Creating a Pathway to Your Dream Career

Introduction

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

—Winston Churchill

Key Points

• No surprise: Although the job market for college graduates is improving, it remains spotty, with hiring and salaries still below 1999 levels.

• Although jobs will remain tight, some occupations have grown through the recession and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

• Those with the aptitude, skills, and the persistence to anticipate, embrace, and exploit change for their own benefit will have unprecedented new opportunities to chart their own courses.

• Success in this new world requires particularly diligent career planning.

What do you want your life to be like when you’re ...