old equipment.

Production occupations: Production workers are employed mainly in manufacturing, where they assemble goods and operate plants. These jobs are expected to decline by 3 percent.

Transportation and material moving occupations: Transportation and material moving workers transport people and materials by land, sea, or air.

So if there’s are all these growth projections, then where are the jobs?? You really have to continue to look. Stay consistent and visit the businesses themselves. If you want to work in retail, or sales your best bet would be to personally visit or do whatever you can to inquire about open positions or future employment. This will give you such a great opportunity to learn more about these jobs.

The list above is certainly not all the jobs out there, but they give you a pretty good idea of the types of occupations and careers within them. Growth will fluctuate throughout the years. Find your passion and do what you are good at.

Your Success is My Success,

Keith Lipke

I’m a careers and college recruiter, coach, public speaker and leader at The Career Closet. His passion is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people who need it upon their search for the right career and college

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