Maxine P. Atkinson
Professor of Sociology
NC State University
Chair, ASA Section on Teaching and Learning
“You have brains in
your head. You have
feet in your shoes.
You can steer
yourself any
direction you
choose. You're on
your own. And you
know what you
know. And YOU are
the one who'll
decide where to
go...”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh,
The Places You'll Go!
5/31/2016
2
Goals for Today
1. Articulate the skills/knowledge you have
acquired as a sociologist
2. Describe the kind of skills employers want
3. Analyze the fit between the two
4. Explain how to start looking for a job or a
graduate school
All in 20-25 minutes!
5/31/2016
3
You are a Sociologist!
What is the most common question you
were asked when you told your family and
friends you chose sociology as a major?
5/31/2016
4
What do 21st Century Careers Require?
5/31/2016
5
US Economy: Challenges and Dynamism
• Every year, more than 1/3 of the entire US labor force
changes jobs.
• Today's students may have between 10-14 jobs by the time
they are 38.
• 50% of workers have been with their company less than 5
years.
• Every year, more than 30 million Americans are working in
jobs that did not exist in the previous quarter
5/31/2016
6
Employers Continue to Raise the
Bar and Hire for Innovation
• 95% of employers “put a priority on hiring people with the
intellectual and interpersonal skills that will help them contribute
to innovation in the workplace”
• 93% of employers say that they are asking employees to “take
on more responsibilities and to use a broader set of skills than in
the past”
• 95% of employers say that “a candidate’s demonstrated capacity
to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex
problems is more important than their undergraduate major”
• 91% of employers say that “the challenges their employees face
are more complex than they were in the past.”
3/2/2016
5/31/2016
8
Sociological Skills Learning
5/31/2016
9
Sociological Skills Learning continued…
5/31/2016
10
Sociological Content Learning
Explain basic concepts in sociology
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11
Jobs, Sociology Majors, BA
Occupation
Example
%
Social Services, Counselors,
Psychologists
Oversee AIDS outreach team
26.50%
Administrative Support
Scheduler for State Representative
15.80%
Management
Handle employment and labor
relations
14.40%
Services
Crime scene technician
8.30%
Teachers, librarians
Provide reference, research and
database searching
8.10%
Social Science, Researchers
Research climate change policies
5.70%
Other Professionals
Website design
6.80%
5/31/2016
12
Preparing for the Job Market?
 Start Now
 Consider your goals…self assessment
 CareerOneStop.org
 Explore online Job Banks
 Idealist.org
 CareerOneStop.org
 USA Jobs.org (form E1-23, advanced
search, pay grade 5-7)
 CollegeGrad.com (BA or BS, entry level,
then skills such as sociology, research,
data, diversity)
5/31/2016
13
Finding a job
 Strength of Weak Ties
 Internships
 Volunteer
 Informational Interviews
5/31/2016
14
Graduate School?
5/31/2016
Field of Study
%
Sociology
22.4
Social Work
16.9
Education
11.4
Law Other
10.5
Social Sciences
9.4
Psychology/Counseling
8.6
Engineering
7.3
Business/Management
4.5
Public Policy/Affairs
3.8
Other
Total
5.1
100
15
Preparing for Graduate School
 Work hard in your courses
 Present your research
 Articulate your skills
 Work with your academic
advisor
5/31/2016
16
“And will you
succeed?
Yes! You will,
indeed!
(98 and 3/4
percent
guaranteed.)
Kid You’ll
Move
Mountains!
5/31/2016
17