Posted by: John S Kiernan

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

 

Overall Rank	Job Type	Total Score	‘Immediate Opportunity’ Rank	‘Growth Potential’ Rank	‘Job Hazards’ Rank
1	Engineer I	69.67	5	25	38
2	Systems Engineer I	68.73	3	50	38
3	Safety Representative I	66.80	1	67	56
4	Web Applications Developer I	63.85	20	13	18
5	Env., Health, and Safety Engineer I	63.54	10	23	38
6	Electrical Engineer I	61.75	14	43	36
7	Safety Technician I	61.58	6	38	61
8	Software Engineer I	60.98	4	26	79
9	Training Specialist I	60.61	2	42	80
10	Architect I	60.39	16	15	57
11	Designer I - Web	59.90	40	13	16
12	Electronics Engineer I	59.88	22	39	36
13	Chemical Engineer I	59.54	28	19	38
14	Certified Nursing Assistant - Nursing Home Salaries	58.92	25	56	24
15	Aerospace Engineer I	58.07	33	29	38
16	Industrial Engineer I	57.80	27	50	38
17	Attorney I	57.76	9	1	93
18	Consumer Loan Officer I	57.60	50	28	8
19	Writer I - Web	57.09	70	11	25
20	Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant	56.71	42	46	27
21	Financial Analyst I	56.54	7	22	69
22	Network Engineer I	56.51	8	16	75
23	Secretary I	56.34	13	97	4
24	Biomedical Engineer I	56.17	68	12	38
25	Geophysicist I	55.96	39	35	51
26	Tax Attorney I	55.61	18	1	93
27	Market Research Analyst I	55.59	51	54	20
28	Benefits Analyst I	54.80	26	81	20
29	Systems Administrator I	54.42	11	33	75
30	Employee Relations Specialist I	54.37	66	53	20
31	Patent Attorney I	54.14	23	1	93
32	Programmer I	54.07	36	76	18
33	Employment Law Attorney I	54.05	24	1	93
34	Credit Analyst I	53.89	29	83	8
35	Underwriter (Life) I	52.94	41	78	8
36	Industrial Designer I	52.92	63	64	28
37	Claims Adjuster I	52.77	46	74	35
38	Systems Engineering Technician I	52.77	47	72	45
39	Chemist I	52.59	65	45	50
40	Interior Designer I	52.53	86	52	28
41	Mechanical Engineer I	52.42	12	41	92
42	Hardware Engineer I	52.13	15	27	88
43	Materials Engineer I	52.00	17	20	88
44	Budget Analyst I	51.87	21	107	8
45	Consumer Credit Analyst I	51.85	44	83	8
46	Chemical Technician I	51.39	72	65	30
47	Microbiologist I	51.31	90	30	54
48	Geologist I	51.21	91	35	51
49	Operations Research Analyst I	51.14	45	6	74
50	Landscape Architect I	50.65	79	32	57
51	Environmental Engineering Technician I	49.95	88	69	30
52	Database Administrator I	49.94	31	24	75
53	Biologist I	49.79	83	62	54
54	Computer Operator I	49.60	54	95	1
55	Industrial Engineering Technician I	49.30	87	72	45
56	Network Service Representative I	49.27	80	79	16
57	Information Security Analyst I	48.98	30	21	87
58	Technical Writer I	48.90	57	77	53
59	Accounting Clerk I	48.61	52	106	13
60	Geotechnical Engineer I	48.23	53	9	88
61	General Maintenance Worker I	48.16	62	57	63
62	New Accounts Representative I	47.95	35	108	5
63	Mechanical Engineering Technician I	47.87	84	80	30
64	Mine Engineer I	47.73	61	9	88
65	Technical Librarian I	47.72	69	88	34
66	Civil Engineer I	47.53	32	37	98
67	Environmental Engineer I	47.52	38	18	99
68	Network Planning Analyst I	47.50	49	34	75
69	Buyer I	47.26	43	44	80
70	Records Clerk	46.83	96	89	5
71	Teaching Assistant (College)	46.65	95	87	23
72	Installation & Maintenance Technician I	46.38	64	48	65
73	Telecommunications Technician I	46.25	67	31	66
74	Electrician I	45.82	104	5	66
75	Accountant I	45.47	19	90	69
76	Benefits Administrator I	45.06	37	61	97
77	Payroll Clerk	45.01	93	105	14
78	Civil Engineering Technician I	45.00	81	100	45
79	Electrical Engineering Technician I	44.91	77	104	45
80	Architectural Drafter I	44.81	94	96	30
81	Logistics Analyst I	44.47	60	58	80
82	Mechanical Drafter I	44.38	89	101	45
83	Policy Processing Clerk	43.89	100	98	1
84	Claims Processing Clerk	43.72	102	98	1
85	Electric/Electronics Technician I	43.49	85	86	59
86	Public Relations Specialist I	43.19	73	55	85
87	Consumer Loan Servicing Clerk I	43.13	101	103	5
88	Environmental Planner I	42.92	34	68	101
89	Logistics Clerk	42.85	78	58	80
90	Electronics Assembler I	42.44	103	102	26
91	Sheetmetal Mechanic I	42.12	108	40	60
92	Financial Reporting Accountant I	40.75	48	90	69
93	Computer Numeric Control Machine Programmer I	40.72	82	17	103
94	Refinery Operator I	40.65	107	60	62
95	Building Inspector	40.29	105	66	64
96	Teller I	39.94	99	109	14
97	Cost Accountant I	39.88	55	90	69
98	Tax Accountant I	39.79	56	90	69
99	Aircraft Painter I	39.10	74	82	84
100	Drilling Engineer I	38.24	75	8	106
101	Machinist I	38.21	97	63	100
102	Emergency Dispatcher	38.09	98	75	86
103	Automotive Mechanic I	37.33	59	71	104
104	Tool and Die Maker I	37.14	58	85	102
105	Carpenter I	34.86	71	47	106
106	Boilermaker I	34.21	76	49	106
107	Plumber I	33.95	106	7	105
108	Floor Assembler I	33.36	109	70	66
109	Welder I	26.99	92	94	106

 

Ask the Experts

The job market can be a very confusing place for new entrants. In search of tips that will help young people make the best possible career decisions, we posed the following questions to a panel of leading career counselors and human-resource experts. You can check out their bios and responses below.

1. What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates?
2. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry-level job before looking for new opportunities?
3. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options?
4. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years?

< >

• Terry L. Aaron Director of Community & Industry Education Services at Tarrant County College
• Matthew Bidwell Associate Professor in the Department of Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
• Wendy Morosoff Director of the Career Development Center at Purchase College
• Amy Adams Director of the Seaver College Career Center at Pepperdine University
• Won Kang Director of the Center for Career Development at Borough of Manhattan Community College
• Gail Cornelius Director of the Career Center at University of Washington, College of Engineering
• Stephanie Kit Director of the Center for Career Development at University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Katy Montgomery Associate Dean of Student Development at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
• Donna Sosnowski Director of the Undergraduate Center for Career Development at Babson College
• Mary Raymond Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Career Development Office at Pomona College
• Mark Presnell Executive Director of Career Advancement in the Division of Student Affairs at Northwestern University

Terry L. Aaron Director of Community & Industry Education Services at Tarrant County College What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? The entry level jobs that can jumpstart a career for recent graduates are in the technical and medical fields. These two fields are high demand areas; and we are not training and graduating enough individuals to fill these positions. With the aging of America, any position in the medical field can jump start a career. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? This is not my parents’ job market, nor is it my job market. What I am trying to say is that 20 or 30 years in one position has become outmoded. No longer do individuals have careers that are carved out for them, they have to make their own way. Making your own way may be staying in a position less than 5 years. If an individual does not see or feel the potential for growth or promotion then 5 years is the maximum amount of time that an individual should stay in a position. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Again, I do not see any problems with young people taking unpaid or low-paid opportunities if there is room from growth and development or if it is going to improve their long term options. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? The jobs that most likely will disappear in the next 20 years are going to be hard copy print media i.e., newspapers jobs, book publishing companies, cashiers, government postal and shipping. In addition, I see a decrease in neighborhood pharmacies and retail stores. Individuals are selecting mail order services for medications and online stores for retail items. Matthew Bidwell Associate Professor in the Department of Management at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? The best entry-level jobs are probably those that are at the bottom of a clear career ladder. Almost by definition, entry-level jobs are those that do not require a lot of experience, and often don’t therefore involve a lot of responsibility. Some jobs, though, stay like that (think waiting tables). In other jobs, though, the expectation is that you will learn enough that you will then be able to move into a more skilled position. This might be the case, for example, in accounting, where the first year or two may not be that intellectually stretching, involving instead a lot of counting and checking, but where the knowledge that is built from those activities is expected to allow them to move up into a job that is more skilled. In part, this reflects the extent to which the job involves building experience that is used in more rewarding jobs. In practice, the value of that experience usually leads to a strong pattern of promotion out of that job within the organization. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? There is no single answer. On the one hand, a track record of constant job-hopping is still frowned on by employers, who will worry that they will go through all of the effort of recruiting and training you only to have you quit within 6 months. On the other hand, the early years post-graduation are a time of exploration, where people try to figure out where they fit, and where a lot of mobility is common. If people find that they are enjoying the job and it is offering continual opportunities for growth and progression, then it can be a good idea to stay for 2-5 years. If you are in a job that you don’t enjoy or isn’t taking you somewhere you want to go, move. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? If they can afford it, it is an acknowledged route into a number of industries. Of course, it is also very exploitative. It would be worth trying to get a sense of what people who previously held those opportunities would go on to do. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? I think we will see continual change in the nature of white collar jobs, but that doesn’t mean that many of them will actually disappear. I would expect manufacturing to continue to decline. The self-driving car (if it comes to fruition) will also devastate large swathes of semi-skilled work. Wendy Morosoff Director of the Career Development Center at Purchase College What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? Whenever possible, recent graduates generally wish to pursue locating entry level jobs in their areas of interest. That said, it is important that students also explore opportunities where they can market and apply their skills developed through internships, service learning, campus involvement, part-time jobs, and their academic coursework. Employers are seeking graduates with related skills and experience for available opportunities, in addition to possessing functional skills that can be applied to a variety of jobs. Students from liberal arts concentrations may find they have a strong learning curve for positions where specific content or industry training is required. Those grads who sought to secure job specific relevant skills in college, will often find themselves best prepared for those entry-level job positions, where further on-the-job training may be in order for others. Some of those skills that are “most sought” by employers include the ability to work on a team, obtain and process information, organizational and planning skills, verbal communication skills, decision making and problem solving skills, just to name a few. Entry level openings are currently most prolific in accounting, computer science, engineering, and finance, and those graduates whose studies are directly related, often tend to find their positions prior to graduation. Graduates pursing such fields as education and health care can be viewed nationally as “most popular” industries for post graduate job seekers. At Purchase College, SUNY, entry level positions were located in arts management, (arts & entertainment) communications, (journalism, public relations and social media marketing) business (management consulting, retail, human resources) and social and public services, all either prior to graduation or within 5-6 month following graduation. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? Once a commitment is made to accept an entry level job, each graduate must decide for his or her self whether or not this position supports their career objectives, overall career trajectory, and contributes continually to the growth of new skills while strengthening their learning and development. For first jobs, a minimum of a year or two commitment is recommended as a general target, however, this depends on whether that grad finds that the position has actually allowed for the career enhancement in the manner in which they expected. Perhaps they seek to be promoted or have a firm to support further education and/or training? These are all important considerations for a new employee prior to their moving on to the next position. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Internships and other forms of experiential learning remain crucial to building these important skills necessary and desired by today’s employers — they also give a chance to view their organization’s inner workings, industry or job, and offer the learning opportunity to test drive a career area. That said, while the value of these kinds of learning experiences must be vetted and reviewed by all parties involved, it is ultimately up to the prospective intern to accept or reject the opportunity if it doesn’t provide adequate learning, or any compensation. Academic internships may be paid or unpaid in accordance with the US Department of Labor’s six criteria. Career Centers will generally encourage for-profit internship sites to offer students compensation whenever possible in the form of pay, stipend, travel reimbursement, or housing expenses for a summer program. Amy Adams Director of the Seaver College Career Center at Pepperdine University What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? I think the most important thing graduates can do if they aren’t directly pursuing graduate school, is to get started in the work force. One way we have started to challenge students to think about the first job, is from a framework of the skills, experiences, and relationships they want to develop next, in order to move toward their professional goals. Early on in your career, it can be overwhelming to narrow in on the exact industry, company culture, or even job function that is a best fit. If students ask the questions, “what do I want in the long term professionally,” and “want can I be doing now by building skills, experiences, and relationships, that will move me in that direction?” they are likely to make entry-level employment decisions that will help them get ahead. Any job that exposes you to a high volume of professional skills as well as diverse systems, people, processes, or experiences can be a great foundation for growth over time. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? I would recommend that an individual stay at least 1-2 years in his or her first job. I know that increasingly this is less common, but by investing even minimal time, you can master a role, take initiative to innovate and improve processes, build relationships, and maybe even begin to assume leadership responsibilities that could lead to growth with that organization or elsewhere. Although the market is changing rapidly, it is still important to note that the length of time you stay with a company does say something about your commitment, follow through, reliability, and loyalty – all things employers are looking for when they want to hire. If you feel like you’ve grown as much as you can in the role and, more importantly, that you’ve added as much value to the organization as you can offer, then it’s probably time to move on. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Recommendations vary from person to person and across industries. In general, I always encourage students to pursue full-time, paid opportunities over part-time or unpaid options once they are finished with school. However, in some highly competitive industries, the best way to get your foot in the door is through an internship or part-time role. Post-graduation, I would always advise a graduate to seek paid opportunities even if it is an internship or contract role. This is to protect them and to ensure that the employer isn’t in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? The world of work is rapidly changing. I believe that we will continue to see the impact of automation in various sectors, where technology replaces the work of people. I expect that we will also continue to see the rise of what some call micro-entrepreneurs and those who are in business for themselves. Many individuals in these situations will work flexible or non-traditional hours or combine their solo work with part-time traditional work and will opt out of traditional work environments. So while automation may decrease employment opportunities in some sectors, I expect that the demand for employees who commit to full-time traditional work will remain steady among larger companies, organizations and enterprises. It’s no secret that there will continue to be talent shortages in STEM related fields as well. Won Kang Director of the Center for Career Development at Borough of Manhattan Community College What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? If a graduate has a clear vision of where he/she wants to be 10 to 15 years down the road, then the entry level job may be critical, depending on the goal. But most graduates will have a general plan based on industry, salary, and location. It is important not to put too much emphasis on where someone starts their careers. Like grades in college, it eventually will become much less significant in a person’s overall career. An entry level job should be looked at as an opportunity for skill development and learning about work culture. Many employees will move on from their entry-level jobs within a year or two. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Depending on the competitiveness of an industry and a student’s financial situation, it may be possible to take an unpaid internship, but this becomes much more difficult after you graduate. It is better to look at your career as non-linear, and take the best opportunity available, and leverage that position into future positions that may be more fulfilling or within a desired industry. Most employees cannot get where they want with one job. It takes several steps to get to their destination, and by then, their goals may have changed. Gail Cornelius Director of the Career Center at University of Washington, College of Engineering What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? Really, any experience is good experience! Many employers are looking for a good fit – “does the candidate reflect our values, and would he/she fit into our culture?” Whether you’re looking for a small company that’s nimble or an established firm with thousands of employees, there are always aspects of each job that result in transferrable skills for your next position. For example being CEO at a large aerospace manufacturer within five years of college graduation is not necessarily a realistic goal, but certainly having mentors that can help you navigate the ins-and-outs of the organization would be beneficial in finding the appropriate path from “job A” to “job B” and/or opening your eyes to options that you may not have necessarily considered. This is why we ask students to consider doing an internship while still in school; this allows a student to “test-drive” a company, industry, etc. and either solidifies what he/she wants to do or adjusts the course. And because of the investment that an employer puts into an internship, they want to make sure that the potential of “conversion” (i.e., being an intern, then transitioning into a full-time employee after graduation) is there; it’s easier to know if someone will be a good fit after just 10-12 weeks with no obligation afterwards, as opposed to hiring someone on the hope that they stay. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? There are a number of factors that go into a decision to stay or leave a position. First, “major doesn’t equal career,” so it’s a known fact that today’s students won’t stay in their first job forever. Although there isn’t a tried-and-true timeline, it is expected that most new hires stay for at least a year (some companies have clauses saying that a candidate may have to pay back relocation expenses or signing bonuses, if they leave before 12 months are up). It takes about 5 months for a new employee to contribute 75% of ideal productivity, so the first several months of employment are clearly costly. It also takes some time to fully understand the nuances of a particular corporate culture, especially if it’s a field/industry with low employee turnover; the definition of “entry-level” at a fast food restaurant could be vastly different than “entry-level” at a software company. We advise students that “no one cares more about your career than you,” so however long you decide to stay in your first job, be sure that you: 1) do whatever job that you have now really well; 2) understand the characteristics of the job that you’re trying to obtain; 3) communicate those desires to your management so that, when your dream project comes up, they first think of you, and; 4) connect with mentors & a network that can help be “walking billboards” for you even when you’re not around. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? I find it difficult to tell our Engineering students that an unpaid position is worth their time. I see salaries like the housing market: when you put your house up for sale, whatever expensive improvements you’ve done to it don’t really matter until a buyer puts a value on them after looking at the “comparables” in the neighborhood, etc. The market is great right now, and when our engineering students are being asked to do “engineering work,” regardless of industry, they should be compensated for that. Stephanie Kit Director of the Center for Career Development at University of Tennessee, Knoxville How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? There’s not a hard fast number here, but I think new graduates should consider staying in a position for a minimum of one year. With every new job there is a learning curve and new graduates should give themselves time to develop, begin contributing to the organization and build their resume before moving on. Hopefully they will feel that additional opportunities exist in the organization and want to stay longer. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? In some industries, students need to start in low-paid entry level positions to get their career started. Those positions may not seem ideal but provide recent graduates with an opportunity to gain skills and experience, demonstrate their abilities and network in the field which hopefully will lead to a more desirable position. If a young person passes on these opportunities, there are likely many others willing to do the work. Katy Montgomery Associate Dean of Student Development at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? Recent graduates should look for a job they are passionate about and that engages them. When job searching, most graduates disregard the most important part of a job search: self-discovery. Self-discovery includes understanding your interests, values, motivators, competencies, and preferences. The process of self-discovery provides clarity about what makes you “tick” and that includes more than just industry (e.g., healthcare, technology, or real estate) and function (e.g., marketing, consulting, or finance). The process of self-discovery can help you realize your preferences for working environment, for working independently vs. working collaboratively, and for what you need in a future supervisor to be the most successful in your first job. Just as important, self-discovery helps you understand what your value proposition is to an employer. Every job searcher, even those who have recently graduated, must be able to articulate the value (e.g., skills, personality, experiences) he/she brings to an employer. Those who have done the hard work of self-discovery can express what makes him/her different from other candidates. So, this is a long way of saying that an entry-level job that can jumpstart a career is one where you can experience flow. Chris Guillebeau, author of “Born for This: How to Find the Work You Were Meant to Do” defines flow as “the ability to use your unique skills to do work that makes you come alive.” Flow is important; because if you are doing what makes you come alive you are most likely highly engaged at work. Employees who are connected at work get better reviews, more responsibility, and additional opportunities to hone their skillsets. Strong references, documented (e.g., resume and performance reviews) advanced proficiency in a number of skills, and showing a record of increased leadership is exactly what employers look for when making an offer to a lateral candidate. Recent graduates are strongly encouraged to lay a strong foundation and participate in the self-discovery process. The payoffs (including those beyond salary) are greater for those fully immersed in their jobs. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? Varies. The general consensus is new graduates should stay in their first job at least one year. If you ask Generation Xers (those with birth dates ranging from the early 1960s to the early 1980s), you will hear two years. Reasons why? You want to show loyalty, that you stayed long enough to actually learn something, and that you aren’t someone who is indecisive. Referring back to “flow,” if you are miserable at a job (and just to beat a dead horse if you actively participate in self-discovery this is highly unlikely to happen) it is more likely that you are disengaged, producing substandard work, and are giving off a negative attitude. None of these will help you secure your next job. In fact, they may strongly hinder your chances of acquiring new employment. So if you are miserable, you are probably better off leaving rather than staying (again, at the risk of sounding like a nag, participate in self-discovery first before making the move). Also, there are some instances when you have no control about the tenure of your first-job. For example, working for a start-up can be especially rewarding: exposure to lots of different things, more opportunities, and greater responsibility. The number of start-ups that fail is incredibly high; the often-quoted number is that 9 out of 10 start-ups fail. But, being able to experience failure and bounce back (resilience) is a very important quality and more employers are actively looking for candidates that can demonstrate the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? If you can afford to do so without being thrown out on the street (and this is a real factor for some recent graduate job seekers), the answer is definitely yes. Young people should start taking advantage of these opportunities while enrolled in school. It helps in the self-discovery process (yes, I mentioned it again), builds your resume, and shows a demonstrated interest in a particular industry. But, more importantly it builds your network. The employer you taken an unpaid opportunity with may or may not be able to hire you, but the people you interact with at that employer may be able to connect you to future opportunities. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? I don’t like this question, because it encourages students and recent graduates who are job seeking to stay away from particular employers, industries, or job functions. And, it puts so much focus on finding a “job” rather than the “right fit”. More and more employers are moving away from specific experience/background when making hiring decisions. For instance, rather than hiring a financial analyst who was previously a financial analyst at a different financial services firm, a company may now look for a set of competencies such as quantitative ability, capacity to work in a fast-paced environment, and an aptitude to deal with ambiguity. Those are all competencies that can be honed in multiple industries and then transferred to the financial services industry. This new way of hiring coupled with evaluating a candidate for his/her connection to a company’s values and mission is more important to focus on than what jobs may cease to exist in 2036. Katy serves as the Associate Dean for Student Development at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, where she develops and leads programs that foster the professional growth of Carey students. Katy comes to the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School with over ten years of career services and recruiting experience, most recently for a highly-ranked graduate program. Donna Sosnowski Director of the Undergraduate Center for Career Development at Babson College What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? The college to career journey involves the exploration of interests (personal and career), goals, passions and motivators. Practical experiences, like internships, provide students with opportunities to explore and experience first-hand, specific career options. These kinds of experiences can jumpstart careers and prepare students to seek out roles that satisfy their personal needs, desires and motivators while providing intellectual stimulation and challenge. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? New graduates are interested in rapidly progressing in their careers. It is important for them to set goals and define expectations, which should include developing hard and soft skills. Connect with people, internally and externally, and communicate your goals while you demonstrate your ability to deliver results. Seek feedback and continue enhance your competencies. Job growth and/or new opportunities may exist within the current work environment or elsewhere. It is not uncommon for new grads to change jobs in under two years. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Take advantage of all opportunities that allow you to explore and/or work in your field of interest. Practical experience, accomplishments and results go a long way to demonstrating your value to an organization. Internships frequently provide training and experience in core competencies that are highly desirable. This experience positions you as a candidate of choice, compared with another candidate that has no practical experience. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? With the development of technology like robotics, many manual labor positions (across industry sectors) will disappear in the future and be replaced with automated equipment. The evolution of robotics will be seen across the hardware and software sectors. As we continue to communicate more and more through technology, and look to preserve our resources, we are likely to see changes in the use of paper (newsprint, magazines, books), postal and library services. We will see more multi-dimensional intersections; libraries/bookstores with technology, food and social spaces. We will utilize technology and data to specifically identify shifts in business and determine strategy. Technology will continue to assist us to make more precise decisions, more quickly. Mary Raymond Associate Dean of Students and Director of the Career Development Office at Pomona College What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? Entry level jobs have the most value when a student first defines what type of organization and field they are most interested in, whether finance, entertainment, media or nonprofit, for example. It's great if they can find an organization whose purpose inspires them in some manner and offers them a sense of belonging. I tell students to take inventory of their current skills and look for positions that provide opportunities to build new ones. Graduation may be the end of college but experiential learning in the workplace will propel them even further. The quantitative, computer, writing, critical thinking and teamwork skills they've acquired in school provide a solid foundation and they should build, enhance and expand upon those. Sometimes, the best opportunities may be at smaller, less well-known organizations where staff is expected to help out in a variety of ways not limited to a strict job description. These organizations exist in a variety of industries, and often hire later then the companies that participate in on-campus recruiting. No matter what, new grads need to pay attention and volunteer to assist whenever they can — not overlooking their own assignments, of course — since this allows them to learn new things, develop a positive reputation for pitching in and even network for advancement. Almost any job can be a great jumpstart to a career if the student does their homework first, enters the workplace with a positive attitude and aims to grow and learn. That kind of positioning not only launches a career but sustains it for a lifetime. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? It is not unusual that many new grads begin to consider a change after a year or two when they feel they have maximized their growth at the organization and there appears to be little opportunity for advancement. Each environment offers new opportunities for growth, especially as new grads hone in on particular interests through experience and where they see a ‘personal fit, ’ with company culture. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Absolutely! If a student lacks previous internship experience, and the opportunities are highly competitive this is a great way to get a foot in the door. However, the volunteer needs to have a clear understanding with the organization of their defined duties, expectations for daily or weekly hours plus an identified end date. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? Computers did not replace every job staffed by humans as people once feared. Technology has created many applications that have simplified how we do many of the associated repetitive tasks allowing more time to exercise judgement with high touch for added value in human transactions. What is important is recognizing the fact that a degree is a foundation that may get you a first and second job, but what you learn at those jobs builds upon your education and is what will keep you gainfully employed. The question for today’s grads is not what will disappear in 20 years but what is going to be there in 20 years that we haven’t even imagined today! Mark Presnell Executive Director of Career Advancement in the Division of Student Affairs at Northwestern University What types of entry level jobs can jumpstart a career for recent graduates? College students should focus on entry-level opportunities that match their career goals and challenge them to advance their skills. Many companies also offer formal mentoring programs, which allow recent graduates to further understand themselves and develop their abilities. Having a supervisor or mentor that invests in your professional development is another key to jumpstarting your career. How long should a new graduate stay in an entry level job before looking for new opportunities? I think new graduates should stay in a position until they can show quantifiable results, which for most usually takes at least two years. It can take a full cycle, typically about one year, for new graduates to learn their role. In the second year, they can master the position and responsibilities and begin to show significant results. This will make them a more competitive applicant for their next opportunity. Should young people take unpaid or low-paid opportunities in their preferred industry in order to improve their long term options? Right out of school, graduates should concentrate on finding opportunities that allow them to further their career goals and develop their abilities. I wouldn’t necessarily take an unpaid position, unless it firmly fits into my goals, developed my skills, and ultimately led to a paid opportunity with either that company or another organization. Salary is typically determined by industry, so it is best if recent graduates have a good understanding of their interests, skills, and strengths, and how those align with employment opportunities. Students can gain this knowledge by visiting their college career services offices and talking to alumni and other mentors. What jobs or sectors are likely to disappear in the next 20 years? I think that it is extremely difficult to predict what fields will be in demand in 20 years. The key is to develop both specific and transferrable skills that make it easier to adapt to any job market. In college, internships provide terrific opportunities to gain experience in specific industries. Classes and co-curricular activities also allow students to build on a variety of skills that apply to many different industries, such as communication, data analytics and teamwork. Finally, it is important for new graduates to commit to life-long learning so that they can succeed in an ever-changing workplace. Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst first-timer jobs, WalletHub’s analysts compared 109 entry-level occupations across three key dimensions: 1) Immediate Opportunity, 2) Growth Potential and 3) Job Hazards.

Next, we identified 11 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was given a value between 0 and 100, wherein 100 represents the most favorable conditions for a specific entry-level position and 0 the least.

Finally, we calculated the score for each entry-level position using the weighted average across all metrics and ranked the jobs accordingly.

Immediate Opportunity - Total Points: 40

• Median Starting Salary: Full Weight (~13.33 Points)
• Number of Job Openings: Full Weight (~13.33 Points)
• Unemployment Rate: Full Weight (~13.33 Points)

Growth Potential - Total Points: 40

• Projected Job Growth by 2024: Full Weight (~7.27 Points)
• Income Growth Potential: Full Weight (~7.27 Points)
• Typical On-the-Job Training: Full Weight (~7.27 Points)
• Median Annual Salary: Full Weight (~7.27 Points)
• Median Tenure with Employer: Half Weight (~3.64 Points)
• Occupation Viability Score: Full Weight (~7.27 Points)Note: This metric measures the probability of a certain occupation being replaced with a computer.

Job Hazards - Total Points: 20

• Number of Fatal Occupational Injuries per 100,000 Employees in Past Three Years: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)
• Typicality of Working More than 40 Hours per Week: Full Weight (~10.00 Points)

 Sources: Data used to create these rankings were collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, Indeed.com and Salary.com.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress