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Poll: How Soon After Graduation Did You Get a Job?

By Job Journey on Thursday, March 26, 2015

Which is more important: education or experience? It’s an age-old question that has been researched and debated for decades, but one that doesn’t necessarily have a clear-cut answer. While the results from Glassdoor’s recent 2014 Employment Confidence Survey suggest that 82% of U.S. college graduates who were employed on a full or part time basis believed that their level of education has been an asset to their careers, 72% believe that specialized training outside of a traditional college degree is more valuable when it comes to the workplace.

Last year, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how their education has affected their career path. While the results of this poll were illuminating in the education vs. experience debate, we want to know how quickly recent graduates are being added to the workforce. To help determine how long a graduate typically spends looking for a job after going through the higher education process, we want to know how soon after graduation you landed a job. Let us know by voting in our poll!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Advancement

Want a College Major That’ll Get You Hired?

By Job Journey on Wednesday, October 15, 2014

If you answered yes, you may want to consider studying business, engineering, or nursing.

According to a new report released by Express Employment Professionals, college graduates who have a business, engineering, accounting, or nursing degree will have a much easier time finding jobs than graduates in other professions.

By the Numbers

More than a quarter of the survey’s 115 respondents said business was the best major for finding employment, followed by engineering, accounting, nursing, computer, and information sciences.

“Business is still a good bet for a college major, according to our survey,” said Bob Funk, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Express. “Once again, our findings tell us that if you earn a degree that’s associated with a particular skill set, you will do better in the job market.”

In the second year of the survey, business remains the top answer.

“I advise people deciding what to study to consider both what they’re passionate about and what the market demands,” Funk said. “If those intersect, they’re in good shape. The most important thing is to be informed about and aware of which degree can give you a competitive advantage, both in the short term and the long term.”

A Closer Look

For college-bound students, here are the full results of the survey:

What college major makes someone the most employable?
	2014	2013
Business	27%	26%
Engineering	20%	16%
Accounting	14%	14%
Nursing	6%	3%
Computer and Information Sciences	5%	13%
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities	5%	2%
Engineering Technologies	4%	3%
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences	3%	8%
Marketing	3%	3%
Education	1%	1%
Math and Statistics	1%	1%
Science Technologies	1%	1%
Communications Technologies	0%	1%
Finance	0%	3%

National Numbers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salaries for these jobs are also competitive. Consider this: the second most in-demand major is engineering, which averages a median starting salary of $51,700 to $97,900. Computer science has a median starting pay of $56,000 while nursing’s median pay is $65,470 per year.

Do these in-demand college degrees surprise you? Have you had success with these jobs? Share your stories in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Options

Jobs Worth Going Back to School For

By Job Journey on Friday, October 10, 2014

Are you looking for a job or thinking about changing careers? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey by CareerBuilder indicated that 21% of full-time employees plan to make a job change. This averages to one in five workers making a switch! In March, CareerBuilder also stated that more than half of all employers have open positions but can’t find qualified candidates, while 35% of employers said their organizations have had positions open for an average of 12 weeks before filling.

So, what’s the deal?

Training vs. Already Trained
Companies today are no longer seeing the value of on-the-job training for new employees like they once did, according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. This is credited to employees changing jobs more frequently today than in the past. Instead of training employees themselves, companies are hiring for certain pre-existing skill sets and want employees to hit the ground running.

If education and experience are musts for landing the job you want, what industries are worth going to back to school for?

Future Top Industries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top occupations expected to experience growth between now and 2022 are:

Healthcare Support (28.1%)
Healthcare practitioners and Technical occupations (21.5%)
Construction (21.4%)
Personal care (20.9%)
Computer and mathematics (18%)

To see the complete BLS report, click here.

Today’s Top Jobs
According to US News Best Jobs for 2014, the top 20 current jobs are:

Software Developer
Computer Systems Analyst
Dentist
Nurse Practitioner
Pharmacist
Registered Nurse
Physical Therapist
Physician
Web Developer
Dental Hygienist
Information Systems Analyst
Database Administrator
Physician Assistant
Occupational Therapist
Market Research Analyst
Phlebotomist
Physical Therapist Assistant
Civil Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
Veterinarian

For a complete list, click here.

If you’re not satisfied with where you are professionally, there is still time to change and plenty of opportunities waiting. From traditional education to career technical education, your options are limitless. Seize the day!

How has your education impacted your career path? Share your story in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Reader Surveys

The Results Are In: How Has Your Education Affected Your Career Path?

By Job Journey on Friday, September 5, 2014

In a recent poll, we asked if your education has had an impact on your current job or career path. Our results found that the majority of Movin’ On Up readers don’t feel their education has played a defining role in their career path. In fact, 41% of respondents said that their education hasn’t been a factor, while only 22% percent agreed that “I wouldn’t be where I am today without my degree.” Nearly 20% of readers stated their degree “helped land my first job, but really hasn’t been a factor since.” And, 11% of respondents answered “Other,” with mixed opinions including:

“It has helped as far as showing potential employers commitment and potential.”
“You need experience plus a degree.”
“My undergraduate degree was the stepping stone to my law degree.”
“Nothing but four pieces of paper on the wall.”
“My lack of experience has kept me from getting an ideal job.”

Finally, 5% of readers answered “I’m still in school, so we’ll see!”

Education vs Experience
Based on our results, many jobseekers don’t think a typical path of higher education has helped their job search. Furthermore, respondents seem to believe that experience is worth the same as, if not more than, education. But, the statistics on the subject are mixed.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the unemployment rate for young adults in 2013 was 29.2% for those who did not complete high school, 17.5% for those whose highest level of education was high school, and 12.2% for those with some college education. For those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, unemployment was 7%.

Yet, in a recent edition of the “America Employed” survey of 115 Express Employment Professionals franchises across the nation, respondents were asked to rate various traits on how important they are when evaluating job applicants based on a scale of one to five. The results showed that education received the lowest amount of points at 2.67. Experience, on the other hand, received a vote of 3.73.

Diverse Opportunities
Whether or not education plays the most important role in your likelihood of getting hired, there’s no doubt that taking opportunities to learn and grow in your career is a beneficial piece of the puzzle. And, you don’t necessarily have to follow a typical four-year degree path. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations in America require an associate’s degree or less. Career Technical Education provides the skills and training needed for many career, including welding, physical therapy, and mechanics, and is an alternative to a university. If you’re hoping to further your education without following a four-year plan, check out this article for more information.

What do you think is more important – education or experience? Let us know in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Reader Surveys

Poll: How has your education affected your career path?

By Job Journey on Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Educational paths, like college and career technical schools, can help pave the way to landing your dream job. But sometimes, the jobs we end up in aren’t directly tied to the education we received. Express Employment Professionals recently released the results of a survey conducted in both the U.S. and Canada which revealed that the least important factor when looking at job candidates was education. Instead, work ethic/integrity and attitude were the key characteristics that affected the hiring decision.

For our August question of the month, we want to know what role your education has played in your career or job search.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

At Work Career Advancement Career Options New Job Tips The Daily Grind The Job Search Work/Life Balance

What You Don’t Know About Career Technical Education

By leidson on Monday, April 21, 2014

As the first college graduate in my family, I realized college really isn’t a good fit for everyone. There are other, more affordable options, and in today’s economy, affordability is key. Throughout the four years I spent in college, many of my peers chose to further their education through Career Technical Education (CTE).

What is Career Technical Education
According to the Association for Career and Technical Education, “Career and technical education (CTE) prepares both youth and adults for a wide range of careers and further educational opportunities.” CTE offers certifications, licenses and degrees in various trades and industries. “A stable career doesn’t always require a four-year degree. Career Technical Education can deliver what so many Americans want – a promising career at an affordable price,” said, Bob Funk, CEO and Chairman of the Board at Express Employment Professionals. CTE, previously known as vocational-technological education, provides skills and training needed for a variety of careers.

CTE offers industry-specific training in highly skilled trades, including:

• Mechanical Drafter
• Welder
• IT Technician
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Biomedical Equipment Technician
• Legal Secretary
• Aircraft Mechanic
• Real Estate Appraiser

CTE also offers students the opportunity to earn a variety of credentials, including:

• Post-secondary certificates
• Certifications
• Licenses
• Associate degree

Another great benefit of CTE is that it doesn’t require tens or hundreds or thousands of dollars in student loans. “Many students find their passion in CTE programs and, in turn, develop substantially better academic performance that results in more life options for them,” said Robert D. Sommers, Ph.D., Oklahoma Secretary of Education and Workforce Development State Director, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

CTE Workers Are in Demand
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 14 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations in America require an associate’s degree or less. These are exactly the types of careers that CTE provides training and credentials for. This is great news for high school students wanting to further their education somewhere other than a university. It is also encouraging for those who want to change their career path.

For more information on this hot topic, check out Express Employment Professionals latest white paper, The Hard Truth About Higher Education.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

New Job Tips The Job Search Uncategorized Work/Life Balance

Don’t Let Spring Break Ruin Your Reputation

By leidson on Friday, March 14, 2014

Spring break is finally here, and students everywhere are in the home stretch of this semester! The time has come for many students to take a much needed week away from school. It’s a time for fun, relaxation, and a chance to recoup from late night study sessions and homework. As you begin planning for your spring break, keep in mind that it’s easy for your reputation to be tainted in a short amount of time if you’re not careful. Here is some trustworthy advice to remember before you start your spring break shenanigans.

Protect Your Online Reputation
How can you protect your online reputation? By keeping your social media profiles private and being aware of what others post to them can help guard your reputation. When you and your friends get together there will probably be some pictures taken, and with the accessibility of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, you could find pictures posted you wish had never been taken. Your friends could also include you in posts or status updates, so it’s important to have strict privacy settings on your social media networks before Spring Break begins. According to a study by CareerBuilder, two in five employers use social media to screen candidates. So you never know when a prospective employer is searching for you. If they happen to find an inappropriate picture or see something that they don’t like it can impact your job search.

Spring Break Precautions
Most students don’t plan on getting into trouble on Spring Break. Of course you want to have a good time, but if you’re not careful you could find yourself tangled with the law, or worse. While a “YOLO” attitude may serve you well in the moment, take a pause to consider future implications of snap decisions.

Take Advantage of Spring Break
Spring Break is a great time to jumpstart your career. You may not be able to get a job or intern at a company in a short week’s time, but there is another alternative – job shadowing. Shadowing someone for a few days will provide you with great insight into the everyday aspects of a job. Ask your friends and family if you could tag along and learn what a day in their life at work is like. Instead of going on a trip or just staying at home, get out and learn more about the career you want to have.

Finding a job is a full-time job in itself, so get a jumpstart on your future this Spring Break! How are you planning to get started on your job search, or are you already in the process? Let us know in the comments section below.