Is it a good idea to change careers in this economy?

A reader writes:

"I'm a 33 year old man who works part time as a nurse assistant, at this point I am not happy with what I am doing. By working at the hospital one thing I know is I don't want to pursue a career in nursing. So I thought about things and looking into schools and decided to get a degree in computer science online, which some of my credits from a previous college should transfer over. My question is this the right direction for me at this age and is this a good career choice at this economic crisis?"

I can't really tell you if this is the right direction for you or not--no one can, really--but there are a few things to keep in mind when contemplating a big change like this:

Will you be happy? Think about what makes you happy and what you're good at, career-wise. Do you enjoy solving puzzle, hands on work, and working with technology? These might be good cues as to whether computer science is a good match for you or not.

What would make you miserable? On the hand, thinking about the things that make you dislike nursing can be helpful in pinpointing careers you should avoid. For example, if you hate dealing with patients as a nurse assistant, computer science jobs that require interacting with customers might not be a good fit for you, but a position that didn't require customer interaction might work for you. 

Do your research. Look at the requirements for the types of jobs that you want after completing a computer science program and use that as a gauge to help you figure out if this is a good choice for you. Doing so will also give you a sense of what jobs are available in your area. 

Get experience. When you are thinkiing about changing careers, getting experience related to the new career can be enormously valuable in helping you make good decisions. You can get related experience by volunteering or finding a new job that doesn't require a degree. 

Where you are now? When contemplating such a big change, it is easy to think about where you want to be, but it is very important to think about your current circumstances. Can you truly afford to go back to school and possibly take on my student debt? Can your afford to give up your current income? What obligations do you have that will not be changed by your choice? And what about the obligations that will be changed? You need to get really clear on what makes the most sense for you given where you are now.

Again, no one can really tell you if this is the right choice for you or not. But, by keeping the above in mind you can make a more educated decision about your next step in life. Good luck!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Should I choose a marketable major over an interesting one?

A reader writes:

"Currently I am pursuing a BS in Business Studies with a focus in Computer Information Technology. I chose this focus (IT) because I feel like it is necessary knowledge. However, I am only moderately (at best) interested in the IT world. I am trying to decide if I want to change my focus to Small Business Management or International Management (both of which I am very interested in) or keep the IT focus being that it seems this is more necessary (or seems this way to me). Am I wrong in thinking that the IT focus is necessary and would make me more competitive? Would a small business or international business focus be a good choice of a major?

Additional info: If there is such a thing as a dream job mine  would be owning a microbusiness (makes me want the Small Bus. Management) that interfaces with customers via the internet (Makes me want the IT focus). Also I speak Spanish and would be very interested in expanding business into Latin America, potentially (makes me interested in the International Business)"

Choosing a major is not always easy, especially when it comes picking a specialization area within your major. I usually encourage students to consider both their interests, professional goals, and what they dislike to help clarify what direction to go in. In your case, both your interests and professional goals are pushing you away from the IT focus. Pay attention to that.

Also, choosing a major or specialization based on what you think will be more marketable rather than what matches your interests, professional goals, and ultimately make you happiest can be a dangerous thing. Think of it this way: If you are unhappy in your classes and start to do poorly, would it have been worth it because you thought it was more marketable?

However, one important thing to keep in mind when it comes to business is that your experience is typically more important than your focus area in college. So you may be better served by seeking out leadership positions, volunteer opportunities, or internships in international, small, and IT business. Not only will this experience help you clarify which focus is the best fit for you, it will help you be more qualified for positions after graduation 

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

What goes on resumes for parents re-entering the workforce?

A reader writes:

"I'm a first generation and low income recent college graduate. Right after high school, I got married and had children. After my second child, I decided to go back to school and get my degree. Being a full-time college student and a mother of 3 (I had another child while working on my degree), I didn't have a normal college experience. I was also only in 1 club, and didn't participate in very many activities throughout college. To be a mother and a college student, I had to have excellent time management skills, budgeting ability, and organizational skills, but I know that many employers will just look at the fact that I wasn't very involved in college. While I would have liked to have been more involved, I had to think of my family. I did make sure to always go to class and have excellent references from some of my professors because of my dedication to my education. How can I explain this to potential employers on my resume?"

First off, congrats on completing your degree while raising 3 kids! A lot of first generation and low income college students are also student-parents and it is no easy task. It truly does take "excellent time management skills, budgeting ability, and organizational skills;" however, your resume is not the place to showcase this parent-specific skill set.


So then what should go on your resume to fill the gap? Start with your academic experiences. Did you take any important classes, do any exciting projects, or conduct research? This classroom-based experience is totally fair game for your resume, as long as its relevant to the jobs you are applying for, so list classes and academic experience on your resume.


You mentioned that you were part of one club in college. If the activities of the club are related to your career goals, especially if you held a leadership position, definitely list it as well.


Also, think about any volunteer activities or major events you may have done for your kids. Maybe you were the treasurer for your daughter's soccer team or helped coordinate a neighborhood block party. Using these types of experiences allows you to make the connection between "excellent time management skills, budgeting ability, and organizational skills" and what an employer is looking for. You are much better off tying your skills gained as a parent to concrete activities outside of the home.


Check out Jobfully's blog on Resume Make-over: Returning to the Workforce, which I think has some good information about working on your resume when you are going back to work after raising a family.


Good luck!


Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Go to a job or internship fair

There are some things you should definitely experience in college, like going to a retreat or conference. I also think a valuable experience for many first generation and low income college students is attending a job or internship fair, too.

Job and internship fairs are your chance to network with potential employers and other students interested in similar careers or activities. Many job and internship fairs will also be tailored to a specific industry or area, like science/engineering or non-profit organizations.

Photo credit: http://matcmatters.matcmadison.edu

You can find job and internship fairs hosted by your school or within your local community. Your campus career center should be able to point you in the right direction.

Not sure how to best present yourself at a job or internship fair? Check out our friend Alison Green over at Ask a Manager and US News for great advice about standing out at a job fair.

Good skill at your next job or internship fair. (And yes, I said "Good skill." Why? Because you need skill and not just luck to make a job or internship fair a success.)

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

Get leadership experience and skills

College is awesome, but your academic experience isn't the only experience you should be concerned with getting. I highly recommend that you have at least three career-related experiences by the time you graduate from college, such as internships and least one solid leadership experience.

Really, you should be actively trying to develop your leadership skills. Leadership experience and skills will help you long after graduation, in your career, in graduate or professional school, and in life in general. But where can you get leadership experience and skills? Here are a few ideas for sources of leadership experience and skills building:

Know thyself. To understand what leadership skills you need to build, it's always a good idea to know where you're starting from. You can learn about your current skill set by taking a skills assessment at your school's career center. 

Get involved on-campus. If you're involved in any student organizations, campus groups, or on-campus jobs, these are all great places to take on a leadership role and boost your skills.

Take it off-campus. Internships, jobs, or volunteer experiences are all opportunities to gain leadership skills. Step up to take on a special project or lead a team whenever possible.

Learn from others. A great way to gain leadership skills is to get mentored by a leader you respect and absorb as much as you can. Having a leadership role model will help inspire you to gain more experience and build your skills further.

Showcase it. As you are gaining leadership experience and skills, you want to visit the career center to help best showcase your experience and skills on your resume.

Now go out there are get some leadership experience and build those skills.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.

4 keys to working in college

As a first generation or low income college student, there is a good chance that you will work while you are in school. I worked two part-time jobs for most of college and full-time every summer but one. From my own experience working while in college and as an advisor, I offer the following 4 tips for being a successful student-employee:

Do your research. Take a look at your finances to see how much you actually have to work. I've had a lot of students assume that they have to work more than they need to. Trust me, there is a big difference between having to work 12 hours a week and working 30 hours a week when you don't have to. Double check with financial aid that you are using all of the free money you qualify for.

Work on campus. When looking for a job, on-campus employers tend to be more flexible than off-campus employers because they are very in tune with the demands of student life and changes in a student's schedule each semester. You also have the advantage of being on-campus, so you can better balance your work schedule with your class schedule. If you do get an off-campus job, make sure you are very clear with your supervisor about your schedule and priorities. 

Don't spread yourself too thin. If possible, try not to work any more than 20 hours per week. This 20 hour limit is considered a good balance for working students. If you have to work more than 20 hours, consider taking a reduced courseload.

Think down the road. Try to get a job related to your goals after college. For example, if you want to work in business, apply for office jobs and positions with the business department. I knew I wanted to work with college students, so I applied for jobs as a peer counselor. When your college job is related to your after-college plans, it pays your bills while being a stepping stone to your future. Score!

These 4 tips will help you maintain a balance between school life and work life, which is another key to your success as a first generation or low income college student!

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.