Top
major’s markets flooded with interest
By Mari Shinkai
On-line Forty-Niner
This
year’s graduates face one of the toughest
job markets in years. Even among top majors
at Cal State Long Beach, the class of 2003
is facing difficulty trying to get an edge
on the competition in today’s tight job
market.
According to Thomas Brennan, adviser and
program coordinator of the Academic Advising
Center, top majors at Cal State Long Beach
are art, business administration, film and
electronic arts, radiation therapy technology,
kinesiology and physical education, psychology,
and social work.
“These eleven majors are impacted because
they, for the most part, lead to careers
in which there is a high demand for professionals
or there is a promise of a good income,”
Brennan said.
However, art, film and electronic arts,
and social work do not necessarily offer
the promise of high-income careers, students
in these majors usually expect to, “express
themselves through their art or to pursue
a profession that enables them to improve
the quality of life in their community.”
Business administration, which has many
openings for operations managers, supervisors,
and executives, is the most impacted major
on campus with a measure by competition
for seats in classes.
“There
is almost always a demand for accounting
professionals,” Brennan added.
A strong choice for a college major would
be in the service industry, which is in
high demand.
Edward Morton, director of the Career Development
Center, said. “But, in terms of salary,
accounting and engineering are still very
strong,” Morton said.
According to the Academic Advising Center,
engineers are always in demand, in almost
all fields. “CSULB’s engineering programs
are highly respected by hiring managers,”
Brennan said.
However, among the engineering majors, students
also face a tight job market.
“Civil engineers are doing OK, but others
are struggling right now,” Emmitt Clark,
director of MESA engineering program, said.
However, graduates who serve internships
may be best positioned to receive job offers,
according to a new survey conducted by the
National Association of Colleges and Employers.
In addition, both educators and graduates
of CSULB emphasize the importance and essentials
to have related work experience prior to
graduation.
Clark said that internships affect the rate
of employment in engineering industry as
well. “With the economy sputtering, many
employers expect a recent graduate to have
accumulated a variety of experiences.”
“It’s interesting that most survey indicates
the most important skills are the ability
to communicate despite the technology,”
Morton said.
Akira Takahashi who graduated from CSULB
last year, is now an account executive of
Japan Publicity Inc. He explained how early
internship experiences could affect job
hunting.
“Employers
might not be sure about what the job market
will look like next spring, but they’re
sure that you take some steps that will
ensure your viability as a job candidate,”
Takahashi said. “The employers want to hire
someone with experience, that’s the fundamentals.”
With the demand in skills, communication
majors are approaching impacted status.
“It is a major that can lead to a wide variety
of career options,” Brennan said.
Another alumnus, Tony Prenovost, a business
administration major from the class of 2000,
is a marketing manager at Eyespace who also
emphasized that, “the basic skills are the
most important.”
“If you can effectively communicate whether
it be through speech or writing it’s a huge
advantage in the job market, plus, being
well organized and a fast learner still
goes a long way with employers,” Prenovost
said.
“No matter what major you are in, it is
important to know that early preparation
for job hunting always bring better results,
with use of the top skill students can learn
from their majors,” Morton said. Both Takahashi
and Prenovost advise CSULB students “to
try to get some related work experience
prior to graduation.”
Prenovost pointed out that working part-time
or having an internship in an industry one
is interested in will pay major dividends
later. “Don’t also forget to stay flexible
and be realistic about your job search and
expectations.”
“The
reality is that you’ll need to be ready
to compete not only with your immediate
peers, but also with more experienced workers
who have been laid off,” Takahashi said.
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