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Job outlook for student instructors in the United States
Student instructor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected student instructor job growth rate is 12% from 2018-2028.
About 159,400 new jobs for student instructors are projected over the next decade.
Student instructor salaries have increased 9% for student instructors in the last 5 years.
There are over 156,614 student instructors currently employed in the United States.
There are 39,719 active student instructor job openings in the US.
The average student instructor salary is $49,436.
Are student instructor jobs in demand?
Student instructor job and salary trends over time
Student instructor jobs over time
Student instructor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 156,614 | 0.05% |
| 2020 | 834,639 | 0.25% |
| 2019 | 877,144 | 0.26% |
| 2018 | 284,047 | 0.09% |
| 2017 | 287,180 | 0.09% |
Average student instructor salary over time
Student instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $49,436 | $23.77 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $48,440 | $23.29 | +8.5% |
| 2023 | $44,646 | $21.46 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $43,003 | $20.67 | --5.2% |
| 2021 | $45,361 | $21.81 | +11.1% |
Student instructor jobs by state
Most common states for student instructors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 189 | 33% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 194 | 31% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 286 | 30% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,434 | 26% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 339 | 25% |
| 6 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 722 | 24% |
| 7 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 251 | 24% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 162 | 22% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,197 | 21% |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 145 | 21% |
| 11 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 730 | 20% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 367 | 19% |
| 13 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,228 | 18% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,080 | 18% |
| 15 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 556 | 18% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 193 | 18% |
| 17 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 137 | 18% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,506 | 17% |
| 19 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,401 | 17% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 330 | 16% |
Student Instructor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of student instructor experts
Tiffin University
College of the Marshall Islands
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Southern Connecticut State University
One University Parkway
University of Houston - Downtown
Mercy College
California State University, Northridge
Grand Valley State University
Pennsylvania State University Altoona
Appalachian State University
University of Oregon
Arizona State University
University of Kansas
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Samford University
Sam Houston State University
Weber State University
University of Arizona
Central Connecticut State University
Dr. Stephanie Opfer
Associate Professor of English, Assistant Dean of the School of Creative and Media ArtsTiffin University
Visual And Performing Arts
What general advice would you give to a Student Instructor?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Because of the state of higher education in our country today, teaching in higher education can be a difficult field to break into. However, most colleges and universities still hire adjunct instructors (part-time instructors). Students shouldn't be afraid to teach as an adjunct for a while to get some experience and decide if teaching is for them.
What Student Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Flexibility and adaptability will be the biggest skills instructors will need. The state of higher education is changing, and the 'ivory tower' is going away. Colleges and universities are starting to focus more on career-oriented programs, which include practical and application skill sets. In order to stay relevant, the focus of humanities classes like art and film should be on teaching students analysis, synthesis, and other critical-thinking skills. The content becomes less important and becomes only the vehicle for teaching these skills.
What will help Student Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Stephanie Opfer: Unfortunately, teaching as an adjunct does not pay well. Students should keep their full-time jobs and teach part-time until they find a full-time job at a college or university. That part-time teaching provides them valuable experience and connections that make them more competitive candidates for full-time positions because they'd also be competing with candidates who have PhDs. So adjunct work is more of a long-term investment rather than an immediate return. Also, even full-time teaching jobs don't pay particularly well, so they'll really need to love teaching if they want to do it full-time. If they don't like teaching as an adjunct, they won't like doing it full-time.
What general advice would you give to a Student Instructor?
Alexander Velasquez: My general advice to any graduate beginning their career in their field is to continue to learn and be a student of your craft. Be open to learning new things because you never know how they will improve your skills and qualifications. For example, I am currently learning video editing. I never thought I would bother to learn video editing, but it makes me a more versatile instructor being able to give students the option of doing video projects, combining and editing them, and having a digital record of what students have learned in the classroom. And given the rise of online learning, it's important nowadays to be an effective instructor both in the traditional in-person format and within the digital landscape.
What Student Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Alexander Velasquez: I think that in the next three to five years the most important skills to have—and I mean this—will be critical thinking and imagination. This may sound a bit outlandish, and maybe even a bit naive, but hear me out: Artificial intelligence is making strides to the point where papers are writing themselves with simple instructions, videos are generating themselves with simple instructions, and software is beginning to write itself; and all this has been happening within the last few years. We may begin to see that in the next three to five years, once coveted programming jobs could become automated. Now, what I'm *not* saying is don't go to school for computer programming; but what I *am* saying is that the nature of work and employment *is* changing. For example, if you and and AI are making a video, and both of you have the same script, same voiceover, and so on, the only thing separating your final product from the AI's is the way you *think and imagine*, the perspective that you have as someone who can think critically about the information and lay it out in a visually appealing manner. AI can't do that—at least not yet—because it simply spits out the information it's given. But critical thought, metalevel thinking about information, is what will be one of the most important assets to have in the coming three to five years.
What will help Student Instructors increase their earning potential?
Alexander Velasquez: I think everyone should look into their career fields and find out what it is that makes you more valuable in that field. Are there any certifications that you can get? What is it that you need to know or learn that companies will find valuable? Much can be learned online, so pick up as many of those skills as you can, and make sure they're on your resume or CV. I believe all those things could maximize salary potential, especially when starting out.
Mark Bowen Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Soil Geomorphology and Physical Geography, Co-Director of the Earth Systems Laboratory, and Graduate Program CoordinatorMinnesota State University, Mankato
Department of Geography
What skills stand out on Student Instructor resumes?
Mark Bowen Ph.D.: Students with practical experience applying their geographic knowledge stand out as excellent candidates for jobs. Those experiences can include internships/job experience, participating in research projects with faculty, conducting an independent study, serving in their department as a teaching assistant or tutor, or other similar experiences. Students that have given presentations at a conference or received grants/scholarships also stand out because it shows that they have strong oral and written communication skills. In addition, strong quantitative, analytical, and fieldwork skills are important for modern geographers in the context of our digital world.
What soft skills should all Student Instructors possess?
Mark Bowen Ph.D.: Being able to work not only independently but also as part of a team is essential. Geography is a diverse field of study, and no one can be an expert in everything, so geographers often work on a team of professionals with a range of expertise. As such, geographers need strong communication skills because team members or supervisors are often non-geographers, so you need to be able to convey technical information in an understandable way. Geographers also work to address complex problems in a variety of settings. Consequent, critical thinking, integrating multiple datasets, and problem-solving skills are essential.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Student Instructors?
Mark Bowen Ph.D.: Geographers must be able to collect, analyze, and present geographic data. Physical geographers primarily collect data through fieldwork and laboratory work (e.g., collecting and analyzing soil samples, conducting land surveys), while cultural/human geographers often collect data through observations, surveys, and interviews. All geographers should be able to apply geospatial techniques, primarily by utilizing geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and global positioning system (GPS) equipment and data, to collect, analyze, and present geographic data to prospective clients or interest groups.
What skills will help Student Instructors earn the most?
Mark Bowen Ph.D.: Geographers with geospatial analysis skills (e.g., proficient with GIS, remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles/drones, mapping/surveying-grade GPS) are in high demand. Strong GIS programming and management skills help earn the most. Geographers with research or professional experience, particularly those with experience working in the field and laboratory, often earn more as well.
Dr. Stephen Axon
Assistant Professor of Sustainability Science, Graduate Program Coordinator: MS Environmental Studies, Co-Director: Center for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability EducationSouthern Connecticut State University
Department of the Environment, Geography and Marine Sciences
What skills stand out on Student Instructor resumes?
Dr. Stephen Axon: Geography is a subject that inherently provides skills to its students: spatial reasoning, communication, field skills, cultural appreciation and sensitivity, and an ability to identify how real-world issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss can be addressed. These skills are important, but there are more capabilities that a geographer is particularly equipped with, such as geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, data analysis (for both quantitative and qualitative data), public and community engagement, project management skills, policy analysis, and external funding generation. These specific skills can really stand out on your application or resume when properly evidenced by activities you have done, the role you played in these situations, and the outcomes it led to. If you're looking to move into higher education, my best suggestion is to frontload your skills in publishing, grant activity, teaching, and leadership.
What soft skills should all Student Instructors possess?
Dr. Stephen Axon: For professors and instructors, your ability to be approachable, compassionate, and adaptable is essential. Approachability is essential for being a professor, given that some students often find it difficult to talk to or even able to relate to their instructors. Compassion is a skill that higher education seemingly glosses over, but given the crises that students and faculty alike face, it is integral that understanding and being able to respond with flexibility and kindness both to your students and colleagues alike when times get tough is a skill that is becoming increasingly valuable. Adaptability and being able to respond, often at "the drop of a hat," to situations and events is vital given how the nature of academic work has changed over recent years. A sense of humor will also certainly see you through tough times and be the relief that you and colleagues may rely on. Academics are often viewed as elitists without relatability, so a sense of humor and personality will make you stand out from other candidates.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Student Instructors?
Dr. Stephen Axon: Project management skills, geographical information systems, and data analytical skills such as statistical analysis for quantitative data or thematic analysis for qualitative data may help you land the job you are looking for. These skills are transferable, both in and out of the world of academia, and can be passed on to others. Being able to recognize and use software such as ArcGIS, R, SPSS, and Nvivo are increasingly being identified as essential on job ads. The more familiar you are with software and the techniques you apply to analyze data or present your research are vital to the success of those in geography and environmental-related fields.
What skills will help Student Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Stephen Axon: GIS, (spatial) data analysis, the ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and teams, policy analysis, project management, community engagement, and a proven ability to gain external funding will not only set you apart from other candidates for jobs but can also secure you higher salaries when you negotiate your job offer and, in some cases, could earn you additional pay during the semester or summer period. The ability to combine a number of these skills - in and out of academia - can lead you to earn a very comfortable salary. My best advice to anyone who is looking to invest in their future is to not only explore programs and courses that provide you with core conceptual content but also practical and applied skills that are transferable to a range of positions.
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of ChemistryOne University Parkway
Chemistry Department
What soft skills should all Student Instructors possess?
Keir Fogarty Ph.D.: -Concrete evidence of oral and written communication skills
-As well as interpersonal skills, effective time management, multitasking, making effective use of limited resources
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.
Professor of EnglishUniversity of Houston - Downtown
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
What skills stand out on Student Instructor resumes?
Adam Ellwanger Ph.D.: When applying to be an instructor of English, your resume itself must be clean and totally without error. If you can't produce impeccable writing, why should your prospective employers believe that you can teach others to do so? A clean, complete, well-formatted resume reflects that you are a strong writer and editor, and these are critical skills. Of course, if you want to be an English instructor, some experience as a teacher is strongly preferred -- even if that is in informal contexts (e.g., leading training sessions at a previous place of employment or serving as a teaching assistant in graduate school).
Dr. Eric Martone
Interim Dean of the School of Education, Associate Professor, History/Social Studies Education, Editor, Global Education ReviewMercy College
School of Education
What skills will help Student Instructors earn the most?
Dr. Eric Martone: Educators who are compassionate, with strong leadership skills, willing to make take chances to make a difference.
Steven Graves Ph.D.
ProfessorCalifornia State University, Northridge
Department of Geography and Environmental Science
What skills stand out on Student Instructor resumes?
Steven Graves Ph.D.: I think the skills that I see most are around data analysis with GIS and Remote Sensing to a lesser extent. Many companies also want advanced skills with Excel, databases, SQL, Python, and/or other programming abilities. The world is catching on to the power of GIS and spatially organized data, so geographers are in demand. Then again, students should always begin building skills sets by scanning the job sites before deciding which courses/majors they should take.
What soft skills should all Student Instructors possess?
Steven Graves Ph.D.: The skills are as old as time. Being a good team player, enthusiasm, energy, positive attitude. Other things that I'm not sure are "soft" are writing well, communicating verbally clearly, and creating visuals that rapidly communicate complex ideas.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Student Instructors?
Steven Graves Ph.D.: I think the ability to solve problems in general, generally using software of some sort, so that companies can be more efficient with their money and more insightful with the data they collect. The ability to help companies and/or governments comply with regulations is also very important because there are many regulations out there (environment, political, social, civil rights, etc.) that must be addressed, and geographers tend to be well trained to meet those challenges.
What skills will help Student Instructors earn the most?
Steven Graves Ph.D.: Those which others do not have - GIS, SQL, R, Python. That's why students majoring in business, geology, anthropology, biology, etc., ought to consider a minor in GIS or geography.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Dr. Jeroen Wagendorp Ph.D.: -Yes, International movements and related employment and experiences
-Efficacy as related to pay student loan debts.
-Increased geospatial needs and, therefore, employment opportunities in medical geography/epidemiology/public health.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Student Instructors?
Dr. Jeroen Wagendorp Ph.D.: -Before graduation, next to the major and minors, we have geospatial certificates in Geographic Information Science (GIS) ( www.gvsu.edu/geography/gis-certificate-47.htm), Environmental Remote Sensing (www.gvsu.edu/geography/environmental-and-remote-sensing-certificate-121.htm), and Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning ( www.gvsu.edu/geography/sustainable-city-and-regional-planning-certificate-46.htm )
-After graduation GISP (www.gisci.org), AICP ( https://www.planning.org/aicp/), ASPRS (https://www.asprs.org/certification)
-A blend of geospatial technique courses, topical (urban and regional planning & environmental) courses, and specific regional courses can be synthesized into a tailor-made productive and rewarding time-independent curriculum.
What will help Student Instructors increase their earning potential?
Dr. Jeroen Wagendorp Ph.D.: Maintain geospatial skills currency and amplify (graduate level) geographic & management skills. Post graduate professional certificates.
What Student Instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roselyn Costantino Ph.D.: Most important advice: Take initiative and be productive.
Find practical ways to use skills even if unpaid. Volunteer work is good. Use language skills. Technology skills. Exploit technology skills around the area of interest. If you want to be a teacher find out what software they are using today; what research skills are they utilize. Make sure you log your activities during the gap year especially those that relate to the area in which you want to work. If you want to go into finance, and you're working at a lawn service, understand and learn the business model and the accounting. If you're working at Starbucks (or in any commercial environment), get a chance to do inventories, learn about the ordering process and sources and suppliers for those orders; and how people are scheduled for work. All of that is relevant experience for business.
The CFO and recruiter for Keystone Staffing Solutions emphasized having evidence in your resume of of being productive during the gap time, no matter if it's one, two or three years. Evidence of being productive is what recruiters want to see on your resume: He stresses: "What did you do to expand your knowledge and skills not only in your selected area but beyond. BEING PRODUCTIVE for yourself proves to be an indicator of how productive you will be for me."
Still on gap year. How to go about it? Use teachers, friends, family, anyone in the field or related to it to provide guidance, insight, suggestions. This can lead to projects or experience that will help in learning and growth.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Student Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Jeff Colby: Will we ever return to the same workplace setting that existed before the pandemic? The common perception seems to be that options for working remotely will increase, and may become permanently integrated in how organizations do business. As we offer online synchronous and asynchronous courses, our students have begun to learn skills (e.g., organizational, familiarity with remote technical work, communication) that can help them adjust and hopefully succeed in a remote working environment. For geographers, especially students with backgrounds including GIScience theory and skills, I think the market will pick up fairly soon as the pandemic eases.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Student Instructors?
Jeff Colby: In the GIScience field, students have responded that potential employers look favorably on GIS and GIScience certificates. This is also true for students who are not geography majors. When we began to revise our GIS/GIScience certificates, it was interesting to see how possessive students were of "their" certificate when potential changes were discussed in class. Professionals in the field can also apply for Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP) certification.
A few years ago, I attended a session at an American Association of Geographers conference regarding employment in the geospatial industry. The panel of employers included representatives from government agencies and private industry. The panel was asked, "Who helps you the most, students who know how to push the buttons or those who have an understanding of the concepts?" The response was students who know how to push the buttons can help us right away, but students who understand the concepts make a greater contribution in the long term. Moreover, they said they really valued students who can help them address issues and solve problems.
How have salaries changed over time for Student Instructors?
Jeff Colby: In the geospatial industry salaries have been increasing. Salaries are also dependent upon where you work. An often cited survey by the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), indicated that salaries increased by 15% from 2010 to 2017. That rate may have slowed during the pandemic, but opportunities in the future remain very promising.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Student Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Alexander Murphy: Fairly obviously, a shift toward remote work, which in turn will open up new opportunities and challenges for urban and land-use planners as cities and rural areas undergo associated changes. There is also growing interest in exploring natural areas close to where people live, as people look for alternatives to more traditional forms of entertainment that are shut down. That in turn may well create more jobs in the conservation and outdoor recreation arenas. And when the pandemic subsides, I foresee a boom in the travel industry, serving pent-up demand. All of these opportunities resonate with the ways of thinking and analysis students encounter in geography programs.
What soft skills should all Student Instructors possess?
Alexander Murphy: Holistic thinking about places and people, good writing ability, basic understandings of geographic information systems and what they can do, and awareness of other places and people--what they are like and how we might constructively engage with them.
How have salaries changed over time for Student Instructors?
Alexander Murphy: The growth in job opportunities in the geospatial science arena has led tom some increase in salaries for geographers over the past decade or so. Otherwise, I think salaries for individuals coming out of geography programs track the more general salary picture fairly closely.
Ronald Dorn
Associate DirectorArizona State University
School of Geographical Sciences & Urban Planning?
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Ronald Dorn: For geographers, I believe that the enduring impact will actually be a boost for employment prospects as the post-pandemic recover gets going. The reason rests in how geographers are trained and how they think. We train our undergraduates with a mixture of key skills (e.g. GIS, basic statistics, how to write a research report) and a tremendous awareness of the changing nature of both natural and human environments. These skills apply no matter how the job market shifts. This has been proven after the Great Recession and I think it will be true post-pandemic.
More importantly, geographers think spatially. Most people do not really know what this means. "Spatial intelligence" is something that is reported as early elementary kids are tested for gifted education, and then its dropped by the K-12 world. Geography majors discover the field late, typically as a sophomore or junior in college. They often have no idea why the subject matter seems easy to them, when others are struggling. This was true for me. My perspective is that the pandemic has forced everybody to rethink about space.
Non-geographers will think that they have "re-invented the wheel" in trying to solve problems requiring spatial thinking and spatial skills. In my experience, such efforts are incredibly lame when compared to what geography majors can accomplish. You can't expect someone whose brain as spatially atrophied for decades to suddenly understand concepts and thought mastered by geography graduates. The pandemic has utterly and completely redefined how space will need to be used.
But its not just the pandemic that gives geography graduates a giant advantage. Climate change is uneven. Some places are impacted more than others. Cities, counties, states and federal lands are often interwoven spatially -- and figuring out the best way to deal with climate change's impacts requires someone who thinks spatially, understands how spatial interactions work with the natural environment (physical geography training) and operate on human landscapes (human geography training) -- and all knowing about how to see the interactions via GIScience.
What technical skills for a Student Instructor stand out to employers?
Ronald Dorn: "GIS" is way too general. Sure. Employers sort of understand. They see Google Maps or National Weather Service maps and sort of understand. But geographers know that GIS skills mean being able to utilize common software (e.g. ESRI), how to use open source software, how to make the most out of remotely sensed data, how to gather data from tools such as drones, and most importantly how to sort out the real spatial patterns from coincidence. These are general words, but I have specific website to explain what these skills mean. My school has a career navigator site that all are welcome to explore:
www.aag.org
and the Association of American Geographers has this nice introductory explanation:
www.aag.org
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Student Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Barney Warf: Given the pandemic, employers seek people who can work remotely. In geography, this often means a familiarity with online GIS skills. An ability to adapt to meetings and work teams in a Zoom environment his helpful.
What technical skills for a Student Instructor stand out to employers?
Barney Warf: GIS, statistics, modeling, remote sensing, and a good writing ability
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Dr. Aniruddha (Rudy) Banerjee Ph.D.: Local budget cuts due to Covid-related recession (already underway) will affect fresh grads more than those already employed. However, the infrastructure needs for a rapid recovery will help our GISc grads find relevant jobs.
What's a day at work look like for a Student Instructor?
Dr. Aniruddha (Rudy) Banerjee Ph.D.: Mostly work from home with project based outcomes instead of time sheet monitoring. Lots of flex on the job but more responsibility. Employers will grab the opportunity and look out for contract jobs over permanent ones.
What technical skills for a Student Instructor stand out to employers?
Dr. Aniruddha (Rudy) Banerjee Ph.D.: Database management skill will be in higher demand. Enterprise solutions will push out small GIS operations. It will follow the IT support revolution (from retail to wholesale outsourcing).
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Jonathan Fleming Ph.D.: Undoubtedly there will be an enduring impact, specifically in two areas. First, I think graduates will be entering a job market where remote or "work from home" will become more common in job advertisements. Many geography majors specialize in geographic information systems and much of that work can be done remotely, especially for well-trained graduates and experienced practitioners. Students are becoming, along with the rest of the world, more familiar with remote technology and learning to collaborate online instead of face-to-face, so I don't think a move to remote work will be a huge transition for them.
Second, the COVID-19 era has brought a plethora of geospatial data dashboards into view for decision makers and the general public. This will fuel the demand for skills in creating these dashboards and other web mapping applications, along with abilities to acquire, analyze, interpret, and visualize data from a variety of sources. Geographers are perfectly situated to meet these demands. Other aspects of the industry, such as the use of unmanned aerial systems (i.e., drones) for mapping, inspection, and disaster management were already trending upward before the pandemic and growth in these areas of the industry will be relatively unaffected by the pandemic and continue to accelerate.
What type of skills will young Student Instructors need?
Jonathan Fleming Ph.D.: A generic answer is that graduates need to have critical thinking and problem solving skills. Geography is a field with a rich liberal arts tradition, but modern geography bridges those traditions with the real need for practical problem solving. Successful graduates, particularly geographers focusing on GIS will need to know how to think spatially, apply practical skills in mapping and spatial analysis, and understand data analytics (especially big data), while also being able to understand their work in appropriate social, cultural, and environmental contexts.
What experience really stands out on Student Instructor resumes?
Jonathan Fleming Ph.D.: Internship experience is probably the number one thing that stands out on a resume. Along with internship experience, it's important for students to keep a portfolio of their work to provide evidence of their skills to potential employers. Students should seek out as many applied projects as possible whether it be in individual courses, independent studies, senior seminar/capstone, or community service that will allow them to demonstrate abilities for conceptualizing and addressing research questions and problems using the tools of geography. Finally, students should seek out training beyond their traditional university curriculum. There are numerous free training opportunities online, many of which provide a certificate of completion and can be included on a resume to demonstrate a commitment to self-initiated and continuous learning.
Dr. Mark Leipnik's
ProfessorSam Houston State University
Environmental and Geo Sciences Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Dr. Mark Leipnik's: The major impact is acceleration of trends such as remote and flex work, changes in travel and energy consumption and probably an on-going burden of concern about other possible pandemics. Globalization is not reversible but over population and other factors seem to be causing more diseases such as Ebola, Zika, SARS, MERS to appear. This will likely make travel more difficult and costly. Remote and flex work will probably reduce demand for gasoline and jet fuel this is hurting fossil fuel based economy. So one impact is loss of jobs and opportunities in oil and gas industry. This has had a definite impact on our students with several students going back to grad school (when the going gets tough the tough go to grad school...).
What type of skills will young Student Instructors need?
Dr. Mark Leipnik's: Remote and flex work will make skills in digital technology even more important. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a flexible team and need to have adaptability and be able to learn new skills will be vital. An understanding of the risks of social media is important more as more employers are looking at profiles and trying to control use of the web by employees. A break down of the home versus office, work week versus weekend is accelerating with no end in sight. Thus time management skills, self reliance are important.
What experience really stands out on Student Instructor resumes?
Dr. Mark Leipnik's: I think the key and a difficult thing to achieve with COVID, is personal contacts and networking. So many jobs have a thousand formal applicants but that is just a last step... the job has already been set aside for a contact of someone in the organization doing the hiring. What that means is joining professional organizations, doing outside work or volunteer efforts and trying to leverage contacts is very important.
One thing I think is a good idea is to do some sort of research project that can be put in a portfolio which can then be a focus at an interview. Also some activity that shows you have some unique skills or life experiences. For example, I advised my older daughter (who now is a software developer for JP Morgan Bank) to teach English at a school in the mountains of Taiwan for a few weeks. I use that as an example of something that might stand out on a resume.
It also highlighted the fact she is fluent in Chinese. Another thing that stood out on her resume (she got a Computer Information systems degree from Texas State) was she was awarded a scholarship for best graduating senior she was also on President's list at SHSU and TSU. Things like that stand out on a resume.
Eric Ewert Ph.D.
Professor and ChairWeber State University
Department of Geography, Environment & Sustainability
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Student Instructor job market given the pandemic?
Eric Ewert Ph.D.: I think we're all pretty aware of the biggest trend for nearly everyone during the Pandemic; job seekers must be comfortable working in a nearly totally online environment.
They must be proficient with virtual meetings, and collaborative creation, critiquing, and editing, and flexible schedules.
What skills stand out on Student Instructor resumes?
Eric Ewert Ph.D.: For geography, the most essential skill set is Geospatial skills. This includes GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing and Satellite Imagery, Spatial Analysis, Computerized Mapping, etc.
If they have these tools in their technological toolbox, they'll get a job.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Diana Liverman: Yes, employment opportunities are generally declining with the economy.
What type of skills will young Student Instructors need?
Diana Liverman: IT and excellent writing and communication skills
What experience really stands out on Student Instructor resumes?
Diana Liverman: - Completed reports, publications, or web page design
- Field experience as a research assistant
- Volunteering
Charles Button Ph.D.
Chairperson and ProfessorCentral Connecticut State University
Geography Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Student Instructors?
Charles Button Ph.D.: CCSU Geography students have the capability of graduating with geography degrees with various foci (i.e., Environmental Geography and Sustainability, Tourism and Hospitality Studies, Planning, GIS, and General/Regional Geography). In all instances, students graduating with a degree in geography are likely to enter a workforce that is different than before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world. The most significant change I anticipate is that these graduating students are going to have a much higher likelihood of doing a significantly higher amount of their work remotely, and many more of their meetings will take place over the computer instead of in an office sitting. Similarly, I suspect employers will require work to be completed during times they otherwise would not have (e.g., a snow storm).