HS students often choose a major and college based upon their romanticized vision of a particular career rather than based upon a complete understanding of the skills necessary for success in that career. This makes the value of shadowing, internships, summer jobs, etc very clear but those often come after the college has been chosen based on the major that leads to the career. What do you think HS students should know about the skills necessary to be successful in your career, or one you have much knowledge of, that they are unlikely to learn from other sources?
For example, working in a professional service firm (accounting, law, architecture, etc.) means that you are self-employed. You are responsible for bringing in business, setting firm policy, financing the business, meeting tax filing and payment obligations and everything else that it takes for a business to be successful. There is no “they” to cover your salary in a slow year or make the hard decisions about firing an unproductive employee. Yes, you must be good at the professional stuff to get to partner, but once you do, there is an entire business to run. That requires a whole different skill set than writing a brief, filling out a tax form, or drawing up plans for a building. There is nothing wrong with sticking to the more technical aspects of these careers but you will never reach that top salary quoted for the profession, unless you are a partner.
Cheering…just FYI…not all lawyers, architects, and accountants…etc…are self employed. Also, not everyone wants to be a partner or owner of a firm.
On the good side being a self-employed architect has meant that I could make my own hours, keep my business small when they were young and let it grow as they got older. Also residential clients often were available evenings and weekends which was great for Daddy-time.
On the bad side, architecture is regional. You will probably be better off going to school where you want to work. And once you have an established practice it’s really hard to move. I get 99% of my business through word of mouth.
On the huh, I didn’t know that - architecture uses a lot of skills. Not just math and an abilty to see in three dimensions, but you have to enjoy working with all sorts of people from contractors to clients (both annoying ones and great ones!) And at least several times a year I’ve had to get up in front of zoning boards and planning boards to present projects, sometimes to hostile neighbors.
Personally, I wish HS kids were a little less gung ho about picking careers. There are many good ones out there that they just haven’t heard of, but when they get laser focused on the career du jour, often whatever is perceived to pay the big bucks (business in the 80s, engineering currently, medical always), they miss out. Of course, pointing out the less than sexy realities of any career might help with that, too.
From my own experience advising freshmen, I wish high school students knew
DPTs won’t be spending the majority of their time with athletes. The business, like most medical fields, spends a lot of time with the elderly.
Forensic scientists work in labs and its nothing like CSI.
Nursing is a SCIENCE major.
Generally, doctors are also running a business, so you’d better know how to hire, fire, deal with vendors, and understand government regulations.
Music majors do get jobs, with insurance, and those jobs do not involve drive through windows and french fries.
That career work is hard, even if you love it. You’re expected to pull your weight, you’re no longer the intern. For college kids, that you need to find that first decent starter position and stick it out long enough to build the first good line(s) on your resume. It’s not like a 40 hour job that ends after summer. It may very well turn out to be in the proverbial mail room.
And nowadays, to save some of your money.
Most professional jobs, ime, like law, accounting, etc, do start by working for someone else.
@thumper1, no need for the FYI as I have been on both sides of that fence, but you are getting close to what I am getting at. Not all professionals are self-employed but those that choose to work for a firm often are and need to be willing to run a business. If the student would rather not, or does not have the skill set to do so, it might be good to explore what other career path can utilize the student’s skills.
Think long and hard about spending money on college right away if you want to be a performer or stage technician. The only exceptions I can think of are opera performance or a classical musician.
Dance is, in my opinion, the most beautiful expression of the human experience, but honestly, 17-23 are prime career building years since it’s such a short lived career (Sylvie Guillem notwithstanding) so why spend them in college, you’ll be “old” by the time you get out. Take classes at a great studio with lots of people better than you and go on auditions instead. You should absolutely go back to college when you’re 27 years old and you’ve had a career ending injury, though (yeah, I’m not bitter at all) . Regarding those dance auditions, the best skill you can have is picking up choreography very quickly, it comes with experience and perhaps some classes in “how to pick up choreography quickly”, though I’ve never heard of a class like that (I bet it would be very popular).
As for acting and singing, your money may be better spent attending acting lessons, dance classes and private voice lessons and coaching, and going out on auditions. In both of these cases experience is the very best teacher. I’m not saying the BA or BFA isn’t useful for other things and education for it’s own sake really can’t be quantified, that sheepskin is wonderful and well earned. Just don’t expect to graduate as the star of your small but well regarded theater department straight into a starring role on Broadway or featured in an important movie, yes, it happens, but mostly it doesn’t. Who you know and experience is really important in the industry, so education can be important for making those connections and getting some experience I suppose, but it really depends on the school.
Read. A lot. Anything and everything.
Oh yeah, as far as auditions go, do your best at that time and then forget it, that’s the only thing you can control. There is so much that goes into casting that you have so very little control over and issues you will never know about, it’s not about you or your abilities so please don’t take it personally when you don’t get cast in a show, you’ll hear this time and again and you won’t believe it at first, but it’s really true. You’re going to have to develop a thick skin and at the same time retain your sense of joy and wonder, it’s kind of a balancing act but you will figure it out. Try to ignore all the other angst around you and just do your job. Also, don’t be rude or condescending to ANYone at the venue, including the door attendant or other hopefuls, you never know who might be watching or casting their next project. You don’t have to be a suck up, just don’t be an arrogant jerk.
As far as production or tech goes, you might be better off seeking an apprenticeship with your local IATSE or film union and working your way up. Designers, Directors, Stage Managers could all derive the most benefit from a BA or BFA, I would even venture to say it’s necessary to open doors.
Of course, if you want to be a Creative, a Boss or a Bean Counter. Go to college.
@morkatmom- I disagree with much of what you said. My child is not a dance major, therefore I have not done extensive research in that area- and I do concede your point about young years being important for professional dancers. But in terms of other creative artists - people like actors and musicians can ABSOLUTELY benefit from formal training (either BA or BFA) before starting their careers. While experience is an excellent teacher - many artists have not had an opportunity to test their skills alongside others at their same level in their younger years. Of course kids in major cities like NYC, LA, Chicago etc might have had larger opportunities- but lots of kids don’t grow up in a place like that. The kid who got every lead in every one of his HS musicals may have no idea what it is like to be a pool with others at a higher level. (I have seen that happen a number of times) A college program gives them a safe place to grow- and an opportunity to really learn and hone their craft. I know full well that there are kids who end up with amazing artistic careers that never went to college- but it is hard for me to imagine that kids who go to college have “wasted” their time. I don’t think anyone looks back in life and thinks- “you know, I really regret getting that education…”
And finally- college is a special time in a person’s life- an getting to have that experience is a privilege. I agree with people above who said it is a time to explore options and discover interests. You have the whole rest of your life to be specific goal oriented - college is a time for passion. JMHO
For girls, this is so cliche but true, just because you think you don’t want kids now doesn’t mean you won’t really really want them later. So if you are now thinking of a traditional corporate career, try to also acquire skills that will serve you in a different career too if you decide to suddenly quit or take time out to have kids. It’s good to have options.
Some career directions effectively do most of the screening of aspirants in school through a rigorous curriculum that weaker students are unable to complete (and therefore change majors). Typical examples are engineering and CS.
Other career directions effectively do most of the screening of aspirants after bachelor’s degree attainment – either requiring selective graduate or professional school (e.g. medicine, university faculty) and/or being highly selective in the job market (university faculty is here also, but so are lots of other career directions). Students who chose majors related to such career directions often have to change careers after graduation after being rejected from their target careers. Lots of people on these forums bring up art history majors. A few get major-related jobs (e.g. museum curator). Many others have to go into something else – the most adaptable do well (which is true for graduates of most majors), but the least adaptable do not.
In some regions or industry downturns, it is also possible for a career direction to have both characteristics. E.g. during the most recent economic downturn, real estate and construction were among the worst-hit industries. Civil engineering and architecture graduates during that time faced both the rigorous curricula and highly selective job markets in their fields at graduation – and the job prospects for unrelated jobs were poor as well.
Overly specialized pre-professional majors like computer game design, sports management, etc. may not be a good idea because graduates will be competing with large numbers of graduates of more generalized majors (e.g. computer science for computer game design, general business for sports management), but will be less likely to be hired into the other jobs that graduates of more generalized majors can seek. But they may be offered by schools because they seem like dream jobs for many high school seniors.
This is not job specific: tell them the people from whom they accept work and to whom they report (be it their supervisor, manager, boss, employer) is their “client.” So many young people don’t realize this and learn too late. If they do not have “clients” who want to work with them and for whom they are productive and add value, they are or will eventually be expendable.
Great advice, There are many opportunities in healthcare one can take with a RN, BSN and some experience.
Bedside nursing is just one.
Case management pays very well and does not require any patient contact at all. Can even work from home.
I think that students often idealize a career and do not actively consider the negative aspects. I think it’s quite helpful to do informational interviews with people in one’s chosen career and find out about the negatives in addition to the positives. It’s hard for me to understand why so many people want to become doctors or lawyers when so many are dissatisfied.
This is an excellent topic. Students can benefit from doing their research. Considering things besides starting salaries and mid-career earnings can help one avoid making misguided choices with long-term repercussions.
So I’ll share a couple of my thoughts.
STEM careers have possible pitfalls. My knowledge is anecdotal, but may not be isolated cases.
– I know someone who was in research for decades. The expression ‘publish or perish’ is mostly true. But it can go one step further. This person said he knew a lot of smart scientists, but promotion and longevity was affected by their inability to write good proposals. So advice to STEM majors, don’t ignore your writing skills! The research may be compelling to you, but you may be spending more time than you imagined doing “paperwork”. Research requires funding.
– I know several biology grads from elite schools, who have had difficulty finding work in their field. One went the management route, because of better pay after many years with a low paying biology position. She loves biology…her current position, not so much.
Another stopped to have kids. She is now teaching at 2 different community colleges, but wishes she could get a full-time position at one with benefits. Unfortunately, she said there are more biology majors seeking positions like hers that the CCs don’t have to pay her well.
Lastly, I know a Berkeley microbiologist who left the field (retired) as more and more of her work was being automated.
– I know a very high ranking computer scientist who absolutely LOVES his work, BUT has to travel A LOT. Yes, he has incredible frequent flier miles. Unfortunately he is gone a lot of the time. His son is graduating with mine this year and he has some regrets.
I believe all jobs require some sacrifice. Our work/life balance changes over time and we don’t have control over everything. However, it may help to avoid some disappointment if you not only talk to people, but also work on figuring out what will make YOU happy.
Maybe someone can comment on becoming a college professor/tenure (cough)? I still hear that sometimes.
Is that a surprise?
One has to pass through several “gates” to get there:
admission to undergraduate program
bachelor’s degree
admission to PhD program
PhD degree
possibly post-docs
hired as a tenure track faculty member
get tenure
The numbers game means that the last few “gates” are extremely competitive. Consider that each faculty member at a research university supervises a few dozen PhD students over his/her career. This is obviously a few dozen times the number needed to replace him/her when s/he retires. So very few of them will eventually get to be faculty at research universities. Others will have to look for jobs at LACs (not many, since LACs are small), non-research universities, community colleges, maybe even high schools, or industry (if their field is in demand in industry).
My husband is a tenured professor who does cancer research at a med school. He used to do more basic research, but the money completely dried up. Even for cancer the competition for grants is brutal. He doesn’t currently cover as much of his expenses as the institution expects him to. There’s a reason my kids aren’t research scientists. DH works ALL THE TIME.