Computer Science Majors After Graduation

Few inventions have become as ubiquitous as the computer. We have them everywhere. In our pockets, on our desks, in our book-bags, and in our classrooms. Over the last fifty years, computers have evolved from giant thundering beasts into a symbol of humanities technological advancement. But we're not slowing down. The computer is becoming increasingly necessary in the United State's economy. There isn't a business or initiative that's separate from the computer's influence.

This should come as good news for anyone major in computer sciences. There will be a need wherever there's a large set of computers or a network. As computers are still a relatively new technology, there is still a lot of room for this industry to grow and mature. It's understandable for graduates or prospective graduates to have some tepid feelings about their job prospects. Especially considering their high unemployment rate. Yet, there's no reason to fear! This developing major still will see growth and need in the coming years.  

What do Computer Science Majors do and Where are They Wanted?

Computer science majors have a number of different possible career paths to choose from. For instance, if they so desired, graduates could become computer research scientists. They can be computer systems analysts, a designer, or a database analyst. Essentially, these careers all focus around the technology behind a computer or a network.

As could be expected, computer science majors are needed where there are a lot of computers or tasks related to them. Banks, multinational corporations, and even smaller, more locally run businesses are in demand of good computer science majors. 

What can a Computer Science Major Expect in Terms of Income and Work Environment:

What these graduates experience in the workforce will obviously depend on what specific job they enter. There are different expectations for different positions. Each will carry it's own unique environment and compensation.

Most jobs, however, pay extremely well. The demand for graduates in this developing stem field places a high importance on their skills. A systems analyst can expect to receive around $77,000 a year. Most of these individuals work in companies that revolve around system design and other similar services. However, a large percentage of them are seen in the insurance field.

On the other hand, research scientists can expect to make over $100,000 per year. They tend to work primarily for the federal government. Many choose to work in fields relating to education, however. This includes becoming a teacher themselves or performing tasks for schools.

In both cases, the environments tend to be more structured and orderly. However, many major corporations have incredible central buildings and promote less structured approaches to problems. Such a corporate headquarters can be found with Google or Yahoo. 

Job Projections:

A good job environment and a large income isn't enough to guarantee a good job. Demand needs to be present. If there isn't, then those details are merely extraneous.

Fortunately, all of the businesses in the computer science section are almost assured to expand. As mentioned earlier, computers are becoming increasingly vital to our day to day lives. The need for computer scientists are directly proportional to the need for computers.

Computer science majors can expect to see a 22% increase in the number of jobs in their field over the next decade. That's a mind boggling figure. A fifth more computer jobs today. That's over 50% higher than the expected growth in all other fields. Times are changing and the future may appear uncertain, but growth and stability in this field is a good bet to make.

This piece was composed by Donald Nickerson, a freelancer who focuses on computer software and computer gadgetry of various sorts; those interested in computer gadgetry should view the latest ipad cases from kensington.com.

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The Role of Prestige in Law Student Employability

The legal profession today is in a quandary. Following the crash of 2008, opportunities for attorneys contracted dramatically. Due to internet innovation, legal services became available at low cost online. Clients became much more shrewd about paying young lawyers in firms to learn on the job. Firms stopped hiring and thinned out their workforces. Meanwhile, the law schools within universities became huge money-makers because tuition was set at a high level due to the prestige of the profession and the only overhead was professors and a library rather than expensive medical or scientific equipment required for other high level degrees. Universities had set up their law programs to milk this opportunity for all it was worth, churning out a glut of graduates who found themselves without job opportunities.

Attorneys are expensive. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars going to school and must repay that money. They have overhead to pay in the form of office rent, paralegals, secretaries, legal research software, technology, and supplies. Attorneys intend to make a good living after meeting these expenses. These facts price most middle-class and poor Americans out of the services of an attorney, and many cases and claims are not pursued because legal fees would be more than any possible recovery. Therefore the legal profession is considering a mid-level legal worker with more expertise than a paralegal but less than an attorney, much the same as a nurse practitioner in the medical field. If this occurs, more of the public will be served, but attorneys will see fewer and fewer jobs.

            Therefore, students considering law school think very carefully about how their choice of school will affect their employment prospects upon graduation. The U.S. News and World Report began a law school ranking system which is generally the standard since 1987. Law schools compete fiercely to move up in the rankings because then they can charge higher tuitions and make their universities more money.  Unfortunately, this caused many law schools to pad their employment-after-graduation statistics in order to move up the rankings. Law schools would create jobs for their own graduates, count the self-employed, and even count those not working in legal professions as “employed.” The point is that while popular, rankings can not necessarily be trusted.

            Unfortunately, whether or not rankings are accurate regarding employment statistics or not, they do matter, especially to work in “big law.” However, because of the change in the employment landscape, the importance of school rankings has changed. While big city, prestigious law firms still require top-ranked degrees for employment, many mid-sized and small firms are watching costs and realizing that hiring graduates from mid-tier and lower tier schools is cheaper. However, prospective students should weight the cost of different law schools against their prospects for employment. First, students should attempt to get into the highest ranked law school possible. Of the highest theirs they achieve, students should take the one with the lowest cost. Paradoxically, some low-tier law schools cost more than others just a few numbers higher, so students need to pay attention to tuition.

            Rank of law school is certainly not the only factor employers consider. They also consider class rank, whether the student made it onto law review or into the trial team, and what initiatives the student took while in law school. The key to success involves getting into the highest tier possible, but even if that is only a middle tier school, the student should strive to shine in any way possible. Ways to do that are ranking in the school’s top 10-20%, being on law review or trial team, having work experience through internships or clinics, or taking initiative to write papers published by journals. Any way you look at it, it is a lot of work.

Byline

Kevin Lynch is a freelance author and blogger who mainly focuses on education, professional school, professional training, employment trends and other relevant social issues; those interested in finding a qualified lawyer in the area of Personal Injury should click.

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Should Law School be Shortened?

Both private and public law schools have been inexorably raising their tuition and costs over the years. In 2012, total costs for private law schools averaged about $40,000 compared to $23,000 in 2001. For public law schools, the same period has seen an increase to $23,600 from $8,500. These soaring costs have taken place during a two decade long contraction in the market for lawyers.

If employed, over half of recent law graduates are working in low paying jobs, unrelated to the legal profession. Since 90% of law students must finance tuition through loans, the lack of a successful career can be disastrous. Coincidentally, in 2012, only 30,000 graduates applied to law schools - 20 percent less than 2011 and 38 percent less than 2010. BS/BA graduates looking for postgraduate degrees and professions have seen the statistics.

In fact, the viability of the present legal educational system has come into question. These discussions have been directed at both the costs and the relevancy of the skills taught and the needs of the marketplace. A Juris Doctor (JD) degree and the right to sit for the bar exam requires seven years: four-years of college and three years - six semesters - of instruction at an American Bar Association (ABA) approved law school.

Until 2004, the ABA had rather detailed outlines for subject and even minutes of instruction over the three years – L1, L2 and L3. However, for 1L, most law schools follow a similar required curriculum that includes basic courses as an overview of the broad study of law. After the first year, 2L students pursue specific fields of study: administrative law, admiralty law, corporate law, intellectual property law, international law, tax law and others. An independent study project that requires a paper for credit is included in 2L or 3L.

Programs of less than three-years have been proposed to allow graduates an extra year to work and lower costs. Since 2004, a few law schools have introduced degree programs that shorten the three-year requirement. These accelerated plans are classified either as "3+3 JD programs" or as "2-year JD programs.” In a 3+3 JD program, after a period of six years, students are awarded both BA/BS and JD degrees following program completion.

About 20 law schools presently offer the six-year option; however, programs are often limited to certain areas of specialization. Columbia Law School in NYC offers a BA/JD degree through its accelerated interdisciplinary education (AILE) program offered in collaboration with various universities around the U.S. This six-year program can save costs and provides faster access to the job market.

Even fewer law schools offer 2-year JD programs. A program at Northwestern University School of Law in Illinois begins in the summer term and then follows a normal two-year program. Enrollment requires two years of employment experience. Although the degree is completed one year earlier, the total course work remains unchanged as does the cost relative to their 3-year program.

Offering both a decrease in overall tuition costs and an additional year for employment, the 3+3 program would appear the best deal. However, it means a commitment to the legal profession and possibly a specialization in the first year of college. The 2-year JD plan provides only the year of extra employment and no cost savings.

A proposed alternative, not yet available, would have both advantages with no restrictions. This program would involve four semesters, 2 years, of formal law school followed by a one year “apprenticeship” before awarding of a degree and admittance to the bar exam. Presumably, graduates would learn more in their last year by working in the legal services sector.

Jonathan Strawberry is a freelancer who concentrates on law, politics, education, professional training, employment trends and other relevant issues. Law is definitely an honorable profession; view an attorney who understands and wishes to preserve this fact.

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Do You Want to Go to Dental School?

After watching their older siblings, other relatives and friends struggle to find a job after graduating from college, many young adults are starting to seriously question whether their intended career is the right choice. Therefore, before they enroll in such a program, they want to know if dental school is a desirable option.

The Job Outlook

One of the major components that goes into determining whether or not a job is desirable is the employment outlook. Are there going to be a lot of jobs available when you graduate? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 21 percent projected rate of employment increase exists in this field for the years 2010 to 2020. The average job growth for occupations is 14 percent, so the field of dentistry is clearly above average. Though, to be sure, the outlook differs according to region, so those looking to become a Dentist in College Station, TX will likely have different options than those looking in the Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, or New York City regions.

The Salary

When individuals attend college and dental school, they often have to take out a lot of loans. Therefore, they want to know that they are eventually going to be able to make the money back and pay off their debt. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has positive information to report in this field as well. The site notes that the median salary of a dentist is $146,920 per year or a rate of $70.64 per hour. These numbers are as of 2010, so you could expect a possible slight increase in the future.

The Ability to be Self Employed

The American Dental Association, in its article "Ten Great Reasons to be a Dentist," reminds dental students that they have the ability to eventually become self employed. Many people want to work for themselves, set their own hours and have high levels of control over their business. When you choose to work as a dentist, you will have the opportunity to do so. You will likely have to work up a reputation in the community at another practice or with a partner before you open your own practice.

An Understanding of the Sciences

You also must consider your own strengths, abilities and weaknesses when you are deciding if dental school is the right option for you. Making a high salary and owning your own business certainly seem like two positive points; however, if you do not have the necessary tools to become a dentist, your endeavor is likely to fail. Evaluate how well-versed you are in the sciences and other disciplines related to the field of dentistry. Be prepared to take some extra courses if you have not succeeded in these types of classes.

A Passion for Dentistry

Ultimately, you also need to want to be a dentist in order to succeed at dental school. No matter how much money you make or how excellent of a schedule you have, your time spent at work is going to be miserable if you do not enjoy the job. Enroll in a college that has a pre-dental program, so you are able to take some courses in the field. If you are unable to find a college with such a program, you must at least look into taking some other classes that are related to the field in order to determine if this is the occupation for you.

Basically, whether or not dental school is a desirable option depends upon what you think. In terms of salary and job availability, yes, it is. However, if you do not like the field, then it is simply the wrong career for you to pursue.

This piece was composed by Reginald Wadsworth, a freelancer who focuses on education, professional training, employment trends and other topics. Those concerned about their oral hygiene should consider obtaining the services of an experienced dental professional with impeccable credentials and an established track record of success.

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Tips for Landing an Internship

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For college students looking to get a head start with their career, a summer internship is invaluable. It gives you a chance to get a bird’s-eye view of the industry in which you aspire to work. It also gives you the chance to work with the industry’s top professionals and win an offer for a full-time job.

According to the experts, it is often harder to get a summer internship than a full-time job. This is because the top firms hire fewer interns than full-time employees. With opportunities being fewer and competition being stiffer, it is necessary that you show dedication and passion in your search. To help you win an impressive internship, we present some useful tips.

1.     Start the hunt early

Winning an internship involves a lot of hard work, so it is recommended that you start your hunt early. Here are step-by-step instructions to help you start your hunt:

a.     Identify the industry that interests you most – The first thing you must do is identify the industry in which you want to work
b.     Short-list a few companies – Conduct research on different companies to learn which ones suit your aspirations better
c.     Narrow down your list to one or two names – Read news articles about the companies that you have shortlisted, go through their annual reports, learn more about their top managers, and/or talk to your seniors to know how these companies compare with each other. If possible, try to meet the potential employers personally.

You must start preparations early and prepare well. MBA students who wait too long invariably fail to win an internship with their targeted companies.

1.     Identify influential contacts

Do you know anyone who can help you win an interview with your potential employer? If yes, befriend these people. However, it is necessary that you approach them cautiously and do not bombard them with phone calls or emails. Experts recommend that you follow the three-day rule, that is, send an email or give a call only once in 3 days. Be polite when asking for help, and keep the conversation simple and short. 

2.     Be proactive

By being proactive, you can increase your chances of winning an internship with a top company considerably. You can strengthen your resume and make valuable contacts by participating in the following activities:

·       Doing group project work
·       Working with your teachers on research projects
·       Participating in professional conferences

3.     Practice hard

You must prepare well before an interview. For this purpose, you can seek the help of your fellow classmates. Participate in mock interviews with your fellow classmates, as it will boost your confidence and help you prepare answers for likely questions.

4.     Highlight your strengths in the interview

Your success in an interview will depend on how well you promote yourself. It is imperative that you make good use of every opportunity that comes your way to tell the interviewer you are the best candidate for the job.

The interview also gives you the opportunity to know more about the internship for which you are being interviewed. It is necessary that you try to find out as much as possible about it from the interviewer. This will help you decide if the internship gives you the valuable exposure that you are seeking or not.

 Erik Larson is a master’s level career counselor and an internationally certified as a Career Management Practitioner (CMP) by the Institute for Career Certification International. He was also recognized as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. You can check out his site at ResumeIndex.com.

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Is Law School Economically Sensible?

The decision to enter law school is based on different factors for each person; for one potential student, law school may be the only way to break out of a rudimentary nine-to-five job or a way to finally stop living from paycheck to paycheck; for another student, it may be the “obvious” next step due to success in undergraduate education; for many others, entering law school is a combination of the two – a way to stay in school until the job market improves, since there is little hope in finding a high-paying job without graduate education in the current economic state. But whatever a student’s reason for entering law school, most students graduate on a level playing field as they find themselves buried alive under a mountain of student loans often in excess of one hundred thousand dollars. The possibility of such a potentially grim graduation situation should be considered by all incoming students when they each respectively ask themselves: Is law school an economically sensible option for me? The answer, like the answer to most economic questions, requires a cost-benefit analysis. Unfortunately, many of the costs and benefits associated with law school vary widely depending on what school is student may attend. For the purposes of this analysis, the “average” numerical values will be used.

Costs

The average tuition cost for one year of law school is around $32,000 (www.accessgroup.org/paying-for-school). Multiply this number times three, since law school is most often a three-year venture, and the total tuition cost to attend law school is roughly $96,000. Potential students should keep in mind that this is just for tuition and does not include other costs such as rent, transportation, and other living expenses. On average, the yearly off-campus living expenses total nearly $19,000 per year, bringing the living expenses to $57,000 over three years. In total, tuition and living expenses can add up to over $150,000 over three years. Finally, there is the opportunity cost. Not only can three years of law school cost $150,000 out of pocket, but also keep in mind that most full-time law students cannot work during the school year. In 2008, the median income for an individual with a Bachelor’s degree was $49,000 annually (http://transitions.s410.sureserver.com/). Over three years of law school, that’s $147,000 of lost potential income.

Benefits

As gloomy as the situation looks from a financial perspective, law school does reap some rewards. The first benefit of law school is the education. Even if a graduate does not go into a law-related field, people with a graduate degree are likely to earn around $12,000 more per year than someone with just a Bachelor’s degree (www.careerbuilder.com). However, even $12,000 extra per year will only put a small dent in $150,000 worth of student loans. The most economically sensible choice for a young graduate is to enter the law field, where beginning salaries range from $45,000 to $166,000, with the average being around $79,000 (www.payscale.com). At $79,000 per year, paying off $100,000+ in student loans is very doable.

Other Factors

If the only way of making law school economically feasible is to enter the law field after graduation, the final step in the analysis is to ask what the chances are of getting a law-related job. This varies greatly from school to school, as the statistics are often closely correlated with the geographical location (city versus rural, housing prices, population, etc.). Most law schools have post-graduation statistics that a new applicant should study diligently. Is there a pattern of high job placement? If so, then law school may be a good choice. On the other hand, if there is a pattern of low job placement, low bar passing rates, or high rates of students taking non-legal jobs, that should be a hint that a particular law school may not be the best financial choice for potential students.

This piece was composed by Roy McClure, a freelance writer based in the greater metro region of Little Rock; for those with bankruptcy issues or concerns be sure to visit http://www.consumerbankruptcyattorney.com.

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Interior Design Career: Licensing and Certification

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"You should be an interior designer.” How many times have you heard that when someone walks into your home and sees the beautifully decorated rooms? Or how many times have you watched the professionals on home and garden programs, or flipped through a magazine, and thought, “I could do that!”

With the proliferation of TV shows, magazine, books and online sources these days, it seems like almost anyone can call themselves an interior designer or decorator. However, what many people may not realize is that in order to be considered an interior designer in most states, you need to hold a license, or at least be registered with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

Reasons for Regulation

If you’re not familiar with the interior design profession, you might be thinking, “Why do designers need to be licensed? Aren’t they just choosing furniture and decorating rooms?” And while yes, those tasks are certainly part of the equation, they are just the tip of the iceberg.

Professional interior designers do more than just paint and hang curtains, especially when they are hired for a major remodeling job. Designers need to have a fundamental understanding of the principles of architecture, as well as building codes, plumbing, electrical work and other regulations, in order to manage projects. Without that knowledge, the outcome could be dangerous -- even disastrous. Requiring those who carry the designation “interior designer” to meet certain requirements helps to protect consumers, and ensure that buildings meet the minimum safety standards set by the government.

State Laws

Each state has its own laws and regulations regarding the practice of interior design – and about half don’t have any laws at all. However, of those that do have laws, most place strict restrictions on who can use the term interior designer and some actually limit the practice of interior design to those who meet the state licensing requirements.

To determine your state’s requirements, contact the licensing authority, or the American Society of Interior Designers, a professional organization that maintains a comprehensive listing of state requirements.

Getting Certified

Qualifying for licensure in interior design is much like earning a license in other fields. You can only qualify for the designation after meeting strict education, experience and testing prerequisites.

Of the states that do regulate the profession, most require at least two years of education in interior design; some states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada and Virginia, actually require four years. Some states specify a minimum number of years of combined education and experience, but all states require at least six years of experience.

In addition to completing an education at one of the accredited interior design colleges, most states require licensed interior designers to pass an examination covering the fundamentals of the profession. The most commonly required exam is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam, a multi-day exam that’s limited to those who hold a degree and have a minimum number of years of experience.

While the NCIDQ is generally required by state licensing boards, there are other certifications that designers can seek within their areas of specialization. For example, those who work in the kitchen and bath design field, and meet the education, experience and training requirements, can seek the National Kitchen and Bath Association certification, while those who work exclusively in residential interior design can seek certification through the Council for Qualification of Residential Interior Designers.

A growing field of design is “green,” or environmentally friendly design, and experienced designers can seek certification in that area as well. The National Association of Green Designers sponsors a certification for those who specialize in eco-friendly design, the Certified Green Designer designation, which indicates the designers’ commitment to environmentally friendly design and use of sustainable materials.

Of course, completing all of the licensing requirements for your state doesn’t always mean you are licensed for as long as you practice. Most states require continuing education or professional development courses to keep the license current.

In the end, states enact certification and licensing requirements to protect both consumers and designers. Earning the right to call yourself an interior designer is a major achievement, and one that all designers and students should take seriously.

Image from Flickr’s Creative Commons

Yvette Conolly is an award-winning licensed interior designer. The owner of a successful residential design firm, she serves as an advisor to aspiring designers. Her work has been featured in several magazines.

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Going to A Top-Rated Law School or Not

Law school is a huge investment of time and money. However, the right experiences, training and degree can get people ahead in life. Top-rated schools cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it is important that law students understand this is a long-term commitment. People have to enjoy law and want to work in this field for quite some time. This investment can help people secure a bright future for themselves if they work hard and make the most of the experience. The following are some things to keep in mind when deciding which law school to attend.

Solid Grades

An expensive law degree is nothing if people do not have high grades and publications under their belt. After all, hundreds of people graduate from law school every year. This means there is a lot of competition out there. To stand out from the pack, students need to work hard and finish strong. This means holding down internships and publishing papers at the same time as earning great grades from a prestigious law school. Potential employers want motivated and driven individuals who can multi-task.

Secure Important Internships

Paying thousands of dollars to attend a top-rated law school is a great way to secure great internships. Often, these schools have an extensive alumnae network that offer great internships for students. This is a chance for people to get great hands-on experience, meet important people in the legal world and further one’s career. An internship could become a job later on down the line and is a chance to impress experienced legal professionals.

Publish

Law students should join journals while in school and work on publishing their work. This shows prospective employers that a student is hard working, sharp and ready for work. Publishing is also a chance to get noticed by the greater law community, which can secure not only jobs but build a person’s image.

Volunteer Work

Well-rounded graduates are sure to be noticed and find jobs. The best law schools have community-outreach programs to help students find valuable volunteer work. Law firms and employers around the world will take notice of applicants with this type of experience.

Be Committed

Law school isn't a flippant decision. This is a huge financial investment. This is why it prospective students need to sit down and think about whether or not they really want to go into debt or want to be a lawyer. If a person can't see him or herself working in this field, then it is wise to wait on law school applicants. Driven and focused students who are passionate about the law are well-suited for top-rated law schools. This is an investment that people cannot afford to take lightly.

People need to advocate for themselves if they want to succeed in the legal world. This means seeking out valuable internships, attending conferences, working hard and earning high grades and publishing work. A degree is just one piece of the puzzle. A top-rated or ranked school can help people get their foot in the door but experiences and hard work will seal the deal on the best jobs. Law school graduates need to make important connections and really focus if they want to succeed.

This article was written by Ty Whitworth for the team at bail bonds agency.

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Choosing a Healthcare Career

Choosing a career path is a huge decision for anyone regardless of his or her age. Most careers are lifetime investments. No one wants to get stuck with a career they don't enjoy, but yet it happens to people every single day. It is extremely important to pick a career path that you will enjoy for years to come.

Many people who have a desire to help others are taking a closer look at the many career paths within the healthcare industry. The healthcare industry is a wonderful career path that can blossom into a bright and outstanding future, but trying to figure out which career path to take is often just as difficult as any other industry. There are doctors, nurses, nurse aides, management and much more. Which career path is right for you? Keep reading to find out.

Deciding Which Path Is Right for You

A little bit of research will go a very long way when choosing the healthcare career path that is right for you. Before you make any decisions, you will have to ask yourself a few questions. The most important question is this, what do you want to get out of your career? For some, the answer is simple. They want a career that pays them well. For others, they may be looking for a way to help people while making a decent income that helps support their family. Knowing what you want from your career is the most important decision you will ever make. 

Ask yourself this question too. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years from now? Knowing the answers to these two simple questions will give you a better understanding of which career paths in the healthcare industry will help you accomplish these goals.

Healthcare Administration Careers Help Many Others

Choosing to pursue a career in healthcare administration gives you the unique ability to help millions of people. You might focus on management or human resources. Healthcare administration helps keep entire hospitals, and doctors’ offices organized. Without these people, the doctors and nurses would not be able to do their jobs. Every career path in the healthcare industry is going to require some kind of specialized education. Many people who choose this career path are choosing to get a healthcare degree online.

Is Becoming a Nurse the Right Choice for You?

Nurses are the ultimate care givers in any type of healthcare environment. They typically have more contact with people who are sick or injured than any other people in the entire healthcare industry. A career as a nurse is all about helping others. If you decided to pursue a career in the healthcare industry because you wanted to help other people, then being a nurse is quite possibly the best way to do that.

Nurses get great satisfaction from their jobs, and they also earn a nice salary. Nursing careers are currently in extremely high demand, and the demand is only expected to grow in the coming years. This career path will also require a specialized education.

Should You Become a Doctor?

Choosing to become a doctor takes a great effort. Depending on which type of doctor you choose, you will be facing many years of school before you can practice. Doctors make an excellent salary, and there is always a demand for their services.

A doctor can choose to work in a busy hospital, or they can start their own private practice. Either way, doctors are well-rewarded both financially and socially. Doctors help save lives, and they help cure the sick or injured. Choosing to become a doctor is not the right career choice for everyone. If you want to help people, but you don't like the idea of becoming a doctor, then you may be better suited for one of the many careers in healthcare management.

Any job in the medical industry can be lucrative and rewarding, but they will all require some sort of specialized training school. Determining which healthcare profession offers the most really depends on what you want to get out of life. There is a lot more to a career path than money. Make sure that you choose a career path that makes you happy.

Contributing author, Susan Andersen, is a clinical nurse at a local healthcare clinic in small town Pennsylvania. Her original career path was pharmacology, but says she realized that she’s better-suited for hands-on patient care.

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What Can You do With an Education Degree?

A degree in education may seem like a one-way street to a lifetime in the classroom, but there are many different career options for people who don't want to teach in a classroom. For those who simply want to be involved in educating kids without the pressures of the classroom setting, alternative careers do exist. In fact, some of these career opportunities allow the educator a better opportunity to engage with young people.

Museums and cultural centers
Many museums and cultural centers need the services of professional educators. Qualified candidates can serve as tour group leaders, small group educators and customer service representatives. In each of these jobs, they will be educating and engaging with kids. Someone who works at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, for instance, will need to teach about Chickasaw history and culture each day while helping visitors of all ages during their visit.

Someone who works at a children’s museum will need to guide children in interaction with the exhibits throughout their visit. The same need exists in art museums, history museums and cultural centers throughout the country. In each of these locations, understandinging how to teach and guide children is a vital skill, even though no formal teaching happens.

Non-profit organizations
Non-profit organizations often work with children and need people who are trained to do so. For example, the Girl Scouts, YMCA and Big Brother/Big Sister programs all give people the chance to teach and guide children without being in a formal educational setting. Teachers often volunteer in these organizations in the summer, but the groups need long-term commitments as well. Those with a teaching degree who are not working in a classroom can find paid opportunities with these organizations. Whether someone serves as a counselor in a camp, helps out with an after-school care program or acts as executive director of one of these non-profits, training in education will be a vital asset.

Tutoring
Tutoring is teaching on a smaller scale. Rather than working with a classroom filled with students, a tutor interacts with students on a one-on-one basis. Personal attention can be quite powerful for both students and educators, as tutoring gives the teacher the chance to work with a student’s individual strengths and weaknesses and help him or her achieve.

Community educators
Community educators work with institutions and government groups to provide education to the community as a whole. Hospitals may need educators to help spread information about health and wellness programs. Government welfare agencies may need educators to teach about proper nutrition and exercise. Financial institutions may need educators to help promote their products and provide education about finances. A degree in education makes it far more likely to land a position as a community educator, regardless of the type of organization offering the educational programming.
Education does not have to happen just in the classroom. Opportunities to teach and learn exist at museums, cultural centers, tutoring facilities and many other locations. Each of these career options engage students' minds in a less formal venue than a classroom setting. Whether a teacher is looking for a break from the classroom or a young person is considering a degree and exercising their options, educational careers show just how flexible a teaching degree can be.

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Applying a Degree in Forensic Psychology

Sadly, this country has experienced over the last 20 years a rise in sensational, media-bloated shootings, all of which have left communities grieving and wondering why – why would anyone do such a horrible, evil thing? Even worse, we’ve become almost accustomed to the tragedies, as if accepting of their eventualities, as if we’re unsurprised that people exist who can walk into a movie theater and murder a dozen strangers.

We accept that there is something psychologically wrong with the killers, but what goes on their heads intrigues us while it repels. It is because of this that we turn to forensic psychologists now more than ever, hoping their expertise and ability to delve into the psyche of truly disturbed people will offer us clues on how to spot a potential murderer and stop them, before something like the Aurora shooting happens again.

Forensic Psychologists: A Career Profile

Forensic psychologists are specifically trained psychologists who specialize in criminal investigation and the law. While the field actually encompasses surprising issues like custody disputes, insurance claims and lawsuits, a population among forensic psychologists does pursue criminal profiling while working with law enforcement and/or legal personnel. Forensic psychologists’ tasks include competency evaluations, recommending sentences, testifying in court cases and evaluating child custody cases.

One of the things that forensic psychologists do – which, thanks to popular media, both scripted and real, has become the popular conception of their job – is create criminal profiles, as well as give their expert opinion whether or not a suspect is psychologically competent to face charges and/or stand trial. This is, of course, a small and very specific aspect of forensic psychology, but it’s both fascinating and essential.

Interested candidates must start with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. (Thanks to the technology of today, nontraditional students can consider pursuing their initial psychology degree online, with a wide variety of internet-based programs.) A career in forensic psychology absolutely requires a doctoral degree; some schools offer programs with a forensic focus and will often provide the student with courses in both psychology and law. Graduate work can take between five to seven years to complete. On top of that, years of experience are necessary before the candidate should feel ready to apply for American Board of Forensic Psychology certification.

The forensic psychologist salary varies based on experience. Those just starting out can expect something in the range of $40,000-50,000. What’s incredible about the field is that those in the upper echelons of earning command yearly salaries of almost $120,000. Those forensic psychologists who work independently as consultants (who can, therefore, set their own rate) can expect the higher pay.

What Forensic Psychology Has to Say about Mass Shooters

 

While there is no definitive answer for why a person will carefully plan out an attack to murder innocent people, forensic psychologists have studied past cases and weighed in with their insight.

Some have articulated groups especially at risk based on personality traits. They cite delusional individuals, whose beliefs, though proven wrong, become their own personal truths; narcissists, who care little for others and will do whatever they must to obtain their own goals; and the severely depressed and suicidal, those who despair so deeply of living that they can be driven to take others down with them, fueled in part by their feelings of anger and self-justification at wrongs done to them.

This anger can come out in a few different ways. Some killers specifically target those who have “wronged” them – a boss who fired them or a woman who rejected them. Others will target a “representative” group: a poor student might shoot at a group of wealthy ones, even if none of them ever actually ridiculed him or her. Forensic psychologists say that a third type, the kind that targets indiscriminately, like James Holmes, the accused shooter in Aurora, CO, is the least common and the most difficult to understand – certainly the most difficult for the public to comprehend.

Forensic psychologists say that certain behaviors may offer clues: increasing interest in weapons or past mass murderers, violent fantasies or even expressed threats, however subtle or direct. What is clear is that forensic psychologists and law enforcers can only do so much. It’s a frightening truth of our time that we must be aware of these signs and symptoms and ready to speak up when someone makes us uneasy.

David Michaels is a contributing writer and psychology major in his senior year of college. He hopes one day to own his own practice as a child psychologist.

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Advanced Degrees: Leadership vs. MBA

--> Conventional wisdom has always been that getting a master’s of business administration (MBA) is a surefire path to career success. Prospective students have fanciful (even somewhat fantastical) images of getting their MBA, and immediately skyrocketing to the top of the ladder, and reaping the salary rewards that come along with it.
While in some cases, holding a MBA does lead to a higher level of career success, in most cases students find that the path to the corner office is a bit more winding than the MBA program materials lead them to believe. And in some cases, students find that the MBA program isn’t quite what they expected – or interested in.

That’s where the leadership degree comes in. When you start comparing graduate programs, chances are that you’ll find many schools offer both MBA and leadership programs; perhaps even a MBA with a concentration in leadership. There is some overlap in the programs; in general, they are distinctly different in both scope and outcomes. Unlike other master’s

level programs, MBA and leadership programs aren’t generally focused on one specific industry or skill set, and the options are a bit broader.

So how do you choose the right degree program, to ensure that you get the education that sets you on the path to your goals? Consider these factors when comparing programs:

Are you more interested in numbers or people?

 

Perhaps it’s an oversimplification, but MBA programs differ from leadership programs in large part thanks to their focus on numbers. MBA degree programs often focus on the quantitative aspects of business, areas such as financial applications, economics, accounting and marketing in terms of numbers, rather than creative ideas. Leadership degree programs, on the other hand, focus more on qualitative aspects of business, such as human resource, team management and leveraging human capital. Leadership programs tend to be more holistically based, incorporating ideas from the humanities, communication, human resources, while the courses you’ll find in business programs are more subject-focused, such as finance.

What is your background?

 

While both MBA and leadership programs welcome students from a broad array of backgrounds, students who earned an undergraduate degree in the humanities or liberal arts may find the courses in leadership to be more in line with their existing knowledge. Because MBA programs tend to be so numbers-based, those who do not have any knowledge or experience in those fields (like finance or accounting) might find themselves at a disadvantage, and may even have to take additional introductory level courses to get up to speed. That’s not to say that it’s impossible to get a MBA without some lower-level mathematics or business experience, it’s just an additional factor to consider and prospective students should carefully read the list of course requirements before enrolling.

What are your goals?

 

If you seek a career in a financial or capital management role, then a traditional MBA program with a specialization in that area is probably your best bet. However, if you want to learn skills that are transferable across a wide spectrum of roles and industries, a degree in leadership, or a specialization in leadership, may be a better fit. Some leadership programs allow specialization in a particular type of organization, such as a nonprofit or healthcare, but many programs take a more inclusive approach and provide knowledge that applies to nearly any situation.

Where are you in your career?

 

Hiring managers are often split down the middle on which degree they prefer candidates to hold, but in general, they agree that if you have some career experience and simply want to move into managerial roles, a leadership or management degree is a useful credential. The exception is those who wish to hold financial or capital management leadership positions, as they need the advanced technical knowledge supplied by MBA programs. Again, carefully evaluate the course requirements for the programs you’re considering and determine if the course content is relevant to your career goals.

Going back to school to earn any advanced degree is an investment in time and money, and while choosing to further your education is never a waste, choosing the right program is a better use of your time and money. Consider your existing knowledge and career goals when comparing programs and you’ll make the decision that’s most beneficial to you.


About the Author:  Alexis Lane, 28, has chosen to continue her education in every aspect. She currently holds a BA in Business Management, a Real Estate License in the state of Florida and is presently working on her IT security degree.

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Nonconventional Uses of an MBA: NASA and the CIA

--> If you have ever wondered what it might be like to work for an entity such as NASA or the CIA then you might find it is time well spent in investigating how to apply your mba towards a non-traditional career focus upon graduation.
 
While many students who are in advanced educational classes to obtain their organizational leadership degree or other specialized mba degree fully intend on applying their new skills in a corporate setting upon graduation, not all students fall into this category. Some students are obtaining an advanced degree in business to make a difference in the world of academia, nonprofit or even the government either nationally, internationally or intergalactically. As with more non-traditional hiring entities such as the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), the CIA and NASA recognize the value in the skill set of mba candidates, more jobs are becoming available for students who are seeking out alternatives to corporate careers.

What You Can Expect with Non-Corporate Careers

 

Because much of your educational curriculum and most likely many of your internship and practicum opportunities will focus on applying your new knowledge in a business setting, it can be harder to visualize how you might apply an mba degree online or an organizational leadership program, for instance, in a non-traditional setting. But here it is important to realize that while a nonprofit organization might have a different focus than a Wall Street firm, the basic path to get there usually remains very much the same.

A nonprofit corporation may use program success as a benchmark of success, while a Wall Street firm uses profitability, but both organizations still need executives and employees who can balance the books, create marketing materials, manage employees and perform many other basic business-focused skills in order for the organization to succeed in its goals. The same holds true for governmental entities such as the space program, intelligence agencies and advocacy groups.

The Impact on Your Bottom Line

 

A potential pitfall to watch out for if you decide to pursue a career beyond a corporate life is salary. Because often students who choose to work for nonprofit organizations, academic institutions or the government do so out of personal ideology or passion rather than an eye towards earning potential, it can be more difficult to juggle the expense of paying back a student loan and getting established financially after graduation should you choose this route. However, there are ways to make it work.

Some students work in a corporate setting for a few years to earn up enough money to pay off their loans and then they transition to a more personally desirable field. Some students take advantage of loan forgiveness programs at their academic institution, if such are available, for students who choose to work in the service or government sectors after graduation. Still other students just choose to take the hit because the payoff in job satisfaction is worth it. What is most important is just to be aware of how your career choice could impact your financial health before you make that choice.

The Hiring Process

 

The hiring process will likely also be different if you choose to target your career search towards a government, academic or nonprofit or service entity. You may have to do more networking in order to reach the decision makers at your chosen employer. There may also be additional special prerequisites or extra training or education you need to complete before you can qualify for the career that interests you. You may not find as many resources at your university’s career placement center for alternative career paths, which also means you may have to start your job search earlier than your corporate-minded peers. You may also consider joining specialty organizations or associations prior to graduation as a student member. These organizations may be able to assist you in meeting prospective employers in your chosen field.

There are many interesting ways to apply the advanced education and skills you gain as you study towards earning your mba degree. The important thing to remember is that, while it may take a bit more research and effort to find the open doors in nontraditional fields, the payoff will be worth it when you land a job you intrinsically know you will love.

This article was written by Lola Montrose, who is a MBA student at an online university. Montrose has government aspirations with her own degree; it’s been her lifelong dream. Lola lives in Washington D.C. and on the weekends, you can typically find her writing at IKEA’s café.

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