Careers on the rise and how you can get there
Trish Orrico
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Features
Dr. Phil Gardner knows which careers college students might want to pay attention to. As director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute (C.E.R.I.) at Michigan State University, Gardner leads research efforts to uncover the current and upcoming trends of post-graduate employment. After a visit to St. Norbert to present his research and provide Career Services a copy of his latest Recruiting Trends survey, Dr. Gardner was able to catch his breath with an interview for the St. Norbert Times.
What exactly is the Recruiting Trends Summary published by Gardner? As an annual study, the research takes a snapshot of numerous employers nationwide. Important factors for hiring college graduates are presented, such as the real deal on what graduate school does for your career potential and the career trends based on your location in the country.
Gardner teaches his audiences and students that getting a Master's or PhD is not always as glamorous as it seems, and will not solve the problem of your job search. Not only is further schooling costly, but it requires genuine motivation to continue your education for yourself, and not solely for your future bank account. Instead of rushing to gear up for grad school, Dr. Gardner suggests getting work-related experience before deciding to enroll. Because these graduate school programs need to be filled and there is a high level of competition for these programs, the internship or salary job you acquire beforehand will give you an edge.
Another factor students may consider: will I be able to find my dream job in my preferred city or town? Gardner reports that if you're looking to stay in the Midwest, you're in luck; the Midwest is expected to withstand the supposed economic recession. Madison, Wisconsin is in the top eight cities for fast growth companies, and Minneapolis, Minnesota is another fast paced area due to the large social network within the state. Chicago, Illinois, as expected, is constantly expanding and transforming more than ever with its countless variety of businesses and opportunities. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are therefore considered the best states to seek employment after graduation, according to Gardner.
The states that Gardner claims are not as fortunate are Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The reasoning for this is the strong reliance on the automobile industry and the current and future unemployment caused by these companies. However, this is according to research in comparison to the results from the national sample; this doesn't mean you need to give up hope on these three states yet. Other parts of the country are expected to experience a slow down in growth of businesses, such as the West coast market.
The most important lesson Dr. Gardner teaches is to decide on and take control of your own career. Your acquired skill sets can be applied to different areas of the job market, and what you consider the "perfect job" may shock you when you actually get there. We live in a rapidly changing environment, so if your desired career isn't considered to be on the rise, stick with it anyway and put all you have into it. You may be influential in making it boom.
What exactly is the Recruiting Trends Summary published by Gardner? As an annual study, the research takes a snapshot of numerous employers nationwide. Important factors for hiring college graduates are presented, such as the real deal on what graduate school does for your career potential and the career trends based on your location in the country.
Gardner teaches his audiences and students that getting a Master's or PhD is not always as glamorous as it seems, and will not solve the problem of your job search. Not only is further schooling costly, but it requires genuine motivation to continue your education for yourself, and not solely for your future bank account. Instead of rushing to gear up for grad school, Dr. Gardner suggests getting work-related experience before deciding to enroll. Because these graduate school programs need to be filled and there is a high level of competition for these programs, the internship or salary job you acquire beforehand will give you an edge.
Another factor students may consider: will I be able to find my dream job in my preferred city or town? Gardner reports that if you're looking to stay in the Midwest, you're in luck; the Midwest is expected to withstand the supposed economic recession. Madison, Wisconsin is in the top eight cities for fast growth companies, and Minneapolis, Minnesota is another fast paced area due to the large social network within the state. Chicago, Illinois, as expected, is constantly expanding and transforming more than ever with its countless variety of businesses and opportunities. Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are therefore considered the best states to seek employment after graduation, according to Gardner.
The states that Gardner claims are not as fortunate are Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The reasoning for this is the strong reliance on the automobile industry and the current and future unemployment caused by these companies. However, this is according to research in comparison to the results from the national sample; this doesn't mean you need to give up hope on these three states yet. Other parts of the country are expected to experience a slow down in growth of businesses, such as the West coast market.
The most important lesson Dr. Gardner teaches is to decide on and take control of your own career. Your acquired skill sets can be applied to different areas of the job market, and what you consider the "perfect job" may shock you when you actually get there. We live in a rapidly changing environment, so if your desired career isn't considered to be on the rise, stick with it anyway and put all you have into it. You may be influential in making it boom.
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