Dear Career Advisor:

I am a Jamaican studying abroad. I am wondering if after getting my bachelor’s in criminal justice from America I will be able to secure a job in my area in Jamaica. What are the job opportunities available back home? I am wondering if I should change my major to something more marketable. But, then again, what are the most marketable jobs in Jamaica? I am having a hard time deciding exactly what I want to do.

Help!

Yours truly,

Nastacia G

Dear Nastacia:

I would like to believe that your decision to study criminal justice was predicated on your interest in the field and your research of potential job opportunities globally. Even if you did not do the research, your programme in the United States, much the same for those studying locally, would expose you to the career paths your predecessors have taken. You will be exposed to the myriad opportunities to which this discipline can lead.

With that being said, let’s turn our attention to your first question: What are the job opportunities in Jamaica for holders of criminal justice degrees? You might not see a number of local job vacancies with the title or qualification requirement of criminal justice. That, however, does not mean that there are no job opportunities for those so qualified. Let us, therefore, explore how a degree in criminal justice can prepare you for rewarding career opportunities in Jamaica. The degree will equip you with knowledge of the social and political dynamism of crime prevention and management, the criminal justice system, and rehabilitation. Among the key skills you will develop is analysis — analysis of crime potential, prevention, outcomes, and criminal behaviours. Another key skill you will develop is research. Analysis and research are not discipline-specific; they are readily transferable skills that will be applicable to many jobs.

There are a number of careers, even in Jamaica, to which the knowledge, skills, and abilities you will develop as a criminal justice major can be applied, including, but not limited to: law enforcement, correctional officer, prison administrator, Customs officer, immigration officer, court administrator, crime analyst, probation officer, victim support, researcher, juvenile crime prevention, parole officer, etc.

You could also look into becoming a journalist or a writer of detective or suspense novels.

Your next concern was whether you should change your major to something more “marketable”. A more pertinent consideration for you should be whether you have genuine interest in the field of criminal justice or are more concerned with hot jobs or trending careers? May I suggest that you visit the career centre at your college or university and seek the guidance of the career counsellor as soon as possible?

To answer your last question about ‘marketable’ jobs in Jamaica right now, if you peruse the local newspapers, regional job boards, and the Ministry of Labour’s Electronic Labour Exchange, you will see trending opportunities in customer service, IT, sales, accounting, business processing outsourcing (BPO), management and supervisory positions in all sectors.

All the best.

Sincerely,

Career Advisor

Carolyn Marie Smith is assistant vice-president, Student Services, at Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Manchester. Submit questions to her at careeradvisor@ncu.edu.jm