Living the Dream: Determining Your Long-Term Career Goals
June 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Transitioning
So what do your kids want to do with their future? It’s not an easy question, but it’s one that faces all of us early in our lives. Though many students just look forward to completing school, graduates have an uphill battle waiting for them after they’re handed that diploma. The good news is this is a battle they can choose. But it should be a wise choice, since choice of career will have a tremendous affect on happiness. According to a study by the Conference Board, 25% of employees are just “showing up to collect a paycheck,” and two out of every three workers do not identify with or feel motivated to drive their employer’s business goals and objectives. The best way to ensure that your kids don’t wind up in a similar situation is to help them make a powerful career choice.
Take this Job and Grow it
Of course, the kind of job your children may seek is related to their interests. Some students just know what they want to do, but what about those who are just plum unsure about their long term career goals? Sit down with your kids and talk about the possibilities. The first place to start is to seek out those careers that have the most growth; after all, job security is a treasured commodity in this economy. The United States Department of Labor reports that there are 149 million people in the workforce, and one-third of the workforce changes jobs every year. In fact, the average American will have had 9 jobs by the time he or she is 34 years old. The Department has also reported on what will prove to be the fastest growing occupations between 2006 and 2016: network systems and data communications analysts; personal and home care aides; computer software engineers, careers in the amusement, gambling, and recreation industries; and customer service.
Money Makes the World Go Around
Having a college education is the most reliable step a person can take towards earning a high salary. The U.S. Census Bureau found that workers 18 and older with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $82,320 in 2006 and those with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $56,788. By way of comparison, workers with a high school diploma earned an average of $31,071. So what jobs are the highest paying? The census found the highest median salaries went to chief executives ($145,600); physicians and surgeons ($145,600); airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers ($141,090); and dentists ($136,960).
Though money can be a factor in the decision, remind your kids that it’s more important to find a job that they love. Do they want to work in a corporate environment, or be their own boss? Do they want to pursue a more difficult career choice like acting or politics, but have another career that will help pay the bills during their pursuit? And what impact will their choice of career have on the college or university they choose?
No Time Better than the Present
The University of North Dakota found that up to 80 percent of entering college students indicate that they are not certain of their choice of major, even if they have initially “decided” on one. In addition, over 50 percent of entering freshmen change their majors at least once before graduation, and some change many times. Changing major mid-stream can affect when a student graduates, so coming up with a long-term career goal early is beneficial on many levels. Although choosing a major and a career are different, the choice of a major should flow from your child’s career objective. Majors can prepare students for a variety of occupations, but knowing where they are headed career-wise will help determine their focus and any minors they may pursue. Some colleges and universities expect students to declare a major before they reach a certain number of units, and some states now require that high school students choose an area of study to help reduce the dropout rate.
On the Horizon
Jobtrak.com revealed that more than 80 percent of its survey respondents said that it would take them 10 years or less to reach their career goals. In other words, the process is a marathon, not a sprint. It is highly unlikely that students will be offered their dream job right after graduation. Experience in their chosen industry will be essential to moving ahead. But knowing the kind of occupation they want will help them prepare by choosing certain classes, activities, student groups, internships, etc. And the earlier your child begins that preparation, the better. We recommend you help your child explore the numerous career resources online, and find out more about a specific occupation by talking to people who work in a particular field of interest.
Graduation: Preparing for Your Child’s Big Day
May 30, 2009 by admin
Filed under Featured, Transitioning
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for…the day your child walks across the stage and gets handed a college degree. It’s a proud moment and an important milestone in the lives of your family. Four or more years of schooling has culminated in this special event, so it’s essential that students are well prepared. The following article provides tips to help guide your favorite student through graduation day.
Leading Up to the Big Day
The senior year in college is likely to be very busy, so it’s easy for students to get distracted and forget about the particulars of graduation day. However, it is essential that you remind your kids to start planning early for the ceremony. Make sure they find out when graduation will take place – the University’s Student Affairs Office is a good place to start. It’s important to have this information as soon as possible, since you’ll want to save the date, schedule to take time off of work, and arrange any necessary travel. Work with your son or daughter to determine what hotels are near campus. Keep in mind, your child is not the only student graduating, so be sure to book the hotel early. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that hotels near campus will be sold out.
Find out how many tickets your child can get–most universities will provide free tickets to each graduate, but there may be a limit. If you need additional tickets and the university isn’t willing to supply them, encourage your son or daughter to check with classmates to see if they have any extras. Some students sell their tickets, a practice that isn’t supported by school officials.
You’ll also want to determine the seating arrangements. The school may have designated areas for parents with cameras, so take this into account when looking for a seat. Find out if the ceremony will take place indoors or outdoors. If it’s indoors, consider the kind of camera you’ll be using and whether it’ll get the job done in low light situations.
On the Day
Remind your son or daughter to get some sleep the night before the big day. And make sure they’ve taken care of ironing their gown. Graduation gowns often come folded up and wrapped in plastic, so they’ll want to get them unwrinkled. If the ceremony is outside, give them sunscreen, as they will likely be out in the sun for a while. The rest of the family should also be using sunscreen and you may want to plan on bringing an umbrella, if rain is expected. It’s also a good idea to bring a few bottles of water as the family may get thirsty during the ceremony.
After the Ceremony
Once your child has received a diploma, moved the tassel, and hurled the cap into the air, it’s time to celebrate. Plan the post-commencement activities for your new graduate a few months earlier. If you planned to have dinner after the event make sure you’ve made a reservation at a nearby restaurant. If the school is holding a special event get all the information and determine how many guests your son or daughter can bring. The key is to enjoy the day and preparing for it early will help ensure that it goes exactly according to plan.
