Careers In Sociology - Cengage

5Building a Resume While Pursuing a Degree in Sociology 6. Join the sociology club. The sociologyclub offers its members a variety of opportunities including the chance to work on projects, tosocialize with other majors, and to learn aboutevents involving sociologists, such as professionalmeetings. Generally, sociology clubs take on atleast one community outreach project each year.One example of such a project included a sociology club partnering with a neighborhood association in its quest to learn how residents think abouttheir neighborhood, what changes they would liketo see, and if they were willing to take action toimplement those changes. The club agreed to conduct in-depth interviews with residents in theirhomes. The students also wrote a report highlighting the findings and presented it at the neighborhood association monthly meeting. If there is nota Sociology Club at your educational institution,consider talking with the departmental faculty tostart one. Missy GishCengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gtyear period can say that they possess the computer and analytical skills to assess the conditions(abandoned lots, the presence of a pay phone, aliquor store on the corner) attracting juveniles tothose locations and to devise strategies to alleviatetrouble.If possible write papers for sociology classes that relate tocareer interests. Employers often ask applicants to demonstrate a pre-existing interest in an area that relates to theposition to which one is applying.Cengage LearningNot for Reprinttime to sales clerks to boost employee retention. 7. Make the most of research papers.Whenyou write a research paper for a sociology course,think about its potential usefulness beyond thatcourse. If you know your career goals, write apaper that relates to the population you hope towork with in the future. Imagine that you areenrolled in a Work and Occupations course andyou have been assigned to write a paper about howa specific occupation shapes family life. If yourgoal is to eventually work for the United StatesMilitary as an Outreach Coordinator (a civilianposition), write a paper about military life emphasizing opportunities and stresses to service members and their families associated with overseasdeployment. Or if you plan to work for a retailcompany, perhaps you might consider writing apaper on benefits of providing daycare and flex-98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 5Keep major papers and projects that relate to yourarea of focus. This will serve as a great resourcewhen interviewing for jobs after graduation and/or when applying to graduate schools. 8. Work with a sociology professor. Professors do more than just teach classes. Their jobsrequire them to do academic research, community outreach, and university service. Ideally youshould approach a professor after you have takenat least one class and earned an A or B. Ask theprofessor to keep you in mind if he or she needshelp with their research, needs a student memberto serve on a committee, or is looking for someone to assist with a community outreach project.Students can often help with teaching (as teachingassistants) or can serve as tutors to those struggling in lower-level sociology courses.7/18/08 11:20:23 AM

Careers in SociologyPhoto Courtesy of U.S. ArmyCengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gt6Sociology professors oftenrecruit majors to assist themwith research projects, toserve on committees, and toparticipate in communityoutreach. Such experiencesmake excellent resume items.Cengage LearningIn addition toNot for Reprintdeclaring a major, most colleges and universi-U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Adam Herrada 9. Choose a minor or concentration that further enhances career goals.College can be a time to learn about your community andits needs. Many colleges offer opportunities for students tovolunteer in the surrounding community and sometimesbeyond.98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 6ties require students to choose a minor or areaof concentration in a field outside their major.The minimum number of credit hours for minorsand concentrations vary by program. There aredozens, perhaps even a hundred or more choices,including International Studies, Criminal Justice, Management, Sports Marketing, Geography,Environmental Studies, Organizational Leadership, Mass Media, Social Work, and Journalism toname but a few. 10. Volunteer.A volunteer is someone whochooses to give time to a cause in the community.Usually a person contacts a nonprofit or otherorganization such as a school or church and offerstheir time and skills toward realizing a goal; itmight involve feeding the homeless, mentoring astudent defined as at-risk, or running errands forhome-bound residents. If you are looking for suchan opportunity, visit the website Volunteer Matchat http://www.volunteermatch.org.7/18/08 11:20:25 AM

7Building a Resume While Pursuing a Degree in Sociology 11. Attend job/career fairs.Sociological associations typically offer studentmembers the opportunity to apply for travel grantsto offset the cost of traveling to meetings. Theassociations also sponsor special sessions in whichstudent members can present research papers.Sometimes associations recognize the best studentpapers by offering financial awards to first, second,and third place submissions. Some of the majorprofessional associations open to sociologists are(see Appendix B for complete list):CengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gtMost collegesand universities hold career fairs at least once ayear. Even if you are early into your college careeryou should attend the job fair, if only to educateyourself about employment opportunities in thearea (and sometimes outside the area). Mentionto company representatives that you are a sociology major. Be sure to pick up information aboutthe company and available jobs. If you are aboutto graduate, bring copies of your resume to leavewith company representatives. 12. Become a student member of a sociolog-ical association or society. Sociological associ-ations are professional organizations, regional,national, or international in scope, and well respected. Noting such membership on a resume will putan individual at an advantage. Most sociological associations offer students low-cost membership andminimal registration fees to attend annual meetings. Sometimes sociology departments may sponsor your membership if you are an active memberor officer of the Sociology Club or have consistentlyhelped the department in other ways. Don’t beafraid to ask for sponsorship if cost is an issue.American Sociological AssociationStudent Membership: 18http://www.asanet.orgSociologists for Women in Society (SWS)Student Membership: 14– 51http://www.socwomen.orgMid-South Sociological AssociationStudent Membership: 20http://www.midsouthsoc.orgAssociation of Black SociologistsStudent Membership: 25http://www.blacksociologists.orgU.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jimmy Serena Jr.Cengage LearningNot for ReprintAttending a career fair is a good way to learn more about the vast variety of job opportunities available to sociology majors. Introducing yourself to a potential employer as a sociologymajor can help build confidence in your choice of majors as many employers welcome applications from those who study sociology.98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 77/18/08 11:20:32 AM

8Careers in Sociology 13. Make the most of your employmenthistory. Often students dismiss the jobs that theySix Career Pathsfor Sociology Majorshold while in college as not that important foradvancing career goals and present them as such.They might say something like: “I have only beena waitress.” Actually, being a waitress involves anumber of important skills that can enhance aresume. Consider that a waitress or waiter:CengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gtLet’s consider six broad career tracks that sociologymajors may choose to follow: deals with customers who demand quick andefficient servicehandles multiple tables of customers makingrequests at the same timerecommends/sells items to increase the amountof the billconverses with customers from diverse backgrounds nonprofitgovernmentbusinesseducation/continuing educationgraduate schoolself-employmentFor each of the six tracks, we give an overview ofthe career path, consider a relevant job advertisement, and profile a sociology major who preparedfor that track. TRACK 1. NonprofitsThese skills can apply to the career tracks discussed in the following section. It really does notmatter what kind of job you hold while in college.What does matter is that you can articulate how thejob relates to the one for which you are applying.Overview. More than 12 million Americans workin the nonprofit sector. That represents about 1in every 10 jobs. There are 1.4 million nonprofitorganizations in the United States registered with John Keith/Shutterstock Images LLC Andersen Ross/Blend Images/Jupiter ImagesCengage LearningNot for ReprintAny employment experience can contribute to your resume as long as you communicate how the experience relates to thejob to which you are applying. A waiter or waitress, for example, must deal with a variety of personalities among customerswho demand and expect quick and efficient service.98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 87/18/08 11:20:34 AM

9Six Career Paths for Sociology Majorsof employees, type of population served, and sizeof their operating budgets. Examples of nonprofitorganizations include those that:empower people with disabilities (DisabilitiesCoalitions)educate people about our natural environment,our impact upon it, and our responsibilities toit and to each other (Environmental MobileUnits)provide a way for the public to anonymouslyprovide law enforcement agencies with information on crimes or suspects (Crime Stoppers)provide a barrier-free, inclusive, and nurturingenvironment for anyone seeking to overcomeobstacles regarding speech, hearing, or deafness(Hearing, Speech, & Deaf Centers)provide year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adultswith intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics)find permanent homes for adoptable animalsand strays (Animal Shelters)help initiate relationships between U.S andforeign cities that share common geographic,demographic, and economic characteristics(Sister Cities Associations)provide vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and tellingtheir stories (Ten Thousand Villages Inc.)CengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gt Ryan R. Fox/Shutterstock Images LLC On your employment application, make sure to relateyour studies in sociology to the position for which youare app-lying. Include memberships in the sociology cluband professional organizations, volunteer work, studyabroad experiences, research papers, and other relevantexperiences. schools, art museums, animal protection agencies, homeless shelters, churches, food banks, andfoundations. Nonprofits vary by mission, numberNonprofit organizations exist to meeta variety of community needs. Manypeople associate nonprofits with serving populations living in poverty. Inreality there are nonprofits that existto serve entire communities and arange of specific populations such asveterans, the elderly, children considered gifted, and athletes.98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 9 Joan FerranteCengage Learningthe Internal Revenue Service (Nonprofit AlmaNothospitals,for privateReprintnac 2007). Nonprofits include7/18/08 11:20:39 AM

10Careers in SociologyA sample of job titles of interest to sociology majorsseeking careers in the nonprofit sector includeVisitor Research Coordinator (for an artmuseum),Disaster Services Emergency Response Specialist (for the Red Cross),Fundraising Database Specialist (for Alzheimer’s Association),Resource Analyst (for American Cancer Society),Volunteer Services Director (for a food bank),andProgram Coordinator (for youth mentoringprograms).CengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gt Profile of a Sociology Major Applyingfor a Job as Communications Associatein the Nonprofit SectorAs long as sociology major Benjamin Smith canremember he was interested in the environment.After taking a Sociology of the Environment course,he declared sociology as his major and chose tominor in Environmental Studies. He did an internship with the Center for Applied Ecology in whichhe performed an environmental site assessmentand worked on other smaller-scale environmentalprojects. As an intern Ben worked hard to submitreports that were outstanding in design and content. The Center took notice and adopted his reportas the model for all interns to follow. Ben alsotook two research methods classes and a statisticscourse. The methods classes required proficiency in To search for a job in the nonprofit sector, go toCareer Builder at http://www.careerbuilder.com.Sample Job Advertisement: Nonprofit SectorCengage LearningNot for ReprintJOB TITLE: Communications AssociateEMPLOYER:Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, “one of the largest ecological programs in the world. More important than its size, however, is the qualityof its output. Books and articles authored by Cary Institute ecologistsinfluence scientists and policy makers. Cary Institute–generated curriculaare building essential bridges between ecological thinking and classroominstruction. Conferences and workshops held onsite encourage dialogueand information exchange”DUTIES:Write engaging material that promotes Cary Institute research, programs,and offerings to a range of information consumers (media, students, donors, scientists, policymakers, staff, and the interested public). Connectthe Cary Institute with media outlets by assisting with press releases andpress relations. Ensure that core content on the Cary Institute website istimely and accurate; perform updates as needed (either directly or througha contracted web maintenance firm). Work collaboratively with staff tooversee and improve our web presence. Perform other tasks as assigned.QUALIFICATIONS:Bachelor’s degree plus at least 2–3 years of writing experience. Scienceand/or news writing a plus. Strong writing, editing, and web productionskills. Proficient in MS Office, Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, FTP, contentmanagement systems, and web editing software (HTML knowledge a plus). Figure 1Notice that the Cary Institute is not asking for a communications or public relations major. Rather it is seeking applicants who holda bachelor’s degree in any field and who are able to demonstrate that theypossess specific skills related to writing, web production, and software.98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 107/18/08 11:20:41 AM

11Six Career Paths for Sociology Majors Pretrial Services Officer for the Federal Courts,Survey Statistician for U.S. Bureau of theCensus,Outdoor Recreation Planner for U.S. NationalPark Services,Outdoor Compliance Officer for the Department of Agriculture, andIntelligence Research Specialist for the Department of Homeland Security.CengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gta variety of software including Word, PowerPoint,Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, and Front Page (asoftware for creating Web sites). Whenever possible, Ben wrote research papers that related to hisinterest in the environment. As one example, hesurveyed U.S. and foreign-born college students tolearn how culture shapes attitudes toward the environment and personal efforts to conserve energy.He presented the paper at a sociological meeting. Ben was a member of the sociology club forthree years and managed the club’s website, whichincluded a quarterly newsletter. TRACK 2. GovernmentOverview. The federal government employs morethan 1.8 million civilian employees. In fact, the government is the nation’s largest single employer. Towork for the federal government you do not haveto live in Washington, D.C. Nine out of 10 federalemployees work outside the D.C. area. There arehundreds of government agencies with thousandsof civilian job titles that sociology majors can fill.Some examples include: To search for federal government jobs, use the USAJobs website at http://www.usajobs.gov.Profile of a Sociology Major Applyingfor Partnership Specialist in theGovernment SectorCarla Applet is a sociology major with a secondmajor in anthropology. Carla was chosen as the2008 Outstanding Graduating Senior in Sociology and she made the Dean’s List every semester. In her junior year Carla did an internshipwith Urban Appalachian Council. Specifically sheresearched and designed a brochure describing theAppalachian community and recommended highquality Internet Web sites that provided specialized information on this community. The Council distributed the brochure to those attending itsworkshops and to other interested parties. In herCengage LearningNot for ReprintOutreach Program Coordinator for the Department of Army,Social Science Analyst for the GovernmentAccountability Office,Courtesy of U.S. Office of Personnel Management 98119 01 c01 01-32.indd 11The federal government supports a website that announcesjob openings within hundredsof its agencies including theBureau of the Census, Department of Homeland Security,and National Park Services.That resource can be found athttp://www.usajobs.gov.7/18/08 11:20:42 AM

12Careers in SociologyTo support herself though college, Carlaopened a business that offered local artists gallery space and opportunities to sell their artworksand crafts. This business was viewed by many asenriching the community. Now that Carla hasgraduated and is seeking to work in a job relatedto sociology, she has not abandoned her business and the local artists who have come todepend on it. Carla’s parents have agreed to takeover operations.CengNo agtf eor LeRe arpr ninin gtsenior year Carla took a second internship with thecity of Newport in which she handled requests forinformation from city residents. When this internship ended, the city manager asked Carla to stayon and do special projects indefinitely or at leastwhile she was exploring career options. Carla alsotook an Applied Social Research Methods course inwhich the class conducted a major research projectknown as The State of the Greater Cincinnati Nonprofits, a profile of 10,000 nonprofit organizations.Sample Job Advertisement: Government SectorJOB TITLE: Partnership SpecialistEMPLOYER:U.S. Bureau of the Census, the leading source of quality data about theAmerican people and the U.S. economy. The Census Bureau conducts avariety of censuses and surveys, not just the once-a-decade census forwhich it is most famous. Every month, quarter, and year it conducts surveys with households and businesses. It uses a workforce of trained federalemployees to conduct those surveys by telephone, in person, or by mail.The surveys the Census Bureau conducts provide information about socialand economic conditions in the country, including employment, housing,manufacturing, trade, and many other topics (Adapted from U.S. Bureauof the Census 2008).Cengage LearningNot for ReprintDUTIES:The Partnership Specialist is responsible for developing partnerships withstate, local, and tribal governments; community-based organizations, faithbased groups; schools; media outlets; businesses; and other grassrootsentities in communities within the regional office area. The PartnershipSpecialist also provides support to census field operations such as Recruitment, Be Counted, Questionnaire Assistance Centers, Non-ResponseFollow-Up, and others. The Partnership Specialist will work under thesupervision of a Partnership Coordinator. The incumbent will conductresearch, analyze the regional office area, and assist in the developmentof the regional plan for the PDS Program for the census.QUALIFICATIONS:Bachelor’s degree in any area with superior academic achievement. Workexperience in providing instructions or coaching others in athletic, leisure,or community activities, helping customers, clients, or members of the public who were hostile or upset, handling customer complaints, or providinginstructions to customers or the public either in writing or by telephone. Figure 2Notice that the Census Bureau

Cengage Learning Not for Reprint MODULE OUTLINE What Is Sociology? . business, and some other majors. But sociology majors do have many career options. The skills sociology majors acquire apply to a wide range of . research methods, stati