March 2009
Strategies for
Tough Times: Career Advice from a Leading Long Island Educator
BY DR. ROBERT A. SCOTT,
PRESIDENT, ADELPHI UNIVERSITY
You can also check out http://www.adelphi.edu/linonprofit
A graduating senior asked me
recently about career options, given the state of the economy. Alumni
in the financial services industry attend university-sponsored networking
seminars to learn about new opportunities. Most of us seem to know someone
who has lost a job. What should they do? What are the benefits of earning
another degree or changing fields through education?
A career hiatus, or turmoil
in one’s chosen profession, can be a good time to continue, either
full-time or part-time, one’s education in order to master advanced
knowledge and skills; add another specialty or license; seek new contacts
through professors, fellow students, and visiting experts; and become
known by leaders in your field.
These times are occasions to
assess one’s career interests. Perhaps a hobby can become a business.
Perhaps a volunteer activity is a path to a new career. We know many
students in nursing who started in other fields, from medicine to commercial
fishing, and students in Social Work and Education who started in Law
and Finance. Most health professions show promising employment opportunities.
In these times, many people may seek advanced education for positions
in mental health counseling and related fields. Other areas of enterprise
with growth prospects include energy, technology, and telecommunications.
It is important to study the
data on employment growth in different locations. It may be necessary
not only to change fields, but also to move to a new region.
Community colleges and adult
baccalaureate programs at senior colleges are good places to look for
education, training, and re-training when a job change is necessary.
Ask about support for tuition from your employer, the county, and the
state. Newspaper stories about successful transitions also can be good
sources of information, because they often profile people who have been
forced to move from the auto industry or retailing to a new field such
as teacher’s aide, chef, radiology technician, or sales entrepreneur.
Still others move to smaller firms which seem to sprout up in turbulent
times when large firms shed talent.
Now is also a time for self-assessment.
Do you have a positive attitude at work? Do you volunteer for more responsibility?
Do you participate in employer or industry-sponsored events? Do you work
well as a member of a team, seeking success for the unit? What kind of
work environment do you enjoy the most? Do you have a mentor? Do you
work on your “people” skills?
The times are difficult, it is true. But opportunity exists for those who analyze
the circumstances, prepare a plan with alternatives, know themselves and execute
with patience and enthusiasm.
Dr. Scott was appointed
Adelphi University’s ninth president in July 2000. A scholar,
teacher, author and business leader, in 2007, Dr. Scott was a Networking® magazine
2007 David Award honoree.
© 2009 NETWORKING® MAGAZINE
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