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Helping Daughter Choose a Major

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Anthony writes:

I have a 17-year-old daughter who is trying to figure out what she wants to major in. She has no overwhelming interest in anything but is a good student with an ambition to continue her education.

What are some helpful means of career information-gathering and self-awareness would you suggest to help her focus in on a few options?


The Career Doctor responds:

I know you mean well, and I know you worry about your daughter not wasting her college years, but please remember that the college experience — including the degree — is more important right now than determining a major. College is supposed to be about a child truly transitioning to adulthood and finding his/her way in life and career.

That said, there are numerous avenues you and your daughter could take to at least get a general sense of possible career directions.

First, have your daughter examine what she likes doing most — at school, at home, and anywhere else. Does she have hobbies? Does she volunteer? What does she do in her spare time? She should start making a list of those activities she most enjoys.

Second, there are numerous self-assessment and career interest tests in print and online. She should consider taking a few of these and seeing if any of the results sparks her interest. Her high-school guidance office may also be able to help her.

Third, examine your network of contacts and consider having your daughter conduct informational interviews or job shadow some of them to learn more about potential careers.

Fourth, have her review some of the career exploration books or Websites that discuss various careers and the education needed to succeed in them.

Read more — and find links to key resources — in my article, Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path, published on Quintessential Careers.

 

Lindsey writes:

I am interested in technical theatre and I am thinking about majoring in it. My concerns are what type of steady occupation could I work in after college?

The Career Doctor responds:

First, let me state that only you can answer your question. The ideal situation for any student or job-seeker is to find a job/career that you love — and that is in demand.

Technical theatre is all the stuff that goes on behinds the scenes — stage management, lighting, sound, props, wardrobe, scene design, etc. And as long as there is continued demand for theatre, there will be demand for the professionals who are responsible for just about everything but the acting.

My advice is to conduct some informational interviews with professionals working in the theatre. Informational interviews are where you sit down (in person, by phone, or electronically) with someone in a job that interests you. Ask as many questions as you can about how s/he broke into the field, how s/he sees future employment trends, how you can best prepare for a career in this field, etc. The goal is information. A side benefit is adding the person to your network. And in some cases, the interview may result in your being invited to apply for an internship.

I would also talk to the professors who teach the technical theatre courses. Ask about careers and ask about the placement of recent grads and other alums.

I haven’t seen any news indicating the demise of theatre in this country, but I think it’s a bit cyclical and tied to the economy — when people have jobs and are confident about their future, they are more likely to spend more money on entertainment, such as the theatre. But ask your professors and the professionals in the field — they will have the inside scoop.

Here’s a really cool site for technical theatre:
www.theatrecrafts.com.

And for books about technical theatre, check out: TheatreBooks: Technical Theatre.

 

Anonymous writes:

Hello, I am writing you to ask you for some expertise help on what would be the best way to go about a pharmaceutical sales rep job — like what should I major in? Whether to get a bachelor’s or master’s degree? Any info you could give me would be more that appreciated…. Thank you very much.


The Career Doctor responds:

Before I totally address your questions, let me first get on my soap box. Over the last couple of years, the sexiest job opportunity for college grads and career changers has been pharmaceutical sales representative. During that same period, I think the most misunderstood job opportunity has been that of pharmaceutical sales representative. Most of the job-seekers I’ve talked with have this illusion that the job is glamorous, offers autonomy, and pays amazingly well. The reality is that this career requires a lot of work and determination — and if chasing doctors is your idea of glamour, then so be it. High earnings potential? Yes, with the right company, in the right location, with the right amount of persistence.

I know some former students and clients who are in pharmaceutical sales and love it — while others who thought it was their dream career have changed careers yet again. So just do your research and go into this career with a realistic view.

Requirements vary by company, but the basic package you should have is a bachelor’s degree (in any field, though a business field might give you an edge) and previous sales experience (through summer jobs, internships, etc.). An interest in science/medicine is beneficial, but not necessary. Master’s degrees are generally not required — and may make it harder for you to land an entry-level position.

Because of the popularity (and demand) surrounding pharmaceutical sales, there are numerous books and other sources of information about this career. Your best bet? Use your network to find a couple of people currently working as pharmaceutical sales reps and conduct informational interviews to learn more about their impressions and experiences. Informational interviews are highly focused conversations with established professionals that provide you with key information you need to launch or boost your career — and can often provide you with critical feedback about breaking into a career, your credentials, and more.

Learn more about informational interviews in the Informational Interviewing Tutorial published on Quintessential Careers.

Conduct research on pharmaceutical sales rep jobs by visiting this section of Quintessential Careers: Jobs in Health Care, Medicine, Pharmaceuticals, and Social Work.

 

Learning about a Career in Marketing

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Patricia writes:

I would like to get information on marketing as a career. Where I should go and what would my major be? And what are the job prospects and types of jobs available?


The Career Doctor responds:

Remember that I am just a bit biased about marketing, okay? If you want to have a career in the one area of any business or organization that is integral to its success, then you want a career in marketing. Marketing is all about developing (superior) products or services consumers need, and delivering them at the highest level of customer satisfaction as possible. Marketing is both an art and a science. Without successful marketing, no organization can survive — because without marketing, you don’t have any customers.

You don’t need do major in marketing in college, but I would strongly consider it. You might also consider communications, public relations, psychology, and sociology as possible majors or minors. More importantly, once you are in college, you need to get the marketing experience — as much as possible — through volunteering, school projects, campus organizations, and internships or co-ops. The experiences will be invaluable in not only helping you land a great job upon graduation, but also fine-tuning your specifics interests within the field of marketing.

I define marketing as delivering customer satisfaction at a profit… and there are many career opportunities in performing marketing, such as: services marketing, brand management, retailing, distribution, sales, research, advertising, public relations, business-to-business marketing, political marketing, international marketing, direct marketing, non-profit marketing, and more.

Marketing is a hot field — and expected to keep growing for the next decade, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, with services and business-to-business marketing having the most opportunities.

You can learn more about marketing and marketing careers by going to the Website of the professional organization of marketing: The American Marketing Association.

You can also get a feel for jobs and careers in marketing by going to the marketing job sites found in this section of Quintessential Careers: Jobs in Business, Management, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Sales.

See if your library has this book — a great source of information — Opportunities in Marketing Careers, by Margery Steinberg (McGraw-Hill).

 

Looking for a Fast-Paced Career

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Dawn writes:

I am interested in a fast-paced career. I have started going to college this year for business management. I have little knowledge of what is out there for the future. Would like some ideas and steps that will help me achieve that.


The Career Doctor responds:

I could not possibly begin to mention all the potential jobs you could get with a degree in business, but I think it’s very wise of you to begin thinking about it now because as you develop some ideas about career paths, you can choose elective courses to help you specialize in one or more areas — and, perhaps more importantly, you can begin to develop a list of prospective employers and internship possibilities to gain experience — and to make sure the career you think you want is actually something you would enjoy doing!

So, here is your homework.

First, start researching careers in management. Key sources for you are: your management professors (even ones you have not had for a class yet) and adviser, the career services office at your college, and online sources (such as the fantastic Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor).

Second, develop a list of your skill sets (and document those skills through accomplishments in school projects and work experience). Skills you should have as you progress through your business degree include leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, written and verbal communications, teamwork, planning, organizing, and decision-making.

Third, start thinking of an internship for the summer. Some of the most coveted summer internships have very early deadlines and better to start researching now and be ready then to discover you just missed a deadline.

And to get a feel for the types of jobs out there, check out this section of Quintessential Careers: Jobs in Business, Management, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, and Sales.

 

How to Launch a "Cool" Career

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Jenna writes:

I am currently trying to chose a career path. I will be going to college soon taking medical radiography (to become an x-ray and ultrasound technician); however, I don’t think this is the career I really want (bad hours and too much human suffering). I want to do something that is a little unusual — not your average job. I want to retire early … comfortably. I want to learn a lot of new things on my way. Some ideas I’ve had are: commercial pilot, architect, something in astrophysics… What I really want are ideas for cool careers. Careers that when someone asks you what you do for your living, they feel intimidated by your answer! I don’t know what’s out there. Hopefully you do! So… any great ideas?


The Career Doctor responds:

What’s out there as a career for you? It’s a cliché, but it’s true: if you have the intelligence, the determination, and the resources, just about any career path can be yours.

But, don’t think so much about one career shaping the rest of your life; think more about a series of careers that span your lifetime, some of which may be related.

So, the first big question is why are you majoring in something — perhaps even attending a specific college because of it — that you have no real interest in ever doing? Why not look into other colleges and careers before you make that final choice?

As for other careers…the best sources are your teachers and your family… you can also conduct a lot of career research online, using such sources as the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Because you have a wide range of interests, it might also be helpful to take one or more career assessment tests; these tests work well in conjunction with you own assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your likes and dislikes.

As you think about majors, you might want to read my article, Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.

You also might find these two areas of Quintessential Careers especially helpful:

 

Determining Which Colleges to Apply To

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Tabitha writes:

I read about you in the magazine “Private Colleges and Universities” that I received in the mail. I am a junior in high school at the moment, and I am totally lost when it comes to figuring out what colleges I want to apply to. How do I start? I’m getting a lot of pressure to develop a list, and I am totally clueless!


The Career Doctor responds:

The junior year is perhaps the most critical year in high school — at least in terms of implications for your future. It’s during the junior year that you’re often taking the tough courseload, prepping for the SATs, thinking about careers, and deciding about attending college — while also developing an initial list of colleges that interest you.

The good news? You have a year to really contemplate some of the issues I’ll discuss here. The college admissions process begins in earnest for you about this time next year.

So, here you are, with hundreds and hundreds of college possibilities out there. How can you narrow the list? One of the best resources is your high school’s guidance counselor. I know that in some public high schools, these folks are way overworked and have way too many advisees to know each one — thus, it is your job to make sure your guidance counselor knows who you are and what your interests are. Later, it will be important that he/she knows which of your college choices are your favorites in case one of the colleges calls to inquire about you.

But, don’t stop there. Talk with your family, friends, and neighbors. Find out where adults you respect went to college. Go to the library and start looking through the various college guide books, such as The Fiske Guide to Colleges. (Find more books in our Teen College Books.) Next, go online to one (or more) of the many college-choice Websites and search for college by programs, type, size, and location…or just browse through the lists. (Find more college-related sites in our College Planning Resources for Teens.) Finally, watch for college fairs and visits from colleges at your high school — and attend as many of those as you need.

At this stage in the game, don’t rule out any college based on cost. Many private colleges have a high cost, but counter those costs with attractive scholarships and aid packages to attract the better students. The ideal scenario would be to have a list of 20 or so by the end of the year … then narrow it down some more and visit that smaller list over the spring and summer.

Need more specifics about the process? Read my article, Choosing a College that’s Right for You, published on Quintessential Careers.

You can also find more tips and suggestions in my College Admissions Do’s and Don’ts, published on Quintessential Careers.

Finally, be sure to check out our work related to college admissions: Answers to Common College Admissions Questions.

 

Louis writes:

I am 31 years old and have just completed an associate’s degree in computer networking and then went on to complete a B.S. degree in computer science. I am now studying for a B.S. in business administration. Then I will be continuing on for my MBA. I am currently working as a computer analyst making only $30,000 a year. What types of salaries should I expect after completing all four of these degrees? I intend on being a project manager. Am I wasting my time and money on education? Or will I be able to command salaries of over $60K to $70K because of the education that I intend to complete. What is a good career progression? And how should I go about progressing to that upper salaried positions.


The Career Doctor responds:

I think far too many job-seekers put too much emphasis on salary when researching careers or conducting career planning. Yes, what we earn is important to our feelings of self-worth and self-esteem, but let’s not overlook the importance of the intrinsic value of enjoying what you do. So, if project management really excites you — and you can make a good living doing it — then that’s a good match for you. Please do be careful of picking careers or jobs simply based on how much you’ll be able to make. And in this job market, many job-seekers would love a job where they are making only $30,000 a year.

I do want to congratulate you on the ability to balance working and attending classes at the same time, because not everyone can do that, and while it will take you longer to reach your educational and career goals, you’ll be a more experienced and well-rounded job-seeker.

How can you best determine if project management is a good match for you — both in terms of your interests, skills, and education — as well as your salary requirements? Hit the online job boards and examine as many project management positions as you can find. Not only will this research help with your career goals, but you’ll be able to compile a list of keywords and phrases that employers use when seeking project managers. Once you have those keywords, you should be sure that you use them in your resumes and cover letters.

You should also consider conducting a few informational interviews with people who are currently involved in project management. Not only will these interviews help build your network, you’ll also learn a great deal about the skills, experience, and education valued in that profession.

Go to this section of Quintessential Careers to find job sites where you can conduct research: Best Job Sites for Job-Seekers.

Learn more about informational interviewing by using the Informational Interviewing Tutorial found at Quintessential Careers.

 

What Should She Major In?

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Ellie writes:

I started attending college recently. In college, everybody is asking each other about their majors. I still haven’t decide what I should major. I have always had a interest in dramatic arts. But I’m afraid I can’t do it. I’m Chinese, and I have a hard time trying to speak in front of people. I don’t know if I should pick dramatic arts. If I pick a wrong major now, I’m afraid I will regret it later.


The Career Doctor responds:

My best words of advice for you — and the many, many other college students experiencing similar feelings? The three R’s: relax, reflect, research. College is a time to really discover what the adult within you wants to do with your life — or at least the next phase of your life. Use this first year of college to really explore who you are, what you like, and what you want to do. Experiment. Take a variety of classes. Talk with older students in different majors. Meet with professors and talk with them about careers. Go to the career services office of your college and take some career interest assessments. Research potential majors, careers, and jobs. Join a variety of student organizations.

And don’t feel pressured to make any decisions right away. Most first-year students take very similar courses — regardless of their major — as most colleges have a set of foundation or core courses that all students must complete. Yes, some students enter college knowing exactly what they want to major in — perhaps even knowing their career goals too — but that doesn’t mean you have to jump to any decision right away.

What should you do? Consider trying out for a small role in a college play. If you’re not taking one of these courses this semester, consider taking a public speaking or theatre class next semester; even if you decide to go in a different career direction, learning how to be comfortable speaking in front a group will be invaluable skill to master. You should also examine what it is about the dramatic arts that most interests you; this assessment will help you better understand yourself and other potential careers/majors should you decide not to major in dramatic arts.

For more advice and resources, please read my article published on Quintessential Careers: Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.

And for all you first-year students trying to make the transition from home and high school to college, read this article on Quintessential Careers: Your First Year of College: 25 Tips to Help You Survive and Thrive Your Freshman Year and Beyond.

 

Rachel writes:

I am currently 15 years old and in the 10th grade. Since I only have two more years left to really do my career planning and college planning, I was wondering if you could help me in any way. I would really love to become a magazine editor and I’m just not sure where to start at. For instance, what I should major in. If you can help me in any way, please email me back! Thanks!


The Career Doctor responds:

I first need to give you a hearty congratulations, Rachel, for thinking about your career at such an early age. I think high school is a great time to begin thinking about the things you really enjoy doing — and then researching careers that match those interests.

Magazine editors, as you probably already know, need to have a strong grasp on the English language, have good people skills, and good organizational skills. Most editors were first writers who then progressed up the ladder to assistant editors, associate editors, and then editors.

So, your first step is really to learn more about the career. What really attracts you to the idea of being a magazine editor? There certainly is some glamour attached to the job, but you need to do the research to see all the hard work that goes along with the job. It’s never too early to contact a few editors and ask if they would allow you to conduct an informational interview with them. An informational interview is where you meet and discuss jobs and careers — where you can learn much more about a career field, and where you can begin to build your network.

The two most important things you can do now is find a good college where you can take more writing classes and start getting writing experiences. A college with a journalism program is helpful, partly because the professors may have more contacts in the field, but really any college that has a strong writing program would work. And experience is critical. Start writing for your high school publications and consider freelancing for your town’s newspaper. Once in college, strive for editorial internships and more experience.

Find lots more resources in the Career Exploration Resources section of Quintessential Careers.

And find lots of college resources in the College Planning Resources section of Quintessential Careers.

 

Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., the Career Doctor
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About The Career Doctor Blog

The Career Doctor Blog provides intelligent and level-headed solutions to job-seeker questions. Updated daily with a new career, college, or job-related question - coupled with a thoughtful response from nationally-recognized career expert Dr. Randall Hansen - The Career Doctor. Have a question that has you stumped? Feel free to email your question, but please know that because of the large volume of emails Dr. Hansen receives that a personal response is often not possible... and that it may take some time for your question to appear in the Career Doctor Blog.
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