Tag Archives: major

5 College Majors Employers Love

degrees_employers_love_webThe decision to get a higher education is an important one. Often, a lot of money and time goes into earning a college degree, so it’s vital that you choose a career path that works best for you. If you’re thinking about getting a higher education, you may be wondering which college majors are currently in demand.

According to the National Recruiting Center of Express Employment Professionals, there are a handful of college majors that businesses are continually looking to hire. Are they in your career path? To find out, take a look at these five college majors employers love.

Finance
A bachelor’s degree in finance may lead to a career in banking, financial planning, money management, insurance, or tax preparation. Often, graduates with a degree in finance will qualify for a wide range of jobs in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Examples of core courses in the financial degree path include accounting, economics, business law, and personal finance. According to Payscale.com, financial analysts make between $40,000-$70,000 a year, with monetary increases as you work up the ladder to management. In fact, according to Forbes, finance is one of the college degrees with the highest starting salaries.

Accounting
While finance is generally described as the study of how to manage money, accounting is the study of obtaining, collecting, and dealing with financial information. If you’re interested in becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a degree in accounting is the right choice. Careers for those with accounting degrees include bookkeepers, CPAs, auditors, tax specialists, and personal accountants, and courses in an accounting program typically include statistics, business law, cost accounting, and auditing. Payscale reports that the salary for accountants ranges from $35,000-$66,000, and CPAs range from $42-$106,000 annually.

Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a study that focuses on all aspects of business. Business administration programs are designed to teach a wide range of topics, including marketing, management, finance, human resources, and economics. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) requires additional schooling and is a professional degree. Business graduates may seek careers in human resources, marketing, or management, and many even land roles in high-level leadership. According to Payscale, office management jobs pay around $40,000 a year, while career paths requiring an MBA may pay anywhere from $53-$156,000.

Mechanical Engineering
If you’ve always been a builder, inventor, or designer, you may be interested in a mechanical engineering degree. Mechanical engineering graduates are sought by employers in many industries, including aerospace, automotive, chemical, construction, electronics, utilities, and energy. Typical courses in a mechanical engineering program may include calculus, chemistry, physics, and programming. The average salary for mechanical engineers, according to Payscale, ranges from $50,000-$93,000 a year.

Computer Science
A diverse field with many opportunities, computer science careers are in high demand. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings for this career path are expected to grow by more than 20% through 2022. Courses include computer programming, web programing, information technology, programming languages, digital design, and more. There are many career paths for computer science graduates, including software developers, computer programmers, network administrators, web developers, database administrators, and software testers. Payscale reports that computer science degrees bring an average annual salary of $53,000-$150,000.

Vocational/Technical Education
College isn’t the only path to higher education. For many, there’s a better option: Career Technical Education (CTE). For those who don’t think college is the best option or want to enter the workforce sooner, a CTE can provide the skills and training they need for other in-demand jobs. According to Express, those sought-after jobs include medical assistants, welders, machinists, dental assistants, hygienists, CNC operators, and licensed nurses.

Non College Grads
If higher education isn’t for you, you’re not out of the race. A recent survey from Express revealed the hottest fields that are hiring the most non-college grads include office services, industrial, health care, marketing, and more. Take a look at the full list to help you build your career path.

Do you have a college degree? What does your educational path look like? Share your story with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Jobs Worth Going Back to School For

going_back_to_school_webAre you looking for a job or thinking about changing careers? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey by CareerBuilder indicated that 21% of full-time employees plan to make a job change. This averages to one in five workers making a switch! In March, CareerBuilder also stated that more than half of all employers have open positions but can’t find qualified candidates, while 35% of employers said their organizations have had positions open for an average of 12 weeks before filling.

So, what’s the deal?

Training vs. Already Trained
Companies today are no longer seeing the value of on-the-job training for new employees like they once did, according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek. This is credited to employees changing jobs more frequently today than in the past. Instead of training employees themselves, companies are hiring for certain pre-existing skill sets and want employees to hit the ground running.

If education and experience are musts for landing the job you want, what industries are worth going to back to school for?

Future Top Industries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top occupations expected to experience growth between now and 2022 are:

  1. Healthcare Support (28.1%)
  2. Healthcare practitioners and Technical occupations (21.5%)
  3. Construction (21.4%)
  4. Personal care (20.9%)
  5. Computer and mathematics (18%)

To see the complete BLS report, click here.

Today’s Top Jobs
According to US News Best Jobs for 2014, the top 20 current jobs are:

  1. Software Developer
  2. Computer Systems Analyst
  3. Dentist
  4. Nurse Practitioner
  5. Pharmacist
  6. Registered Nurse
  7. Physical Therapist
  8. Physician
  9. Web Developer
  10. Dental Hygienist
  11. Information Systems Analyst
  12. Database Administrator
  13. Physician Assistant
  14. Occupational Therapist
  15. Market Research Analyst
  16. Phlebotomist
  17. Physical Therapist Assistant
  18. Civil Engineer
  19. Mechanical Engineer
  20. Veterinarian

For a complete list, click here.

If you’re not satisfied with where you are professionally, there is still time to change and plenty of opportunities waiting. From traditional education to career technical education, your options are limitless. Seize the day!

How has your education impacted your career path? Share your story in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.