|
|
|
 Q.
I am a student in the Associate of Arts in Business Administration degree program and I'm having trouble deciding which concentration I should select for my BBA degree program. How can I choose a concentration now, if I'm not sure what career opportunities to pursue? Marketing or Healthcare Management?
A. Being at a crossroad, and having to make a decision as to which direction to go, can be a stressful time. Many students have difficulties making that decision, so you are not alone. There are many resources available that can assist a college student in finding their niche.
One thing you can do to help confirm that your education is heading you in the right direction, is to join a professional association. There are many associations you can join at no cost that can help you to gain insight into different industries or career fields. This is a great way to network with people in the industry and to become aware of different opportunities. For a list of some professional associations, visit: http://www.jobweb.com/Career_Development/prof_assoc.htm.
A professional mentor can an excellent resource as well. Cultivating a mentorship will require more proactive actions on your part, but could be well worth the effort. Mentors can offer advice to students in their chosen field, and can help provide them with an accurate image of the workplace culture and the challenges of their profession. Don't be afraid to approach someone you respect in the industries or careers in which you are interested. Successful professionals may be busy, but they generally are willing to take time to share their experiences!
If potential salary levels are a concern, you can conduct a job search in a selected field to see what positions are available in your area, and what the salary ranges are. For example, if you are trying to decide between Marketing and Healthcare Management, visiting websites such as www.salary.com and www.monster.com to view the salary calculator can help you gauge salary averages in your area for the different positions in those fields. These sites also offer brief descriptions of the positions to help you to assess your level of interest, which is certainly one of the key ingredients to a successful career!
Betsy Balachandran is the Employment Advisor Coordinator for American InterContinental University Online.
|
 
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Send Career Services Questions to:
CareerPointers Newsletter
AIU Online
5550 Prairie Stone Parkway
Suite 400
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
 
View our updated lists of working relationships with many of today's leading companies and organizations.
Top 10 Signs that you've found your dream job!
 Read More
|
