Things Looking Up For Class Of 2012

More positive news about the job market – employers are hiring more recent graduates and offering higher salaries this year than in past years. Employers expect to higher 10% more graduates this year than from the Class of 2011. The median salary offer is estimated to be $42,569, an increase of 4.5% from last year.

The majors in highest demand are, in order, engineering, business, accounting, computer science, and economics. These majors are also the highest paid this year; with each being offered annual salaries that average in excess of $40,000. Engineering majors are being offered the highest salaries; $58,581 on average. Other fields are seeing better outcomes as well; the average salary offers in education and communications increased by 4-4.5%.

Surveyed Job Offers For Recent Graduates (NACE)

This report really shows that the job market is improving. With high sustained unemployment, companies have often been able to hire experienced workers for similar pay as recent graduates. The increase in hiring of recent graduates shows the pool of unemployed workers is shrinking, or at least workers with the skills these employers are seeking. As the picture improves for graduates this year, those of us who will still be in school can expect an even better market in the next few years.

Landon J. Latham

Career Educator

How Much Should You Be Paid?

Knowing how much you should paid is a sensitive topic. Salary should be based on a variety of factors. For most graduating college students, the two main factors in determining starting salary should be job title and location. Fortunately, resources are available to help you determine salary based on these factors.

Salary Calculator – Use city search to determine specific salary estimates. Here are a couple of examples:

Teacher – Statesboro, GA: $36,017

Teacher – New York, NY: $74,463

Registered Nurse – Statesboro, GA: $58,692

Registered Nurse – New York, NY: $84,538

Beyond knowing how much you should be paid, understanding cost of living can help you decide what jobs you will apply for and even where you apply. This cost of living calculator can provide insight into what salary is required to maintain an equal standard of living in different places.

For example, if you’re a teacher in Statesboro making $36,017, the salary required to maintain an equal standard of living in New York City would be $86,490. Considering the average teacher salary in New York is $74,463, your standard of living will most likely be higher in Statesboro than in New York. If you’re unsure of where you want to work, analyzing differences in average salaries and the cost of living can help you decide.

Landon J. Latham

Career Educator

How to Beat Entry-level Boredom

CareerRookie Magazine is a publication that is primarily aimed at students. I really enjoy exploring and reading the magazine because it provides information about various topics in the career arena. As I was recently reading the magazine, I ran across an article that explains ways to combat the boredom that may occur when working on an entry-level job. Most college students will enter the workforce via an entry-level job or internship that requires low levels of responsibility and may certainly come across as boring work. The article mentions that “one of the most common complaints we hear from young professionals is that they are bored out of their minds”. Considering that most entry-level positions are composed of lowly tasks, I could certainly see how this statement could be true.  The article also discusses that much of the “entry-level boredom” could be a result of students being so enthused about finally pursuing a career and graduating from college that when they touch down at their entry-level desk, in an entry-level setting, with typical entry-level pay, they are more than slightly disappointed. A typical complaint stated in the article heard from young professionals is, “I expect work to be fairly boring, it’s work. But it really chafes my bum to think about all the things I could be doing instead of sitting here, praying that something will need to be typed”.  As unfortunate as this statement may sound, many entry-level employees are feeling acrimony. Here are some tips for battling boredom:

1.       Write down a list of things that you would like to get done before you leave work and put it in a place that you would see it, such as on your computer monitor.

2.       Be honest with your supervisor and ask for more work.

3.       Set up a meeting with a co-worker or supervisor about a project that the organization is working on and express your interest. Let them know that you are interested in becoming more involved.

SShayla Frinks

Career Educator

Funny Resume Mishaps

I was recently referred to a website, Funny Resume Mistakes which outlined a few very funny resume mishaps. The following examples are unprofessionally structured and should be avoided at all costs.

1.   Experience: “Demonstrated ability in multi-tasting.”
2. Job Duties: “Answer phones, file papers, respond to customer e-mails, take odors
3. Objective: “I would like to work for a company that is very lax when it comes to tardiness.”
4.   .   Skills: “I can type without looking at thekeyboard.”
5. Experience: “Chapter president, 1887-1992.”
6. Skills: “I have integrity so I will not steal office supplies and take them home.”
7. Languages: “Speak English and Spinach.
8. Skills: “Written communication = 3 years; verbal communication = 5 years.”
9. Application: “Q: In what local areas do you prefer to work? A: Smoking.
10. Application: Why should an employer hire you? “I bring doughnuts on Friday.
11. Awards: “National record for eating 45 eggs in two minutes.
12. Interests: “Gossiping.” 

It imperative that you thoroughly revise your resume before submitting it to employers. Spelling errors can be easily avoided and is never acceptable. The same is true for grammatical and content errors. A good way to minimize likelihood of error is to have friends, family and colleagues revise your resume for you prior to submission.

Employment Trends in the Future – Job Decline

Employment Trends in the Future – Job Decline

Just as we add jobs in some industries, we lose jobs in others. What jobs will suffer from the most decline over the next ten years or so? These tables show the fastest and largest declining jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Two reasons explain why these jobs are declining the fastest – automation and outsourcing. Half of these positions are in textile industries; a product that has become very cheap to produce due to advancing technology. Outsourcing has also hit this industry hard. Postal service positions are shrinking in large part due to the prevalence of email and other forms of electronic communication. Total mail volume shrunk by 3 billion pieces from 2010-2011. These positions have no required higher education and with the exception of postal workers, aren’t very high paying.

Many of these positions are on the fastest declining list as well. Those that aren’t are similar; these positions are almost becoming obsolete because of technology. Agricultural workers are being displaced because of advancing farm technology and the rise of corporate farms, and are likely being underreported because many farm workers are paid under the table. Data Keyers and Typists are being displaced by improved software. These positions require little education as well.

A final note. Even though many workers will be displaced from their jobs, in the long run, most will move into work in other industries and the unemployment rate will not be higher than average for an extended period. The market has a way of ironing out issues such as these. Still, the effect of losing a job is serious.

Landon J. Latham

Career Educator

Humor Can Be Useful at Work!

It used to be said that humor was dangerous in the office. Is that really true though? Sure, jokes may become awkward or offensive very easily, but when executed correctly, it can be a good think.

According to the article Are Funny People Better Employees?  by Jenna Goudreau, “Steve Cody, 57, is co-founder and managing partner of Peppercom, a mid-size communications agency based in New York. He’s also an amateur stand-up comedian, performing frequently at the New York Comedy Club.” 

He decided to launch a 90 minute comedy workshop for his employees to attend every two months.

“Cody says it infuses them with confidence, bonds them with coworkers, teaches the nuances of reading an audience and environment, and livens up their presentations (Goudreau, 2012).”

With this being said, being funny can be a great thing at work, only as long as you don’t cross the line.

• Laughing increases dopamine, which in turn heightens creativity, productivity and engagement
• Humor can alleviate tension in the workplace
• Humor can create more personal relationships between co-workers

On the other hand, it is important to filter your jokes and comments at work. 

Don’t: 

•  Make inappropriate jokes. Anything dealing with sex, money or race is crossing the line.
•  Never use profanity in the work place
•  Disrespect your co-workers or supervisors
• Let any jokes exceed a PG rating

Jobs to Disappear in 2012

With all of the emerging technology entering the workplace these days, it is no surprise that some occupations that were once on the rise are now suffering from the technology surge. A CBS News article by Louise Tutelian published at the end of the year 2011, emphasizes 10 specific jobs that may begin to disappear in the coming months of 2012. The 10 jobs were pinpointed because it may come as a surprise that some of the positions will begin to wane this year.  Some of the jobs the article mentions may not exactly disappear per se, but the outlook for them is so melancholic that finding a job will be next to impossible. The top 5 jobs that the article mentions will disappear are:

·         Judge – The author of the article feels that judges and magistrate jobs will begin to diminish due largely to budget cuts. Additionally, since judges serve long tenures, there will be low chance of promotions for lower level positions to judges in the legal system.

·         Fashion designer – The amount of fashion designers may decrease because there are already enough designers in the world for the industry to function. The world just does not feel the need for multiple Donna Karan’s and anymore Donatella Versace’s.

·         Insurance underwriter – The insurance industry is not quite doing as well as it used to be and insurance underwriters are suffering. New software is another reason as to why the careers of insurance underwriters are being overlooked.

·         Travel agent – For travel agents, job outlooks are not so bright. Websites such as Travelocity.com and Expedia.com have decreased the need for travel agents. Consumers are doing their own travel planning and “the number of traditional travel agencies has been sliced in half.”

·         Newspaper reporter – The Internet is causing print industry jobs to lessen at an alarming rate. “According to the BLS, a whopping 4,400 jobs will disappear by 2018.”

Unfortunately, these findings can certainly discourage college students from pursuing their dreams. For instance, I have come across many students that long to become a fashion designer one day, however with such a dim job outlook, this type of aspiration may never become a reality. Although these results are somewhat disappointing, college students, this is what it is going to be like in the “real world”. My advice is to be knowledgeable and prepared when it comes to your respective industry and career ambitions.

Shayla Frinks

Career Educator