Suit up for the career fair.
Last week, Oklahoma State University was teeming with students looking to make an impression on the companies at the career fairs. Suited up in their best attire, these students strove to secure an internship or job with a company of their choice.How do I choose a career?
Choosing a major is no easy task; it is the foundation of your future career. It is normal for students to come to college with a major in mind, and then switch their area of study. Some come to college with no idea what they want to do. It's essential that you pick a career that incorporates your interests and strengths so that you have fun doing your job.
One of the best resources for students in helping to choose a potential career is the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics under the Department of Labor annually in paper through 2011, it is now kept current online. The OSU Library's copies are on the 5th floor.
The Handbook is organized by occupation groups such as Architecture and Engineering, so students can explore different jobs this way. You can select occupations by median pay, number of jobs projected or growth rate, and education requirements and on the on-the-job training. Careers can be browsed by Highest Paying, Fastest Growing, and Most New Jobs. For example, the highest paying career is an anesthesiologist, with a pay equal to or greater than $208,000 per year. The fastest growing job are solar photovoltaic installers, with a growth rate of 105%. Lastly, personal care aides have the most number of new jobs, reaching 777,600. These browsing techniques allow an individual to narrow their search and explore viable career options. There is also an A-Z index and a keyword search on the site.
The Handbook lists the significant points of the career; the nature of the work; training, qualifications, certification, and advancement; job outlook, employment change, and job prospects; earnings; related occupations; and other sources of additional information. This in-depth research allows one to determine the career that best fits their needs and interests.
USA.gov is another government source that provides information about different career fields. Explore job options of Animal Care and Science and watch videos about being an animal keeper, marine biologist, wildlife biologist, dog trainer, veterinarian, and zoo keeper. The website also provides reports about jobs related to architecture and engineering; art and design; business and financial; computer and information technology; entertainment and sports; farming, fishing and forestry; government; life, physical and social science; and healthcare. Each one of these career fields has a list of jobs that relate to that area of study. The jobs are linked to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also maintains data regarding employment projections; inflation and prices; unemployment; pay and benefits; and other economic releases.
Many companies set up booths in Gallager Iba Arena last week to showcase their businesses. These companies partner with the campus to connect students with potential employers. The CEAT (College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology) took place on September 18th. The CEAT career fair is the largest career fair to take place at OSU, and it is primarily geared toward helping students in engineering and technology fields find internships and/or full time jobs. On September 19th, students in the Spears School of Business took over the stadium as they mingled with various companies about job positions. Lastly, on September 20th, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) career fair took place for students studying food science, agronomy, turfgrass maangement, horticulture, environmental sciences, animal science, rangeland cology, etc. Overall, the career fairs are a way for students to show off their knowledge and hard work to gain professional expertise in their area of study.
More resources
Looking for a job that best fits you is overwhelming, so take some time and self-reflect on your interests and passions, personality type, goals, skills, achievements, and purpose. If you can identify what makes you get out of bed each morning, your career search will be much easier. Hire OSU Grads administers consulting sessions with a career consultant. These individuals will help guide you on a path that fits your needs. In addition, the Hire OSU Grads website provides career assessments to help you determine your major.
The OSU Career Services has many resources to enable students to feel confident when applying for a job. This week, there will be mock interviews where you can fine tune your communication skills in a professional setting. This will allow students to feel more comfortable in the interview process as they become more exposed to the questions asked and the environment in which they are conducted. The Career Services also takes free, professional head shots that students can use when searching for a job. They also provide help with editing your resume, cover letter, and business cards. Furthermore, the OSU Career Services holds business etiquette dinners to demonstrate the social gatherings used during interviews or business meetings. With these resources, you are bound to excel in the professional world. Take advantage of all that the Career Services has to offer so that you can be confident in all your endeavors.
~Emily Hancz
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