|
|
.:Resource Guides:Rural Issues-Jobs for New College Graduates.
|
Rural Issues
|
 |
Jobs for New College Graduates
Given the scope of issues in rural areas and the diversity of geographic locations, there are numerous types of jobs in numerous settings beyond the for-profit sector. The focus of this guide is on nonprofit careers, but some government jobs are also mentioned. .
Opportunities exist at all levels of, federal, state, county, tribal and local government, in non-profit agencies across the country and internationally. You can provide direct service, work on administrative or management levels, conduct research, work with public
policy, work with people, work behind the scenes, work to raise awareness, or work carrying out initiatives.
Not all of the rural issues identified above are issues in every rural area. There is often interdependency on addressing one issue before another can be pursued. For example, telemedicine is seen as a potential solution for improving health care in rural areas, but in
order for it to happen, the areas must have Internet capabilities. When exploring job options in rural areas, it is important to identify the specific issues and resulting opportunities.
The scope of settings available from Alaska to Florida; California to New York is large, and there are a wide variety of agencies and jobs. These jobs may be in very isolated areas, such as an Indian reservation in a remote area of Washington or may be in the
Mississippi Delta or Midwest farm belt.
New college graduates present the ability to be positively groomed within the organization. It is not unrealistic for a new college graduate to be hired as an executive director in a small rural non-profit, although this would require extensive volunteer or other work
experience.
Possible Job Titles:
- 4-H advisor
- extension agent
- soil conservation specialist
- immigrant farm worker organizer
- rural health care provider
- rural development specialist |
- rural mental health care specialist
- head start coordinator
- rural teacher
- rural nurse practioneer
- forestry technician
- community development advisor |
These are but a small sample of jobs available in rural settings. As in many non-profit settings, the emphasis is usually on getting the job done and not the title. This is often the case in the rural setting, where there is a close community of providers. Within a rural
setting you have the opportunity to be anything you want to be and often have an opportunity to quickly become involved at the regional and national level within the organization. According to Patrick Lewis, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity in Casper, Wyo., the
key is to stick it out longer than two years to see the payoff. Eighty percent of executive directors within their organization last 18 months, 15% last five years and 5% last 15 years, according to Lewis.
|
next page | Majors
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
|
Career Center Resource Guides
|
