Bring Your Child to Work Day!
April 27, 2006
We had an exciting day today. Among the fun things we did, we participated in a live, videoconference with some kids in Washington, DC.
They were students from the Arlington, Virginia Public Schools and they talked to us about the cool things that they can do using technology.
They showed us a web site that let us choose the things that we like to doand it was able to tell us the types of jobs we might want to do when we grow up.
We also saw some free videos online that explained the history of the Internet and about many of the things we can do with it. Nortel helps make these videos and wants teachers and students to use them. So you should tell my teacher or principal about them.
We hope that you will go online and look at what we did today.
Six Career Tips for Parents
1. It is never too early for young people to start thinking about their career interests
and abilities.
2. Based on some broad choices, students can begin focusing their studies to provide more meaning and depth. Students always can switch paths if/when their interests change; sequenced paths tend to be provide more learning than diffused paths.
3. The modern marketplace demands a balance of core academics, soft skills (professionalism), hard skills (i.e. tech skills) and high-level application.
Students should think about what they are doing to develop and document their abilities in all four of these areas.
4. Within any one path, there are jobs for students with 2-yr. degrees, 4-yr. degrees, and masters/Ph.D. degrees.
The level of job really just depends on one's goals, personality, and time/money/inclination to educate one’s self.
BUT, it is heavily recommended that ALL students acquire at least a 2-yr. Associates degree in addition to their high school diploma, because of the substantial difference in earnings between students with a 2-yr. degree and those with only a High School diploma/GED.
Look at the marketplace to see which career fields and jobs are projected to be in
demand over the next decade.
5. There is GREAT information online at cx.bridges.com. Informed decisions based on
real economic data are always better than blind decisions.
- Information Technology (IT)isprojected to be thefastest growing of all sectors in the U.S. over the next decade.
For those with computer interests, it's a great time to be alive!!!