4 Degrees That Guarantee a Job Offer
If you're graduating this year, you may be biting your nails about what will happen in terms of finding a job. Everywhere you turn, people are saying they're just not hiring. What's a new grad to do?
Fortunately, the economy is getting better, and we're seeing movement in the job market, specifically in a few industries. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' Job Outlook 2013 study, employers plan to hire about 13 percent more new grads than they did last year.
And they're looking for graduates in specific industries:
--chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturing
--retail trade
--computer and electronics manufacturing
--insurance
--real estate
--finance
--management consulting
--professional services
If you haven't yet decided what job you want, you could consider the above-mentioned industries as potential career opportunities.
Hot Degrees This Year
If you happen to be finishing up a degree in one of these areas listed below you may have an easier time finding a job. Employers are valuing these degrees and the information you learn with them more post-recession.
Computer/Information Sciences. We're not likely to see a slowdown in demand for high-tech skills, thanks to the burgeoning business Silicon Valley and other tech areas of the country are doing. If you've been trained in programming, coding, or other highly technical skills, you may find many companies waiting to snap you up.
Business Administration/Management. Business degrees have long been considered among the most utilitarian, simply because they can be applied to so many jobs. If you're wrapping up your Bachelor of Science in business or management, or if you're completing an MBA program, you've been exposed to numerous areas of business, including marketing, finance, statistics, and economics. You're an employer's dream come true. Just be aware that business degrees are now extremely popular, so you'll have serious competition for any job for which you apply. Interning may give you a leg up.
Accounting/Finance. Another solid degree choice is accounting or finance. Both appeal to companies that need number crunchers, and given that the Baby Boomers are now knocking on doors for advice on retirement, estate planning, and investments, working as a financial adviser may be a lucrative role for you, and one that's currently greatly in demand. Accounting, too, is a stable industry, and one that every company has need for.
You may have to start at the bottom if you work in finance, but the income potential is great if you stick with it and have a knack for numbers and planning.
Marketing. Now that the recession has let up a bit, companies are putting more dollars into marketing their products, which means there are more jobs in this field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the marketing industry is slated to grow significantly this decade.
Like any job just out of college, you'll work your way from the bottom in sales or advertising positions. But if you have social media marketing and excellent writing skills, this could give you a leg up.
If your degree or area of interest isn't on this list, don't despair. Most industries are improving, though some are slower to start hiring again than others. Explore the type of job you want in other industries that may be ready to hire you, and look at other roles you're qualified to take on with your degree and experience. And remember: You might not get your dream job just out of college. Focus on the skills you learn, perfect them, and use them to do what you really want in the future.
Lindsay Olson is a founding partner and public relations recruiter with Paradigm Staffing and Hoojobs.com, a niche job board for public relations, communications, and social media jobs. She blogs at LindsayOlson.com, where she discusses recruiting and job search issues.
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