CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIOLOGY MAJORS

If there is one question that career counselors and faculty advisors are asked more often than all others by students seeking assistance with career planning, it is this: "What can I do with this major?" An undergraduate student in the liberal arts and sciences is actually developing a broad array of skills that might be applied to any number of careers, rather than developing an in-depth expertise in just one area. Therefore, a better question to pose might be: "What skills am I developing in my major, and how might I explore careers that would require these skills?" The study of sociology provides an understanding of the social character of human life and the ways in which social organizations influence human affairs. Sociology's subject matter ranges from how family members interact with each other to the analysis of social revolutions; from problems of racial conflict to the study of the aging process. Because sociologists study the behavior of both people and groups, the field is an excellent concentration for undergraduates who hope to pursue careers in law, business, health professions or social science. Students with a bachelor's degree can often secure employment as research assistants, data analysts or as case workers. Advanced degrees are generally required for consulting work, administrative positions, college teaching, or certain research jobs.

SKILLS/ABILITIES
Communication Skills:
Observing people, data, and things
Informing and explaining information
Interviewing skills
Strong verbal and writing skills
Organizing/Managing Abilities:
Planning and designing projects
Organizing ideas, materials, and objects
Decision-making
Developing and adapting ideas
Human Relations Skills:
Sensitivity to people and problems
Knowledge of human relationships & social processes
Ability to represent others
Assessing people's needs
Research Abilities:
Gathering and analyzing information
Strong problem solving skills
Comparing and clarifying skills
Reviewing and evaluating projects and ideas
Knowledge of survey research methods
Computer and statistical skills
Sampling for surveys and marketing
Manipulating numerical data
Solving quantitative problems
Working self-directedly
Tabulating data
Setting and meeting deadlines

OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIOLOGY MAJORS:

˜Admissions Counselor ˜Adoption Agent ˜Advertising Manager ˜Alcohol & Drug Case Worker ˜Banking/Branch Management ˜Budget Analyst ˜Career Services Counselor ˜Case Aid Worker ˜Child Welfare Officer ˜City Planner ˜Civil Engineer ˜Clergy ˜Community Relations Director ˜Compensation/Benefits Worker ˜Congressional Aid ˜Consultant ˜Consumer Advocate ˜Consumer Survey Advisor ˜Convention Organizer ˜Cooperative Extension Agent ˜Correctional Case Worker ˜Corrections Officer ˜Cottage Parent ˜Criminologist ˜Customer Relations ˜Data Analyst ˜Data Processing ˜Day Care Worker ˜Delinquency Counselor ˜Demographic Analyst ˜Dietitian ˜Editor ˜Family Guidance Clinic Worker ˜Family Preservation Case Worker ˜Family Services Specialist ˜Financial Aid Director ˜Foster Care Worker ˜Fund-raiser/Development Officer ˜Gerontologist ˜Government Worker ˜Group Therapist ˜Health Care Worker ˜Hospital Administrator ˜Human Resources Administrator ˜Human Services Worker ˜Independent Living Trainer ˜Industrial Sociologist ˜Insurance Agent/Broker ˜Job Analyst ˜Labor Force & Manpower ˜Labor Relations Representative ˜Life Quality Research ˜Manufacturing Representative ˜Market Researcher ˜Marketing Research Analyst

˜Marriage and Family Therapist ˜Mass Communications Analyst ˜Medical Social Worker ˜Mental Health Agent ˜Motivational Speaker ˜News Correspondent ˜Nutritionist ˜Parole Officer ˜Peace Corps/VISTA Worker ˜Penologist ˜Personnel Interviewer ˜Personnel Specialist ˜Personnel-Training & Development ˜Policy Analyst ˜Political Systems Researcher ˜Population Specialist ˜Probation Officer ˜Professor ˜Program Director ˜Public Administrator ˜Public Health Educator ˜Public Health Statistician ˜Public Opinion Surveyor ˜Public Relations Specialist ˜Public Service Worker ˜Recreation Director ˜Recreation Therapist ˜Rehabilitation Counselor ˜Reporter ˜Research Analyst ˜Research Assistant ˜Research Director ˜Sales Campaign Planning ˜Sales Representative ˜School Counselor ˜Secret Service Agent ˜Social Movements Organizer ˜Social Science Analyst ˜Social Scientist ˜Social Survey Director ˜Social Welfare Examiner ˜Social Worker ˜Statistical Analyst ˜Statistician ˜Survey Research Technician ˜Survey Specialist ˜Systems and Programming ˜Specialist ˜Teacher ˜Technical Writer ˜Therapy Aid ˜Urban Planner ˜Veterans Affairs Specialist ˜Welfare Counselor ˜Writer/Author

Suggestions to Enhance Your Skills
˜ Concentrate course work in areas of interest.
˜ Learn skills in communication, such as public speaking, one-on-one communication, analytical writing, etc.
˜ Gain experience via part-time or summer jobs, internships or practicum placements, and volunteer work.
˜ Emphasize research methods, statistics, and computer skills.
˜ Develop good research skills. Volunteer to work on a research project with a professor
˜ Pursue an excellent academic record.
˜ Obtain counseling courses and experience for counseling and case worker positions.
˜ Acquire related experience.
˜ Consider business minor or double major for positions in administration, and master's in health care administration for advancement.
˜ Take courses in social psychology or industrial psychology.
˜ Volunteer as a tutor.
˜ Secure strong personal recommendations.
˜ Learn the federal, state, and local government job application process.
˜ Acquire knowledge of community problems and government resources.

RESEARCHING YOUR CAREER IDEAS
How do you find out what’s out there?
Researching careers is a time-consuming, but necessary process. Waiting until graduation to start thinking about your career plans is as foolish as studying after you’ve taken your final exams.
1. Written and On-line Resources:
˜ Visit Career & Counseling Services’ Career Resource Center
˜ Visit the Chalmer Davee Library
˜ Browse the Internet, such as Career & Counseling Services’ Web Page
2. People Resources:
˜ Talk with Faculty and Alumni
˜ Join Professional Organizations
˜ Conduct Occupational Interviews
˜ Use Career & Counseling Services’ “Career Information Network”
˜ Consult Employer Directories and the Yellow Pages
3. Obtain Direct Experience:
˜ Job Shadowing
˜ Volunteer or part-time work
˜ Internships are essential! Talk with your departmental faculty coordinator for internship information.

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