What are the Best Majors for Future Employment?

Of course no one can predict the future accurately! However, HBCU college students planning for the future, should be aware of employment trends.

A global Human Resources consulting firm, Challenger, Gray and Christmas, well known for their knowledge and research of future employment trends recently conducted a survey of HR Managers.

They asked HR Managers what they would tell today's college freshman, about which college majors to choose. The answer that came back from the survey, was overwhelming - Pick a major in one of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) disciplines.

The HR executives said they would advise college freshmen to study for the engineering, computer science, or healthcare fields to avoid being unemployed after graduation.

“This recession may have many freshmen second-guessing career plans. Certainly those who were contemplating a future in financial services or home building may be looking for new options,” said CEO John Challenger. “It is impossible to predict what the job market will look like in four years. Young people entering college this fall could graduate into a job market that is still recovering from recession.”

Does this mean that HBCU college freshman or any other HBCU student for that matter, should immediately see their advisers and change their college major? No.

We all know that many factors influence career and college major choices. Not just what industry says.

It is important, however, that HBCU students understand employment trends, and learn about what employers say they want. Having worked with thousands of college students, including HBCU students - I can tell you that - regardless of college major, graduates can build a successful career in a field they love. They key is to plan early, expand industry and career awareness and stay on top of employment trends.

So whether you are a Liberal Arts, Pre-Law or a Biology major, there are roles for you in emerging industries if you develop skills that are flexible and transferable between industries and stay focused on your longer term career goals.

(Source - CW, 31 August, 2009 - Reprinted from IEEE Computer Society Magazine)

What Employers are Saying about New Grads

A recent article for Fortune Magazine revealed what 500 executives think about the new college grads who are joining the workforce.  Frankly, they are unimpressed.  Overall most of the executives surveyed said that new graduates are less than prepared for the workforce. The survey was conducted by Global Strategy Group.
Some of what the executives have to say:


- 65% say new college grads applying for jobs with their company are only "somewhat" prepared for success in business
- 40% say new college grads are “not prepared at all.”
- 47%  believe that only 21% of new grads have the skills they'll need to advance past entry-level jobs

What are the job skills they believe new grads need to advance past entry-level jobs?

- 49% said problem-solving skills
- 43% said collaboration skill
- 36% identified critical thinking skills 
- 31% identified the ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in writing

Do you have these skills and if you don't what are you doing to develop them?

Read the complete article here - Executives to New Grads: Shape Up!

Why African American Students Should Study Abroad?

The following reasons why African American students should study abroad are taken from an article written for TransitionsAbroad.com by Starlett Craig.

1. Expand employment opportunities. Many top employers seek grads who can think critically with a global perspective.

2. Increase understanding of the world. In Understanding Diversity, Channing Betes wrote: “For centuries, American education, business and government have reflected the culture of the vast majority...By the year 2000, however, we will see big changes: Out of every 100 children in American classrooms, 33 will be children of color.”

3. Broaden experiences and meet people from different cultures and backgrounds.

4. Increase income potential. Study abroad could be a new benefit to sell to employers in a competitive market.

5. Explore new interests. Find out more about what is important to you.

6. Learn more specific career related skills such as a second language or cultural interpersonal relationships.

7. Get insider's perspective on social and political structures in the host country.

Read the complete article titled Top 10 Reasons for African American Students to Go Abroad written by Starlett. R. Craig, Director of Pre-College Enrichment Programs at Clemson University and National Chair of Black and Multicultural Professionals in International Education.

3 out of 4 Employers Will Look at GPA

GPA's have always been important numbers to college students. It is how the academic community measure success and gives honors at graduation. The GPA number is how financial aid offices measure satisfactory progress for eligibility and your GPA will even impact whether the NCAA will let you play or not.

One other important group of GPA observers? Employers and Recruiters.

Of course, as some of us expected, the GPA has become even more important way to be competitive in the current recession. So important that for the first time last year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (http://www.naceweb.org) reported that 3 out of 4 employers would be using GPA's to help differentiate job applicants.

If you are looking for jobs and internships, keep in mind that you are more than your GPA.

In How College Students can Explain a Low GPA I listed the following reasons why some students might have a lower GPA.  Knowing how to talk about a lower GPA is extremely important if you:

- changed college majors
- had a gap in education and came back to school
- are finishing college in 3 ½ years
- work full time and during breaks
- have great professional experience through part-time jobs or internships
- have a double college major

Good resume writng and good job interview skills can help you show an employer that you ar more than your GPA. Visit your college career center to get one-on-one help on how to talk about your GPA