Perhaps the idea of working with children who face emotional obstacles interests you. Maybe you want to help kids with difficulties and wonder, “How do I become an elementary school counselor?” With this career field, there are only a few specialized undergraduate degrees that are applicable, so it is a good idea to decide early on that you want to pursue a job in this career field.

Day in the Life of an Elementary School Counselor

The typical day for an elementary school counselor is filled with appointments from children who may be causing disruptions in school, receiving poor grades or facing the loss of a loved one in their families. Teachers may also have meetings scheduled with an elementary school counselor to discuss issues that they see with particular students in the classroom. Elementary school counselors face the difficulty of analyzing a student’s success in academics, family and in the school community. The counselor may be given the responsibility of designing a program that can help encourage the success of a student. The counselor may also work with the parents of a child to ensure that his or her homework is completed in a timely fashion every week.

In the more drastic situations that an elementary school counselor deals with, he or she may even need to contact the authorities in order to resolve an issue with child abuse. The counselor may also be interviewed by lawyers who are involved in creating custody agreements for a child. If you decide to become an elementary school counselor, be prepared to be involved in important decisions that affect the lives of young children.

Education Requirements

These days, a majority of elementary school counselors have a master’s degree in child psychology, sociology or a related subject. The typical person pursues an undergraduate degree in psychology or education. You should try to gain an internship with a school or participate in a counseling program in college to become familiar with this area. Supervised counseling internships can provide you with a great opportunity to get involved in the community and decide whether this career path is right for you. Some people find that this career is much more intense than they anticipated, so it is a good idea to get as much experience as you can. To become an elementary school counselor, you should be prepared to be a role model for parents and children in the community.

Salary & Job Opportunities

Most people who decide to become an elementary school counselor do not do it for the money. The salary that an elementary school counselor earns will depend on the quality of the school that he or she works at. For counselors working in low-income school districts, the average income is about $29,000. For those working in middle-class areas, the salary is about $51,000 a year. If you become an elementary school counselor for a prestigious private school, then your salary may be as high as $80,000 a year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates that this field will grow by 14 percent in the upcoming years.

Conclusion

When you are an elementary school counselor, you have the power to make profound change in the life of a troubled student. You may be able to help a young child get out of an abusive situation. You may be able to help children get back on the right track in school and become more confident in their abilities. While this is a demanding career, it is often a highly rewarding career for the people who choose to enter this profession.

If you enjoy managing money for people and ensuring that it is in safe hands, then you will enjoy the experience of being an account manager. Account managers have a love for numbers, and they love being able to budget the funds of a business in order to save money. They can work for a major corporation, or they may work as a personal financial manager for a wealthy individual. Maybe you have always wondered, “How do I become an account manager?” If so, know that the road to success in this career field is not as difficult as it may seem.

What’s it like to be an Account Manager?

The main job of an account manager is to ensure that a business or individual is aware of his or her financial standing. The account manager makes an effort to oversee all of the budgets and finances of a company or individual. The account manager ensures that all financial goals are being met. If necessary, the account manager may be required to create a new strategy for a company that helps it meet financial goals. The account manager may be responsible for creating a new budget for the business or individual. During tax season, the job of an account manager can grow very stressful. One may be overloaded with new clients that need to find deductions or other tax benefits before filing their taxes for the year.

Education Requirements

An account manager should have a degree in finance of business. If one has a Master’s degree in business or finance, then this will be an additional benefit during the application process. This career field has grown quite competitive in recent years, so individuals should be prepared to distinguish themselves in some way during the application process. It may also be necessary that an account manager has experience in the mortgage industry, banking world or investment world prior to taking on this position. Businesses want to know that account managers have the ability to manage large sums of money. They also want to see that account managers have past success in helping businesses or individuals reach their financial goals.

Salary & Job Opportunities

The median wage of an account manager is between $80,000 to $100,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics has found that this career path will be growing slower than average in the next 10 years. This career field will only grow by nine percent in the next ten years. There are currently over 500,000 positions within this field. After the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2007, many major financial institutions were hit by the crisis and forced to lay off workers. They have not yet resumed hiring for new positions that were emptied during this time.

The typical employee in this field will work for a business and serve as a liaison between different branches in the business. The account manager works closely with departments like Human Resources and Public Relations in order to make sure that a business is staying within its financial means. Overall, the account manager makes sure that a business meets its budget every month.

Conclusion

If you want to become an account manager, then pursue as many educational opportunities as you can. The competition in this field is very tough right now. You may be able to break into this career field if you have past experience in servicing loans or playing another role in the mortgage industry. Also, compliance jobs in this field may also be opening up in the future as more companies seek to ensure that they are abiding by regulations from the government.

Perhaps you have always wondered, “How do I become a video game designer?” This career gives you the opportunity to play video games all day and get paid at the same time. In addition to testing out the latest graphic design features on video games, you will also be responsible for adapting video games to the latest gaming systems and technology.

What’s it like to be a video game designer?

People enjoy working as video game designers due to the immense freedom that they have. If you are self-employed as a video game designer, then your success is up to you. You can work as little or as much as you like. Some people choose to take on multiple freelance projects with major companies, while other video game designers are out there attempting to make the next iPhone app that becomes a huge hit. If you design to join a design team for a company, then you can expect to work normal hours. You may also have to devote extra time to your position during holiday seasons when a company may be releasing a new game.

As a video game designer, there are plenty of different roles that you can take on in this industry. You may enjoy the more aesthetic aspect of designing characters for video games. You may enjoy creating the special effects that are shown in video games. If you are able to pick out a specific niche and excel at it, then this will increase your chances of receiving a particular job with a company. You will have marketable skills that are attractive to companies.

Education Requirements

To become a video game designer, there is no formal education required. If you work for a company, then the company may prefer to see that you have a computer science degree and understand coding language for software programs. There are plenty of successful video game designers who are highly intelligent and have not pursued a college degree. You can still find plenty of opportunities with companies if you have a solid knowledge of video games and do not possess a college degree. Also, it is easier now to become a freelance video game designer and use your own time to create an iPhone app or online game. As a freelance video game designer, you do not have to answer to any supervisor or other authority. You will be the only one who is responsible for marketing your video game.

Salary & Job Opportunities

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average salary for a video game designer is about $58,000 a year. Freelance video game designers may be able to make substantially more for their income if they are able to create the next top-selling video game. There are plenty of video game designers who earn six-figure salaries due to their success in creating internet games that have taken the world by storm. If you want to become a video game designer, think about whether you want to work independently or for a company. If you do want to work for a company, you will have a more stable income and stable hours in your career.

Conclusion

Being a video game designer can be a very satisfying career for individuals who have a passion for video games. You can also put your knowledge of video games to use by choosing a career in this industry. People who enter this career field do it because they love earning money for living out their own passion in life.

Sources: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/multimedia-artists-and-animators.htm

Have you always wondered, “How do I become a supply chain analyst?” The good news is that this career offers a stable income and consistent opportunities for growth. As a supply chain analyst, you have the ability to receive many promotions in your workplace or at different companies. Your main responsibilities include overseeing the inventory of a company and the shipping process for that inventory. You are responsible for cutting costs wherever is possible within the company.

What’s it like to be a Supply Chain Analyst?

As a supply chain analyst, you may be required to make presentations to high-powered business executives. They will want to hear your ideas on cutting costs for the company. They will also want to hear about any innovative ways you know about for storing inventory of the business. You are required to develop strong relationships with distributors and shipping companies in order to better fulfill orders for the customers of your company. A good supply chain analyst will leverage his or her relationships with distributors in order to obtain savings on inventory for a business. The typical day of a supply chain analyst is a 9 to 5 gig, but the hours can grow longer during high-demand seasons. The holiday season can be a chaotic time for supply chain analysts who need to ensure that orders for customers are being fulfilled and honored.

Education Requirements

To enter into this career field, you will be expected to have a bachelor’s degree. It is helpful if you have a specialized degree in supply chain management or in business. Employers will also want to see that you have previous experience in serving as an inventory clerk or in the merchandising department for a company. It is a good idea to try to gain as much experience as possible during college in the merchandising part of a major corporation. You may also be an attractive candidate for a position if you have engineering of computer software skills. Supply chain analysts now help companies when they are able to find software programs that cut down on the number of steps in the ordering process.

Salary & Job Opportunities

Supply chain analysts enjoy a nice starting salary of about $70,000. There are plenty of opportunities to quickly move up in this career field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics expects that this career will grow rapidly in the next 10 years. The career is expected to grow by 25 percent in the next ten years. Businesses will want to continually find out how they can cut down on shipping costs, especially as more businesses turn to the Internet as their sole source of income in selling products. The increasingly global economy will require more individuals who also know how to network with distributors who are located around the world. Supply chain analysts can succeed in this field if they know how to speak a second language in a fluent manner.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a dynamic and challenging career, then you may wish to become a supply chain analyst. Serving as a supply chain analyst for a company will help you build a career with a bright future. You will have plenty of opportunities in the future to expand your position and earn a better salary. People who thrive in this career enjoy seeing the “big picture” for a company and knowing that their skills contributed to the success of the company. If you want to pursue a position in this career, simply try to gain as much experience in working in the inventory department for a business during college.

Perhaps you have always wondered, “How do I become an orthopedic surgeon?” Being an orthopedic surgeon gives you an incredible opportunity to help other people become rehabilitated. You may specialize and perform knee surgeries for athletes, or you may be a general practitioner who does surgery on all parts of the body. As an orthopedic surgeon, you will mainly deal with the musculoskeletal system of the body.

What’s it like to be an Orthopedic Surgeon?-100

Being an orthopedic surgeon, you can expect to have a very busy schedule. You may have to treat emergency injuries for young children or athletes. Aside from that, usually you have the freedom to create your own schedule. Some orthopedic surgeons make it a point only to go into the office a couple of times during the week. Other orthopedic surgeons work for public hospitals and work upwards of 70 hours a week.

Education Requirements

Because orthopedic surgeons are physicians, they are required to pursue a medical degree from an accredited school. You will have to obtain this degree after receiving a degree from an undergraduate institution. It typically takes a person about eight years of education in order to become a physician. A residency must then be completed by those who successfully receive their degree from medical school. For an orthopedic surgeon, one will have to pursue a residency for five years. One will have to be accepted into a residency program. Residency programs are very competitive, and there are only about 150 in the entire country. Each residency program only accepts about three to five applicants every year.

Salary and Job Opportunities

Orthopedic surgeons can earn a very high salary. The average salary for orthopedic surgeons is about $500,000. Orthopedic surgeons who choose a specialization may earn more than $700,000 a year. Right now, there is a demand for orthopedic surgeons. As more people are able to receive health insurance in the United States, there will continue to be a demand for this type of surgeon.

Those who enter this profession may work at a public hospital or open their own practice. If you are entering the profession, then you will probably work for a public hospital in the beginning stages of your career. Working in a hospital gives you the opportunity to treat low-income patients and learn how hospital administrations work. You can also be protected in the event of a medical malpractice lawsuit. The majority of orthopedic surgeons end up opening their own practice and working with other doctors in an office.

Conclusion

If you have been thinking about pursuing a career as an orthopedic surgeon, then you should have a strong interest in performing operations and helping patients in the recovery process. It is also helpful to have a strong background in the math and sciences. This career takes commitment, so you should be prepared to devote at least 13 years of your life to the pursuit of this career. Those who do make this commitment are usually very satisfied with their career choice in becoming an orthopedic surgeon.

Maybe you have always wanted to know, “How do I become an oncology nurse practitioner?” Being an oncology nurse practitioner can provide you with a meaningful career. This meaningful career can help you make an impact in the lives of those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. As an oncology nurse practitioner, you will be required to meet with a patient in a follow-up appointment after a breast cancer diagnosis.

What’s it like to be an Oncology Nurse Practitioner?

As an oncology nurse practitioner, you will be involved in every aspect of a cancer patient’s life. You may be required to help him or her during a physical therapy appointment. You will oversee the diet of a cancer patient. You may work with the same patient on a daily basis, or you may work with multiple patients in a hospital atmosphere. You should be prepared for the emotional aspect of working with a cancer patient. You can also provide some moral support for cancer patients and help them feel empowered despite a terminal illness.

Knowing how to help patients deal with the side effects of chemotherapy is another important task that oncology nurse practitioners are involved in. Oncology nurses may also educate family members about the process of caring for someone with a terminal illness.

Education Requirements

There are very strict educational requirements for those who want to become oncology nurses. In addition to obtaining a four-year degree in nursing, you should also have an associate’s degree in this specialized type of care. More colleges are beginning to offer classes that teach nurses how to care for cancer patients. A nurse should be sure to have a strong background in math and science. Pursuing a Master Degree of Nursing will also help you distinguish yourself in this career path. You may be able to get promoted to other oversight positions within a hospital with this type of degree.

Salary and Job Opportunities

There are many different types of job opportunities that can be found as an oncology nurse practitioner. One may be hired by a family to provide full-time care to a patient. One may work in a low-income hospital that helps local community members who can not afford medical care. You may be able to work in a private practice that specializes in providing care to cancer patients.

The average salary of a nurse practitioner who provides specialized care is anywhere from $70,000 to $90,000 a year. Because the work that these nurses do is so involved, these types of nurses are usually paid more than the average nurse. Nurses in this field should be prepared to receive phone calls from patients at all hours of the day. Nurses will need to be available if a patient is dealing with an emergency situation.

Conclusion

Being an oncology nurse practitioner is a demanding job, but it can also provide a nurse with a very fulfilling career. A nurse has the ability to become close with a patient who has a terminal illness. He or she can also serve as a support system for the family members of a patient with a terminal illness.

Maybe you have always wanted to know, “How do I become an account coordinator?” Account coordinators are responsible for creating campaigns for advertising companies. An account coordinator has the ability to create a successful promotion that makes thousands of dollars for an advertising company. Being an account coordinator gives you the opportunity to use your creativity to its fullest potential.

What’s it like to be an account coordinator?

As an account coordinator, you will be responsible for creating and delivering presentations to other companies. You will be required to use the latest social media to promote campaigns for your advertising company. The day in the life of an account coordinator can be non-stop. One may have meetings with different clients to create promotional campaigns for them. One may then have to create a campaign for one’s own advertising company later in the day. Keeping in touch with other connections in the marketing industry is also a part of being an account coordinator.

Education Requirements

To be an account coordinator, one must have a bachelor’s degree from a university. It is preferable that an account coordinator have a degree in public relations, communication studies, psychology or social media marketing. These degrees will help account coordinators create effective presentations. If one wants to be promoted in a more timely fashion, then having a master’s degree or other additional degree will help a person. Having an additional degree will give a person the opportunity to take on more responsibility in an advertising company.

One may also have a business degree in order to pursue a career as an account coordinator. If you have a business degree, you will be responsible for keeping in touch with other account executives from clients. You will be more likely to be hired by an advertising company if you take on an internship. Having an internship with a marketing company can also improve your chances of being hired by that company upon graduation.

Salary and Job Opportunities

The starting salary for an account coordinator is about $54,000. This position is expected to grow in demand as advertising companies try to expand into social media marketing. You can also find other opportunities in taking on a position as an account coordinator. You may be promoted into a position as a supervisor for a campaign if you take on a position as an account coordinator in an advertising company.

Conclusion

If you want to enjoy a fun and exciting career, then this is a great choice for you. You will be able to network with all sorts of high-powered advertising executives as an account coordinator. You will also be able to develop presentations that help make millions of dollars for your advertising company. Being an account coordinator can give you the chance to learn new marketing strategies, and you will also always know about the latest social media marketing websites. Business leaders will look to you to help their businesses thrive in an increasingly competitive economy.

Imagine being able to become a recreational therapist and go into the office to treat just a few patients every week. Maybe you only work 10 or 15 hours a week, and you get to help people overcome their illnesses through creative ways. Maybe one week you teach senior citizens how to paint beautiful impressionist paintings. Maybe another week you get to host a talent show that encourages people with disabilities to show off their singing abilities. You can have this sort of fulfilling career by taking just a few steps and having the right attitude.

Get Your Associate Degree

First, you will need to meet some educational requirements before you can step into this field. It will be essential for you to get an associate degree in the medical field or therapeutic recreation. An associate degree will usually take two years to complete. While you can enter this field by just having an associate degree, it can be helpful if you have additional degrees in other fields. If you have a degree in music or art, then this can prove to be beneficial for nursing homes. Nursing homes may even give you a better position if you have additional qualifications. You may find that you become the director of an entire program when you have a background in music, theater or art.

Obtain Your Bachelor’s Degree

This field is becoming increasingly competitive. If you want to stay at the cutting-edge of recreational therapy, then obtain a bachelor’s degree in this field. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree will help you to stand out from the crowd. With a bachelor’s degree, you will automatically be considered for better positions than an entry-level job. It will be possible for you to negotiate a better salary with hospital entities too.

Be Aware of Certifications

Certain employers may want to see that you have obtained a certification in this field. Because of this, it does not hurt to work for a certificate from the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation. The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation offers a course that allows you to obtain your certificate in less than a year. In order to obtain your certification, you will need to pass a written exam. The program also requires that you complete 480 hours in an internship in the field. The internship can provide you with a great opportunity to get your foot in the door at a particular hospital or nursing home.

Attend Networking Events

Whenever conferences are being held for nursing home professionals in your area, you should be attending these types of events. Any type of charity event that benefits the local nursing home is also something that you should attend. This type of event will give you the opportunity to meet with other professionals in the field. The more contacts that you gain, the better chance you will have in landing your dream job as a recreational therapist. You should attempt to gain as many connections as possible in the field before you start the process of submitting applications.

Pursue Your Passion

During the interview process, you will set yourself apart if you are applying for a position that you truly want. If a nursing home is looking for a music director and music just happens to be your passion, then convey this passion in the interview. Don’t waste your time in applying for positions that are not relevant to your background or interests. If you are not interested in painting or sculpture, then don’t apply for a position as an art director for a health care facility.

Pursuing your dream of a recreational therapist can give you the chance to have a career that gives you independence and the ability to touch the lives of other people.

In the United States, there is a great demand for educators who can effectively teach physics to high school students. There is currently a widespread shortage of physics teachers in the United States. If you have always excelled in science and love to teach, then this may be a great career option for you. Individuals who are currently entering this profession have the power to negotiate their salaries and even teach part-time if they desire. Here are the steps that you should take in order to fulfill your dream of becoming a physics teacher.

Refine Your Interest in Math and Science

If you decide that you do want to become a physics teacher, it is essential that you enjoy learning about math and science. If you do not enjoy either of these subjects, then you will not enjoy teaching physics to students. The field of physics is usually one of the most difficult subjects that a student will study in high school. He or she may require additional help throughout the semester. To prepare yourself for the demands of this career, try to take as many math and science classes as you can through high school, college and graduate programs. This will help you prepare for the challenges that you face in the classroom.

Pursue Your Undergraduate Degree

After you have decided that you have a strong interest in math and science, you should take the time to pursue your undergraduate degree in teaching. The Physics Teacher Education Coalition is attempting to place more teachers into the field who have a specialization in physics. Currently, only one-third of physics teachers actually have a specialization in physics. You should try to pursue an undergraduate degree that has an emphasis in physics. This will make you a more attractive candidate for positions in private schools and colleges. You may also have an easier time in obtaining a position at a local community college for teaching an intro-level physics course.

Take the Praxis Exam

Most high schools now require that you take the Praxis exam to prove that you have a thorough knowledge of the field of physics. Try to take the Praxis exam before you begin applying for positions at high schools. This will make the process of finding a job easier for you, since employers will be more willing to invest in a teacher who has proven his or her knowledge of physics by passing this exam.

Gain Experience Before Applying

Before you begin applying for teaching positions, you may want to try getting a position as a physics tutor with a local tutoring company. If you do not have a tutoring company in your town, then try looking online for tutoring jobs. The Internet now provides you with thousands of opportunities to serve as a tutor for students. You can earn a great income by doing online tutoring while you are still looking for a job at a high school. You can also ask local schools to place you on a list for referrals. Some schools keep lists of local tutors in the area for concerned parents who want to help their children. By gaining experience in teaching physics to students ahead of time, you can gain confidence in your teaching abilities before you get out into the “real world.” You can also make your resume more attractive by including this experience on your resume.

When you want to succeed in the world of teaching, pursuing a physics teaching degree can be the right start. Your career will be in demand for years to come, and you can make a difference in the lives of students.

If you love the field of physics, then a career as a physicist may be perfect for you. You can excel in this career path if you love to understand the way earth moves and how molecules work. If you have a natural curiosity and passion for science, then this field may appeal to you. To become a physicist, here are some of the steps that you can take.

Earn Your Teaching Degree

For those who have a genuine desire to become a physicist, teaching can provide them with a great start. Teaching can give a person the opportunity to solidify his or her knowledge of physics. It is also a great way to network and meet other physicists in the field. Since you will be choosing the textbooks for your students, you will have the opportunity to support the work of particular physicists that you admire. You will only need a bachelor’s degree if you want to teach physics at the high school level. If you want to teach physics at a local community college or two-year college, then you will only need a master’s degree. Teaching at a full-fledged university will require that you pursue a doctoral degree. Jobs at the university level are very competitive for physicists.

Work in Computer Technology

There are a growing number of individuals who are choosing to work in the computer technology field before becoming physicists. You can learn so much about the field of physics by choosing to work in the computer technology field. The typical jobs that people with an interest in physics seek in this field are as software engineers or software developers.

Choosing to Do Theoretical Work

Theoretical work in the field of physics explores all of those difficult questions about the universe. When you pursue theoretical work in the field of physics, you will be searching for answers to the reasons for why the earth has been created. This can be a controversial area of physics, and you can also establish a career as a pundit for news channels if you choose this area of study. You will also be setting yourself up for positions at the university level if you decide to pursue theoretical work in the field of physics. You can also gain a job as the leader of a research project in theoretical physics.

Choose a Specialization

Choosing a specialization is another way to make your career as a physicist more profitable. There are thousands of opportunities in this field. If you choose a specific niche of study, such as atomic physics, then you will find that people constantly come to you with work projects. You can even start your own independent business if you want to be in full control of your destiny.

Consider Writing Grants

One of the most popular career options for those in the science field is a career as a grant writer. If you have a knack for writing and love to express yourself, then you may enjoy a career that focuses on writing applications for grants. Hundreds of physicists need help from excellent writers in submitting proposals for grants from the government and universities. You can lend your writing skills to these physicists and earn a stable salary too. You may even want to open your own business that specializes in grant writing for professionals.

You can excel in a career as a physicist if you just keep an open mind. Being open to a variety of careers will ensure that you always have a steady flow of work and can earn a nice income at the same time.