A Glimmer of Hope?

It is a well known fact that our economy is crumbling. And we can see that in spiked gas prices, high food prices, and an increase in the cost of living. Many of us believe the economy will only get better, while a few of us believe it will only get worse.

An abundance of articles are available which state many different viewpoints on the worsening of the economy. One of the better ones is the article from the Economist titled “The Glimmer of Hope.” Although I’m not here to explain how bad the world economy is right now, it is still important to know what’s coming in the future. That way you can create a plan to prepare yourself. I’m actually here today to explain the job outlook for college graduates for 2011, so I’ll start off by stating the basic facts.

According to the Job Outlook 2011 Spring Update from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “Employers indicate they plan to hire 19.3 percent more graduates in 2010-11 than they did in 2009-10.” Maybe there is a glimmer of hope for the economy. With that being said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated an unemployment rate of 9.2%, which isn’t so good. Just remember, you have to take the good with the bad.

So, even in a bad economy, there are more jobs available for college grads than in previous years. However, those career opportunities aren't looking so good in every field, particularly when it comes to construction workers and surrounding career fields. Careercast recently published an article named “The 10 Worst Jobs of 2011.“ If you investigate that list, you’ll realize most of the jobs have to do with construction work.

On the brighter side of life, based on the compiled list by Yahoo Finance, the business, technology, and the healthcare sectors have splendid job outlooks for 2011 and the years to come. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated in several of its articles what the expected growth of each of the mentioned career fields should be for the decade to come: “Computer software engineers are among the occupations projected to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs over the 2008-18 decade, resulting in excellent job prospects.” Yet “employment of computer programmers is expected to decline by 3 percent through 2018.”. The Business Administration “is projected to be the fastest growing, with employment increasing 83 percent over the 2008–18 period, and is one of the highest paying.”. And lastly physicians and surgeons job outlook is “projected to grow 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.”

One thing we’ve learned today is that for the year of 2011, college graduates should have a much easier time searching for a job than previous years. Just remember, at any given point in time, the economy can go south, and it’s always, and I mean always, a good idea to have a backup plan.

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Going to College? You Might Want to Read This!

Many first-time vocational students tend to carry a know-it-all attitude. As a senior I know firsthand what that’s like, as I used to be one of those kids. Many students sustain the mentality of “I don’t need to go to college! I’m gonna be making six figures right out of high school.” I want to be the first to point out that this is not true, especially when it comes to computer networking and its surrounding areas of expertise.

  In some technology careers, having certificates can carry the same weight as a college degree. But this usually includes years of dedication to learning and you may need to apply for several certificates. As far as computer networking is concerned you need, at the very least, three certificates to even be considered applicable in the industry. These three certifications include the A+, Net+, and the Security+. These tests are extremely difficult to pass. On top of everything else CompTIA has made a new rule which states the certificates are only valid for three years, which means you’ll need to retake them after the third year is up. And even then you’re not guaranteed employment. More than likely an applicant with a degree would be hired on before you.

  If you have certifications by your side, many colleges will honor them. With your certificates available you may simply need to take your core classes. This is great for those of you who feel college or school in general isn’t the right fit. But even if school isn’t for you, you should without a doubt stick to it until you get your degree. It is extremely useful in the workforce and even worth it after having gone through college.

  After your hard work, you’ll certainly be compensated. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics , “In May 2008, median annual wages of wage-and-salary computer applications software engineers were $85,430. The middle 50 percent earned between $67,790 and $104,870. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,810, and the highest 10 percent earned $135,780.” A bachelor’s degree is totally worth the effort in order to earn that much money. I know the answer, and I’m sure you do too. So make the right choice and get a college education. I promise you’ll be thankful you did after you graduate.

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From The Start!

The other day I was at an open interview with about ten or so other adults, and I noticed some flaws in most of their interviews. I found it funny how an 18-year-old can outdo the next guy who is a 30-year-old by simply taking notice of his flaws.

I noted the lack of standing up and shaking the interviewer’s hand before and after the session. No matter the sex of your interviewer, you should always conduct such a practice in an interview environment.

As I gathered my things, a man sitting across from me told me, “You’re in.” I inquired, asking, “How do you figure.” His reply, “I can just tell.” Later as I had more time to think about it, I began to ponder on the idea that maybe he noticed the things with which I did differently. One thing’s for sure; I did my part to try and stand out, in high hopes of getting my first job.

And yes, I have never had a real job. I know what you’re thinking: how could a young adult start-up a blog about jobs with no real experience? Well the truth is I’ve done a lot of research over the past few years and I’m eager to share my words of wisdom.

So you must ask yourself, are you a teenager searching for your first job? If so you’ve come to the right place. This blog I will focus my attention upon shedding some words of wisdom unto you. It’s a scary world out there, and I’m sure if I share my knowledge and you do your part and comment in your knowledge we can make the adult world seem not so frightening. So suit up, take notes, and get prepared to learn something new.

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