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Variety
of career options for CNSM graduates
By
Roberta Berredo
Daily Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
On
Friday at 1 p.m. students from the College
of Natural Sciences and Mathematics will
walk toward their degrees and move into
their career paths.
College
graduation is an exciting time, but the
post-graduation period can actually be
overwhelming for students with unclear
career paths.
The
Career Development Center offers several
resources for students to ease their
job-hunting experience, allowing for
a smoother transition from the university
to professional careers.
"The
Career Center offers several opportunities
for students," said Robin Lee, director
of the Career Development Center.
BeachLINK,
a new job listing service available through
the Career Development Center, is one
helpful resource to graduating students.
This service contains job opportunities
ranging from full- to part-time on- or
off-campus jobs and internships and on-campus
recruiting interviews.
According
to Lee, the job market for graduates
of the College of Natural Sciences and
Mathematics is expanding.
"There
has been an increase in the number of
manufacturing and technological industries,
and expanding companies have more need
for employment," Lee said. "These
industries have very competitive [environments]
because of the complexity of each field."
The
job market available to students receiving
degrees from the College of Natural Sciences
and Mathematics is made up of a wide
array of professional positions.
Some
of these positions include astronomers,
biochemists and biophysicists, biological
technicians, chemists, mathematical technicians,
mathematicians, physicists and zoologists.
According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
average occupational employment for these
professional fields ranged from 810 positions
to 81,750 positions in November 2003.
The total annual wages for these professional
fields ranged from $35,360 to $85,960
that same month.
Many
students also go on to become part of
the education system. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, in November
2003 the mean annual wage for teachers
of the postsecondary education levels
was approximately $65,000.
The
average occupational employment for these
teachers in November 2003 was an estimated
27,258.
The
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
offers a bachelor of science degree in
biochemistry, biology, chemistry, earth
science, geology, marine biology, mathematics,
microbiology and physics. The college
also offers a bachelor of arts degree
in chemistry and physics.
"The
bachelor of arts degree provides students
with a good, basic degree for students
who [may want to] teach in high school,
while the bachelor of science degree
prepares students for the technical industries
and graduate school," said Patrick
Kenealy, chair of the Physics department
at Cal State Long Beach.
According
to Kenealy, the College of Natural Sciences
and Mathematics encompasses all different
areas of expertise to look at.
"The
department has one of the better programs
around in terms of that emphasis," Kenealy
said.
The
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
also prepares students for the professional
world by offering them internship opportunities.
"There
is an ongoing effort to expand internship
opportunities and to use former students,
who are working for companies, as contacts
for [graduating students]," said
Alan Miller, chairman of the department
of Biological Sciences.
According
to Miller, the college also provides
students with an informational background
and body of knowledge necessary for professional
success.
"A
good background can fit with an employer's
way of doing things," Miller said.
" Hopefully
we have trained the students to be good
observers and critical thinkers."
Along
with a strong educational background,
words of encouragement are appreciated
by graduating students.
Lee
emphasizes the importance of preparation
when entering a competitive job market.
Having an application package critiqued
and ready is first on her list.
"Visiting
the career center and having a counselor
review your rÈsumÈ is important," said
Lee. "There are one-on-one counseling
appointments available and students can
do mock interviews with the counselors."
Placing
the résumé on BeachLINK
and signing up for different listed job
postings are next on Lee's list of things
to do. Networking is Lee's final important
tip.
"If
a student has had an internship in the
past, they can easily connect with a
person at that internship," Lee
said. "Often times, people say networking
is the primary importance when finding
a job."
Ultimately,
Lee believes it is important to utilize
the Career Development Center when venturing
into the professional world.
"It's
a one-stop shopping place for jobs and
career information," she said.
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