Three-Part Series
The Daily asked experts in academic and career advising to distill the most valuable advice for students as they approach the biggest decisions of their college careers.
WEDNESDAY
TODAY
Setting a post-graduation plan
FRIDAY
Getting into grad school
Students in their final semesters of college face the daunting prospect of life after schooling. In such troubling economic times, some students even consider prolonging their higher education stay by pursuing graduate school.
OU Career Services office provides many resources for students as to whether to apply for graduate school. Bette Scott, Director of Career Services, said the office sees more students seeking advice during tough economic times, but advises against turning to graduate school just because of the recession.
These are the times to be innovative and proactive when it comes to picking your career, Scott said.
Here are current employment trends facing graduates in some of the biggest fields of study:
Liberal Arts:
By the Numbers
Last year’s liberal arts graduates’ average salaries decreased 1 percent from the previous year to $36,445, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2009.
Industry Issues
Despite a lower starting salary than those with more technical degrees, liberal arts students should not panic when facing a recession, Scott said. Graduates should think outside the box, especially when it comes to applying their degree to jobs they may not have considered in the past, she said.
“Adopt the attitude that ‘I can do anything,’” she said.
Nursing and teaching
By the Numbers
Elementary teachers are projected to account for 20,900 new job openings per year for the next seven years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nursing will add 58,700 new jobs during the same period.
Industry Issues
Education and nursing graduates won’t have to worry any more than usual about job security. These jobs are expected to grow steadily.
Retiring Baby Boomers account for a large part of new openings during the next seven years. Though average salaries don’t measure up to those of chemical engineers, job security is a major pull for these careers in the current economic climate.
Business and engineering
By the Numbers
Business graduates’ average salaries increased by 2.6 percent in the past year to $47,641, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ Job Outlook 2009.
Engineering graduates’ average salaries rose 2.2 percent from the previous year to $58,525.
Industry Issues
Because of a relatively low supply of workers, demand for engineering graduates usually remains strong, regardless of economic conditions. Employers cited accounting majors as the most in-demand new hires, according to a national survey.
Sherry Isom, adviser at Price College of Business, said accountants and finance experts are in high demand due to the recession.
These majors have one thing in common — employers are seeking them out because they are useful in several fields.
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