All of your favorite content from Mind Your Major can now be found at our new home: Career Corner.
Our new blog combines the best of major and occupational information with internship postings, professional development tips, and announcements of events hosted by Career and Professional Development at Baylor. We look forward to seeing you in our corner of the blogosphere!
Wherever your summer plans take you, don’t neglect your career development. Of course, we strongly encourage you to gain valuable experience through an internship, summer job, or volunteer opportunity. Additionally, consider researching career possibilities using some of our premium resources found on our website. Your time is valuable, so make sure you are being a good steward of your opportunities. Remember, our staff will be available throughout the summer to assist you with your major exploration and career development. Please feel free to contact us. Have a great summer!
The staff in the Paul L. Foster Success Center want to offer you a study break. We invite you to come by the 1st floor lobby of the Sid Richardson Building (if you aren’t already there studying) to join us for free cookies and lemonade from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m on May 6th and 7th. We wish you the best on your final exams!
It’s the last full week of class at Baylor. Many of you have tests, papers, projects and other assignments due this week and finals exams up ahead. Sometimes in the midst of the busy, it can be a challenge to stay motivated. Here is an article that offers 20 tips for motivation. Hopefully, they will be a valuable resource.
Also, sometimes what we eat can play a powerful role in our stress levels, so instead of reaching for your nearest junk food snack, read this article about the top 5 foods that can reduce stress:
I’m glad to see that chocolate made the list!
As always, if your stress is on the rise and you need a resource to help you work through it, please do not hesitate to reach out to the counseling center for additional support: www.baylor.edu/counseling_center.
We want you to finish strong and be successful!!
Despite popular myth, there really are many career possibilities available to history majors. Some of the following resources may help you discover ways to apply your knowledge and skills out in the professional world.
Careers for History Majors (American Historical Association)
Careers for the History Professional (American Association for State and Local History)
History (University of North Carolina-Wilmington)
WebLinks: History (Northern Illinois University)
The demand for primary care practitioners is high, due in large part to the aging baby boomer population. Physician assistants are key players in the field of health care. If you are interested in primary care, this occupation could be worth your time to explore. Under the supervision of a physician, physician assistants are able to diagnose and treat illnesses. They are also able to prescribe medication.
Many people are attracted to this profession due to the amount of independence in working with patients, as well as a good job market. The path to become a physician assistant is not easy, however. In fact, physician assistant programs have become more competitive than medical schools for admission. Students must exhibit excellent grades, and many applicants have health care experience as a registered nurse or emergency medical technician. Physician assistant programs take between two and three years to complete.
For more information, the American Academy of Physician Assistants offers an article entitled, “Becoming a PA.”
The end of the semester usually involves major papers, projects, and tests that need to be completed before the final exam period, so you might not be thinking about finals just yet. Wise students know that one of the keys to strong final exam performance is preparing early. Use this guide from Academic Support Programs to help you form a plan to tackle this semester’s finals. Best wishes!
For students who take an interest in economics, there are multiple ways to build an academic plan that will suit each student’s unique career needs. Students can choose a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, or Bachelor of Science degree plan. What this means is that students who have an interest in double majoring have 86 possible choices for their second major. Students can use this foundation to enter thousands of occupations, including business, law, and healthcare. An Economics minor is also available.
Click here for some initial ideas on career possibilities with an Economics major.
As we get closer to graduation day, some of you will be walking across the stage at the Ferrell Center and heading off to “fling your green and gold afar”. Something that is helpful to remember as you begin those first jobs is the importance of incorporating savings into your lifestyle. For many students and young professionals, financial security is a major value. One way to work towards that value is savings. Take a minute and read this article from the Levo League about how much to save and ways to begin saving: http://www.levoleague.com/lifestyle/how-much-your-paycheck-should-you-be-saving. If we incorporate savings into our financial picture at the beginning of our career, it will be easier to continue the trend throughout our working life.
Marketing is a popular major choice for many of our students, due to the perception that interpersonal skills and creative talent are key elements. Today’s post will focus on the responsibilities of marketing managers. From Occupational Outlook Handbook:
Marketing managers estimate the demand for products and services that an organization and its competitors offer. They identify potential markets for the organization’s products.
Marketing managers also develop pricing strategies to help organizations maximize profits and market share while ensuring that the organizations’ customers are satisfied. They work with sales, public relations, and product development staff.
For example, a marketing manager may monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services. Then they oversee the development of that new product.
Take note that strategy based on data is a key element of this profession. Do you consider yourself a strategic thinker? Do you like analyzing information? Obviously, the ability to work as part of a team is also critical.
It is also important to recognize that many marketing managers have work experience in the field prior to taking on the management role. Reviewing full-time job postings for marketing managers will help you gain an understanding of what kinds of experience you will need to be qualified for a leadership role. You could even begin gaining experience during college through internships. Make sure to visit the website for the Office of Career and Professional Development for information on how to prepare for and find an internship.
Another resource, the American Marketing Association, has a section of their website devoted to students. It includes a job board. Keep in mind that once you determine if a career in marketing is for you, you will need to develop a plan for marketing your own skills and talents.
Click here for more information on the Marketing major at Baylor.