Career Treking » Parents

Giving Career Advice to Generation Y

career.treking — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:15:00 +0000

A recent poll in the Wall Street Journal cited an amazing statistic: 82% of people ages 18-29 believe there is a generation gap, that “older” people don’t understand their needs and concerns. This number is even higher than in 1969 (74%). Young adults prefer to get advice of any kind from their peers and if their peers can’t answer a question, they can get it answered online. Although Generation Y is very close to their parents, they will not easily accept advice of any kind from them.

So, where does this leave concerned parents as their children graduate from college and begin their careers? The delivery of the “advice” is key.

First, make suggestions rather than directed statements. Try saying, “you may want to consider” rather than “you should consider”. Resist saying “when I was young”. It will stop the conversation quickly.
Second, ask questions and listen for the answer. ”Would you prefer to work with people, data or things?” will begin the much needed conversation and will lead to a dialogue that your child will benefit from.
Finally, understand that the job market truly has changed. You may not have any need for social media but it is critical in a job search.

5 Questions to Ask on an Informational Interview

career.treking — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:11:44 +0000

Informational interviews are a great way to learn more about a specific job, an industry or company. Here are some questions you can use when on an informational interview.

How did you get started in this business?
What made you choose XYZ company?
What do you like the most and least about this job/industry/company?
What impresses you when you are interviewing candidates for entry-level positions?
What advice can you give me as I pursue jobs in this field?

And, finally, (I know… I said 5 questions) every informational interview should END with: Do you know of anyone else I could speak with who might be looking for someone with my qualifications?

The ONLY 3 Reasons to go to Grad School

career.treking — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:58:36 +0000

September is upon us and many college graduates who have not been able to find meaningful jobs ask themselves: is this the right time to go to grad school? But, instead of asking if it’s the right time, the question is: do I have the right reason for going to grad school?

There are only three reasons for pursuing a graduate degree.

The first reason is to enter a profession. To become a doctor or a lawyer, for example, will require multiple years of dedicated education, as well as practical training, to enter the profession. Likewise, a psychologist will have to complete an extensive Ph.D. program before having significant patient contact.
The second reason is to advance a career. Although many careers can be successful with only an undergraduate degree, a graduate degree can open up new career options, and consequent salary opportunities. For example, a bachelor’s degree can help someone obtain an elementary or high school teaching position. However, to increase their salaries, many teachers pursue a graduate degree in education.
Finally, someone who chooses to change careers may well need additional education. The english teacher who wants to be a nutritionist will most likely need to take additional college courses as well as pursue a Master’s Degree. Likewise, the actuary who chooses to teach college level math would need a Ph.D.

So, instead of asking yourself IF you want to go to grad school, try asking yourself WHY you want to go to grad school.

Are You a Helicopter Parent?

katie.farrell — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:00:51 +0000

Helicopter parents are typically associated with Generation Y — over involved parents who frequently overstep their bounds and “hover” over their child. Some parents look at themselves as being “loving and caring” and not hovering. So, how do you know if you’re acting like a helicopter parent?

Are you doing things for your child they can do for themselves?
Did you fill out your child’s college application for them?
Have you ever written large sections of your child’s papers?
Do you associate your child’s academic achievements with your own?

Although you may feel like you’re just trying to help, acting like a helicopter parent can make your child feel inadequate and unable to finish these tasks on their own. Especially when they are going off to college, you should be granting them independence and opportunity to do things for themselves that they may have not had in high school.

There’s a huge difference between being an element of support for your child and being over-involved and controlling in their adult life. Realize that they need to make mistakes on their own in order to learn; they need to fail in order to succeed; they need to experience in order to grow.

This doesn’t mean you can’t be involved in any way, however. Ask your child what help they need instead of inserting yourself into their lives. Offer advice but don’t finish tasks for them. You have a lot to offer — but you want to make sure you’re not being the adult when your child already is one.

How Parents Can Aid in Career Development

katie.farrell — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:00:33 +0000

You’re about to drop your son or daughter off at college. You’re worried that they won’t be able to choose a major at school, or that they’ll waste a few years at college in the “wrong” one just to switch it and have to spend more time there. Or, maybe your child has never vocalized an interest in any profession — what do you do? Here are some tips for parents to help your child discover their path:

Emphasize involvement and volunteer work. Not only is volunteer work great for a resume, it can also help your child decide if a certain career path is right for them. There are many opportunities at college to volunteer. Student organizations are always looking for more help. Encourage your child to check out what the university has to offer and seek out a group that interests them.

Encourage your child to visit the campus career center. You don’t have to be a senior to visit the campus career center. However, the importance of this resource is not stressed enough at college. When you’re on a tour of the campus, stop by the career center so your child can get an idea of what type of help they offer. Have them check out their website, Twitter or Facebook fan page (many career centers have these social media presences now).

Stress the importance of internships. Some majors require an internship to graduate. Some don’t. Either way, your child should probably have an internship or two under their belt before they go off into the “real world.” When they come home for the summer or on break, have them look for an internship in their field. Emphasize to them that they are not only gaining valuable skills, but valuable connections as well (many internships lead to jobs!).

Let them decide. Your child will take a variety of classes — sometimes called the “university program” — which should hopefully spark their interest in some subject. Even if they haven’t decided what career they’re interested in, they know what they like and dislike. Give them time to figure it out by providing support when necessary, but don’t do too much prodding.

Help them network. If you know someone in your child’s field of interest, have them “shadow” that person for a day or two. It will help them get a feel for what the job would really be like, along with starting to build their professional network.

Encourage them to read up on their industry of choice. Reading the news is great, but now that there are so many professional blogs out there, have your child check out what the experts are saying. In some industries, practices are changing so rapidly that college textbooks don’t cover all of the job description. Most tech-savvy kids will know where to find these.

What else would you suggest?

Parents: Ways to Help Your New Grad in Their Job Search

katie.farrell — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:00:42 +0000

Once your child graduates from college, you may think your job is done. Although you don’t want to be labeled a “helicopter parent,” there are still some ways to help your new grad in their search for a job.

Tell them how proud you are of their accomplishments. Some graduates may feel like graduating with a degree is not a big deal since it’s become more common. Let them know how proud you are of their successes.

Give them a graduation present they can use in their search. College students often can’t afford to buy a new suit or portfolio in order to look their best in the interview. Buy them something they can use while searching or in their first year on the job. Some great ideas are clothing, flash drives, computer equipment or software, etc.

Suggest they talk with some of your network contacts. You probably know someone who is in a related field to your child’s degree. Give them their contact information and have them meet up with this person or job shadow them. Networking is still one of the best ways to land a job and expanding your child’s network can only help them in their search.

Lend a listening ear. Sometimes the job search is just frustrating. Your child may need to vent about their search. Just listen — it often helps them to stay on track afterward.

Ask them what they need. You may be great at editing and they could use you to give a second look at their resume or cover letter. Ask your child what they need from you or how you can help.

Suggest other ways they can get support. Campus career centers offer job search help and advice and often know of job leads. Tell your child to utilize services such as these in order to propel their job search forward.

High School Parents: How to Help Your Child Discover Their Career

katie.farrell — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:00:22 +0000

Some kids know what career they’d like to explore from an early age. Some don’t. As a parent, what do you do when your child isn’t sure, or has too many aspirations leaving them unfocused?

Here are some ways to help your child discover their passions and interests that can help them decide on a career path:

Encourage them to try different things. Have them take a variety of subjects in school to see what their strengths and weaknesses are.

Talk with them about their school’s career guidance tests. Or, if their school doesn’t offer this service, have them take a free assessment online. Discuss the results and possibilities for the future and provide real world examples of jobs that could interest them. Offer your child the opportunity to talk with someone in a related field or job shadow an acquaintance.

Encourage your child to volunteer, join an organization or a club. Not only are these activities great for building leadership skills, but they also involve a variety of tasks. Perhaps they will discover something they truly enjoy doing that could turn into a career ambition, such as working in nonprofits or organizing events.

Praise the skills they have. Sometimes the best way to realize what you’re good at is to have someone tell you. For example: if your child seems to be great with technology, ask them to teach you something you’ve been wanting to know how to do.

How did you discover your career path? Did your parents influence your decision?

Top Growing Occupations for 2010

katie.farrell — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:00:31 +0000

When deciding on a career, one important factor for many is job stability. Will you be able to find a job? Is that field going to be around in 10 or 20 years? These are questions to consider when deciding upon your career path.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the following are growing occupations for 2010. Many of the jobs are in health care and computers — two continuously growing career paths.

Computer software engineers, applications
Computer support specialists
Computer software engineers, systems software
Network and computer systems administrators
Network systems and data communications analysts
Desktop publishers
Database administrators
Personal and home care aides
Computer systems analysts
Medical assistants
Social and human service assistants
Physician assistants
Medical records and health information technicians
Computer and information systems managers
Home health aides
Physical therapist aides
Occupational therapist aides
Physical therapist assistants
Audiologists
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
Computer and information scientists, research
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
Occupational therapist assistants
Veterinary technologists and technicians
Speech-language pathologists
Mental health and substance abuse social workers
Dental assistants
Dental hygienists
Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school
Pharmacy technicians

Are the Old Rules Still in Effect?

career.treking — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:06:41 +0000

I volunteer at a jobs networking group every Monday morning. It’s a group of people of all ages who are looking for work in various industries and job functions. Each week, the members of the group update each other on their job search results and try to keep each other positive. Typically, there is a group discussion on job market trends. This week’s topic centered around the “new normal” in the job market.

We agreed that the old “rules” of job searching have changed and that successful job seekers need to adapt.

First, the notion that a recruiter/hiring employer will respond to a general inquiry or specific application is outdated. Recruiters simply do not have the time to respond. The influx of resumes and applicants has made it very difficult to respond. I suggest one follow up call and one email. If you don’t get a response, move on.
Second, the networking secret is out: we all know the most effective way to find a job is through networking. This has led to an enormous increase of networking requests of people at all levels. If you are looking for a job, network selectively. That is, ask people you know or are referred to for help (only). Keep in mind that networking is about building relationships and givers gain: the more you can help other people connect, more will come back to you.
Employers no longer hire for potential. They want to know you can hit the ground running immediately. Be prepared to demonstrate and articulate a proven track record of marketable skills for the job at hand. Simply stating that you have strong communications skills is no longer good enough. You have to be able to demonstrate when you have had to use your communication skills and what the end result was.
Finally, it’s no longer enough to use your network when you are looking for a job. The world is changing so quickly that it has now become critical that you continue to maintain your network.

Are College Grads Getting the Message about the Job Search?

career.treking — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:09:40 +0000

Today’s graduating college seniors seem to be more optimistic about their job prospects than the class of 2009 was. According to a recent survey conducted by Monster.com (www.Monster.com), the class of 2010 expects to spend less time looking for a job (9 hours each week), are less willing to take a job outside their field (49% for 2010 vs. 58% in 2009) and more expect to have a job in hand at graduation (39% vs 29% for 2009).

Hopefully, that speaks well of the job market.

But this survey also showed that more college grads are expanding their job searches to include networking and social media. More college grads are realizing that networking to find a job is critical and the % of students using networking increased by 5% this year over last. Social media has seen an increase in usage of 23% this year over last.

So, is the market changing or are we getting smarter in our job search efforts?