Individuals wishing to become a careers analyst may pursue a number of paths. If researching the impact of the workplace on society is your aim, you should focus your studies on areas such as sociology. In contrast, you may want to work directly with individuals pursuing their own career aspirations as a career advisor, in which case your focus should be practical training and developing strong interpersonal and test-making skills. On the other hand, you might pursue work describing careers in a human resources setting, wherein you will need a higher degree and strong research skills. All of the aforementioned positions, in fact, necessitate a passion for research and analyzing complex concepts statistically and socially.
When you become a careers analyst, you are a sociologist of sorts. As such, you will study social groups, organizations, and interactions. Specifically, the careers analyst will consider these factors in a professional workplace context. This professional pursuit can also be considered an investigative occupation, meaning that researching, thinking, and problem-solving are crucial components. Therefore, a thorough background in sociology and a natural inclination for the aforementioned activities will serve you well in your aims to become a careers analyst.
Analyst professions by nature require a great deal of data collection and interpretation. For careers analysts, examining trends in professions and determining employee and employer aptitudes, weaknesses, and needs necessitates a firm grasp of research tools and methods. You should familiarize yourself with survey and test design and statistical analysis concepts, for example. Many higher education institutions offer courses that emphasize these careers analyst duties and allow students to gain practical experience in their implementation.
A degree or at least a minor in areas like sociology and education can equip students with these skills. Writing and reading-focused courses are another important variable, as a careers analyst will need a mindset that embraces critical and evaluative reading of subjects. In addition, writing reports in proper format is a key task for analysts. Humanities courses can further give you a solid foundation.
Careers analysts that emphasize career advising must also understand and work well with a wide variety of individuals. You may work with a client in a variety of contexts, from coaching the client on interview tactics to conducting formal interviews and tests to better gauge a prospect’s professional interests. Workshops that teach and apply relevant information are commonplace in career advising as well.
Therefore, you should be proficient in teaching and communication if your aim is career advising. Many institutions and professional associations offer careers analyst training certification programs labeled as career development facilitation or some similar terminology. Enrolling in these programs can help equip you with knowledge to become a careers analyst and will also allow you how to gain validation and certification as a careers analyst adviser. Such programs may require 120 or more hours of coursework, overseen by qualified professionals. Specific topics that might be covered in classes include the following: ethics, technology, consultation, identifying employability, and active listening.
Practical experience is invaluable in most professional pursuits, including aspirations to become a careers analyst. Many regions have career advising organizations, particularly on college campuses or at regional business bureaus. An internship at such an outlet will not only give you needed experience and exposure to everyday tasks, but will also help you gain a professional entry-level foothold. Further, any individual who will be advising others about career options should have a demonstrable employment history.
Another interpretation of careers analyst careers could encompass the individuals who research and prepare descriptions and detailed information on particular job titles. Therefore, a jobs careers analyst might seek work in a human resources office and outline the main duties that a job entails. Further, information concerning employee background requirements, salary, and other factors might be laid out by a careers analyst in this capacity. These analysts must conduct interviews with human resources directors and supervisors, as well as develop questionnaires, so the same strong research and interpersonal skills characteristic of other analyst positions are needed. A bachelor’s degree in psychology, business, or a related human services field can also serve your needs, and obtaining a master’s degree will enhance your advancement and specialization options.