By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Other than personal enrichment, most people attend college to prepare for a future career. The top-hiring jobs as reflected by the September 2021 Occupational Outlook by the Bureau of Labor Statistics reflects many hands-on jobs that likely had been left vacant or have increased in number because of COVID-19 affected fluctuations in the market (Table 1).
The Department of Labor’s Fastest Growing Occupations between 2020 and 2030 offers a more long-sighted list, which is likely less affected by COVID-19 influences (Table 2).
The trends of both lists imply the growth in technology-based careers (software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers), alternative energy (wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers), and healthcare/aging needs (home health and personal care aides, registered nurses and exercise trainers and group fitness instructors).
Dept. of Labor
While your career may not directly align with any of these trends, you could add a minor or additional training that would allow you to segue into a career that is growing rapidly. Or you could continue in your educational path but seek experience that could help you find employment in that area. If you are studying accounting, you could intern at a healthcare or technology company, for example. You could also try to find summer work in a top industry, even if it is not in your desired type of career, to demonstrate your interest in that industry. The experience in those industries could help you find work in that industry in your chosen career more readily.
Of course, changing your major can help you find work in a “hot” career; however, the further along in your schooling that you are, the more challenging it can be to switch, as fewer credits will apply to the new major. If you change early on, it is likely that many of your classes are general education core credits and could count towards most other majors.
If you feel unsure about how to transfer your education to a future career, talk with your school’s guidance counselor about what you can do to improve your ability to get hired.
Featured image: Table 1: Sept. 2021 Occupational Outlook; Bureau of Labor Statistics
