Here are ten tips for picking a high demand major and the right academic program:
According to the US Department of Labor, only 13% of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree by 2016. This means that there will be over 1.4 million college graduates with a job supply of only 670,000. Selecting a college is tricky, even if you have a major in mind. If job placement is a critical consideration, do your research!
1. Make the connection between high-demand jobs and high-demand college majors. Take some time to read deep into several interesting job categories published the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). Read a few of the job descriptions and you’ll get the hang of how it’s organized.
2. Make sure the job projections published in the OOH reflect a larger than average growth rate and a higher than average number of jobs projected. Of course, if your job growth isn’t higher than average, it doesn’t mean this isn’t a good field for you. Your personal passion and preparedness is really what makes you employable. But it’s good to know how intense the competition for jobs will be!
3. Check further in the OOH information about the regions of the country where you want to work. Is there growth expected there too?
4. Compare the OOH descriptions of training and education required to the academic programs offered by the top colleges you’re considering. The descriptions won’t match perfectly. But you’ll ask better questions in class the more quickly you pick up the “lingo” of the field that you’ll be working in.
5. Check out the coursework offered in the majors. The course catalog is probably online and will describe what each course will cover. Do the classes teach you what the OOH says you need to know to work in this field? Not sure? Call the instructors or ask to speak with them when you’re on a campus visit!
6. Learn about the hiring trends in the industry you’ll be working in. Locate an appropriate professional association and read the blogs and white papers from the leading experts in the field. What are their insights about where the field is going?
Finally, find out about the reputation of your top majors at your top three colleges:
7. Where did the faculty graduate from?
8. Are any colleges cited in the trade or professional association web site?
9. Where did the top industry experts go to college?
10. What awards, publications, student/professional activities and/or research is your college professors involved with? Will you have a chance to work with people in your field while you’re a student?
You might be able to shortcut this research process, if you’re willing to pick up the phone and call people who are working (preferably, hiring) in this field. Explain that you’re a student seeking career advice and you may be surprised at how much information you can find out!
Contact me at www.whatsyourmajor.net for more information.
