About a month ago, I had the opportunity to return to Wagner College to attend a networking event. Returning to campus as a professional was a new experience. I didn’t quite know what to expect.
I was blown away by the students and alumni that I met.
The students I met were accomplished and eager to take on new challenges. They were inquisitive about what they could do to build their network and forge their career path. here were students from arts and science backgrounds. There were students who worked on political campaigns and interned with television networks. There were students from Staten Island and around the world.
It was quite a dynamic group! With my background as an attorney, I was uncertain if the science majors would be interested in speaking to me about networking, or if they would avert their eyes.
My science background is limited. At best.
But they were very welcoming and had interesting questions. I was struck by the question one group of students from different science majors asked me:
“We’re starting to realize that we need to look outside the box, where do you think we should we be looking for jobs?”
My science background may be limited, but my networking, job search, and creative career formulation background is ever expanding.
In a tight job market where there is often talk of a surplus or saturation of a particular group of professions, there is great opportunity for employment within the services that meet the demands of this saturated group.
For example, there has been much in the news about the surplus of attorneys throughout the United States.
While this news might be troubling to the new law graduate, there is great opportunity to work for a company or industry that supports attorneys. Attorneys require malpractice insurance, continuing education, paralegals, banking and marketing professionals.
This is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door with a company who works in insurance, education, banking and marketing. It is also an opportunity to pursue a career as a paralegal or legal assistant.
But the science majors I met weren’t interested in the attorney surplus.
For the science majors I spoke to, I suggested looking to companies that work with scientists such as the companies that create the products and lab equipment scientists need.
Of course, I didn’t stop there.
There may be opportunities within companies that publish science books, magazines and periodicals.
Lobbying and advocacy groups may be looking for researchers with a science background.
There may be opportunities to work with lobbying or advocacy groups.
Universities with large science programs are often looking for program coordinators and grants managers with science backgrounds to support their work.
Of course, like many majors, you are only qualified for so many positions with a Bachelors degree. You may need to further your education to be a candidate for the type of position you really want. Taking some time to work within your field before graduate school will give you time to get a better of idea of what that position might be.
It will also give you a great network of colleagues you can reach out to when you graduate.
Many thanks to Wagner College's Career Services Office for putting together such a great event!
