What fields of study or career paths would you recommend to someone who is about to start applying to colleges next year?
22 replies (most recent on top)
Most people I’ve gotten to know at XOM followed that same logic. What worked in the 80s though may no longer work today.
I think it’s a hard sell to tell your kids they’ll have to go through 30-40 years of professional pain and suffering at a company like XOM to enjoy some years later. Then there’s the occasional XOM employee who passes away a year after he retires and they can’t even close the coffin given all the money that’s left over.
My advice would be:
- Never stop learning. The best insurance against unemployment is to stay marketable at all times. Most XOM employees have little to offer to the market after a few years. If you followed the advice of @ujf+1euJ1d7K 20 years ago and now got laid off in your late 40s, good luck.
- Take calculated professional risks when you are young. Pivot quickly. Your first job, girlfriend, etc., are probably your worst. Go through them quickly to learn what matters to you. You can have a boring job that you’ll hate later when you need to.
- Don’t be a d-mb sheep. Just because everyone else has a family, is religious, etc., doesn’t mean you need to. A lot gets easier once you’re free from what they indoctrinated you with when you were a child. Life’s pretty good all by itself, and we don’t need more children.
Juggling books.
They can start with ba--s and batons, but ultimately its the books.
Juggling the books.
@3tqn I agree. This is the best route for most boys and many girls. Basically anyone who is ill-equipped to deal with the passive-aggressive virtue-signaling BS that goes on at university and now in Corporate America should spare themselves the pain and go into the skilled trades or the military.
Find a trade. Good money, fewer politics, no student loans.
Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, welding, heavy equipment operator,...
Petroleum engineering. Pays the most and the world population will continue to grow
Tell them you've worked hard and have millions in the bank so they don't have to. Like royalty, they are already entitled to a good life and it's a matter of using your influence to get them a decent degree of any sort and your contacts to get them on a good payroll. That's all.
Maters not. Instead, tell our young that honesty, integrity and hard work don't always pay off. However, these traits make them better humanbeings. Whatever they chose to be, be a decent humanbeing first. Otherwise, hopeless.
Making things with the hands.
And selling or bartering them to others.
tell them to pursue computer science fields such as software engineering, data science
@OP Tell them to avoid O&G.
Survival Science studies is likely best.
Lot's of field work. Practical stuff.
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https://www.collegeconsensus.com/features/most-in-demand-degrees/
1. Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering
Career: Software Developer
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Career: Physician
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Career: Health Care Management
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Career: Nurse Practitioner
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6. Master of Science, Physician Assistant
Career: Physician Assistant
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Projected Jobs: 39,300
Salary: $112,260.00
7. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD)
Career: Veterinarian
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The demand for veterinarians has been strong for some time and the demand is predicted to increase as pet owners are spending more on health care for their pets. Adding to the demand is the fact there are only 28 veterinary programs in the US. This limits the amount of veterinary school graduates and makes it one of the most in-demand degrees.
Projected Jobs: 14,200
Salary: $95,460.00
8. Bachelor of Science, Data Science
Career: Data Scientist
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Projected Jobs: 10,300
Salary: $94,280.00
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Career: Statistician
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10. MS Speech-Language Pathology
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Projected Jobs: 40,500
Salary: $79,120.00
Focus on the money.
Make your carrier selection based mostly on the money, i.e., the salary. That would include a career in engineering, medicine, law, finance or several other functions. Once you’ve made that selection then be the best you can in your career; that will bring you personal satisfaction.
As far as ‘follow your passion’, that is something you do in retirement once you have provided for your family and raised your children (which, in itself, will bring a lot personal satisfaction).
I retired as a EM engineer. It paid good money for many years which we squirrel away in a 401k. Now retired, I can spend the remainder of my life following my passion (hobby rocketry) knowing that we are financially secure because I chose to focus on making money right out of the gate.
Living your life, or raising a family, on a meager salary would be a drag, I believe.
Software or Computer Engineering. I’m in my mid 30s and if I could go back and do it again, I’d go that route for sure. There’s likely going to a shortage of trade skills in the future too. I have several relatives who run their own businesses as tradesmen and make great money and work for themselves.
“Follow your passion” is a stupid advice. Most people are not the best on anything and “their passion” leads them to poorly paid, crowded areas as mediocre practitioners. So, for me engineering is still the best if one is a little above average in STEM.
@jdk+1euJ1d7K
“Follow your passion”
Sounds good, in theory. Just avoid pathologically mismanaged companies like EM, where being “the best at what you do” in a technical field leads you straight into a PIP.
On the other hand, if you happen to be “the best” at brown nosing, your future is golden.
Chemical or Mechanical Engineering but not to join O&G. Opens many doors for them.
How ridiculous that posting was!
Please bring him to the cube, take a picture and post on LinkedIn that you have recommended him to be part of the family! You may just get the extra point for your upcoming forces ranking discussion!
Follow your passion, not the job market.
If you are the best at what you do you can be successful in any field. If you are average at what you do you can struggle in even the hottest markets.
The downside of software engineering: You job hop for most of your career, which works to your advantage in early years. Sometimes by choice and sometimes by layoffs, so may be tough if not your choice. By the time you reach 50s, you can see more age discrimination in your applications.
Don’t think there is a magic ticket. Aim for STEM career with earning potential and something that also makes you happy. Somewhere, there is a career that achieves both.
Software Engineering. Literally every economic sector requires software engineers now. If not for developing apps and programs then at the minimum for IT and cyber security. They can work remote and make six figures easy and thats for the jobs that don't involve FAANG. I'm a recent grad in chemical engineering and heavily regret not doing software engineering. After that, I would say computer engineering/robotics/automation since that'll also be guaranteed in demand now and in the future. Most computer engineers can also get software engineering jobs. Steer them AWAY from the normal engineering (chemical, mechanical, electrical). The pay, benefits, locations are all much worse for an equivalent level of difficulty. And unless they want to end up as lab technician steer them AWAY from a bachelor's in chemistry, biology, and physics. If they want to pursue a PhD or med school then those fields are fine.