How To Prepare For The 11 Best Jobs of the 21st Century - career choices for African American college graduates

Ebony, Jan, 2000 by Kimberly Davis

WITH a booming economy and record-low unemployment levels for skilled workers, choosing the right career for the 21st century will probably mean more money, more satisfaction and more of the good things in life.

The labor force is expected to hit nearly 150 million by the year 2006, and executive recruiters and career experts at historically Black colleges and universities say that in the new millennium African-American college graduates will see even more of an explosion in the "hot" career tracks related to computer technology and other successful fields during the last part of the 20th century.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 1 million new jobs will be created in the computer-related industry by the year 2006. Competition for those positions, in jobs like software design or computer programming, has pushed the average starting salary to the mid-40s, according to a salary survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. In a job market driven by computer systems, people with the skills to build and run those systems still will be at the wheel.

"It's an answer to a demand. Look at the times we're in right now, we're more computer-oriented," says Eral Burks, president and CEO of Minority Executive Search firm in Cleveland. "It will still need manpower. You're still going to need individuals to key in. You're still going to need managers for those individuals who key in and run (that) company."

But technology-related and engineering fields aren't the only ones reaping the benefits of a strong economy. For African-Americans graduating from college, choosing a major or changing careers, other hot jobs can be found in finance, education and health care. To build a career, find a company that will train you and give you the practical application and experience to reach your goals.

"They're looking to hire young, aggressive, fresh talent to train for the new millennium," says Burks, whose company specializes in the recruitment and placement of female and minority candidates within corporate America. "Take advantage of all that a company has to offer."

Recruiters are looking for multitalented and well-rounded candidates, says Delores Dean, career center director at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. A foreign language is a plus in the increasingly global environment, and computer courses for non-technical majors are essential in this electronic age, she says. In addition, courses in management and leadership will help give you the competitive edge, and once you get the job, never stop learning and networking, says Dean.

Tom Luten, director of Hampton University's career center; says the person with technical skills probably has a "gold mine" in terms of job availability and salary. "Right now, anyone who has technical skills -- the electrical engineering, the computer science, the computer information systems major -- with good business skills will be the most marketable," says Luten, who has been at the Hampton, Va., school for about a year. "You have to be savvy enough to assess the business environment and develop a product that will meet the needs of a rapidly changing telecommunications, media and Internet network."

But the strong candidate also has to have excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to listen and work in teams.

Another good way to set yourself apart from other candidates is to have the flexibility to "go where the job is," Burks says. "Location, location, location. You have to be willing to relocate in order to excel in your career."

To help you in your career search, here is a list of the 11 best jobs of the 21st century based on information from business executives, college career experts and job-growth statistics.

(1) Systems analysts and computer support specialists: If systems analysts are in the driver's seat, then database administrators and computer support specialists enjoy being along for the ride. Workers in this field are projected to see the largest percentage growth increase by the year 2006: from 212,000 in 1996 to 461,000 in 2006, an increase of about 118 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their average starting salary of about $45,000 is slightly less than that of systems analysts, whose ranks are expected to more than double in 2006, from about 506,000 to 1,026,000.

(2) Engineering: The engineering field appears to always be a safe bet, with steady growth in starting salary offers, good benefits and job availability. Topping the list are computer engineers, followed closely by electrical, mechanical, chemical and industrial. In general, the computer science major chooses either an engineering or information systems track, and makes about $45,000 a year to start. Engineers are also needed to build support for the computer networks and to build the computers themselves.

(3) Health Care: Occupational and physical therapy, physician's assistants, home health ,care aides, specialists and registered nurses are all in demand in the health care industry, as are administrators to train and manage them, says Dean. As the U.S. population gets older, more workers are take care of them.