Persida writes: I wonder if you can help me. I am working on a bachelor’s degree in accounting, have two more years to go (full time work). I’ve been an administrative assistant for 3 years, and would like to do something else for a while, something more challenging, and more fun. Without a degree what are my options? Also, my idea of a perfect job would be one that would change every 3 months (I get bored very easily). What career would fulfill that need for change? I know accounting is not the most interesting position, but it will help me achieve my career goals.
While I don’t equate accounting with fun, this is about you, not me… so, here goes. I will give you a short-term and long-term answer.
Even with all the accounting scandals, or perhaps because of them, accounting is still a growing profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a strong increase in job openings through 2018. Much of this growth reflects the increasing complexity of corporate transactions and growth in government. Demand will be especially high in the tax and health care areas.
Short-term, I would recommend looking into volunteering, working with a non-profit, or temping. Because you have some solid experience and skills, you have a number of options. However, if you want to start making the transition to accounting, you may need to be a bit more creative in your job-search. You could start by volunteering your talents at a local non-profit agency. Once you’ve gained some needed accounting experience, you might consider a full-time paid position at a non-profit…or consider using a professional temping agency so that you have that variety you seek.
Long-term, one of the best career paths for you may be as a business analyst/consultant. These professionals, many of whom come from accounting, work with multiple clients in multiple settings — giving you some of the variety you crave while putting your skills and abilities to the test. However, you could follow numerous paths once you earn your degree, and I recommend you meet with your faculty adviser and/or a career counselor from your university’s career services office.
Some good resources for you include: Careers in Accounting from Careers-in-Business, LLC; StartHereGoPlaces.com, from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Occupational Outlook Handbook, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Anonymous writes:
I do not have a degree; however, I have 10 years experience in the electro/mechanical field. I attended a technical school that is no longer in existence, and all the classes I attended are directly comparable to all the technical requirements in an ASEE in any state college, but the school cannot be found in accreditation records. I’m having to start school all over again to get credits toward an AS degree. How do I get a prospective employer to interview me in the mean time without a degree?
At this stage in your career, it’s probably important, but not necessary to complete a degree. Do you hold any licenses? Have you taken any continuing ed/professional development courses? Depending on exactly the type and level of job you are seeking, I would focus on employers that value the 10+ years of experience — and I would make sure your resume plays up your experience. Don’t dwell on the lack of a degree; sometimes job-seekers unintentionally sabotage their job-search when they become too preoccupied on a perceived flaw in their qualifications.
However, I also know that some employers are sticklers for degrees — and many want at least a bachelor’s degree — especially for higher-level positions in your field. A client of mine has actually been told by his employer that he will never get promoted unless he finishes his degree — and he is the “go-to” guy in his department with extremely high performance evaluations.
So, if possible, start working on the degree again. See if you can find an educational institution that may be willing to accept some of the credits from the defunct technical school and/or give you some credits for your work experience. And don’t feel limited to use local schools and colleges; there are a host of online/distance learning providers that offer electrical engineering courses and degrees.
Go to this section of Quintessential Careers to find some great distance learning resources.
Bill writes: Hi. My current job will be ending in late October, so I’ve been busy doing the things job-seekers should do. Since I would really like to relocate, I’ve sent out covers and resumes all over the country. I’m looking primarily for an academic job (teaching, academic or career counseling, etc.) in a community college or university. I would also consider a trainer position at either a for profit or non-profit organization.
To date, I’ve sent out 68 customized cover letters and resumes. I’ve individualized each one, so hours have been spent on this. Since I have an MA in English, I make sure there are no typing errors or anything that might turn a recruiter or HR person off. I’ve tried to achieve a balance of professionalism and a personal touch.
I’ve received no interviews or even telephone responses. Thinking that perhaps employers are hesitant to risk interviewing out-of-towners, I’ve also sent quite a few resumes to local employers — to no avail.
I suspect that a lot of the problem lies in the fact that my resume lists my educational background in English and foreign language (French), but my experience of the last few years indicates employment that has little to do with my training in English. Even though I try to emphasize my versatility in my cover letter, I’m getting the sinking feeling that I’m being boxed into a social-services category. Any suggestions? As for follow-up, very few give telephone numbers and many specifically say that they do not want any phone calls.
The Career Doctor responds: You may not like some of what I have to say, Bill, but just remember that you did ask for my help.
First, let me say that you have been doing many things correctly — so that’s good — but if you recall from my discussion of the Domino Effect, your job search will have a much less chance of succeeding unless ALL of your job-hunting tactics are working properly…and I think you have a few problems.
I’m a little worried about your attitude/outlook. While you generally sound positive, there’s an undercurrent I sense in your letter that may just be frustration, but it may be something more negative. Please explore this issue carefully. I call it job-search karma, and it’s almost as if employers can sense it a mile away. The other thing to remember is that job-hunting is often streaky; you may be in a rough streak right now, but a good streak could be just around the corner (especially with my advice)…so hang in there.
OK. My advice. Let’s talk about the jobs you are seeking. From looking at the job listings, are you qualified for these positions? If you are qualified, have you written your resume in such a way to tailor it to each job/position? Are you just applying to job postings — or are you also doing a direct-mail campaign and using your network? Job-seekers cannot simply rely on job listings to find a new job.
Next, are you writing to the hiring managers? Forget the HR departments. When writing to a community college, are you writing to the head of the English department? It’s fairly easy to get the names of the hiring managers for any job in any organization — it just takes some time. Make sure — for future job searches — that you send your job-search package to the proper persons.
Finally, follow up. I don’t care what the ad says or what your personal preferences are. You simply MUST follow-up ALL job leads. There is no excuse. Employers who say no phone calls do so because they don’t want to answer large quantities of inquiries, but following-up a cover letter and resume is different from calling to apply for the job. Following up shows your interest in the job. And for those employers who don’t list their phone numbers? Look them up! Call information, go online, get the phone number and follow-up! Read more about follow-up in the Domino Effect. You can also find more resources in the Job Search 101 tutorial found on Quintessential Careers.
Michelle writes: I have two years of college under my belt and have been taking a break to make some money and decide what I really want to do. I have decided that I would really like to go to school to be a college professor, but I have no idea what steps I need to take to get there. I have been trying to look online for pages that will offer information as to what courses I need to take and how I go about planning my next college steps, but I cannot find any. I would really appreciate your advice and links to helpful pages!
Where do you go from here? Well, of course, you need to complete your undergraduate education. If you’re interested in teaching at the community-college level, you’ll need to continue on and obtain at least your master’s degree. If you’re interested in teaching at the university level, then you’ll most likely need your doctorate degree. There are some exceptions to these generalizations, but for the most part, they hold true.
College professors specialize in a specific discipline, so I am assuming that besides knowing you want to teach, you also know what you want to teach. My advice is to schedule appointments with professors who teach the subject that you want to teach and pick their brains about the best schools to complete your education, the job outlook for the discipline, and the life of a college professor.
Let me end by getting on my soapbox a minute. Some people perceive that we college professors have the “easy life,” working “part-time” because we only teach three or four courses and getting lots of time off (including long summers). Part of the perception is true — we do get a fair amount of vacation time, but when school is in session, our jobs are anything but part-time. Besides teaching (which includes prep time, class time, grading, advising, etc.), university professors must conduct research and get published in scholarly proceedings and journals and be active participants in service activities (inside and outside the university).
You can find links to several great articles about attending graduate school, as well as links to great graduate school resources by going to the Graduate School Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
You can also find more information about the steps to becoming a college professor by visiting eHow, Inc.’s eHow to Become a College Professor.
You can learn more about becoming a college professor by reading some of the resources and reviewing some of the job descriptions found in this section of Quintessential Careers: Academic, Educator, & Teaching Jobs.
“Discouraged” writes: I recently graduated from graphic-design school; this was to be my new career! But I’m having difficulty finding a job. It seems everyone I apply with wants practical experience. Well, my question is: How do I get the much needed experience unless someone will hire me?
Help! I’ve exhausted every source of income to complete my studies, now I must find work even if it’s out of my chosen field.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
In your case, before you give up and take a job outside your field, I would suggest a couple of possibilities.
First, get on the phone to your graphic-design school and demand help with placement. More and more, all higher education and trade schools are realizing that they are being held accountable for the placement record of their graduates. So, call the placement office and demand some help in finding a job. They won’t be able to hand a job offer to you, but they should be able to counsel you in methods to improve your job-search.
Second, I would have a career professional evaluate your entire job-search plan. Are you not even bothering to apply to job openings or write direct mail campaigns because you fear — or assume — that all employers want practical experience? Didn’t you complete projects, apprenticeships, or other types of experience while in design school? Don’t discount work completed while in school. How is your resume? Your cover letter? Are you networking and being proactive, or are you simply responding to job ads and being reactive? I strongly recommend you read this article: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself if You Still Haven’t Found a Job.
Third, I suggest that you consider looking into temping — as a graphic designer. Contact the temp agencies near where you live and see if any of them place graphic artists. If so, apply to them immediately! Be sure to check out these temping resources.
Fourth, I would look into posting your credentials and putting in bids at one or more of the freelancing job sites. Like temping, freelancing may not be a permanent solution for you, but if you truly have no practical experience, freelancing may be the way to bulk up your resume. Go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Jobs for Consultants, Freelancers, and Gurus.
Julie writes: Please review my attached resume and sample cover letter. I am currently working on going to a local business school next year. Preferably Rice University, but I am also applying at University of Houston. I will be working toward an MBA in marketing. Do you have any career suggestions, or can you offer any fresh career ideas for me. I am interested in a marketing/public relations position.
The Career Doctor responds: I’m sorry, Julie, but I never review or critique job-seeker’s resumes or cover letters. There are plenty of services that will do that for you.
I can, however, talk a bit about your MBA and career goals. First you should know that you will be facing increasing competition to get accepted into MBA programs, as the number of applicants nationwide has continued to swell over the last several months. Assuming you get into one or more of the MBA programs, I would suggest you choose the school that has a strong record of placing their marketing MBAs. I would also suggest that you continue working — or take an internship while in the MBA program — to continue to gain valuable marketing experience.
You will greatly enhance your chances for success by combining the value of the marketing MBA with related marketing experience…the perfect mix of top-level skills associated with someone who has just received her MBA and a strong record of accomplishments and experience from previous marketing experience.
Finally, I strongly suggest you read my article, The Master of Business Administration: Is the MBA Worth the Time, Effort, and Cost?
Saurabh writes: I am an 20-year-old graduate, wanting to take up real estate as my career. I am really interested in this field but lack the primary information in real estate.
I need information like:-
- Pre-requisites.
- Future scope.
- Legalities.
- Needed knowledge or skills.
I would appreciate if you would reply me with some sites that explain such basic information.
The Career Doctor responds: According to several sources, there are more than five million people in the United States employed in identifiable real-estate fields such as title insurance, construction, mortgage banking, property management, real estate appraisals, brokerage and leasing, and real-estate development.
Where should all job-seekers begin their quests for information about specific careers? Your immediate answer should be the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. (You can search it directly from this page on Quintessential Careers.) The Handbook provides lots of information (job descriptions, nature of work, training/education required, salaries, future demand, etc.) for “Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents” and “Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers” — depending on your specific interests within the real estate field.
Another great source for you as you begin your quest is from the College of Business at Ohio State University. Go to their Careers in Real Estate: Is Real Estate for You? This site has an amazing collection of information and resources, including skills and requirements, key job areas, facts and trends, salaries, and offline and online resources.
Tiffany writes:
I am interested in starting a career in the advertising field. I have no idea where to start with my education to get this headed in the right direction. What schools would be able to help me or what are your suggestions??
The Career Doctor responds:
The advertising industry is an exciting and dynamic industry, where lower-level employees often work long hours for lower-than-average pay. There are two major paths to take in advertising — the creative side (art, copy-writing) or the management side (sales, account planning). You can work in advertising on the client side (the advertisers) or on the agency side.
A great source of information and resources is the Advertising Educational Foundation. Another great site is Advertising World, from the Advertising Department at the University of Texas. Finally, you can find some good information at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Career Guide to Industries — Advertising.
Anonymous writes: I am a college graduate (psych major) with experience as an administrative assistant in human resources and sales. I want to become a corporate trainer and organizational development specialist. I know there are graduate degrees offered in this field. What’s concerning me is that all the want ads I’ve read for training positions specify a four-year degree and 1-3 years experience in the field.
How do I pursue a job which only requires an undergrad degree but expects candidates to already have the appropriate experience?
Thank you for your help!
The Career Doctor responds: One of the purposes of graduate study, of course, is to prepare you for work in a specific area. Thus, one of your options is certainly to attend a graduate program to gain the necessary education and expertise in the field. And a graduate degree is especially helpful for a career changer that is making a move from a staff position to a professional position.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, “training specialists plan, organize, and direct a wide range of training activities. Trainers conduct orientation sessions and arrange on-the-job training for new employees. They help rank-and-file workers maintain and improve their job skills, and possibly prepare for jobs requiring greater skill.”
Another good source for you may be the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD). According to its Website, “ASTD is the world’s premier professional association and leading resource on workplace learning and performance issues.” The ASTD site has a lot of great resource related to corporate training, including job and career resources and advice. The organization also offers a Human Performance Improvement Certificate Program, which may be an alternative to a graduate degree.
My best advice — before you make any further decisions — is to not let the job ads dictate your next move. Instead, start building a network in the training and OD field. Conduct some informational interviews with professional trainers; contact your alma mater and talk with a management professor who specializes in OD; join a ASTD or some other professional association; attend a conference.
Find more strategies and directions for making a career change in my article, The 10-Step Plan to Career Change.
Learn more about informational interviews by going to the Quintessential Careers Informational Interviewing Tutorial.
Judith writes: I wonder if you could help me. My son is looking for a job as a bartender on a cruise boat, somewhere … We don’t really know where to look for.
I would appreciate very much if you could give some clue how to find that kind of job.
Thank you very much.
The Career Doctor responds: I guess I’m showing my age, but the first image that came to my mind in reading your letter was Isaac, the bartender from the television series, The Love Boat. All joking aside, the cruise industry has certainly been growing, with companies such as P&O Princess Cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Lines all adding new ships — with plans for even more — so the job outlook is quite strong.
The problem seems to be more with how to get one of those jobs. There are any number of “cruise ship jobs” Websites, but all of them charge a fee. I have serious reservations about job-seekers ever having to pay for job information or leads so I really can’t recommend any of them.
I suggest you review some of the jobs sites in two sections of Quintessential Careers:
Finally, my best suggestion is for your son to develop a list of the cruise-ship companies that he wants to work for and conduct a “cold calling” job campaign. You can read more about this proven job search method by going to my article, Cold Calling: A Time-Tested Method of Job-Hunting.
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