Are there ten hot careers that pay well and that newly minted college grads have a chance of finding employment in? The Washington Post’s Valerie Strauss says so in her Oct. 21 Answer Sheet column. She looks at a study done by University of California at San Diego Extension professors. The authors tout the average incomes of these jobs, but… after 36 years in the job force, I found it misleading.
These are all great choices but it will take you a little time and effort to earn the salaries quoted. On-the-job experience still matters for employers, and the degree has to be appropriate for the position. All ten of these jobs will give you that opportunity, as will many others, but they all come with some baggage. Recent grads will be glad to hear about these bright spots, but still shouldn’t expect to land careers immediately after graduation. Most require some form of additional training, certifications, or on-the-job experience.
IT/COMPUTING DOMINATE THE TOP 4 SPOTS
IT offers the hottest career choice on the list, with four different job titles in the top ten. Starting positions in software, networks and computer analysis are just that, paying below average salaries and filled with the tasks that the more experienced and higher paid software developers, network admins and computer analysts do not want to do. How to get ahead? Maintain the right certifications and find a specialty. Fortunately, a security clearance is a major boost in the booming cybersecurity industry.
ACCOUNTING
Accounting made the list. It can pay well, but the acquisition of a CPA is the key to a future in the field. A CPA requires work experience and success in an examination of your knowledge of accounting. Until you pass the (tough) CPA exam, you will be the master of tedious spreadsheets and hard to read travel expense reports. The good news is that your firm’s vendors will often give you a bottle of liquor or a basket of muffins at Christmas.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER
Elementary school teachers came in at number six on the list. It is not a career for the faint of heart. As a new hire, you will be the first fired in a budget cut. The job demands will force you to use unpaid personal time to prepare lesson plans or grade tests. Tight budgets may require you to spend your own money for classroom supplies. You can deduct a small amount of these expenses on your taxes. Yay! The “culture of education” is very rigid and there is little flexibility for the new teacher in what you teach or how you teach it.
MANAGEMENT/CONSULTING
Management consultants / analysts ranked eighth in the article. If you have no work experience, you will not be hired. Sad but true fact. An MBA or a four year degree with experience will likely get you hired. The caveat, however, is that consulting firms tend to have a very defined culture. Fitting in and getting along are as valued as any talent or knowledge you might bring. There are a lot of large egos in the field.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
A surprise on the list, to me, was the inclusion of public relations specialist. Like the management consultant, experience is valued. Starting PR folks will be asked to make copies and collate PowerPoint slides. The good news is that success is rewarded in this field. The bad news is that you are only as good as your last success. The worse news is that when all else fails, the PR guy gets fired.
INSURANCE AGENT
Last in the top ten hot careers is insurance agent. You do not need a degree in many cases. There are training requirements, and you will be expected to produce sales. After training, some or all of your earnings will be based on your sales. If you cannot sell, you will not succeed. And, face facts, insurance agents are like dentists. People avoid them like the plague.
What is a hot career choice for the proud owner of a new four year degree? Short of taking a warrant in the military, there are very few. Building a career takes some years of drudge work, no matter the field. There are no shortcuts to that eye-popping average salary, only the opportunity to try.
