Dear Counselor,
I need help. I'm in my second semester here and am undecided about a career. In other words, I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Of course, I want to like what I do and make decent money. Also, I want to know that there will be job openings in the area I pick. So what areas look good for the future?
Lisa G.
Ottawa, Ill.
Dear Lisa,
We can help. If it makes you feel any better, you are not alone. Many students do not know what they want as a career or major. You are farther along in this life decision than you may have thought because:
You are at least thinking about it
You know that it is important that you like what you do and that you make a decent salary.
What career areas look promising for the future? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the ten fastest growing occupations for 1998-2008 are:
Computer engineers
Computer support specialists
System analysts
Database administrators
Desktop publishing specialists
Paralegals and legal assistants
Personal care and home health aides
Social and human service assistants
Physician assistants
The Society for Human Resource Management listed jobs of the future to include: animators, aromatherapists, computer artists, construction managers, and retirement planners.
Jobs they predict to decline include: blue-collar workers, telephone linemen and traditional travel agents.
This information does not mean that you have to major in computer science and cannot be an electrician. These are just projections.
There is a vast amount of career planning information available. The counselors and staff can help you find and interpret it to make smart decisions. Stop in.
E-mail questions to Counselor Corner @ ivcc.edu