Posted by Jen Zeman on May 6th, 2009
My online bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies did not provide me with a career as a paralegal as I had originally anticipated. What I learned are most law firms, especially the larger ones that pay well, look primarily for experience over having a degree. I had no experience in a law firm which worked against me, even as I vividly described the legal experience gained with my online courses. Many firms would offer entry-level clerical positions, but I was at a point in my career where I was not willing to start over again in terms of salary (i.e. it would have been a significant decrease in pay).
In spite of this, I still found earning my degree extremely rewarding. It was one of my major life goals, both personally and professionally. Obtaining the degree after years of hard work and sacrifice was a truly joyous occasion, making me feel I was capable of just about anything I put my mind on. Ultimately the degree paid off as I was able to obtain a well-paying, highly-coveted federal government position that requires individuals to have a bachelor’s degree. The research and analytical skills I learned online at UMUC have proven to be in-demand within my current position and in many other career positions within the government. I am confident that advancement opportunities abound with the education I received.
If you do not end up in the career field you anticipated upon graduation, don’t despair. A variety of opportunities may appear at your feet instead – just keep your mind and eyes open. Obtaining an online degree will never be a wrong decision.
Posted by admin on April 16th, 2009
In today’s economy, it can feel as if there are few jobs to be had, much less ones with six-figure salaries attached. However, there are careers to be found in a range of fields that can boost your earning power. What’s more, you can achieve a high income without a doctorate or a law degree.
Of course, achieving a six-figure salary will always require hard work and motivation. There are no free rides or successful get-rich-quick schemes. Sometimes continuing your education is the best way to prepare for a new career.
Below are some steps that may help you take your current salary to new heights.
Consider the benefits of online education.
Online training programs offer an alternative to traditional in-classroom education that can be very appealing for working students. Pursuing an online degree, whether it’s a bachelor’s, associate’s, or higher, allows you to study from home, at your own pace, so you can keep your current job while training for a better one.
Scenario 1: Earn a two-year associate’s degree.
Believe it or not, there are some high-paying careers out there that you can prepare for with about two years of study. For example, court reporters are known to pull in six-figure salaries, and often train for their careers with just one year to 33 months of study. If you’re surprised to see this career on the list, consider that court reporters often take on freelance work in addition to their regular hours to significantly boost their incomes. While the average salary for a court reporter technically weighs in at about $48,000, many use freelance opportunities to top the $100,000 mark.
Scenario 2: See where a bachelor’s degree can take you.
Train for a career in fine arts, finance, or technology, and find high-paying careers in each area. Art directors average about $83,000 annually, with the top 25 percent earning over $100,000 per year. Many art directors hold a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. Some begin their careers as graphic artists in advertising, publishing, design, or film, and work their way up to the position of art director while proving themselves through experience and hard work.
In the financial sector, actuaries pull in hefty salaries assessing risks and their financial impacts while often working for insurance companies. The mean annual salary for an actuary is $95,420. A bachelor’s degree in mathematics, statistics, actuarial science, or business should offer solid footing for you to embark upon this career path.
If your interests lie in technology and IT, consider becoming a Web systems manager. The mean annual salary for this career is $113,880, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 25 percent can earn over $136,000 per year. A bachelor’s degree is a common requirement for IT managers, along with a strong knowledge of computers and management practices. A degree in management information systems may be especially helpful.
Scenario 3: Looking beyond a bachelor’s — let education take you higher.
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and are looking to advance within your current field, consider the options that might be possible with a master’s degree.
Becoming an educational administrator can be a great option for teachers looking to advance their careers with a two-year master’s degree. In most cases, a master’s in educational administration or educational leadership is required, as well as related experience in teaching or school administration.
A high school principal might expect to earn around $92,000 annually, according to the BLS, while a chief academic officer can earn over $140,000 per year.
Look into further career training.
Research your potential new career, what further experience you might need, and how to get it. In today’s fast-paced job market, current job skills are essential, especially if your career involves using computers or technology in any way. Many professionals remain at the top of their careers with short educational stints or extra certifications in their fields.
Do what makes you happy — the money will follow.
You’ve heard it from everyone from your mom to Oprah: Do what makes you truly happy, and the financial side of things will fall into place. While it may be difficult to swallow this notion when you’re about to leap into a career change, you will likely be happy you did, especially if you follow these guidelines.
Yahoo Hotjobs
Posted by admin on February 25th, 2009
President Obama has promised the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — commonly known as the stimulus plan — will boost to the flagging economy by creating jobs in a variety of sectors.
Though it will take a while before federal, state, and local governments determine how exactly to allocate the funds, economists agree that six sectors are poised to see a boost as a direct or indirect result of the stimulus. These include:
Construction. The biggest thrust of the stimulus plan is a national two-fer: creating jobs while shoring up the nation’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges, rail lines, and wastewater and drinking water facilities. The Associated General Contractors of America estimates that stimulus spending would create or save 1.85 million jobs, including 640,000 in construction and 300,000 among suppliers and equipment manufacturers. Job opportunities will be even broader than traditional hard-hat jobs; there will also be openings for transit coordinators, waste disposal engineers, and accountants and managers with experience in large construction projects.
The Green Sector -This is a broad category of jobs, and there is some overlap with construction and energy. But generally these jobs are in some way aimed at reducing greenhouse gasses, reducing dependence on oil, or reducing consumption of other non-renewable sources. Examples can range from architects, to manufacturers and installers of solar panels, to energy rating auditors.
Medical Information Technology - The stimulus bill includes $19 billion for updating health information technology. This is intended to increase the number of physicians who use computers in their practice and will likely create opportunities for training health personnel and running health systems. It could also lead to job openings in hardware and software companies, from computer assemblers to systems analysts to project managers.
Education - Many states have made cuts in their education budgets, but the stimulus plan calls for a $53.6 billion state-stabilization to help states avoid further cuts and layoffs. Funding could also lead to new jobs for teachers and administrators in areas such as Head Start and other early-education programs. The stimulus also sets aside funds for modernization of schools (which overlaps with infrastructure and construction).
Energy and Utilities - A key part of the stimulus plan, and a campaign pledge by Obama, is the modernization of the nation’s electrical grid. “Smart grid” jobs will include regulators hired by public utility commissions, in addition to load management engineers, meter manufacturers and systems control center operators.
Federal Government - A $787 billion package doesn’t just administer itself. There will be openings for more lawyers, regulators, accountants, and administrators to ensure all of the dollars go where they’re intended.
From Yahoo.com
Posted by Jeff Davis on December 18th, 2008
I believe that there are many reasons that people exert the effort to pursue an online degree and my reasons are probably no different. My main motivation behind looking for an online degree was probably the fact that I wanted to obtain a better job. A job with more prestige, more responsibility, and hopefully more money!
However, there were also other important factors involved. The right online degree would help me advance in my career so I was pretty choosy when looking over all of the different degrees offered and considering the many online schools which offered them. I wanted my online degree to be something that I could be proud of with a sense of accomplishment and I wanted it to be considered as respectable as a traditional college degree.
I can tell you that one factor which I was not as concerned with was cost. Cost was not a major contributive factor for me in my pursuit of an online degree, especially since I knew that I could qualify for financial aid. More important than cost to me was the quality of the degree program and the educational institution from which it came.
Convenience is probably what originally drove me to seeking an online degree versus taking a more traditional approach. Since I am a busy working adult, I truly appreciated the ability to take courses from home. This allowed me to fit college into my hectic lifestyle with a more flexible advantage.
The first thing I looked for once I found an online degree program that I was interested in was making certain that the institution carried an official recognition. Making sure that the school was accredited almost guaranteed me that I would be getting the best education possible and the best value for my tuition.
Not everyone has career related reasons for wanting an online degree. An education is always beneficial, even if it is only meant to meet a personal goal in life. Getting your degree online can be a rewarding and memorable life experience, so be sure to take the time to research your online degree in order to be certain of getting exactly the college degree to help you meet your personal or career goals.
Posted by Dan on October 8th, 2008
As the nation continues to keep a strong eye on the Wall Street Market and its affect on the American Job Market, we will spotlight the top 2009 Hot Careers and Jobs that will continue to grow as we enter into the new year and beyond. Today we focus on a career and industry that despite economic hard times keeps increasing its overall profits and revenue year over year; the video game industry and a coveted position as a video game designer.
Job Description:
There are two main elements to the development of video games. One key division involves the development of the actual game from concept art, game design, and artificial intellegence programming. The other division involves marketing and publishing the title to the main stream audience. The role of Video game Designer is a key position in the overall development and success of a video game title. The game designer must work with all aspects of the development team to help realize the overall concept of the game. Game Designers work at effectively balancing all elements of the design from artwork to online programming. It is regarded as a leadership role which depends on strategic thinking and strong creative skills to create a successful product.
Job Salary:
A career in Video Game Design can be very rewarding from both a creative and monetary aspect. According to Indeed.com’s salary report, the average salary for a Video Game Designer in California is $84,000. This is almost double most salary averages in the gaming industry. Some of the top game designers continue to earn salaries in the six figure range and receive significant bonuses for the overall retail success of the game.
Education Requirements
Ok, so you beat Halo on Legendary, and you think, “I can make a game like this!” The road to becoming a leading video game designer is not for the weak minded. Almost 99% of any video game design jobs available require the individual to earn their Bachelors Degree. Over the past few years several higher education institutions have begun offering degree completion programs in targeted studies such as Game Development and Game Art and Design. In addition to earning a degree, several developers will seek individuals who have worked within the game industry for a period of time before elevating them to a Game Designer status. So how can one afford to work and earn a degree? Just as Xbox Live let gamers go online and play against anyone in the world, an online education now allows several working adults to continue their pursuit of a degree and keep working full time. Schools such as Westwood College Online and the The Art Institute of Pittsburgh are well known for their demanding online programs dedicated to learning the necessary skills to become a game designer.
With expected sales of over 10 billion dollars in the US alone for 2008, the video game industry continues to grow with rapid rate and despite economic hard times. As the success of video games continues, more projects and developers will look to expand their teams. The future is bright for those individuals who decide that video game design is their career of choice.
