When I was in college, I started out majoring in music, enjoying the freedom that came from spending my educational career on something I was really passionate about. Midway through, I changed my mind, opting for a music minor and a degree in Communications. As it turned out, neither was a very smart move.
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I wanted to be a performer above all else, with no interest at all in teaching, and you don't have to have a degree to perform. All you have to do is be good. Likewise for my Communications degree. I wanted to work in radio, but quickly found that it wasn't the degree, but rather who had the best radio voice, that got the job. Lesson learned, some degrees might be impressive, but offer little advantage in the real world.
That's why when my oldest daughter began looking at colleges and plotting a life course, I encouraged her to pick a major that would help her in the real world. She had flirted with majoring in theatre, but I reminded her that it would not be much different from a music degree. Unless she planned to teach, the advantages that degree would offer are few and far between. Fortunately she decided on a much better degree, in accounting. Specifically, forensic accounting, meaning that she has thought this thing through.
That said, here are some of the best degrees to shoot for if your goal is job security in a questionable economy.
Business. Quite possibly the most popular general degree in history, with a starting salary in the low 40's and a mid year salary around 70K, it may not be a get rich quick degree, but it does provide some measure of stability, a foundation that is resistant to almost any economic downturn.
Paralegal. Becoming a paralegal is a good way to enter the legal profession, which is considered by many to be the second oldest profession. Analyst are expecting 28% growth in this industry through 2018, and with salaries ranging between 35K and 51K, it is an attractive opportunity, and if you have a bachelor's degree, paralegal programs can be completed in as little as six months.
Health Care Administration. Obviously the health care industry is going to remain stable no matter what, boasting 10 of the 20 fastest growing jobs. Salaries range between 35K and 58K. Insurance Underwriter and Health Services Manager are two other related careers to consider.
Criminal Justice. As long as there is crime, there will need to be people in place to deal with it. Whether you want to become a Police Officer, Correctional Officer, Detective, or work in some other facet of law enforcement, a Criminal Justice degree offers stability, growth, and salaries from the 30s to the upper 50s.
MBA. A step up from the Business degree, an MBA is referred to by BusinessWeek as "a near certain ticket to instant riches", offering management opportunities, starting salaries close to 80K, with mid career approaching near 100K.
Information Systems. Companies are routinely having to upgrade and maintain their information and data gathering systems both internally and externally, and the computer and information systems industry runs second only to health care in the race for largest employment niche. Analysts predict a 17% surge in related jobs through 2018, with salaries ranging from the 50s to just under 90K per year.
Keep in mind that a four year degree or a master's degree is not always necessary for long term success.
Associates of Science in Construction Management. While many people may find these jobs "unglamorous", the fact is that there are a many well paying jobs in the skilled trades arena, jobs which are usually difficult for employers to fill. Don't miss out on what may be the most overlooked opportunity in the workforce.
So while the idea of spending four years singing Italian arias or acting on a stage may sound like an appealing way to get a degree, think long term. What will it get you, if anything? And is the result secure? Choose a degree that will actually help you in real world scenarios, just in case you don't become the next Pavarotti or Brando.
Now, go forward and do well.....
Recruitment agencies are popping up all over the world these days are beneficial in many ways. Recruitment agencies have a talent for finding the right people to fill very specific job vacancies. The benefits to using a recruitment agency can be great, as compared to a company trying to find, hire and train their own personnel. Not only does a recruitment agency already have a database of people with the proper job requirements, but they are just waiting for a chance to fulfill a position immediately.
Recruitment agencies have the ability to evaluate a company's position in their particular market industry. By doing so, the agency can recommend the company's best course of action with regards to whether new job positions should be created and which programs would work best for the maintenance and prosperity of the company as a whole. These tactics can create a better workplace morale, greater sales and overall company stability within their particular industry.
Probably the greatest benefit to using a recruitment agency is the ability to pick a "ready-made" candidate from the agency's large database of candidates seeking employment in specific areas. Not only are the candidates ready for work but they have also gone through rigorous testing and skills training and placement procedures and in most cases, the candidates have acquired rigorous educational training specific to certain areas of a variety of industries.
The type of recruitment agency a company would use would depend on exactly what the company is looking for in an employee. The benefit here is most recruitment agencies already offer many candidates who have the specific skill sets needed for the position the company is looking to fill. For example, a company looking for an engineer with the ability to weld, fabricate, fix and design electrical components as well as have experience operating large machinery could pick form a list of qualified candidates with skills specific to those qualifications. The recruitment agency would not allow someone with only IT skills to apply for this position.
When a company offers a vacancy they need filled, many Occupational therapist jobs times they will interview hundreds of people only to hire none of them. The company spends precious time and money on the advertisements, and on people who have no qualifications for the position offered. Using a recruitment agency can put a stop to this because the agency will only offer the company potential candidates who have been certified as qualified for the position they are applying. Whereas a company may have had to hire at least two to three prospective long term employees to find the exact right one, by using a recruitment agency, the company is almost guaranteed the person they interview and hire will be with them for a long time.
The cost savings in regards to company with little or no employee turnaround are huge. When a company is in a position of looking to hire new employees, not only is it cost efficient to use a recruitment agency, but it can save the company much in the way of frustration as well.