Finding a job is a priority for millions of people across the country. But what if you're just starting college and unsure of a major? Entering college and trying to decide on a major was always a tough process.
In this new economic climate, are students following their dreams or chasing the dollar? A recent survey said the five top-paying jobs right now are engineering jobs.
If you're considering the engineering field, or any other field, the key is to start planning early. "We will look at them in their freshman year and we'll do career testing,” said Tom Woodle, Ph.D, Interim Director of Career Services. “We're going to measure out their interests and their attributes, values, we're going to computer-match those specific careers to give them an idea of where they're going so they can determine what they're going to major in."
Woodle said by the junior year students should start job shadowing and networking to ensure a job is waiting when they graduate.
If you're not interested in chasing the money, other, lower-paying options are growing.
"There are a lot of jobs available particularly like in education, accounting, business management,” said Woodle. “You got a good spike in exercise science and in rec management.”
Junior, Jessica Handy of Cherry Grove chose to follow her passion. “I’m pretty set on my major,” said Handy. I'm a history major and I want to go to grad school and get my master's and go on to get my doctorate and teach at the college level."
She sayid money was not a factor in her decision. She knows teaching will most likely keep her out of a 6 figure salary, but she's comfortable with her decision.
The study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found the top five paying job are:
Petroleum engineering $83,121
Chemical engineering 64,902
Mining engineering $64,404
Computer engineering $62,738
Computer science $61,407
Out of 1.5 million degrees awarded in 2007, 450 were petroleum engineers. On the opposite end of the scale, English, Foreign-language and Communications majors start around $35,000. For the complete study: http://www.naceweb.org
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