Graphic Design Jobs & Careers

Graphic designers work across the entire creative spectrum, creating visual presentations for corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies that routinely serve the arts, entertainment, news, healthcare, education, and marketing audiences. Jobs within the industries are almost as varied as the many organizations that require well-trained, imaginative designers. If you love creating visual masterpieces–and want to be paid for your imagination–consider enrolling in a graphic design degree program.

Graduates of graphic design degree programs find themselves in all sorts of jobs, including:

• Animation Artist
• Art Director
• Book Designer
• Brand Identity Designer
• Creative Director
• Desktop Publisher
• Exhibition Designer
• Film or Television Titles or Animation
• Flash Designer
• Illustrator
• Layout Artist
• Logo Designer
• Magazine Designer
• Medical Illustrator
• Multimedia Designer
• Newspaper Designer/Artist
• Photo Editor
• Pre-press Technician
• Stationery, Business Card Designer
• Storyboard Artist
• Technical Illustrator
• Typographer
• Video Designer or Animator
• Web Designer

Careers for Graphic Design Degree Holders

Graphic designers, artists, animators, and illustrators find satisfying careers in private business, taking positions with advertising and public relation agencies, print publishers, online media corporations, television and film companies, graphics design firms and boutiques, and with corporate internal marketing departments. You’ll also find jobs with government agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges and schools, and museums.

You might work as a touch-up artist, rendering photographs for print or online publications using state-of-the-art editing software. You could find yourself designing a corporate logo for use on Web sites, for business cards, or in mass media. As an illustrator, you might create illustrations for use in a medical textbook or dramatic visuals for use on a highway billboard. You might even end up creating the design for a major Web site and contributing animations for use by advertisers.

Wide Curriculum, Wide Career Options

Depending on your school and your graphic design school program requirements, curriculum might include classes on:

• Typography
• History of graphic design
• Illustration (both manual and computer-aided)
• Graphics/photo/Web design software
• Flash animation
• Desktop publishing software
• Logo and package design
• Vector graphics
• 2D and 3D design and animation
• Aesthetics
• Advertising design and theory
• Art history
• Color theory

For those who want to specialize in Web design, consider coursework in html, WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors, Flash, content architecture, search engine optimization, design concepts, accessibility, and cascading style sheets.

During your graphics design degree program you’ll have the opportunity to create a portfolio or digital reel of your work, which you use to show prospective employers your range of work and accomplishments. Many students take internships with companies in their chosen specialty field to gather experience and make invaluable contacts within the profession. Some internships become full-time jobs.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that a quarter of all graphic artists are self-employed professionals who work as independent contractors. Many who hold jobs with companies also have a number of freelance clients to increase their earnings. Over the next decade, the Department of Labor says, graphic artists who combine their design training with Web site and animation experience should have the greatest number of career opportunities.

Woodrow Aames
Woodrow Aames has written articles and profiles for Yahoo, Microsoft Network, Microsoft Encarta, and other websites and print magazines around the world. He holds an MFA degree and has taught English abroad.

Graphic Designers • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos090.htm

Fashion Jobs & Careers

Are you a fashionista? Do you follow the latest trends, the glamour models of the trade, the emerging styles from New York, Europe, and California? Whether you dream of opening up your own boutique, designing your own clothing line, or working for a major player in the fashion retail trade, earning a fashion design degree can set you on your way. Learn about textiles and trends, how to design and market clothing and accessories, or how to best plan a sale or runway show.

Consider the wide range of career options open to graduates of contemporary fashion design degree programs:

• Accessory Designer
• Boutique Owner
• Clothing Pattern Maker
• Costume Designer
• Fashion Designer
• Fashion Merchandiser
• Fashion Sales Representative
• Fashion Coordinator
• Fashion Model
• Fashion Stylist
• Fashion PR/Marketing Specialist
• Fashion Writer/Editor
• Fashion Illustrator
• Fashion Photographer
• Fashion Buyer
• Graphic Designer
• Pattern Grader
• Personal Stylist
• Product Manager
• Retail Merchandiser
• Retail Store Manager
• Showroom Sales Representative
• Showroom Window Dresser
• Visual Merchandiser

Designing Your Career

No matter your dream career path, you’ll profit by beginning with the basics of apparel design, production, marketing, and sales. A comprehensive fashion design degree program introduces you to fabrics, colors, and fashion history, as well as the wide range of specialties, including:

• Footwear
• Maternity
• Outerwear
• Jewelry
• Women’s
• Men’s
• Children’s

Learn about sportswear and accessories like belts, scarves, hosiery, and handbags.

If marketing is your thing, consider coursework in evaluating consumer psychology, buying patterns, imports and exports, emerging design trends and retailing strategies. Take courses in buying, retailing, and wholesaling. Alternatively, you might focus on public relations, fashion marketing, design, or promotions for broadcast, print, and digital media. Learn fashion campaign strategy, design, and implementation from the bottom up.

For those who tirelessly follow fashion, consider a fashion design degree program with an emphasis on culture, history, and writing. Track trends through print and online media, tracking marketplace and model trends in magazines. Learn the ins and outs of writing, photography, blogging, and more.

Fashion Design Degrees Go Digital

Your coursework may also include the theory and use of the latest fashion design software as well as computer programs that help with marketing, customer relationship tracking, budgeting, and merchandising. Become familiar with fashion design programs, vendor management and tracking software, and store planning software.

Ancillary coursework in make-up, lighting, music, staging, and promotions can help students who hope to work in the presentation field–including fashion shows, corporate events, or in the film and television industries–as a fashion consultant, designer, or make-up artist.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly one fourth of all fashion designers are self employed, with the highest concentrations of professionals located in New York and California. Many graduates launch their careers as interns through their fashion design school programs, others make lifelong career contacts through their schools and network their way toward their dream jobs.

Opportunities are wide and exciting. You can find careers with wholesalers, retail stores, major fashion chain retailers, specialized boutiques, fashion media organizations, performing arts companies, and specialized design firms. Some designers prefer to work as free-lance professionals, building their own clientele. Whatever your aim in the fashion field, getting a degree in design is a great first step. Start today!

Woodrow Aames
Woodrow Aames has written articles and profiles for Yahoo, Microsoft Network, Microsoft Encarta, and other websites and print magazines around the world. He holds an MFA degree and has taught English abroad.

Fashion Designers • 0000-00-00 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos291.html

Engineering Jobs & Careers

Developing new products, conducting rigorous tests on high-tech materials, analyzing research data for answers to some of society’s greatest technological challenges–these are just some of the thrilling duties that engineering degree holders perform on a daily basis. Cutting across industries and working on-location across the globe, engineers are responsible for the strategy behind the way we live. As technology continues to diversify, the engineering industry only promises enhanced personal and professional reward.

Engineering is an inherently multidisciplinary career field that allows its professionals the ability to specialize according to their interests and talents. Just a few of the engineering categories recognized by Federal Government’s Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system include:

• Aerospace Engineer
• Agricultural Engineer
• Biomedical Engineer
• Chemical Engineer
• Civil Engineer
• Computer Hardware Engineer
• Electrical Engineer
• Electronics Engineer
• Environmental Engineer
• Health and Safety Engineer
• Industrial Engineer
• Marine Engineer
• Materials Engineer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Mining and Geological Engineer
• Naval Architect
• Nuclear Engineer
• Petroleum Engineer
• Polymers Engineer
• Systems Engineer

Engineer Career Profile: Training and Certification

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the engineering industry should be one of the more stable professions in the coming decade, with respect to employment outlook. Overall engineering employment is projected to increase by 11 percent from 2006 to 2016. That’s about as fast as the national average for all occupations over the same period. As with most multidisciplinary professions, the actual hiring outlook in the engineering industry varies widely by specialty. For example, the biomedical engineer segment expects a 21 percent increase in employment over the statistical period, and civil engineers will enjoy a healthy 18 percent increase.

Sweeping changes in engineering technology and research processes will have a definite effect on hiring. A few of the industry trends that should maximize the employability of engineering degree graduates include:

• The demand for business to find faster and cleaner methods of production
• The introduction of new technologies in design and manufacturing strategies
• The desire to increase productivity while reducing carbon footprints
• A renewed interest in optimizing business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships
• The need for intuitive spaces for working, living, and playing

Which Engineering Degree Is Right for You?

Breaking into the field typically requires a four-year bachelor’s engineering degree. Potential candidates may elect to major in one of the primary engineering fields–such as civil, electrical, mechanical or electronics engineering. After graduation, professionals then migrate to a specialty that is an offshoot of the primary degree. This flexibility works well for both professional and employer. Professionals can test the waters of various engineering specialties without a full commitment. Employers can attract promising candidates with experience and utilize their talents in new technologies.

With respect to certification and licensure, all 50 states require credentials conferred by an established licensing body, such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). After completing of an engineering degree program, passing a state examination, and gaining four years of work experience, candidates are considered professional engineers (PEs). Continuing education requirements are needed for relicensure, keeping engineers on the cutting edge of their field. These requirements are typically met through attendance of industry conferences or completing a higher level engineering degree.

Start working towards your future in this diverse and demanding field today.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

Engineers • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Culinary Jobs & Careers

The culinary arts degree combines the principles of cooking, creativity, and consumerism into one dynamic education. Culinary arts degree programs can be accessed at technical and vocational schools, colleges and universities around the globe. They vary in depth and breadth, lasting from several weeks to several months of focused instruction. In a standard culinary arts degree program, you’d be learning about safe food handling procedures, nutrition guidelines, and advanced–delicious–cooking techniques. While formal education is not a requirement for entry-level positions, employers frequently prefer advanced training for choice positions in the kitchen and dining room.

Earning a culinary arts degree places food, service, and research at the center of your career universe. Just a few of the challenging roles that culinary graduates are qualified to accept include:

• Baker
• Bar Manager
• Cereal Chemist
• Cheese Maker
• Chef
• Cook
• Dietician
• Drink Mixer
• Executive Chef
• Food Nutrition Consultant
• Food Preparation Worker
• Food Scientist
• Food Service Manager
• Head Cook
• Kitchen Assistant
• Nutritionist
• Pastry Chef
• Personal Chef
• Private Household Cook
• Product Developer
• Restaurant Manager
• Short Order Cook
• Sous-chef
• Waiter/Waitress

Culinary Arts Career Profile: Training and Certification

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a favorable hiring market for culinary arts degree holders in the coming decade. In fact, employment of chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers is projected to grow by 11 percent from 2006 to 2016. That’s about as fast as the average for all occupations, with a projected 351,000 new jobs. Also, employment of food service managers is projected to increase by 5 percent over the same statistical period. Full-service restaurants and food service contractors, like caterers, should provide the most opportunities for new graduates.

A few of the defining trends that may influence the hiring environment for culinary arts degree graduates include:

• An emphasis on highly nutritional, sustainable, and organic food sources
• The demand for new food products and services across multiple industries
• The introduction of new restaurant start-ups and a reestablishment of franchises
• A rededication to the principles of traditional farming practices

Culinary Arts Career Recipes

Those who desire to reach the top rungs of the culinary ladder should know that the American Culinary Federation (ACF) accredits more than 200 formal academic training programs. These programs combine a formal classroom education and meaningful kitchen experiences that result in industry certification. The ACF also has sponsorship opportunities for students looking to enroll in international degree programs.

Some of the larger hotel and restaurant chains offer their own proprietary training and placement programs to new candidates. These opportunities are sometimes preferred over traditional degree programs because of the nearly non-existent cost of attendance, but competition can be fierce. A two-year culinary degree works well as a knowledge base and sets you apart from other applicants.

Culinary Arts, Meet Capitalism

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in the culinary arts industry. Catering start-ups that focus on a particular dining niches can do especially well–think weddings or company outings. Restaurant financing is not always easy to get in a tightening economy, but the Internet has increased the reach of fledgling catering companies looking for immediate success. For those that do make it, the business operations and management aspects of a culinary arts degree program comes in quite useful.

Whichever direction you choose to go in the culinary arts industry, a degree is a great place to start. Take those career plans off the back burner, and start cooking up a culinary arts degree today.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Food Service Managers • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos024.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Computer Jobs & Careers

The true mark of a promising career lies in its potential for growth and development. Computer degree holders are finding not only a welcoming job market, but the opportunity for virtually unlimited professional growth within the industry. The prevalence of technology in nearly every facet of society has placed a premium on finding enough qualified computer candidates to fill the demand. That being said, high school graduates and mid-career changers who earn a computer degree are fortunate enough to enter the industry with confidence.

The computer industry is as diverse and specialized as the professionals who comprise its working population. Many candidates begin by earning a general computer degree program and then specializing in a specific technical discipline. Just a few of the available career paths open to computer degree holders include:

• Computer Control Operator
• Computer Control Programmer
• Computer Hardware Engineer
• Computer Operator
• Computer Product Manufacturer
• Computer Programmer
• Computer Scientist
• Computer Support Specialist
• Information Systems Analyst
• Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairer
• Database Administrator
• Desktop Publisher
• Drafter
• Electrical and Electronics Engineer
• Electronic Product Manufacturer
• Engineer
• Engineering and Natural Sciences Manager
• Engineering Technician
• Graphic Designer
• Information Systems Manager
• Mathematician
• Operations Research Analyst
• Software Engineer
• Systems Administrator

Computer Career Profile: Training and Certification

Despite the numerous careers within the computer field, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a positive overall employment outlook for the industry. For example, employment of computer support specialists and system administrators is projected to grow by 18 percent from 2006 to 2016. That’s much faster than the national average for all occupations, with 155,000 jobs expected in those fields. Recent outsourcing in computer industry may subtract from the total jobs available, but the decrease is expected to be limited to call-center type computer services.

Technology trends expected to spur demand for certified professionals in the near future include:

• A surge in the popularity of social networking and new media technologies
• The movement of business processes and medical records from paper to web-based
• The advent of cutting-edge computer modules and software applications
• The prevalence of mobile networking for business and recreational purposes
• Expected industry turnover and the retiring of first-generation computer technicians

Succeeding with Your New Computer Degree

Enough can’t be said for the importance of professional certification in the field of technology. Particularly in networking, earning certifications from such names as Cisco, Novell, Microsoft and Java can help differentiate candidates from the rest of the field in an already challenging hiring market. Certification programs run from several weeks to several months, depending upon the technology and depth of expertise. Programming languages, such as HTML, can take years of practical experience to master.

Another hot career route worth mentioning is Internet security. The prevalence of identity theft, bot and virus attacks, SPAM and other technology-based crimes has created a boon for computer degree holders specializing in network security. Employment opportunities exist with government agencies and private businesses throughout the world. With so many career options in so many places, earning a degree in a computer-driven field promises to keep life–and work–interesting and right on the cutting edge.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

Computer and Information Systems Managers • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos258.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators • Apr 14, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Business Jobs & Careers

Very few academic preparation programs offer the kind of professional diversity found with the business degree. It is literally the most popular undergraduate degree in the United States, claiming more than 20 percent of the undergraduate degrees conferred in the 2005-2006 school year. For those interested in careers in finance, management, administration, sales, and consumer research, there is simply no substitute.
Business degrees are highly-specialized, augmenting basic principles with focused training in a wide range of disciplines. Credentials range from the two-year associate’s degree all the way up to the doctoral degree, and are available on-campus or online to suit a variety of learning styles. Business graduates go on to hold challenging positions with major corporations and start-up firms–not to mention as owners of their own companies, keeping the entrepreneurial spirit alive.

In a consumer-driven economy, business operations represent a major cross section of employment. Due to inherent specialization, a business career typically takes on the talents and interests of the professional. Just a few of the possible career paths for business degree program graduates include:

• Accountant
• Administrative Services Manager
• Advertising, Marketing, Promotion, Public Relations, and Sales Manager
• Appraiser and Assessor of real estate
• Auditor
• Budget Analyst
• Claims Adjuster, Appraiser, Examiner, and Investigator
• Computer and Business Information Systems Manager
• Construction Manager
• Cost Estimator
• Education Administrator
• Engineering and Natural Sciences Manager
• Farmer, Rancher, and Agricultural Manager
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Manager
• Food Service Manager
• Funeral Director
• Human Resources, Training, and Labor Relations Manager and Specialist
• Industrial Production Manager
• Insurance Underwriter
• Loan Officer
• Lodging Manager
• Management Analyst
• Medical and Health Services Manager
• Meeting and Convention Planner
• Personal Financial Advisor
• Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager
• Purchasing Manager, Buyer, and Purchasing Agent
• Tax Examiner, Collectors, and Revenue Agent
• Top Executive

Business Career Profile: Training and Certification

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a mixed bag with respect to the employment outlook of business-related professions. For example, the hiring outlook of advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations and sales managers is especially promising with an expected increase of 12 percent from 2006 to 2016–faster than the national average for all occupations. On the flip side, job prospects for top executives are projected to increase by only 2 percent over the same period. These estimates can change dramatically depending on several factors related to how business is conducted in the future, shifting federal regulations, and the emergence of new markets.

The demand for business degree program graduates is expected to increase in response to several key trends:

• The growth of the financial sector with respect to profit potential
• Increased advertising, marketing and branding channels
• The prevalence of technology and its incorporation into business practices
• An expansion of various financing and investing methods
• Consumer attitudes, tendencies, and buying activities

Business Time: Degrees, Certifications, and Specializations

Professional certification is one way that business degree holders can differentiate themselves in a fiercely competitive hiring atmosphere. Business disciplines such as technology, human resources, supply and operations, personal finance, and educational administration offer professional certification as a means of augmenting academic study with the experience-centric activities that employers crave. Methods of delivery include online modules, conferences and seminars, and local in-service opportunities. The costs associated with certification can even be offset by company funds and scholarships.

Nurture the competitive, capitalist spirit inside you by starting work on your business degree–and your future–today.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

Management and business and financial operations occupations • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco1001.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Fast Facts • 0000-00-00 • http://nces.ed.gov • http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=37 • National Center for Education Statistics

Advertising Jobs & Careers

An advertising degree readies graduates to compete in a thrilling, consumer-driven economy on a global scale. Advertising professionals are experts in appealing to the emotional impulses behind commercial activities. They plan and coordinate a wide variety of branding projects, including marketing campaigns, direct mail projects, social media programs and rebate offers. They combine clear, concise messaging with compelling imagery to relay meaningful information.

The four primary categories of the advertising industry–account management, creative, media, and research–combine best-practices in business with an inherent imaginative accent. In fact, many high school graduates and mid-career changers are drawn to the profession for precisely this reason. Just a few of the potential career paths for advertising degree holders include:

• Account Manager
• Account Planner
• Advertising Account Executive
• Advertising Art Director
• Advertising Design
• Advertising Manager
• Advertising Media Buyer
• Advertising Media Planner
• Advertising Sales Coordinator
• Animator
• Art Editor
• Brand Manager
• Content Developer
• Copy Editor
• Copywriter
• Educator
• Graphic Designer
• Marketing Manager
• Media Coordinator
• Promotions Manager
• Public Relations Manager
• Researcher
• Sales Manager
• Sales Representative
• Social Networker

Advertising Career Profile: Training and Certification

The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals an exceptionally receptive job market for advertising degree holders. Employment of advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers is projected to grow by 12 percent from 2006 to 2016–that’s about as fast as the national average for all occupations. Job openings exist both locally and globally and in both general and industry-specific advertising.

Although there is stiff competition for top positions, several factors will stimulate professional demand in the industry as a whole:

• An increase in the number of online marketing and advertising channels
• New industries testing the waters of print and media branding opportunities
• Companies looking for freelance and contract project planners
• The demand for smarter ad messages to appear to a savvier consumer market
• Global competition for compelling television, radio, Internet and outdoor messaging

Advertising Degrees and Career Advancement

While entry-level jobs vary widely with respect to academic requirements, many employers prefer graduates with a four-year advertising degree for middle and upper-level positions. Other related degrees that can lead to a position in advertising include:

• Management
• Business Law
• Finance
• Economics
• Mathematics
• Accounting
• Statistics

Those interested in the public relations side of the business can seek out certification from the Public Relations Society of America. Credentials are conferred based on exhibited professional experience and the successful completion of an examination.

As technology continues to play an increased role in the dissemination of branding messages, those candidates with experience in Internet, social networking and mobile content should have the edge. For example, search engine marketing has proven itself as a powerful and cost-effective marketing tool. Combining an advertising degree with expertise in keyword campaigns could prove especially valuable to potential employers. Other marketable technical skills to learn include blogging, copy creation, and consumer surveying.

Experience and past performance in the advertising business is another critical factor in career-building. Many managerial professionals start out as buying and selling agents, account representatives or similar front-line position before graduating to increasingly advanced roles. In this demanding and highly competitive field, you need to be on your game, and there’s no better way to prepare than with an advertising degree.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, Public Relations, and Sales Managers • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos020.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Advertising and Public Relations Services • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs030.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Accounting Jobs & Careers

Earn an accounting degree, and become immersed in a unique fusion of mathematical concepts and financial processes. Accountants are problem-solvers, personal advisors and regulatory professionals dedicated to fiscal responsibility in the public and private sectors of the economy. The four major accounting fields–public, management, government accounting, and internal auditing–offer a wide-range of challenging roles for accounting degree holders, allowing graduates to pursue particular interests.

The inherent multidisciplinary nature of accounting is one of the primary attractions for high school graduates and mid-career changers. Potential accountants can combine their existing professional interests with academic degree concepts to enter numerous specialized roles. Just a few of the career paths in accounting include:

• Accountant
• Assurance Services
• Auditing Clerk
• Auditor
• Bill and Account Collector
• Bookkeeper
• Budget Analyst
• Certified Public Accountant
• Consulting Services
• Cost Estimator
• Education
• Environmental Accounting
• External Auditor
• Financial Analyst
• Financial Management
• Forensic Accountant
• Government Accountant
• Information Technology Services
• Internal Auditor
• International Accounting
• Loan Officer
• Management Accountant
• Management Analyst
• Not-For-Profit
• Personal Financial Advisor
• Public Accountant
• Revenue Agent
• Tax Collector
• Tax Examiner

Accounting Career Profile: Training and Certification

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a promising employment outlook for accounting degree grads. According to projections data, employment of accountants and auditors is projected to increase by 18 percent from 2006 to 2016; that’s faster than the national average for all occupations. In fact, the industry expects an additional 226,000 positions through the projections period. Several factors that accompany the sheer growth of the economy should stimulate professional demand, including:

• An increase in the number of business start-ups
• The arrival of complicated compliance and regulation legislation
• More consumers looking to manage their assets
• The prevalence of various forms of white-collar crimes and fraud
• New industries requiring investment guidance and bookkeeping activities

Which Accounting Degree Is Right for You?

Most accounting and auditing jobs require at least a four-year accounting degree from an accredited college or university program. Some entry-level positions accept a two-year technical or vocational school certificate. Licensure and certification gives breadth and depth to many of the accounting career paths listed. For example, those accounting professionals that file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission must be Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), demonstrated by the successful completion of a four-part Uniform CPA Examination prepared by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Also, the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation is reserved for candidates scoring well on specified graduate school entrance exams.

Accounting Career Opportunities: What You Can Do with Your Degree

Small- and medium-sized business tax preparation may prove to be an especially lucrative career path for accounting degree program holders. The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation, an affiliate of the National Society of Accountants, offers the Accredited Business Accountant (ABA), Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP), and Elder Care Specialist (ECS) designations for candidates specializing in this area.

Because technology has become such an integral part of the accounting and auditing professions, employers prefer candidates with proficiency in this area. The process of submitting personal and business taxes is steadily moving online–requiring a working knowledge of various tax submission software suites. Combining an accounting degree with technical certification improves career opportunities exponentially.
Take that business savvy, add your penchant for working with numbers, and get on your way to a rewarding career in accounting. There’s no time like the present to start working on your accounting degree, so get started today.

Kelly Richardson
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer, marcom consultant and digital entrepreneur. He’s written content for Fortune 500s Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and Wells Fargo. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.

Accountants and Auditors • Dec 18, 2007 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos001.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Accountants and Auditors • May 04, 2009 • http://www.bls.gov • http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

There are hundreds of social media sites where people gather together online to express themselves, chat it up with other web users, even making a name for themselves in cyber space. LinkedIn is perhaps the most professional of the well known social sites while MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and Digg tend to be more informal. And that is precisely where problems might arise.

Younger people tend to say what is on their minds without regard to what other people think. That may work when you’re being anonymous, but if your online profile syncs with who you really are, then you have a problem that must be dealt with.

Businesses today have caught on to what the internet is all about and are employing sophisticated methods to gather information about job candidates through the internet. Damaging details related to your political life, religion, community activities, etc. can short-circuit your job search, in most cases without you ever learning the reasons why no job was offered.

7 Steps To Repairing Your Online Image

Clean Up Your Profiles — Your online profile tells readers something about you. Trouble is, some of the information you share could be held against you. Make a point to visit your favorite social media sites to see if anything untoward needs to be removed.

Use A Professional Email Address — Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo each make for very good free mail sites, but it is often the choice of email address that causes problems. Several years back I posted a resume online for a young woman, but not before I told her to use a different email address besides her oh-so-sexy-lips AT hermail.com address.

Update Your Photographs — Avatars are fine as long as they aren’t unprofessional. But unprofessional photographs can sink you too. If you’re looking for work, then have the photograph that best represents who you are online. You may look fine in a bikini, but you won’t be wearing that “suit” to the office!

Cancel Community Memberships — Speaking of social media sites, just how many do you belong to? Probably a lot more than you realize. Cancel all inactive accounts and consider distancing yourself from communities that incite its members or are otherwise unproductive.

Reread What You Wrote – The best censor online is you. Remember, anything you publish may never disappear even if you delete the files. Internet archiving ensures that what you wrote in 1996 and 2001 will be readable in 2010 and beyond. You may not need to delete what your wrote, but modifying an article could help. Oh, by the way, get rid of any YouTube or other video file sharing work that reflects poorly on you.

Check Your Blog Comments — Your comments on someone else’s blog or forum could come back to bite you. Even words said in jest can be misinterpreted. Chances are you can recall one of your more colorful exchanges — even though you may not be able to modify what your wrote, be prepared to explain it to the interviewer if that conversation is brought up. Otherwise, forget about it and move on.

Remove Negative Search Results — Everyone should Google their name and variations of the same to read what was written about them. The Search Engine Results Pages or SERPs can reveal much about you, some of that information could be misleading or false, while other material could be true, but regretful. You may need to hire a professional to help remove negative search results, especially if particularly damaging information appears.

Free speech defenders may howl over some of the points made, but in reality employers don’t have to hire you if they uncover unfavorable information about you. Worse, you’ll likely never learn the reason why, but if you suspect that your online presence is the culprit then you must clean up what you can.

Inasmuch as most students expected to find a thriving job market as recently as one year ago, things today are vastly different, perhaps permanently changed as far as someone’s career choice goes. The technology grad may have discovered that her software design field has shrunk while the history major may have learned that important government cutbacks in paleontology research will delay new hiring for many years.

Visualize Success Arriving In Different Ways

Planning an “outside of the box” job hunt means that new grads are going to have to look for ways to find work by nontraditional means. To that end we’ve come up with some methods to help you land yourself a job, utilizing ideas you may never have considered previously:

Temp To Perm — Temporary workers continue to supplement the workforce and will always do so. True, in a severe downturn “temp” employees are usually the first to be let go, but they’re also the first people a company will look to bring back on board before permanent hiring begins. That company on your “A List” may not have room for you as a full-time, permanent employee but they might considering hiring you on a contractual basis. If you prove to be an excellent worker, then when the economy improves you could be offered “perm” employment — going from temp to perm.

Volunteer Your Services — New grads often sorely lack the variety of skills that today’s employers want. However, to get those skills you need on-the-job training — but no one will hire you. Instead, consider applying for a short term volunteer position, perhaps managing the books for a local nonprofit, overhauling the website for a local homeless shelter or volunteering at your church’s food pantry. Though you might not consider full time, paid employment with a nonprofit if that opportunity were to arise, you’d come away from that gig with new skills and valuable employment references.

Start A Business — It used to be that entrepreneurs would need thousands of dollars in seed money to launch their own business. These days all you need is a computer and internet connection to get your business started. If you are a decent writer, consider marketing yourself as a resume or article writer. If you know something about blogs, market your writing or blog development skills. And, if you have a service that you can promote online such as marketing, creating a tutorial, fixing a computer problem, etc., then use a free online service such as Craigslist, Kijiji or Oodle to help spread the word.

Take Anything — When unemployment climbs into the double digits, then the job market has certainly turned sour. This means that you’ll be competing with more experienced people for jobs, requiring that you lower your financial expectations accordingly. However, even in the worst economy some businesses continue to thrive including food service, discount stores and auto repair. Consider taking any available position with a company who is hiring, using your spare time to find something more to your liking. And don’t forget that many of these same types of employers need people like you to work at their home or regional office. Get your foot in the door and then check to see if other opportunities are available (such as an accountant in the company’s home or regional office).

No one can say for certain when or how the current economic climate will change and what that will mean for new grads looking for work. What you don’t want to do is spend the next year unproductively which might mean that come next summer you’ll be competing against a fresh batch of grads for a limited number of openings. Take some risks — consider “outside of the box” thinking as you look for a new job.