1. Choosing a career: explore occupations
Carolyn Donelan, Ph.D.
Lead flight director challenger Learning center of richland one

2. Choosing a career: explore occupations
Gather basic information about careers:
Job descriptions,
Working conditions,
Educational, training, and licensing requirements,
Advancement opportunities,
Commute and travel,
Potential earnings and compensation, and
Job outlook.
Job Seekers Salary Calculator:

3. Choosing a career: explore occupations
Gather basic information about careers:

4. Choosing a career: explore occupations
Eliminate potential careers:
With weak job outlooks,
That require training or education you are unwilling or unable to fulfill, or
That are not a good fit.
Aim to have a ‘short list’ of two to five occupations.

5. Choosing a career: explore occupations
Job outlooks by job family…
(However, aerospace manufacturing in South Carolina is growing!)

6. Let’s talk about stem
“In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy. To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past.” (National Science Foundation)

7. Let’s talk about stem Myth 1: For the big money, STEM always delivers.
Salaries within specific occupations vary.
Myth 3: Choice of major matters more than choice of college.
Myth 5: It’s important to choose a major early.

8. Let’s talk about stem
What does this graph mean to you? Things to consider… specific STEM fields degrees vs certificates

9. Let’s talk about life sciences
Does this graph mean you shouldn’t study life sciences?
NO!
You just need to focus on specific areas of ‘life science’…
“Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 18 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs.”

10. Let’s talk about life sciences
Does ‘healthcare’ just mean ‘doctors and nurses’?
NO!
athletic trainers, audiologists, chiropractors, dental assistants, dental hygienists, dentists, diagnostic imaging workers, dietitians and nutritionists, EMTs and paramedics, exercise physiologists, genetic counselors, home health aides, nurses, massage therapists, medical laboratory scientists, medical assistants, health information technicians, medical transcriptionists, nuclear medicine technologists, occupational health and safety specialists, occupational therapists (assistants and aides), opticians, optometrists, orthotists and prosthetists, pharmacists (and technicians), phlebotomists, physical therapists, physician assistants, physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, radiation therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, speech-language pathologists, operating room technicians, veterinarians (assistants and technicians)

11. Let’s talk about life sciences
What else is ‘life sciences’?
Education (science teachers!!!)
Farming, fishing, forestry
Biochemistry and biophysics and microbiology
Environmental science

12. Let’s talk about computer science
Top Ten Skills in 2017 (by LinkedIn) (14 countries)
Cloud and Distributed Computing Statistical Analysis & Data Mining Web Architecture & Development Framework Middleware and Integration Software User Interface Design
Network and Information Security Mobile Development Data Presentation SEO/SEM Marketing Storage Systems and Management

13. Let’s talk about computer science

14. Let’s talk about computer science
Does this mean I should get a degree in ‘computer science’? NOT NECESSARILY For some career fields, you need to consider whether a degree or certification would be better…

15. Let’s talk about computer science
Certification vs Degree
Cost and Time
Annual full-time tuition (in county), Midlands Tech $4,440
Annual full-time tuition (in state), University of South Carolina, $12,262

16. Let’s talk about computer science
Certification vs Degree (continued)
Employment Opportunities
If the job is highly technical, a certification may be more valuable.
If there is a business or management component, a degree might be necessary.
Find out what the qualifications are for the particular job you are interested in.

17. Let’s talk about computer science
Certification vs Degree (continued)
Relevancy
Certificates expire; degrees get dated. As you progress in your career, you will probably need to invest in continuing education/training.

18. Let’s talk about computer science
Top Paying IT Certifications
Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) - $121,363
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate - $121,292
Project Management Professional (PMP®) - $114,473
AWS Certified Developer – Associate - $114,148
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - $111,475
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) - $111,049
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) - $108,043
Certified ScrumMaster - $106,938
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) - $106,375
Six Sigma Green Belt - $104,099
Citrix Certified Professional – Virtualization (CCP-V) - $103,424
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) – Server Infrastructure - $100,656
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) - $99,684
Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) Routing and Switching - $99,402
Citrix Certified Associate – Networking (CCA-N) - $99,217

19. Let’s talk about computer science
Certifications do not only apply to computer science!