Colleges and Careers 2019

September 11, 2019

COLLEGES & CAREERS

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COLLEGES AND CAREERS SEPTEMBER 11, 2019 | SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC.

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September 11, 2019

Explore these in-demand professions Metro Creative Connection The days of spending an entire career with one company are a thing of the past.

According to data published in The Balance: Careers, the average professional switches jobs 10 to 15 times in his or her lifetime, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the average employee tenure in 2016 was 4.2 years.

Understanding which fields have a high rate of growth can ensure men and women make smart choices when switching jobs. The following are the top-rated careers, based on data from the BLS, U.S. News & World Report and Glassdoor. ~ Mathematician: Mathematicians earn an average salary of $106,000 per year. Mathematicians use statistical theories to help companies in various industries make informed decisions. ~ Marketing manager: Marketing managers guide how a particular company or industry presents itself.

They also analyze how campaigns and efforts have succeeded or failed to improve market share. A marketing manager earns an average of $85,000. ~ Actuary: These individuals employ mathematics and economics to help corporations predict and manage risk in their organizations. The field is expected to increase by 22.5 percent by 2026. Actuaries earn a median salary of $101,000. ~ DevOps Engineer: Thanks to the ubiquity of digital

technology, professionals who can work with software developers and system operators to oversee code and IT infrastructure are in high demand. These workers command, on average, $105,000, and as computer-based industries only continue to expand, so do the career opportunities. ~ Optometrists: Seeing clearly and maintaining proper visual health is important. Optometrists can earn $106,000 a year. ~ Nurse anesthetist: Several different careers in the medical field are booming, and nurse anesthetist is one of them. These medical professionals administer anesthesia to patients undergoing surgery and monitor vital signs to maintain patient safety. An average salary of $160,000 can entice registered nurses to go through the extra schooling to become anesthetists. ~ UX designer: A UX designer is a graphic designer, interior designer or architect who helps improve the usability, accessibility and enjoyability of tangible and digital products based on user experiences. Salaries vary depending upon the specific niche, but can average $90,000 annually. ~ Physical therapist: These health care workers earn an average of $85,000 and help people decrease physical pain and improve mobility through rehabilitative exercises.

When considering changing careers, people may want to consider various professions that are currently booming.

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College majors that can lead to higher earnings Metro Creative Connection Choosing a college major is an important decision that many students delay making until their sophomore or even junior years.

Only after taking a few courses and uncovering one’s interests do some college students figure out what they want to do with their lives. Each student is different, and while some may pursue a degree based on a particular passion, others may choose majors that can lead to high-paying jobs.

While men often lean toward majors like engineering and computer science that have traditionally been linked to high earnings, women have historically gravitated to lower-paying specialties like education and social sciences. But in recent years a shift has occurred, and more women have begun to choose majors associated with higher post-graduate salaries.

Reports from the career guidance site Glassdoor analyzed how much male and female professionals with the same college degree earned and identified many instances in which women went on to

earn more than men in the first five years of their career. They’ve identified several majors where female college graduates can earn as much or more than their male counterparts and find successful careers. ~ Architecture ~ Pharmaceutical sciences ~ Information sciences ~ Chemical engineering ~ Computer science ~ Electrical engineering ~ Mechanical engineering ~ Computer engineering ~ Business economics ~ Civil engineering ~ Sports management Despite these findings, the college resource CollegeFactual and the U.S. Department of Education says that women remain likely to pursue education, design and applied arts, health services, and social work as career options.

Female students unsure of which major they want to pursue can take career assessments to help narrow down their options. Working with mentors or engaging in internships also can present a firsthand idea of high-paying career paths.

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Explore a career in agriculture Metro Creative Connection The agricultural industry provides a variety of opportunities to professionals interested in this often misunderstood field.

According to the employment resource AGCareers.com, more than 250 career profiles are available to people interested in a career in agriculture. And while jobs in agriculture may not be as prevalent as they were a few centuries ago, when 72 percent of the workforce was employed in farm occupations in the United States, agriculture remains a booming industry that greatly affects the nation’s economy.

Today, one in 12 American jobs is depends on agriculture, according to the career resource Payscale. The following are some potential professions for those considering careers in agriculture. ~ Agricultural business manager: This person oversees the business operations of a farm by providing organization and leadership during the production process. He or she contacts creditors, selects seeds, buys new equipment, and ensures the distribution of product. ~ Agricultural lawyer: Attorneys who specialize in agriculture deal with water and environmental issues, represent agricultural labor in disputes, ensure proper marketing techniques are followed, handle real estate and land use issues,

and much more. ~ Animal control officer: These officers enforce local and regional laws that pertain to the treatment and care of animals. They patrol for distressed animals and ensure cruelty-free practices are adhered to. ~ Grain buyer: Grain buyers build relationships with producers so they can purchase grain for their particular companies. They negotiate purchase agreements, source grain supplies and issue purchase orders. ~ Poultry hatchery manager: Hatchery managers oversee all of the aspects involved in poultry hatching. These can include management of personnel, handling and sorting of eggs, maintenance of equipment, coordination of pick-ups and deliveries, and overseeing quality control. ~ Soil scientist: Among the many tasks they might perform, scientists in the field of agriculture test soil samples for minerals and contaminants. By studying the soil, scientists can recommend which crops the land can support, how much livestock can feed in an area and the implications of agriculture on the area as it pertains to managing natural resources.

A career in agriculture presents many exciting opportunities in a number of different applications. It’s a vast industry that utilizes professionals with an array of skill sets.

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Vocational schooling can pave way to high-paying jobs Metro Creative Connection Many students believe that the next natural step after graduating from high school is to go off to college.

Secondary education has become such a common transition that many parents begin saving for college tuition as soon as their children are born.

Although college can be the next chapter in a student’s education, many teenagers still choose to attend trade school.

Television personality Mike Rowe says the country is in the midst of a skilled labor shortage because workers lack the necessary training to fill the hundreds of thousands of available jobs.

Lack of information may drive the notion that trade jobs are nothing more than a backup plan if college doesn’t pan out. However, by realizing that trade jobs, along with short-term vocational training, is a smart investment — and eventually a lucrative career choice — attitudes about trade schools and labor-intensive jobs may shift.

A great number of college graduates enter the workforce with degrees that may not help them land jobs.

And these students typically carry thousands of dollars in tuition debt. Many college grads are underemployed and working in jobs that aren’t even in their fields of study.

Career and technical schools help students develop specialized skills that make graduates immediately marketable in their chosen fields, and trade salaries can

be very competitive. The following are some of the fastest-growing and highest-paying trade careers to consider, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Forbes magazine. ~ Construction manager: Construction professionals with great organizational and communication skills can enjoy high earning potential as construction managers.

Expected growth of this career over the next 10 years is 5 percent. The average income of a construction manager is $87,000. However, with a top-end hourly pay of around $75 per hour, it’s easy for managers to earn into six figures. ~ Elevator installer and repairer: This career is listed as a top-earner. These employees can earn anywhere from $74,000 to $105,000 per year. Elevators are in demand as urban centers increase, so this career has staying potential. ~ Rotary drill operator: The oil and gas industry relies on rotary drill operators to extract oil or natural gas from underground sources. Salaries for these jobs can range from $30 to $40 per hour. ~ Dental hygienist: Cleaning teeth and inspecting mouths for disease is an important role. Job growth is still hovering around 20 percent, and hygienists can expect to earn up to $98,000. ~ Electricians and plumbers: Electricians and plumbers are continually in demand. With a short amount of trade school and apprenticeship, it’s possible to earn up to $90,000 per year.

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Factors to consider before pursuing an advanced degree Metro Creative Connection Advanced degrees have long been associated with better career prospects and higher earnings.

Women seem to be especially aware of that, as the Council of Graduate Schools/ GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees noted that, in the fall of 2017, the majority of first-time graduate students at all levels were women.

Among master’s degree candidate’s that fall, 59 percent were female while 53.5 percent of doctoral candidates were women.

The decision to pursue an advanced degree requires careful consideration.

Such a pursuit requires a considerable investment of time and money, and while those are two important factors to consider before making a decision (more on that below), they’re not the only things women must think of as they try to make the best decision.

TIMING Timing and time are two different things. While many people considering graduate degrees think about how much time they’ll need to complete their degrees, timing also merits consideration.

Newly minted graduates may want to take a break after expending so much effort to earn their undergraduate degrees.

Taking time between degrees can provide the opportunity to recharge, and it also can give young graduates a chance to get some professional experience.

That experience can inform their future grad school decision, perhaps reassuring them they’re on the right career path or compelling them to pursue other avenues.

But enrolling right after completing your undergraduate studies can be beneficial as well.

That’s especially so for recent grads who hope to start a family soon after graduation.

The longer you delay enrolling in a graduate program, the longer you may delay starting a family, which can have a lasting impact.

CAREER PROSPECTS While it’s easy to assume an advanced degree will greatly enhance your career prospects and increase your earning potential, it’s not necessarily that simple.

When considering the pursuit of an advanced degree, try to determine if you’ll be in the workforce long enough to benefit from the increased earnings.

Women who are mid- to late-career might not benefit considerably or at all from the extra earnings if they’re paying for their advanced degrees themselves, as the cost of tuition and other fees might be higher than the extra earnings.

In addition, some advanced degrees won’t necessarily lead to considerably higher salaries than you’re likely to earn with a bachelor’s degree. That will depend on your profession.

TIME The time required to pursue an advanced degree merits strong consideration.

Many students pursuing a master’s degree full time can earn their degrees in two years, while those who attend parttime will need more time to complete their degree programs.

Doctoral programs take considerably longer.

COST The cost of an advanced degree varies widely depending on the program.

Some programs may cost $20,000 or less, while others will cost more than $100,000.

Many doctoral candidates receive financial aid from their schools or lenders, but the cost of a Ph.D. is still considerable, especially when considering the potential lost earnings during the years while the degree is being pursued.

Women receive the majority of advanced degrees earned at colleges and universities across the country.

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Choosing whether or not to pursue such a degree requires careful consideration of a host of factors.

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