Today's employers are eager to learn about the career aspirations and expectations of tomorrow's employees in order to recruit the best, students like you. Recently, NSHSS surveyed its members about these issues; if you completed the survey and want to view the winner list, winners will be announced on February 5, 2008, at the following link:
www.nshss.org/surveywinner.asp. We appreciate all of you who were able to take the time to share your feedback with us . We will be publishing conclusions drawn from the survey research in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Corporate Recruiting Leadership. We would also like to share an article from a member who is already thinking ahead to the working world of the future.
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Kathryn (Kate) Davison
Saint Clairsville High School
Saint Clairsville, Ohio
Note: Kate has been a volunteer Teen Newsline Correspondent for a newspaper chain for the past two years; a version of her article below about future career trends has been published nationwide in TeenInk Magazine's November 2007 issue and is used with permission of the author.
Does the year 2017 seem a long way off? What about 2027? These are the dates to look to when planning a future career. The future is open to infinite possibilities, especially for those who see the big picture and have the insight to research their options.
Students plan their future occupations for a lot of reasons, but not always wise ones. Money, prestige, and mystique are a few of the alluring factors that also enter into the equation, but simply choosing something that appears exciting may not be the right approach. Being familiar with a career doesn't automatically make it a good profession for you. Although no one can predict the future, it makes sense to eye trends in the economy and in the workplace before making that critical decision. Picking the right field will make landing a dream job after college or technical school a more likely reality.
Having the ability to see the big picture is key. Studying trends and ideas that will be needed 10-20 years from now will determine the best future job market opportunities as high school graduates enter college and technical schools and ultimately decide their fate. Ed Lesnick, a retired Occupational Work Experience (OWE) teacher from Martin's Ferry High School, said, "I taught for 30 years in the high school, and I also helped kids find work. Some students picked a job because it paid better. Others just wanted a job that was easy to do. I tried to help them look past the present and think about where they wanted to be and what they wanted to be doing 10 years after graduation."
Choosing a successful career can be complicated in a rapidly changing world. It takes more than hard work and a little luck to find steady employment that can provide an adequate income and lifestyle. As Victoria Gabis, Guidance Counselor for St. Clairsville High School, advises, "The keyword would be explore. Explore every option; don't limit yourself. Think that you can do whatever you want to do. Don't sell yourself short. Think globally." - MORE -