Top Careers In Cumberland County

January 31, 2007 in Uncategorized

By: Lisa Riley
Voice Contributor

One of the top concerns that face many Cumberland County College students, is what the job market will be like for their chosen career when they graduate.
Research shows that if you’ve chosen criminal justice, healthcare, or education, then you’re poised for one of the best growth careers. But if you’ve gone into manufacturing or quality assurance, then your options may be more limited.

According to the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development the career fields in Cumberland County with the highest growth potential are correctional officers and jailers, followed closely by childcare workers, teaching assistants, and social services workers. Each of these fields are projected to grow between 15-19% by the year 2012.
“The demand for qualified healthcare workers will continue to increase as the U.S. population ages,” said Rhonda Lipsey, Healthcare Employment Expert at CareerBuilder.com. “More than 300,000 healthcare jobs were created in 2004 and economists are projecting this trend will continue.”
The fields that show the least amount of growth are inspectors/quality control, laborers, material handlers, and typist (data entry).
However, regardless of your choice in career, there are ways to make yourself more marketable and more likely to secure a position upon graduation.
In addition to creating a professional resume and an outstanding portfolio, students may consider learning a second language. “Anyone who is bilingual, who can speak fluent English and Spanish, can be more easily placed into nearly any position,” said John Ross of Manpower Staffing Agency. “Companies have a need for employees who can speak both languages fluently and usually give preference to these individuals.”
And, of course, brush up on your interviewing skills. “Always dress for the position you want five years from now,” advised Professor Edgar of Delaware County Community College. “Not for the position you’re applying for right now. And continue to do so throughout your career.” How you present yourself is crucial. “Mind your manner of speech as well,” continued Edgar. “Nothing is worse than speaking to a person who uses ‘street-slang’ or too many ‘uh’, ‘um’, or other crutch words.”
Do an online search for additional interview “dos and don’ts” and/or visit your local career center.

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  • One Book One College

    By Jen Resnick Since 2004 there has been a One Book One College program here at CCC. The Students and staff are requested to read a book, which is chosen for that academic year. The book brings students, staff and even community members closer together by discussion. The CCC staff members are responsible for choosing the book. Professor Catherine Kewish chose this year’s one-book one-college novel. She chose Snow Falling On Cedars, by David Guterson. “The number one reason that this book was picked, [was] because it lent itself to so many different classes and different academic areas. It could easily be discussed, paper assignments, research papers and things like that and it also lent itself to multi-culturism diversity, which really are key words in the classes today,” stated professor Kewish. Snow Falling On Cedars had great reviews and is known as a “must read” novel. This gripping and impeccably written masterpiece is based on Japanese tradition. There will be a day of Japanese tradition held here at CCC in the Conference Center Banquet Room on Wednesday, March 21, 2007. Professor Kewish is very excited about this upcoming event. “This book gave us the opportunity to work with Japanese culture and we will have a whole afternoon of Japanese culture, tradition, Japanese dancers, maybe the Japanese drummers if they could get here, [and] things like Japanese calligraphy, origami, flower arranging, a Japanese tea ceremony. It’s going to be gorgeous!” said Kewish. This event is opened to the community. CCC has offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet the author of this riveting novel. David Guterson, will be here on campus on Wednesday, April 4, 2007. Guterson will be at The Fine and Performing Arts Center in the theatre at 7pm. In the past the other “must read” books included, The Color Of Water and My Sister’s Keeper. You can find any of these books here at CCC’s library, CCC’s bookstore, and online.