University Daily Kansan / Tuesday, May 1, 1990
Careers
9B
Engineering, science strongest job foundations
Engineerin Employers seek minorities to fill work openings
The Associated Press
A shortage of engineers and scientists has educators and potential employers aggressively courting women
"We need to funnel our brightest students — including women and minorities — into science and engineering, to remain competitive economically on an international scale," said Dr. Steven of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J.
A shortfall of 400,000 recipients of bachelor of science degrees and 27,000 of doctorates by the year 2000 has been projected by the Hudson Institute in its 'Workforce 2000' report. The squeeze is being intensified by competition from countries like Japan and West Germany, which have about twice as many engineers per capita as the United States, according to a Battelle Memorial Institute study.
Cornell University, for one, has initiated two new programs to find and encourage Black high school students and minority college freshmen to pursue science and engineering careers. "Too many people have accepted the idea that there's no pool from which to train the Black engineers of the future," says Judy Jackson, assistant dean of engineering for minority programs. "We said that it's ridiculous. We went aggressively into five high schools, and we asked guidance counselors for kids with aptitude. We talked to every kid who had the potential and chose those who also had the desire to reach their potential. Then we talked to their parents."
Little progress has been made in increasing the number of women in science and engineering, says Dr Jane Butler Kahle, professor of teacher education at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, who has been studying the role of women in the workplace. She thinks the reasons include lack of role models, a bias in science, and inequities in the workplace.
Short-term CEO brings long-term benefits
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — A new quirk in corporate hiring is the interim executive, according to John A. Thompson, chairman of the Interim Management Corp.
Thompson says many corporations are using executive temps to solve their short-term problems.
"They serve as chief executive officer, chief financial officer, comproller, chief loan officer, marketing manager and any other executive category in which there is an immediate need," he says.
“An interim management strategy allows a company to meet challenges without padding its permanent team or draining its resources. It's not a stopgap strategy. Our goals are to move the organization can use to ensure versatility and death.”
Most interim managers, he says, are not out-of-work executives but "people who have achieved a degree of
financial independence and prefer short-term assignments rather than permanent corporate positions."
Thompson's company, which specializes in supplying high-level executives on a temporary basis to industry and the non-profit sector, offers this list of questions for potential interim executive:
— Do you prefer to use your expertise in a wide variety of situations?
— Are you a quick learner?
— Have you held a high-level management position for at least 10 years?
— Are you a self-starter who needs a minimum of supervision?
- Do you enjoy working in situations where the objectives are relatively short-term and well defined?
— Are you comfortable with not knowing where you will be working in six months?
Only 14 percent of the country's scientists and engineers are women, about the same proportion as 25 years ago, she says. Not only are their enrollment rates lower, but the attrition rates are higher. The few who manage to get their degrees and move into the workforce face lower promoter promotion, less visibility and fewer rewards at work.
Armed with a grant from the National Science Foundation, Kahle investigated high schools around the country to see what they did to motivate girls to continue science education. "I wanted to go in and find out what a good teacher did."
What she found was that relatively inexpensive changes — attractive classrooms with plants and animals, non-sexist language, stress on the creativity in science, and career advice — contributed to increased interest not only from girls but boys as well. "This was true even in the inner-city school, where the room was too small. It was just very attractive even when the blinds were ripped and some of the glass was shattered."
Raveche agrees that a less sterile image of science will help. "We've got to convey the sense of fun and
Girls should be encouraged not only because the economy will need them but because they will benefit themselves, Kahle says. "I explain to parents that we aren't in the schools because we think their daughters won't learn as much as us but because we think it's better to earn $10 an hour as a technician rather than $4 an hour as a beautician."
excitement — and the relevance — of science." He adds that high schools and colleges need to improve the image and professionalism of math and science teachers. "Our work is crucial in these areas, and need, complete with calculator and pocket protector."
And the jobs are out there for technicians.
"I get lots of of job descriptions for polymer engineers. I wish I could fill all the requests I get," says Ruth Walton, who directs career services at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. Stevens is one of the few universities with a strong field growing because of development of high-performance plastics with new uses in manufacturing, construction, and medicine.
For example, polymer engineering, completely unknown two decides ago, is a new field for science and engineering.
Plastics are beginning to be rated as highly as steel, glass and ceramics as an engineering material, says Costas Gogos, chemical engineering professor at Stevens and new initiatives director of its Polymer Processing Institute. And in medicine, polymers are useful because they are inert, meaning they do not interact with the body. That makes them good for implants and intravenous feeding devices, he says.
Stevens' placement council estimates that the median starting salary after college for chemical engineers, including polymer specialists, at $34,699. —
The waste-management crisis has created a shortage of trained environmental and waste-management engineers, according to a Cornell University survey of consulting firms in the United States and Canada.
"Almost all the 51 firms we surveyed project new employment opportunities for environmental and waste-management engineers," says Kate Skelton, research director for the Cornell Waste Management Institute. He said the department is preparing to enter the field of waste management is far from sufficient to meet current and future demands."
Waste-management engineers oversee plans and strategies for dealing with solid, municipal, industrial, hazardous, agricultural, sewage and radioactive wastes. They monitor and construction of handling facilities.
While the firms say that 60 percent of their new hires in the past two years have had bachelor's degrees, most want future employees to have master's degrees. Average starting salaries were $27,518 for the former and $30,403 for the latter. Salaries are highest in the Northeast and lowest in the Southwest and Midwest.
Skelton says that the demand may even be higher than the survey shows. "We polled only established consulting firms that have already carved out their stable share of the market, and we know we are missing the many new firms entering the field of waste management and environmental engineering."
Another field with shortages is nuclear pharmacy, for dealing with radiopharmaceuticals and radioactive drugs used in diagnosing diseases like heart conditions and cancer.
New consultants solve firms' identity crises
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — When Nissan was ready to market a luxury car, it wanted a name and a symbol that meant something on both sides of its quality, conveyed its quality and bridged language barriers. After months of consultation, the name Infiniti and its symbol — an unbroken line incorporating a peak — emerged.
When American Can decided its name no longer fit the character and breadth of its financial services and specialty retailing business, it searched for a new one. It also needed a logo characterized with a logotype characterized by two merging typefaces that mirror the company's diversity.
Both companies used corporate identity consultants to analyze and execute the changes.
Naming names has become vital business in the era of mergers and global expansion, and many companies are using these specialists to help them establish, or re-establish their persona in the marketplace.
"IIf has achieved a level of recognition that it never had before," says Clive Chajet, chairman and chief executive of Lippincott & Margules, probably the leading corporate identity firm and the one which created the Infinifi and Primerica names.
He says the growing field is lucrative for people who have a curious blend of qualifications: Intellectual discipline, creativity, hard-nosed business sense, diplomatic skills, seasoning, and patience. They might find places at L&M or its competitors, which include Anspach Grossman Portugal, Inc., Landor Associates, and
Siegal & Gale. Identitypecialists are found on many corporate staffs as well.
Corporate identity people get involved in such diverse functions as naming or branding, logotypes and print design, market analyses and research, mission statements, and overall strategy. Chaium sets it up as "creative, intellectually strategic planning."
The mission, he says, is to define an identity that conveys what kind of company it is to work for, what its place in the market is, and its value in the stock market. "You don't do this simply because the company wants to decorate itself."
Field professionals fall into three main categories, usually working in concert: consultants, designers, and "name" people.
"A name person is a very special breed of person." Chajet says. "These are people who love words, who love to sit around and dream up names." The challenge may be to put a great deal of meaning and information into one simple word. Most companies today need names for their customers to be available. Names also must be available for copyright — not a small problem, since 80,000 new names are registered each year.
Then there is the designer, who may work primarily with typography but whose duties will extend to laying down usage formulas for logotypes, stationery, publications or product branding. "Our designers have to succeed in a very narrow graphic area. The type may be limited, but it has a major affect on the design itself."
Career change could be a page away
The Associated Press
You're out of a job? Or don't like the one you have and have that feeling it's time to move on. And you know that no one but you is looking out for you? You're experiencing "Career Shock," the title of a book by James C. Cotham, III (Donald F. Fine, Inc.) that's addressed to you. "Do not be bullied into thinking good things will automatically happen to you, especially if you press your shoulder to the wheel, work hard, are not being able to keep clean," he writes. "It just doesn't work that way anymore. This is not a fairy tale. It's cold reality." Cotham identifies the markers of career shock and gives practical advice about coping and moving on.
Overviews of the employment outlook by career, industry and region are covered in "Jobs '90," by Kathryn and Ross Petrus (Prentice Hall). Short analyses and salary estimates are interspersed with lists of resources, with addresses and phone numbers of professional organizations and major employers (including those where prospects are judged to be especially good by the authors).
A pocket book reprint of "Homebased Businesses" (Fawcett Books) by Beverly Neuer Feldman offers
It's estimated that between 1 million and 2 million people in this country earn their living at home, with the help of personal computers, fax machines and other electronics. "The Telecommuter's Handbook, or How to Work for a Salary Without Ever Leaving the House," by Brad Schepp (Pharos Books) is aimed at anyone who wants to join their ranks. The book covers how to get started, what kind of jobs there are, and what companies are in hiring employees who seldom set foot in their offices. The author also takes a look at the advantages and disadvantages and offers advice about how to set up your office at home. —
advice on how to find, plan and promote a business at home.
You've probably heard of that business animal, the cash cow. But do you know about the Four Tigers, the Hawthorne Effect, the Invisible Hand or the Lump Demand? If you're already behind on this brief quiz, you're ready for "Manageriality: What Today's Managers Must Know to Succeed," by Gary Shaw and Jack Weber (Dow Jones Irwin). The authors, management team, are College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia, respectively, say their book is the first to codify the language managers and executives need to know to do their jobs. (Answerers: The Four Tigers are Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea, newly industrialized powers of the Pacific rim. The Hawthorne Effect refers to how output relates to workers' feelings about how they are valued by employers. The Invisible Hand recalls Adam Smith's phrase in "The Value of Intentional market forces that balance personal interest and social gain in the economy. And the Lumpy Demand refers to wide variations in demand, including seasonality and economic instability.)
For the entry-level crowd, there's "Real Life 101 — Almost Surviving Your First Year Out of College," by Susan Kleinman (Master Media Limited). Since the author is only two years out of college, she writes from fresh experience. This is really a book of humorous essays, but it's sprinkled with genuine practical and strategic advice to help the beginner adjust to business and corporate culture.
"Majoring in the Rest of Your Life" (The Noonday Press) by Carol Carter is aimed at teen-agers, high school graduates and college freshmen. Mr. Carter is a student and director of college marketing for Prentice Hall publishers, she
offers some practical and sensible suggestions for developing "life skills" and making career goals personal interests and strengths.
A perennial manual for job-hunters and career-changers, "What Color Is your Parachute" (Ten Speed Press) is out in a 1990 edition marking its 20th anniversary. Author Richard Bolles continues the systematic approach of previous editions, outlining how to realize individual skills and find a job or new career. There are hints and suggestions and referrals, with a new section aimed at those with disabilities.
Ten Speed Press also has revised and updated "The Right Place at the Right Time," first published in 1987. It gives an overview of changes in the labor market and discusses individual skills and interests, how to find
out what specific jobs are like,the job search and interview process.
"Dream" jobs are the subject of "Jobs in Paradise" (Harper and Row) by Jeffrey Maltzman; teaching scuba diving in the Virgin Islands, leading a singles tour through Europe, working at a Colorado ski resort. The sourcebook is divided into snow and skiing, beaches and coasts, islands, mountains, high adventure, rivers and lakes, theme parks, deserts, tour and excursion leaders, and cruise shines.
A revised edition of "The Teenage Entrepreneur's Guide: 50 Money-Making Business Ideas," by Sarah Riehm (Survey Books), outlines for teens how to make money from their entrepreneurial skills, shirt art, garage cleaning or computer consulting — to avoid low-paying service jobs.
Earn big bucks in spare time, but buy book
The Associated Press
Spare-time business opportunities can be full-time fun and moneymakers, too, according to a new book, "The 100 Best Spare-Time Business Opportunities Today."
"There are plenty of part-time business opportunities that not only provide extra money but easily fit into your lifestyle," says Kevin Harrington, co-author of the book with Marian Cohen. "And they are also valuable to teachers and students, retirees and homemakers."
More than 7 million Americans hold second jobs, according to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Harrington says the first steps in choosing a spare-time, business career are akin to shopping: Can I afford it and do I like it?
A business opportunity shouldn't mean you have to drain your life's savings or mortgage your house to meet necessary capital, he says. You don't need to earn extra money to risk losing yourself into serious debt."
The business also should be one that you like, is easy to learn and simple to run, says Harrington.
To help decide what is the best choice, he says, ask yourself these questions:
■ Would it be enjoyable in your snare time?
Does it match your skills, training, experience, or education?
Can it fit into your everyday schedule?
■ Will it be here today and gone tomorrow?
Does it suit your budget?
Check list of career possibilities from welder to bus driver
Here are highlights of opportunities in a variety of fields:
The CIO, or chief information officer, is gaining visibility as a senior executive in many corporations, says a search consultant who specializes in the field.
"While some skepticism persists, the CIO' idea — a senior executive by whattitle title in charge of technology on a par with the CFO and other top-level execution, is no longer a novelty," says John Sparks. "With an executive search firm in New York City."
Davis estimates that better than half of the 100 largest technologically driven corporations have a CIO. This executive is less a technology expert than a business leader who manages information technology as an offensive and defensive weapon in a company's fight to survive in global markets, he says.
"The position has real teeth, real substance."
The person who plans and manages office environments, facilities, spelling management, spellings management.
Responsibilities include long-range planning and budgeting, real estate acquisition and disposal, planning of interior space, architectural and engineering planning, new construction or renovation, maintenance and operations management, integrating communications systems, and general administrative services, like food services, regraphics, and transportation.
ment.
According to the International Facility Management Association, based in Houston and currently claiming 7,800 members, entry level salaries average $20,000-$30,000, depending on position, company size and geographic location. The organization says that 22 colleges offer programs in this area, among them Cornell University, Fordham University, Purdue University and Brigham Young University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers several courses and is host to a conference each year.
The corporate real estate management
fid has become central to corporate
real estate management.
note.
Specialists, once just caretakers of company holdings, must now deal with large plant investment decisions that call for knowledge of corporate needs, government regulations, tax structures, cost factors and worldwide site location criteria, according to the Industrial Development Research Council, an association of Fortune 500 corporate real estate professionals.
Corporations are placing heavier emphasis on the recruitment of specialists who are seated in finance, foreign and defense sectors. The strategic thinking, according to the council
Employment opportunities are excellent for college business graduates who specialize in accounting, according to the personnel director of one of the nation's largest independent regional accounting firms.
"With the general disenchantment on Wall street, business-minded individuals looking for great career opportunities should seriously consider accounting," says Rick Fisher of Richard A. Elsner &
Co., a New York-based firm.
Although auditing services will always be the backbone of the accounting industry, Fisher says, individuals can expect to see opportunities in the areas of litigation support, bankruptcy, divorce and white collar crime.
According to the American Institute for Certified Public Accountants, the earnings potential of a CPA is excellent, with starting salaries as high as $33,000 — depending on the size of the firm, the company and the geographical location.
Women are making inroads into the life insurance business, according to a spokesman for Northwestern Mutual Life, where 10 of 15 sales agents are women.
Job opportunities in the welding field are being upgraded by a new certification
"The lure in this once-male-dominated field is the right mix of financial reward and flexibility," says John Caspari of the firm's communications department. He says the trend for more women in sales ranks will continue. Advanced degrees and prior experience, while helpful, are not aerequisite, he adds. —
program providing recognition of welders who have demonstrated their competence, according to the American Welding Society.
The program improves career mobility for welders with certification that travels with the individual, explains Richard Alley, president of the society.
"The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that we must maintain the welder workforce at about 429,000 in the 21st century. So AWS developed the welder certification program to provide personal credentials that stay with individuals wherever they may want to work, similar to those available in many other occupations." he says.
Many retirees and housewives are choosing second careers as school bus drivers, says a spokesman for MimiLinda Ryder Student Transportation Services.
More than 50 percent of Ryder's 7,000 drivers are women, many of them mothers of school age children attracted by schedulers. A majority of Ryder's children's, according to Jonathan Ward.