Mark Braboy
News Editor
This year’s job outlook shows that 2014 is a bright year for science, technology, engineering, and math students. This good news comes just in time for graduation as many students anxiously look for their first jobs in their career fields.
The April 2014 National Association of Colleges and Employers Salary Survey also has shown that the top hiring industries/careers are in the fields of Educational Services, Healthcare/Social Assistance and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
Charmeise Jackson, a Jackson State University senior English major from Wadsworth, Ill., will graduate on May 3rd, and is not as confident of landing a job as graduates in other majors.
“No, I don’t think I’m confident about my job prospects, I’m still looking,” she said. “I got one call but it’s for internships. I’m not trying to stress about it too much because I know I’ll find something.”
Some Mississippi students plan to move out of state in search of more immediate opportunities.
Labreia Thurman, senior political science major from Greenwood, Miss., said: “It really depends on where I decide to live because there are more opportunities in bigger cities than if I stay here in Mississippi. I plan on moving to Baltimore because I think I have better opportunities there for school and work. The job market here is really, really small.”
According to CareerCast.com, 10 of the best jobs in 2014 are: mathematicians, tenured university professors, statisticians, actuaries, audiologists, dental hygienists, software engineers, computer systems analysts, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists. Salaries for these professionals ranged from approximately $70,000 to 100,000.
Based on salary, negative hiring outlook, low median salary, and high stress environment, the top 10 worst jobs for 2014, include lumberjack, newspaper reporter, enlisted military personnel, taxi driver, broadcaster, head cook, flight attendant, garbage collector, firefighter, and corrections officer. Salaries for these positions range from $23,000 to $55,000.
For graduates crossing the stage in a few days who do not already have employment or graduate school lined up, it might be a little late to start the job hunt.
Lashanda Jordan, Director of the JSU Career Services and Student Employment Center, advised students to start looking for internships and jobs at least eight to ten months before graduation and summer internships at least six to eight months before the summer.
“Students should strive very hard to get some type of related experience in the form of internship or co-op prior to graduation. It has become vital to the students to have this experience to make themselves more marketable to a prospective employer,” said Jordan.
She added: “Companies want students to have great communication and interpersonal skills along with critical thinking skills the ability to be creative and to be able to work collaborative. Students can prepare by taking advantage of the academic opportunities in college to learn and practice these skills and be involved in organizations that allow them to hone their skills.”
Throughout the year, Jordan and her staff try to inform students that the Career Services Center offers students a wide range services such as Career Coaching, to assist students in developing realistic and innovative career goals; Job Search Preparation, to provide assistance with resume and cover letter writing, and the interview process. The center provides on-line career services that include Tigers2Work, TypeFocus, and Perfect Interview.
Some students also take advantage of on-campus recruitment where numerous employers annually conduct interviews for internship, and full-time career opportunities, internship opportunities, and annual special events such as career fairs, graduate and professional schools day, and teacher recruitment day.
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