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Gerontology is proving to be one of the fastest growing–if not the fastest growing–fields of study in the United States. Look at what this exciting new field is and why making gerontology your field of study or adding gerontology classes to your curriculum will almost certainly benefit your education and earning potential.

Why Gerontology?

The population in the United States is aging. It is not only aging, it is doing it in unprecedented numbers and then living longer on top of that! Between 2000 and 2010, the U.S. total U.S. population grew a little over 9%; furthermore, the population of those over 65 grew at 15%. To put it in graphic terms every day for the last two years and for the next 17 years almost 10,000 people will celebrate their 65th birthday. 79 million baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are going to need medical care and other special care. Gerontology is by far the fastest expanding facet of medical care, and employment in general, in the United States. It is up to the students of today to get the education to prepare for this huge demand. One short-term projection says there will be a 36% increase in the demand for professionals trained in some facet of gerontology.

Comparing Geriatricians and Gerontologists

Plainly speaking gerontology is the scientific study of aging. Geriatricians are physicians who specialized in treating the health problems of elderly patients. Gerontologists are multi-disciplinary: including but not limited to medical workers, biologists, psychiatrists and psychologists, and sociologists. Medical workers with education specifically in gerontology would range from caregivers to surgeons; accordingly, Certified Nursing Assistants, EMTs, Paramedics, Physician and Medical Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and of course, D.O.s and M.D.s. The common goal of gerontologists is improving the quality of life for seniors.

Putting It Together

Given the extreme elderly redistribution of the population, all of the above named fields of employment will have huge demands placed on them in the near future for professionals with education in gerontology.  Professionals trained in gerontology, especially medical professionals, are one of the fastest growing employment opportunities currently and are projected to almost be a professional field without limit soon. Other related careers such as nursing home directors, activity directors, social workers, scientists will all need people with education in gerontology. One interesting new field is that of caregiver coach or director. The task of care-giving is a special one and having someone who has education in the gerontology field can be invaluable.

Other Facets of Gerontology

Other services and industries will soon place a premium on employees with some gerontology education. Financial services, such as banks, are one such example, fitness trainers and teachers, and wellness workers—alternative health workers and life coaches. People working in the travel industry, such as hospitality and transportation, will be another facet of the workforce that will benefit from and place a premium on workers who have some background in gerontology studies. Housing is another employment sector that will provide new chances at employment for person with the proper training, from new construction to planned communities to adaptive remodeling for seniors, all will benefit from someone with some education in gerontology. Research and volunteer management are two other fields that will certainly need a vast number of people with some training in gerontology.

Education and Gerontology

Many Colleges and Universities are now offering certificates in gerontology along with individual gerontology classes. Higher education gerontology degrees include, Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and PhD Whether one is an entrepreneur, changing careers, or starting their higher education, the field of gerontology is a very profitable and rewarding addition to any curriculum.

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Sarah Daren, today’s guest blogger, is a writer who creates informative articles relating to the field of health. In this article, she explains the growing field of gerontology and aims to promote businesses in this industry such as home health care Colorado.

Education, in general, is vital for the growth of any country, but as far as the US is concerned, there are two subjects in particular that require more attention namely math and science. Emphasis on these two subjects should not just be at the elementary and high school level the country needs more individuals with math and science degrees. But why exactly are these subjects so important?

Global Competitiveness

Technology in virtually every sphere of life is improving with every passing day. New and more efficient processes are being formulated and so are inventions. Obviously math and science play a major role in all these developments. Countries like China, South Korea and other emerging economies have discovered this and have consequently geared their education systems towards these two disciplines. An increasing number of their students are coming out of universities with very advanced mathematical and scientific knowledge, which they use to drive their economies. There is no doubt that the US has been lagging behind with regard to this aspect, case in point; the fact that more and more patents in the US are being issued to foreigners than to Americans. Needless to say, there is a need to lay more emphasis on math and science if the US is to remain competitive globally.

STEM

STEM refers to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These four fields of study have played a major role in getting the United States to the top. Skills in these areas of education are necessary for any individual, who is looking to pursue a career in space technology, engineering, computer technology and the like. Despite still being somewhere up there, the US is struggling to remain relevant far as innovation in these sectors is concerned. Scholars from other parts of the world are performing much better in STEM education than those in the US. The effects of this are already being felt as graduates from those countries are injecting better ideas and finding more revolutionary solutions than their counterparts in the US.

More Jobs

There are numerous quality job opportunities in the science and technology sector. Quality here means that STEM employees earn more than most of their counterparts in other professions. It also means that there are better growth opportunities once a person secures a job. By rough estimations, it is expected that the number of employment opportunities in the STEM sector will have grown by almost 20 percent before the turn of the decade. The problem, however, is that the number of qualified individuals will not be at par. What this simply means is that supply will not be able to meet demand, and as a result, American companies may be forced to hire foreigners. This could translate to increased unemployment since a good number of graduates will be having qualifications in other fields that may not be so relevant. Obviously this does not augur well for the country.

Security

If the US continues to lag behind in STEM education, then its security will be compromised more easily. Highly qualified graduates from countries like China may not just be interested in coming up with new inventions some may be hired to infiltrate US systems and steal secrets. This is not just a future threat; it is happening now a good example being the recent military weapons systems hack by China. Such breaches could weaken the country hence making it more susceptible to attacks. To prevent such occurrences, the country needs to focus on equipping graduates with advanced STEM knowledge and skills. It is only by doing so will it be possible to come up with stronger security protocols to safeguard the country.

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Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he explains the importance of math and science degrees and aims to encourage continued study through OU Civil Engineering College.

When it comes to choosing a program or degree, it’s difficult to prioritize. The best degree is both a job trajectory that your student wants to pursue as well as a degree that employers value when hiring.   However, that combination is sometimes elusive.

One program that has seen a great deal of popularity in the last decade is human resources management.  Many colleges offer specialty certifications in HR, such as the well-known program at Stritch.edu, and your graduate to-be will have plenty of choices if they choose this to go down this path.

Why choose a career in human resources?  Here are 4 reasons for consideration:

1. Companies will always have a need for human resources.  Companies can’t run on machines alone. Although in some industries, automation is a trend, someone still has to be around to ship the products or monitor the machines. A human resources team is needed to pay those employees, manage benefits, handle staffing, etc.  Human resources teams may stay lean in tough times, but they’ll never go away; they’re just as essential as upper management in ensuring that things get done, and HR often picks up the slack where other departments don’t.

2. Human resources departments have jobs for all skill sets.  You might think that you need to be a “people person” to work in human resources, but not all HR staffers spend their time working on direct employee interaction.  HR is now a major technology user itself, for functions like payroll, promotions and review processing, and employee monitoring tools like internet censoring and time cards.  Some HR teams have entire technology teams within them.

HR also needs data entry processors, strategists, and other experts.  Don’t think of HR in typical cliches, as there are plenty of opportunities here. If your student is considering a career here, many companies are usually open to letting them talk with a human resources professional about their jobs, the pros and cons, and other career considerations. After all, career advice is another HR function!

3. Human resources degrees offer many transferable skills.  What a student learns in a human resources program can offer you valuable insights into people skills and technology skills that will serve them well in other careers, such as PR and communications, sales  and marketing.  Many HR specialists often go on to work at companies that offer HR services, such as payroll and software providers, large staffing and recruiting firms, or human resources strategic consultancies.  It is a more versatile degree than some realize.

4. A human resources degree is an excellent base for other master’s degrees.  Is your student considering a Master’s degree as a long-term goal, but you’re not sure what?  A human resources degree is actually the perfect stepping stone for that next step on the career ladder, because of how well-rounded most educational HR curriculums are.

HR graduates can go on to earn their Master’s of Business Administration, earn certifications in accounting or finance, and more.   Less popular is the Master’s of Human Resources, but it is also an option.

For more information about a career in Human Resource Management, visit the industry’s leading website, the Society for Human Resource Management.

Soon enough your son or daughter will be off to college so that they can pursue their dreams and professional lives. Job recruiters and college admission officers say that one of the best ways for your child to know what he or she wants to do with their life career-wise is to find out what some of the most in-demand jobs are. It just makes sense to pursue those degrees since jobs after graduation are often difficult to find; if your student has an in-demand college degree they are more likely to get hired.

Here are 5 in-demand degrees for your college kid to consider in 2013.

1. Computer Science

With the rise of digital technology, computer science is one of the most popular degrees in 2013 and will be for the foreseeable future. In fact, over 56% of students who are studying to acquire some sort of computer science degree already have jobs. The need for qualified and diligent programmers and application developers is widespread in almost every business sector. If you want to have a stable, long-term career, computer science is your answer to a satisfying professional life with job security and a potentially large income.

2. Business Administration

Business administration is another degree that is quickly becoming more and more in-demand. During 2013, business administration degrees are seeing a peak, because despite the sluggish economy, businesses need employees that see the big picture and have an overall knowledge of the business environment. Venture funded technology start-ups are popping up with open positions. Many of these companies need qualified business administrators.

3. Accounting

Because the economy is the way it is, accounting is another degree that is seeing a rapid rise in popularity. Either you start your own private accounting firm and work on people’s taxes to find ways for people to save money on their returns, or you work for a government agency to help crack our major multi-trillion dollar deficit. Accounting positions are always in demand because every business needs them.

4. Nursing

Next, nursing degrees are also hugely in-demand. However, it used to be that you could get by with a registered nursing degree or an RN, but now it is recommended that you get your BSN, or a Bachelor’s In Science and Nursing degree. It’s important that you enter an RN to BSN program. Many hospitals across the country are choosing nurses with a BSN over an RN degree. A bachelor’s degree communicates that the person has had more education and is better qualified.

5. Engineering

Lastly, engineering, will make you qualified for a host of jobs that span almost every business sector. If you get your civil engineering degree you can help plan your cities basic infrastructure, from highways to traffic lights and more. Other engineering jobs are widely available in the military, Silicone Valley, the medical field and anywhere else you can think of that needs the advanced thinking of an engineer. An engineer will also help build machines, creative devices, and devise solutions to help us live our lives more efficiently.

With a tough job market awaiting those college students that will graduate within the next few years, selecting a college degree that brings reward has become paramount to finding gainful employment. So while parents certainly want to encourage their kids to shoot for a career they’re going to love, they definitely don’t want them staring down the barrel of student loan debt with nothing to show for it but a job at Starbucks and a stack of useless resumes.

The key for most parents is helping their students to find a major that they love that leads to a growing job market. This is no easy feat, but with a few simple tips and tricks at your disposal you should be able to uncover options for any student, regardless of their strengths and preferences. Here are some suggestions to get your student on track for a college degree that will really pay off after graduation.

Do the research

The first thing to do is compile a list of industries that currently seem to be expanding, and there are a few that fit the bill. Anything having to do with the medical industry seems to be on the rise these days, thanks in part to health care reform, but also related to the fact that the baby boomer generation is entering the age of retirement just when there looks to a drought of qualified medical professionals. So the healthcare industry is a solid choice for now and perhaps the next 10-20 years, if forecasts are to be believed. Engineering of all types is also growing, but especially the field of computer engineering (no surprise there). Also taking off is green industry, due in large part to the current administration’s eco-friendly policies, although a growing consumer market for green solutions doesn’t hurt. In truth, green technology is growing by leaps and bounds, so an eco-engineering sort of degree could be extremely lucrative in the years to come. There are, of course, other fields to consider, as well. Not only are kids strong in math and science doing well right now, but those who are creative are finding jobs in the online arena thanks to the growth of blogging and internet marketing campaigns (textual, graphic, and even video).

Match your student’s interests with the career paths

Once you’ve compiled a list of job markets that are growing steadily (without suffering periodic layoffs) it’s time to sit down with your student to talk about finding interests, talents, and skills that may match up with some of the exciting career paths that appear to be taking off at the moment. This is a great way for students to think about what they like and want and how their preferences align with markets that are currently growing.

Select the right fit colleges

From there it’s just a matter of selecting schools that offer reputable and highly-regarded programs in the specific major your student has chosen, whether that means attending MIT for a computer science degree or considering University of Miami masters degrees as your student plans for their future in engineering. The right fit colleges should not only offer these preferred degree plans, but fit your student’s academic and social needs.

Once you and your student have done the research to discover which types of degrees are currently in demand, all that remains is to select a major that best suits your student’s interests and abilities and choose a school that delivers the best opportunities for job placement. College isn’t “all about the money”, but you want your student to be able to enter the job market in their chosen field after graduation.

College is meant to be one of the most important stepping stones in life. The education students receive is designed to give them knowledge, experience, and a considerable leg up on the competition. Students are expected to become masters at their professional pursuits. Yet it should be noted that not all degrees are created equal. Some of the most popular degrees create well rounded individuals that are fit for many different careers within their professional aspirations. The top ten most popular college degrees are largely proponents of this sort of developmental flexibility.

1. Business Administration:
Those who are versed in business administration are often very adept at performing a number of different tasks in the workplace. You learn how to budget, plan, direct, and manage a number of different organizations.

2. Psychology:
This degree is for the people who wonder about what makes them tick. Psychology majors learn about cognition, intelligence, emotion, and disorders. They can do everything from teaching or researching any of the incredible processes made in the human mind.

3. Nursing:
Nursing may be the strictest degree on the list. After all, if you’re looking to be a nurse, you have a good general idea of what you want to do. Helping people and assisting doctors are major draws to the job. But there is still wiggle room. There are different types of nurses (pediatric, geriatric, etc) that deal with different issues and environments.

4. Biological Science:
Biology is literally the study of life. Everything from microscopic organisms to the entire ecological landscape of the planet resides in this pursuit.

5. Education:
Those who become education majors often have creativity, patience, and compassion. Their goal is to teach and inspire the next generation. There are a number of different topics to become proficient in and teach. This major gives students the tools to become inspiring educators.

6. English Language and Literature:
Many people feel that English class was the bane of their pre-college existence. Many find themselves thoroughly enjoying this major that encourages communication and literary comprehension. This major creates new generations of writers, readers, reporters, and thinkers.

7. Economics:
Economics is the study of scarcity and choice. How and why people choose to spend their money and time. The major can deal with anything as small as the individual to as large as the entire planet’s economic structure.

8. Communications:
Communications majors are well sought out in business, public relations, and government. Why? Because they know how to spin an amazing tale and keep people enthralled. Through learning and understanding the different modes of communication, these majors prepare themselves for diverse career options down the road.

9. Political Sciences:
This isn’t just the study of a political structure. This is the study of current events and how it shapes the world. Political sciences prepare people for careers in a number of places: academia, government, and even in multinational corporations.

10. Computer and Information Sciences :

This is one of the fastest growing fields in the world today. As more and more businesses become technologically advanced, the number of people who require computer sciences majors will exponentially increase. What’s amazing is that this boom is expected in nearly every field.

Each of these degrees aim to foster a roundness in graduates that will promote overall success. After all, the aim of receiving a college education isn’t solely to become adept at retaining information. Teaching relevant knowledge isn’t the only important duty a college performs. It’s also about trying to create a student that is well versed and learned across the spectrum each degree represents. Choosing the degree that works best for you is the first action you take before leaping across to this great stepping stone of life.

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Author bio: Steve manages a college paper writing service at www.solidessay.com, which helps high school and college students with their homework assignments.

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You’ve read through the course catalog, spoken to your academic adviser and chosen a major that just doesn’t seem to fit your life’s aspirations. Many have found success seeking a tried-and-true English, History, Communications, Criminal Justice or Elementary Education degree, but you desire to blaze a trail and seek a new and exciting career path. Luckily, many online and campus-based universities are indulging visionaries such as yourself by creating unique and, in many cases, unexpected college majors. Here’s a list of the top 7 college majors you probably never knew existed:

Green Urban Planning

As a concentration, urban planning is nothing new. However, in response to many communities’ passions to live an eco-friendly existence, a handful of universities are offering courses and a full-fledged major in Green Urban Planning. This degree focuses on many of the same concepts as traditional urban planning, but teaches students to determine the location of a town’s schools, hospitals and other structures with the environment in mind.

Turfgrass Science

Did you ever stroll through a golf course, botanical garden or even some well-kept private residences and marveled at their pristine green lawn? Believe it or not, many golf courses are hiring individuals with a Bachelor’s Degree in Turfgrass Science. During their two to four-years of study, students delve into topics ranging from pesticides and weed control to entomology and business management. Who knew it took so much erudition to keep the greens on a par 4-hole so lush?

Fire Science

In the past, the only prerequisite to break into firefighting was a strong back and willingness to risk your life. Times have definitely changed, and many are finding that in order to advance in their career, a fire science bachelor degree is a necessity. This degree program prepares students to handle the many facets of this challenging vocation, from emergency preparedness to public education.

Emergency Management

Upon completion of their fire science degree, many are continuing their education by seeking an emergency management masters degree. Basically, this highly-specialized program prepares individuals to plan for and react to a variety of emergency situations. This could mean anything from designing and implementing a fire escape plan at a nursing home to working with Homeland Security to thwart a potential terrorist attack. This degree program isn’t presently well-known, but as more industries are hiring emergency management professionals, its anonymity is sure to fade quickly.

Animal Science

As the population of the United States continues to swell, so does the need for individuals to monitor the safety of its food sources. If you’ve ever wondered where your food comes from, and how to help ensure future generations continue to consume healthy livestock and poultry, consider earning your degree in animal science. Animal science majors learn how to protect, monitor and regulate the nation’s supply of poultry, beef and any other products produced from animals.

Bakery Science

Before you assume that this major is interchangeable with any other courses found at your local culinary institute, be prepared to go deeper into food preparation and science than you ever thought possible. Aside from learning the fundamentals of the perfect chocolate chip cookie, bakery science students either concentrate on the business-side of restaurants and the food industry or cereal chemistry, which deals more with research, development and quality control. Classes in this unique major include: chemistry, physics, nutrition, bakery science, bakery design and cereal science.

Bowling Industry Management

Bowling is big business that, according to the United States Bowling Congress, is enjoyed by over 70 million participants every year. In reaction to this startling statistic, the bowling industry management major was created. Individuals with a passion for this sport are able to make a career out of bowling by taking classes on pro shop management, bowling lane care and pin-setting mechanics. Unfortunately, this major doesn’t explain why bowling shoes are so uncomfortable and how to master the perfect bowling ball curve.

Before getting your heart set on any of the aforementioned, off-the-beaten-track majors, remember that many are offered by a handful or single university, with the exception of fire science and emergency management. Online university is another option if you’re interested in a unique major, but your local campus-based college doesn’t offer the necessary coursework.

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Evelyn Green is a blogger and currently earning her Master’s in Emergency Management. She’s currently a trained EMT and firefighter. Upon completion of her degree, Evelyn hopes to use the skills learned in her program to make her focus forest fire prevention. 

Our guest blog post today is by Susan Posluszny, the founder of OPTIONS for Career & Life Planning, specializing in unique programs and services to support students with college major and career planning. Susan is a Master Career Counselor with over 25 years of career counseling experience including 18 years as a college career center director. She is the author of In Search of a College Major & Career Direction, an interactive program designed to support teens and young adults with choosing a college major and career path.Her career counseling and coaching practice is located in New Boston, NH. Subscribe to Susan’s e-newsletter, Career Options, at www.collegesandmajors.com

As I looked over an issue of a local town newspaper last June, I came upon an article covering the area high school’s 2009 class of graduates.  As you might expect, the article included comments from graduating students and proud parents along with other graduation event details.  While reading the article, I was struck by a comment made by one soon to be graduate who said that the current recession had led him to change his college major from political science to engineering.

Naturally, the career counselor in me kicked in and, if I had known this student, I would have asked him the following questions:

• What was it that drew you to your original college major choice of political science?
• What kind of work were you thinking of getting into related to political science and did you ever speak with anyone employed in this area of interest?
• How do those who work in political science careers deal with the instability that comes with unpredictable voting outcomes and job market fluctuations?
• If you can’t answer this last question, how might you get answers from those who are ‘in the know’?
• How long have you considered engineering as a major?
• What do you know about engineering career options?
• Have you ever spoken with anyone who works in an engineering related career?
• Have you ever job shadowed workers in either political science or engineering careers?

I would ask these questions not because I’m opposed to this graduate’s decision to shift from a major in political science to engineering.  Rather, my intention would be to see if this decision was made based on accurate career information and reflection about personal priorities or based on a knee jerk reaction to current economic conditions.  Job market fluctuations are a reality and, yes, the current job market is a challenging one.  Yet, that does not mean students need to ignore their career aspirations.

If I were coaching this student, my advice would depend on his answers to the questions above.  If he were not informed, I would guide him to make sure his assumptions are accurate.  I would also encourage him to consider scenarios that support exploration of these two interest areas over time.  For example, one option might be to major in engineering while taking as many political science courses as possible (maybe even leading to a minor in political science).  A major in engineering could also be combined with volunteer work related to his political science interests.

Bottom line…watch out for knee jerk fear based decisions based on an unusually tight job market. If employment security is a concern, do your homework and learn about things you can do to create your own sense of security while doing work that you enjoy.

Copyright, Susan B. Posluszny, OPTIONS for Career & Life Planning LLC

If you would like to contact Susan or find out more information about the services she provides, you can contact her at:

Her websites: www.careeroptions4me.com and www.collegesandmajors.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanposluszny

Email:  susan@careeroptions4me.com

Are you registered for an honors class or teetering on the edge of “I’m too freakin’ lazy to challenge myself”? Before you “yay” or “nay” the big league, you need the inside info to decide if the honors track or an honors course is worth the extra work — and whether you can take the heat.Back in the Day

In high school, what generally distinguished honors (or advanced placement) courses from their standard-level counterparts was that honors classes issued more homework, required more studying and demanded more self-initiative. (But, hey, they looked damn good on your college apps!)

Some high schools require a recommendation or certain GPA to get into a higher-level course. Some offer rewards for taking honors, such as a weighed GPA (on a scale of 0 to 5.0, rather than 0 to 4.0), which explains why those studious, overachievers put themselves through the pain of it all. Other high schools offer no tangible benefits besides a challenge and the risk of ruining a near-perfect GPA.

In the Big League

Your college will have its own unique requirements and policies regarding eligibility and grading scales, so you should definitely check that out sooner than later. One consistency: Like in high school, honors classes in college can be a hell of a lot harder than basic-level courses. So why bother? Not to sound like Mom, but you’re in college to challenge yourself. And you have little to lose, since your college grades often carry less weight than your high school grades. (That is, unless your GPA is securing financial aid, maintaining your parents’ financial support or going on your med, law or grad school applications. In such a case, take extra caution in assessing your capabilities, since risking damage to your GPA can mess up your chances of staying in school and moving on up to bigger and better.)

Clearly, honors courses differ at every school. Here are general details, pros, cons and tips:

Class Size

Pro: Typically, honors classes are smaller seminars with only 10 to 25 students. A small class size means you can develop a relationship with your instructor — and that he or she may actually know your name! This could prove handy when you need extra help, guidance on a big paper or project, a deadline extension, a letter of recommendation or even a lead on a summer internship.

Con: Smaller, niche classes mean extra attention is paid to attendance so your instructor will notice if you’re a frequent no-show. Plus, it will become painfully obvious if you come to class unprepared.

Curriculum

Pro: Honors classes often focus on a highly specific niche topic, like Caribbean literature and film since 1920. If you are super interested in that — or whatever topic is being offered — then don’t think twice about signing up for a semester’s worth of it, since classes that excite you make extra work worth the effort.

Con: Papers, texts and readings will probably be more challenging than a vanilla English Lit 101.

Quality

Pro: Class time in an honors course has great potential to be interesting, since the format of smaller classes tends to be open discussion rather than basic lecture. Plus, part of your grade may be determined by your level of participation, an objective measure you can use to up a not-so-hot score. Don’t be shy!

Con: You may have to participate … and think critically. In order to do either, you will have to complete the course requirements — that is, every page of every reading assignment.

Insider Tips

• Don’t be scared of the big “H” Some honors program courses are actually easier in comparison to the gut-wrenching AP biology and calculus you might have taken in high school.
• Ensure your enrollment One tried-and-true trick is to sign up for a few extra credits than you need to take in one semester — especially when you’re thinking about trying out an honors-level course. In the first week of the semester, swing by the class, assess the syllabus and size up the instructor. If it no longer interests you or seems like the workload would take time away from your other classes’ work (aka your social life), then you can drop it without worrying about having enough credits to graduate on time or finding another class to replace it.
• Avoid large lecture honors classes These cover topics at an introductory level with a broader focus, but they might have as many as 80 students and lack the perks of an intimate class setting. And lecture series — honors or otherwise — can seriously bore you to death.
• Seek smart company Honors courses do more than fine-tune your interests and work your brain into a sweat. As a reward for taking on the challenge, they’ll place you among the brightest of your peers and introduce you to faculty members who can offer new perspectives and solid career advice.

Our guest blog post today is by Susan Posluszny, the founder of OPTIONS for Career & Life Planning, specializing in unique programs and services to support students with college major and career planning. Susan is a Master Career Counselor with over 25 years of career counseling experience including 18 years as a college career center director. She is the author of In Search of a College Major & Career Direction, an interactive program designed to support teens and young adults with choosing a college major and career path.Her career counseling and coaching practice is located in New Boston, NH. Subscribe to Susan’s e-newsletter, Career Options, at www.collegesandmajors.com

Think Big Picture

It’s common to overly focus on the details:  Which ‘one’ major should I pick?  Which ‘one’ career should I pursue?  Yet, research studies show that it’s common for students (and adults) to shift direction over time as they explore, grow, and change.  What to do?  Get your student to identify their top 2 – 3 academic and career interests and then explore ways to simultaneously prepare for and reality test more than one interest.  Sound impossible?  Not at all.  Careful selection of academic courses and career exploration strategies (job shadowing, internships, career related employment or volunteer experience) will do it.  Be sure to spread these efforts out over time so as not to overload.

Discard Outdated Notions of ‘Job Security’

Job security in the form of long term employment with one employer in exchange for dedication and hard work is long gone.  Instead, shifts in the work world have been moving towards project based work and ways to match individual interests and skills to marketplace needs.  Don’t expect selection of the ‘right school’, the ‘right degree’, or the ‘right career’ to provide guarantees of post graduation employment or career success.  Today’s students will need to take charge of their own career development in order to ensure a sense of ‘employment security’ for themselves.

Consider Career Interests Relative to College Loan Debt

According to the College Board, the average debt for a Bachelor’s degree was $23,200 in 2007-2008.  an individual student’s loan debt can vary significantly from this figure but the bottom line is that many students are feeling pressured to pursue academic and career choices that will allow them to pay off their loans…even if these choices don’t particularly interest or excite them.  So, how about your student?  Will college loan debt drive your student’s college major and career decisions?  If so, it’s as if your student is working for the financial institution.  Help your student to identify their top career interests and to explore creative options for pursuing career preferences while owning one’s financial reality.  Do all that you can to help your student avoid limiting future options by taking on too much debt.

Explore Career Preferences Prior to Choosing a College Major

Many students choose a college major first and then determine their career choice based on their chosen major.  This is a no brainer when a major is directly linked to a career field (nursing, education, engineering, etc.) but this approach has its limits.  First, it doesn’t work so well with majors that cover broad interest areas like English or Business Administration.  Second, many students end up pursuing career interests totally unrelated to their majors.  While it can be helpful for students to consider academic subjects that interest them when choosing a college major/career, it’s also valuable to explore your career interests  Once key career interest themes are identified, research to see if these interests have specific college major requirements.  Chances are that there’s quite a bit of flexibility with academic choices relative to career pursuits.

Copyright, Susan B. Posluszny, OPTIONS for Career & Life Planning LLC

If you would like to contact Susan or find out more information about the services she provides, you can contact her at:

Her websites: www.careeroptions4me.com and www.collegesandmajors.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanposluszny

Email:  susan@careeroptions4me.com