OK, it’s still October, but as any TV junkie will tell you, November sweeps is when all your favorite shows start to get really good. And they’ve already started setting the scene. Can you believe House kissed Cuddy on “House”? Or that Sylar saved Peter on “Heroes”? Or that Peggy told Pete she had his child on “Mad Men”?!

Sorry, I’m getting ahead of myself, self-proclaimed TV junkie that I am. What I really want to convey in this post, is that it is possible to learn something about various careers by how they are portrayed on TV.

> Interested in starting a “Law & Order” career? Get the facts of the case here.

> Find out why changing careers is like changing TV seasons in this classic post.

> What is up with the portrayal of nurses on TV? Get a behind the scenes look at this fulfilling career that doesn’t (necessarily) require love affairs with hot doctors.

> In honor of “24″ finally coming back, in short movie form, check out this post on gathering career intelligence, Jack Bauer-style.

Go pop some popcorn and get surfing!

Have you learned anything about your current or future career on TV?

This week is all about getting in gear for Halloween in my household, hence my frame of mind as I post today. I’m psyched because my son chose to be a doctor this year. It’s the kind of choice that makes a mom proud. OK, I know I should get a grip. It’s a Halloween costume, not necessarily what he wants to be when he grows up, but a mom can dream right? Besides, it’s better than his original idea to be a penguin (he was on a “Happy Feet” kick at the time).

I’m excited because his choice indicates to me that he has an admiration for the health profession, and maybe that could turn into a career aspiration someday. My logic is faulty given my own costume history (clown, hippie, punk rocker, etc.), but I’ll take it as a good sign nonetheless.

It also got me to thinking about a larger issue (thanks for bearing with all my mom gushing until I got to my point!) — why some of us choose our careers when we’re young, while others are still on a quest for career fulfillment well into adulthood. More important, which is the better way to go? Does it make sense to know your whole life that you want to be a lawyer or teacher, having never gotten to experience what the job actually entails for yourself? And just because you’ve wanted to be a video game designer since the third grade, how can you know if you’ll be able to grasp the advanced technology until you start learning it? Then again, it’s not easy being an undecided college major or hopping from job to job in search of one that inspires you to propel forward.

The solution is to have a realistic sense of what your dream job is all about. That means whether you have a clear sense of which field you’d like to enter or not, you need to go beyond the generalizations (”I want to help others,” or “I enjoy working with children”), and get into the nitty gritty. Some questions to think about:

- Can I handle the demands of this profession? Think about work hours, if travel is required, how much schooling is needed, etc. In theory, event planning may sound wonderful, until you realize that you might be out of town three quarters of the year and you hate flying.

- What are my sources of information about this career? If you want to become a crime scence investigator because you love watching CSI, it’s a good idea to do some more digging. Speak to real life people on the job to get a sense of what they do. Find a related professional organization and learn more about the job. Do some research into educational programs and see what the coursework is like. Don’t rely on fictional characters to tell the whole truth.

- Is this a viable career path now and in the foreseeable future? Examine what you want to do and think about what’s going on in the world. For instance, now might be a good time to go into a “green” career because it’s the important issue of the next generation. Working as a real estate agent might be tough, though, until the housing market levels out.

In essence, before you decide which career costume best suits you, try it on for size. And if you’re not happy with your pick, you can always try something new next year.

When did you figure out which career was right for you?

Some describe college as a “fun ride.” That’s certainly true for a lot of us, but for those first tackling the college admissions process… well, that can feel like the first time on a roller coaster. Lots of ups and downs, you may feel slightly sick from everything moving so fast, but the thrills sure are worth it.

Why the ride metaphor? Today, I’m happy to share that CollegeSurfing Insider — yes, that’s us — and our sister blog CollegeBound’s U. Got It? are featured in the “Carnival of College Admissions“, hosted by Mark Montgomery, an independent college counselor. Thanks for having us, Mark!

Like any good carnival, there are lots of top-notch attractions. Among my favorites this week include:

- A funny post by Adam Epstein of the Adamissions blog that shows even college admissions officers can have a sense of humor.

- The truth about extra long dorm sheets by Brett J. Callahan at the DormBuys blog. Who knew?

- And just because I secretly always wanted to go to law school, I was intrigued by the Law School Admissions Game posted by Khan at the Higher Education and Career Blog.

Come check out our guest appearance, let us know what you think, and be sure to leave lots of comment love for all the talented higher ed bloggers on there.

Enjoy the carnival!

There’s much to be said about fame and fortune, but it’s not very often that we talk about the hard work required to get to that point. For many success stories in various industries, that hard work begins in the classroom.

- Chef phenom Emeril Lagasse learned to “bam” at Johnson & Wales university. Find out which schools other Food Network notables attended, and serve yourself up a culinary career.

- Angelo Surmelis, a familiar face on cable design shows, discovered his love of interior design while in college. Learn more about his career, and how to follow in his footsteps.

- Ken Paves studied at the Vidal Sasoon Academy before he became a master stylist for the likes of Jessica Simpson and other stars. Get the inside scoop about him and other celeb stylists, who are stars in their own right.

- American Idol winner and country singing star Carrie Underwood had all intentions of being a TV news reporter before she broke big… she even finished out her degree after her Idol win.

- Before she became a household name starrring as “Ugly Betty,” America Ferrara studied international relations at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles).

- Kristin Kreuk of TV’s “Smallville” applies what she learned as a psychology and criminolgy major in college to her acting roles. See what else her college experience taught her.

The point here is you’ve got to start somewhere, just like these big names in their fields did. More often than not, education can be your career launching pad, and give you the foundation to succeed no matter where the road to fame leads.

Photo: Kai Hecker

The big news this morning is the impact of General Colin Powell’s surprise endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president. It’s not just that he chose one side over another (which happens to be his own party and good friend John McCain). But it’s the way he went about it, with careful forethought, after having taken his time to follow the campaigns and make his decision. He spoke eloquently and did his homework, and it was a big score for Obama.

As anyone who has career success can tell you, the power of endorsements can make the difference in landing a new job, securing new clients, getting into a competitive educational program, or catching the eye of upper management. Having someone with a great reputation vouch for you and your work ethic can open up doors. Here’s how to get one:

- Come right out and ask. The key is to be humble and say something like: “It was such a pleasure working on this project for you. It would mean a lot to growing my business if you could offer a testimonial of my services that I could put on my website.” Or, in a less formal working relationship, it could be as simple as saying, “I hope you were happy with my work. If so, it would be great if you could put in a good word with Mr. A.”

- Endorse someone else, and chances are, the person will reciprocate. As a freelance writer and editor, I’ve been asked by those I’ve worked with many times to act as a reference or provide a LinkedIn recommendation. And I’ve been happy to do it, not only because I value others’ work, but also because more often than not, they return the favor.

- A few more things: Don’t ask someone who barely knows you to endorse you, or don’t let too much time pass after you’ve worked with someone to ask. Also, if you need something formal in writing, such as a reference letter, give ample time so the person isn’t frustrated about having to make time in a busy schedule to help you out. Lastly, never ever ask someone to lie for you. It not only makes you look shady, but it can seriously backfire.

In following my own advice, I’d just like to say that if you enjoy this blog, I hope you’ll endorse us — comment away, tell your friends, tweet it, digg it, stumble it — it’ll be much appreciated!

Everyone dreams of the perfect job – a place where they’ll be happy; a place where they’ll make good money; a place where they’ll enjoy success. Maybe you’re filling out applications for colleges. Maybe you’re already in college and deciding on a major. Or maybe you’ve just graduated from college and are looking to get a job. When it comes down to it, it’s often difficult to choose which career path you want to pursue. That’s why Nicholas Lore gives us some guidance in Now What? The Young Person’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career (Simon & Schuster, 2008).

Lore says that only 30 percent of all people truly enjoy their job. That means that more than half the workforce is dissatisfied and may not be performing to their fullest potential. “So if 70 percent of educated people are not enthusiastic about the work they do, that’s the measure of how well the standard, old-fashioned career-choosing methods work. The bottom line: you are unlikely to have a life you love or live up to your full potential if you follow the standard methods. You’ve got to give up the trusting, passive attitude some of your friends have. They think the common, everyday methods nearly everyone uses to pick their future direction will help them make good choices leading to a fulfilling life. Well, think again, dude and dudette. It isn’t going to happen. That’s the best way to make sure you spend your life doing something that doesn’t fit,” says Lore in Now What?.

For detailed charts, problem solving strategies, and advice on making decisions, pick up a copy of Now What? and take the journey to the right career path with Nicholas Lore.

-Amanda Fornecker

If you’re entering the job market anytime soon, you have reason to be concerned. Despite statistics from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) saying that hiring is up, we’re now facing a major economic recession.

The outlook isn’t totally bleak, though. Play your cards right whether you’re in college or considering a career change, and you could be sitting pretty at the top of the “just-hired” pack. What are the most recession-proof fields of study? Not surprisingly, they’re the ones that have historically been the most popular.

>>Business administration/management
With such widely applicable skills, there’s no doubt that business majors are always in demand. In fact, NACE continually reports that business is one of the top five most in-demand college majors. Business majors may pursue a career as a financial manager, public relations specialist, real estate manager, or more.

>>Computer science
Computers run the world, and those who know computers can rule the world. Technology is constantly evolving, and we’re in a race to keep up with the changes. Whether you parlay your computer science degree into a career as a software engineer, systems analyst, programmer, or more, you’ll find that an IT emphasis in college will prepare you for a variety of in-demand, 21st-century jobs.

>>Education
There is always a need for teachers, especially at the elementary and secondary levels, when school attendance is required. And experts are predicting that we will need more than two million new teachers in the next decade. Increase your odds of employment by double majoring or minoring in science, math, or a foreign language, all subject areas in desperate need of qualified teachers.

>>Finance
It may seem counterintuitive, but majoring in finance is a smart move in trying economic times. After all, we need the help of trained financial advisors now more than ever. Another factor contributing to the rise of financial planning is the unbelievable number of baby boomers reaching retirement age. With a long-lasting aging population, finance majors have become a hot commodity.

>>Nursing
Nursing is a smart field to enter at any time. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the shortage of registered nurses in the U.S. could reach as high as 500,000 by 2025. If you pick this career path, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’ll always be able to find a job, no matter what the economic situation.

Weigh in: Will you choose your next career with economic fluctuations in mind?

-Robyn Tellefsen

I’ll be the first to admit that job hunting is no fun, especially when the economy has gone south. The last time I was between jobs was right after 9/11 — not the best time to be looking for work.

I thought I was doing everything right. I updated my resume, wrote some lovely cover letters, and spent hours upon hours surfing online job sites. The return on my investment? Nada.

That’s hard to understand, since it looks like there are so many opportunities on the Web. In fact, the Conference Board, a business research organization, estimated that 4,833,700 job vacancies were posted online last month. Surely someone must be getting those jobs. (Side note: Does anyone know how many vacancies are actually filled by online job site surfers? It would be interesting to find out that ratio.)

Anyway, back in 2001, social networking sites hadn’t yet made their way to the Internet, so I didn’t have the option of using my Facebook account to meet all the right people. Now, according to the members of the Society for Human Resource Management, recruiters use social networking sites to fill vacancies, verify resumes, and screen applicants — and they’re doing it 23 percent more now than they did in 2006.

Social networking would certainly be a more fun and targeted way to get work. Just last week, in fact, a Facebook friend noticed my “freelance writer & editor” description and wrote on my wall for suggestions on breaking into the freelance market. Michelle, I hope my advice was helpful!

I ended up getting a job in early 2002 through some face-to-face social networking, though I wasn’t even the one doing the work. While at a young adult Bible study, my husband mentioned that I was having a hard time finding a job. The next thing I know, my friend Mike is approaching me and chastising me for not talking to him about my employment situation. He was a graphic designer and I was a writer, but I never saw the connection. Turns out he worked for a magazine, I got an interview, and shortly thereafter I was gainfully employed.

Though online job sites are probably not a total waste of time, personal connections seem the better way to go. Ask around your circle of friends, and don’t forget about alumni and professional associations. Alumni associations in particular have a vested interest in seeing their own succeed; you’d be amazed how helpful they can be for you to make professional connections.

Because, in the end, anonymity won’t get you work. You need to be known. Remember Chris Gardner, Will Smith’s character in “The Pursuit of Happyness”? He landed a spot in the competitive internship program at Dean Witter by paying a visit to the office and creatively scoring face time with a hiring manager. It was unconventional, but it worked.

Share your story: How did you find your current job?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Whether you’re a seasoned social networker or only just getting into the game, you should know that prospective employers are on the look-out for you — and that may not always be a good thing. According to a recent survey from CareerBuilder.com, 22 percent of 3,169 hiring managers have visited potential employees’ social networking profiles as part of the hiring process and nine percent plan to start.

Before you brush off these latest findings, here’s one more fact to chew on: 34 percent of managers who viewed Internet profiles removed the applicant from their list of prospective hires, while 24 percent found that they had made the right choice. What’s the difference? It’s all in how you present yourself.

Amongst the many factors cited as make-it-or-break-it with companies hiring, CareerBuilder.com pointed to communication skills and a professional image — two things anyone with a social networking profile can improve upon by ditching the AIM-acronyms and switching that pic of your latest party with a more presentable photo of yourself. To make sure that you’re doing everything you can to sell your career-self in the best possible light check out: “10 Ways to Protect Your Online Persona.”

– Genevieve M. Blaber