Job Market Overview

In a response between 250-500 words, characterize the current job market in your chosen profession. Try to imagine what sorts of questions you’ll have when you begin hunting for jobs, and try to answer them with some quick research (focus on your specific field, i.e. "mechanical engineering job market," etc.), or by asking an expert in your field (professors, supervisors, mentors, etc.). If you need a few questions to get started, here are some things you might consider:

• How does this year’s market compare to previous years? Is the total number of jobs growing or shrinking?
• Are the sorts of companies you would be interested in working for actively recruiting entry-level (or whatever level you are at) positions?
• Which skills and qualifications are particularly in demand in this field right now?
• Do your prospects improve if you are willing to relocate to another state or country.
• Are there different areas of specialization in your field, and which of those areas gives you the best shot at a job or a higher income?

These questions are simply examples. You may have other questions about your job market that you can use for this assignment to answer. The most important thing is to get a sense of how competitive your field is and what you will need to consider when applying to jobs.

Make sure that you provide sources for your information. Provide links to internet sources, cite trade journals or news reports used, and make sure to name any experts or other professionals you talk to (“According to so-and-so…”). If you have friends or family members who work in your field, they can often be excellent resources.

Also, make sure your information is current. You can use old sources to get a sense of the history of your job market, but they can't tell you a lot about the current market.