Career paths for college graduates are not as defined a few years ago. The degree you qualify with may no longer define the field you will be working. This shift is very fascinating and it shows the changing dynamic of the job market.
This fact caught the attention of researchers and two studies have been conducted to establish what is happening. The study involved data of over one hundred twenty-five million (125M) US Americans graduates who have undergone at least 4 years of a college education.
The two studies have dived deep into the fact that there is a possibility that graduates are no longer working on the fields of their specialization. The study also looks at, if the graduates are switching jobs more often than their parents did.
The first study was conducted by Emsi. The company specializes in labor market research and it undertook this research to establish a connection between degrees, the ever-changing job market, and graduate career opportunities.
They followed six degrees to establish these connections. languages and philosophy, the social sciences, business, communications, engineering, and information technology.
Advertising, financial research or sales – alternate career paths
The research established that, for all these courses, most graduated in the field they had started. An example is twenty percent (20%) of engineering graduates worked in mechanical or industrial engineering. However, by their fourth jobs, they had already switched jobs and went into other career choices such as advertising, financial research or sales were some of the most common choices and made top 10 in all six selections under investigation for these graduates.
Clair Coffey, a data researcher, and writer in Emsi is quoted as arguing that the most marketable jobs are the ones that are dealing with the companies products directly. In these types of jobs such as advertising, there is growth in the industry and pay and this is attracting many people. It is no longer about what one wants to do what they grow up. It is about the opportunities that are presenting themselves in the market place and this matters.
The second study was conducted by the Council of Graduate Studies who looked at over four thousand seven-hundred (4,700) Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) graduates. They wanted to determine how they have changed career paths in the last 15, 8 and three years.
The study was able to determine that those who graduated 15 years ago, were more likely to stay at one job. However, the probability of switching from one job to another increased dramatically when 8 years was considered. This number also increased when graduates from three years ago were considered.
Both studies were able to show the adaptability being employed by graduates. They have been able to establish the link between the growing job market and how the graduates are adapting to the changing job market. Here’s guidance from an online jobs provider:
A thoughtful career path plan is a key factor in employee engagement and employee retention. An organization contributes to an employee’s ability to develop a career path by making the knowledge, skills, experience, and job requirements for each position within the company – transparent.
From where we are looking, an employee might end up in a job where he can gain skills on the job. There is a lot to be gained when an employer can help an employee get better on the job.
An employer can do best to help employees develop career paths, giving guidance to a clear career path to development and growth. An insensitive employer will soon find his skilled employees moving to another company that can meet their needs.
