Does your workforce have the job skills needed to keep you competitive in your industry?
In a recent West Monroe survey of HR professionals, 56% of respondents said their organization’s skills gap is moderate to severe. This is especially true for organizations undergoing digital transformation and adapting to future trends. As automation grows, it’s becoming increasingly important to ensure workers can handle higher-value work. In fact, a ManpowerGroup survey found that by 2022, 54% of workers will need significant reskilling or upskilling as their current job skills become outdated.
With a tightening talent market and higher demand for emerging skills sets, companies are finding it more advantageous to reskill their workforce rather than rehire. According to Mike Howell, Chief Strategy Officer at Pearson, “The world of work is changing faster than most workers are evolving. With increasing automation in the workplace, more remote working, higher demand for vocational skills and the huge disruption and acceleration caused by COVID, the need for lifelong reskilling and upskilling has never been more pressing.”
Industries such as healthcare, hospitality and retail also stand to benefit from upskilling frontline workers. According to Kevin Oakes, CEO of i4cp, “The opportunity for positive bottom-line impact through frontline worker development is significant as it impacts those who often work most closely with an organization's customers.” Retail is a critical sector of the economy, with 16 million workers, yet this sector also faces some of the highest turnover rates. The result is millions of Americans missing out on opportunities for career advancement and income growth. By building talent from within, retail employers are finding that they can lower costs up to six times compared with recruiting while also gaining positive long-term outcomes, such as improved employee and customer experience.
As work across industry sectors continues to evolve, employers who invest in training and education will become more qualified to handle the future of work, which can yield higher earnings for both the individual and the organization. Providing educational programs to frontline workers can also boost a company’s status as an employer of choice - one that values learning and investment in human capital. While premium benefits packages can be costly to implement and administer, educational benefits—like tuition assistance and tuition reimbursement—have become increasingly popular as the results can outweigh the initial costs of providing upskilling assistance.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we help companies maximize their learning and development funds to train and retrain their global workforce with skills gaps they urgently need to fill. We work with HR leadership to provide academic options for everyone on the organization chart—from frontline employees to executives. Through our advanced network of academic partners, we offer low tuition rates and customized program offerings that meet your talent development needs. Learn how we can future-proof your workforce.
Good news for psychology majors! The U.S. Department of Labor says the job outlook for psychologists shows steady growth over the next decade. While a Ph.D. can get you far in the mental health field, those with a B.A. or B.S. in psychology can still find excellent opportunities working in hospitals, schools, private businesses, non-profit organizations, social service agencies, mental health centers and more. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also sees job growth potential for psychology majors as assistants in rehabilitation centers and in other occupations involving data collection and analysis.
If you’re pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and wondering what job opportunities exist for you right out of college, here are some careers to consider.
Psychiatric Technician
Do you like helping those experiencing mental disorders or developmental disabilities? If so, you can work as a psychiatric technician providing care to patients in a variety of settings including group homes, residential treatment centers, hospitals and nursing homes. Your duties would involve observing patient behavior, monitoring vital health signs, teaching life skills, conducting applied therapy sessions and helping with basic needs. You’d need a solid background in abnormal psychology, clinical psychology and psychology of personality to understand the various conditions afflicting psychiatric patients. You’d also need to be able to carefully follow instructions for patient care provided by psychiatrists, so good comprehension and communication skills will also be important as you establish rapport with both patients and doctors.
Psychiatric technicians play a pivotal role in helping patients cope with their mental health conditions as they are often the first in line to encounter issues as they arise. Psychology majors who hope to work as psychiatric technicians or aides should try to get internships working with patients in a clinical setting prior to graduation to see if this type of role is right for them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for psychiatric technicians is predicted to grow 12% through 2028. In fact, there are indications that this trend will increase even more as our growing older population will require more psychiatric assistance. Growth is also forecast for psychiatric technicians in residential settings, especially in substance abuse treatment. Residential and community-based treatment centers are becoming increasingly popular as effective options for addiction rehabilitation. A bachelor’s in psychology qualifies most candidates for work as psychiatric technicians, however some employers may also require a postsecondary certificate.
Counselor
Do you like helping others work through difficult problems in a personal one-on-one setting? Counseling could be right for you. Counselors help people suffering from an array of difficulties – from addiction to behavioral disorders – by offering guidance, treatment and advice. Specialties include drug abuse counselors (who work with clients struggling with substance abuse and addiction), youth counselors (who work with troubled youth on personal growth and development), rehabilitation counselors (who help to promote healing and wellness in rehabilitation facilities), in-home behavioral counselors (who provide behavioral planning and support to families in crisis) and mental health counselors (who treat clients with a variety of conditions, like anxiety and depression).
Do you like planning, directing and coordinating healthcare services? If so, you may find satisfaction working as a medical and health services manager. In this role, you’d be responsible for managing anything from an entire care facility to a specific clinical area, department or medical practice. Medical and health services managers focus on improving efficiency and quality of patient services while also ensuring that operations are compliant with applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Your duties may also include preparing budgets and spending, representing the facility at meetings or on governing boards and keeping organized records of the facility’s services.
As a medical and health services manager, you will likely work with a range of professionals in the medical care setting, including medical providers, patients and support providers, so interpersonal skills are a plus. Most employers want you to have at least a bachelor’s degree as well as prior experience in health care. Some may require a master’s degree depending on the type of facility, but a bachelor’s in psychology is a great way to get started in this role at smaller facility if you’re vying for this typically well-compensated position. The median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $104,280 in May 2020. Employment for medical and health services managers is projected to grow a significant 32 percent this decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Correctional Treatment Specialist
Interested in helping people get back on their feet after they’ve served time in correctional facilities? You might enjoy a career as a correctional treatment specialist (also known as parole officer, case manager or correctional counselor). Your role would involve evaluating inmates using questionnaires and psychological tests as well as advising and developing rehabilitation plans for probationers and parolees. In addition to developing release plans, correctional treatment specialists also help facilitate job training programs, counseling services, substance abuse or mental health treatment and adequate housing for former inmates.
Correctional treatment specialists’ release plans and reports can greatly impact the future outcome for parolees, so candidates hoping to work in this field need to be highly ethical and are often required to pass competency exams, drug tests and criminal background checks. Keep in mind that this job can also be stressful and dangerous, as you may be assigned to fieldwork in high-crime areas or in correctional institutions. A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, like criminal justice, can help to prepare you for this role and its demands. Employment of probation officers and correctional treatment specialists is lower than average, with projected growth at just 4 percent from 2020 to 2030, however, this will vary significantly depending on your location.
Teacher
Do you like to educate and inspire others? Want to be a role model? You may love teaching. According to Teach.com, “A great teacher should love educating students, and one of the principal goals many teachers set for themselves is to be the best educator they can be. There is something extremely gratifying about imparting information to your students and working with them to ensure they understand, not only concepts, but practical applications as well.” Keep in mind that teaching can also be demanding, as many teachers work during school hours as well as evenings and weekends preparing lessons and grading papers. Still, many find the work rewarding, plus many parents find teaching a great career because it allows them to have work breaks that coincide with their children’s school calendar.
While a bachelor’s in education is the go-to path for many aspiring teachers, some feel a bachelor’s in psychology can complement their work as a teacher in different ways, as they apply their psychology knowledge indirectly to the classroom environment. Whether you’d prefer to teach at the elementary or high school level, a bachelor’s degree will help you gain the right qualifications to enter the teaching field. You’ll also need to earn a teaching certificate along with your degree, so be sure to check your state’s teaching guidelines and requirements. Overall employment of grade-school teachers is projected to grow 7 percent this decade, about average for all occupations.
Social Worker
Do you like helping others manage deep societal issues such as poverty, abuse, unemployment and addiction? You may find social work rewarding. A social worker helps others improve their lives through counseling, advocacy and referrals to other agencies and professionals. As a social worker, you would help struggling families and individuals improve the quality of their lives by making sure they have access to basic needs. You’d also be responsible for examining their environment, relationships, community and even the government policies that affect their lives. Your role may involve finding solutions for your clients such as physical relocation, counseling, medical treatment, government programs, legal resources and employment. Social workers often help guide those in need through a matrix of complex problems, including the legal system.
Social workers operate in a variety of settings such as governmental organizations, schools, hospitals, private and non-profit organizations, community centers and elder care homes. Employment for social workers is expected to grow 11%, and employment for social services managers is expected to grow 13%. These managers direct and coordinate programs that provide services related to residential care, youth and family support, rehabilitation and other important areas of social support. Typically, you only need a bachelor's degree to qualify as a social worker or social services manager, but it's a good idea to look into the licensing for your particular state to better understand any additional requirements.
While we’ve focused on jobs you can get with a bachelor’s in psychology, there are many more to consider as you develop your career and educational goals. Just check out this thorough list of over 80 psychology-related careers from VeryWellMind. And if you’ve just begun to consider majoring in psychology, be sure to also check out our blog, What Every Prospective Psychology Student Should Know. Interested in earning or finishing your psychology degree completely online? At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we find degree options with the same curriculum as more traditional on-campus programs but with greater scheduling flexibility and lower tuition. Check out how we can match you with the perfect degree plan!
Ready to go back to college? Excellent decision! If you’ve already earned previous college credit, you’ll want to make sure your hard work counts toward your new degree. To find out how much of your prior credit you can transfer, you’ll need to obtain your college transcript. But how? And what if it’s been years since your last college attendance? No worries! We’ll answer your questions and walk you through all the steps to obtain your college transcript.
What is a college transcript?
A college transcript is a list your courses, grades, major/minor (if you had one), credit hours and GPA you’ve earned at a college.
How do I get my transcript?
The school you last attended is always the best place to start when looking for your transcript. Your transcript can be requested in person, by mail or online.
We suggest ordering it online by following these steps:
Go your previous college's website.
Either enter "order transcript" in the search box on the main page or look for a link to the Enrollment, Admissions or Registrar page.
From there, you should be able to find instructions on the various ways to order your transcripts. (You may be required to go to the college’s online student portal. If this is the case, you’ll likely need to enter your former student ID and password. If you forgot it, click on the applicable "forgot my student ID" or "forgot my password" buttons and follow any steps listed.)
Follow the instructions to order your transcripts, fill out any information required and pay any fees that might be requested. Typically, there are no fees for unofficial transcripts. If you’re not sure if you need an official or unofficial transcript, see below.
How do I know if I need an official or unofficial transcript?
Official transcripts are certified by the college and mailed to the receiving institution in a sealed envelope. This ensures that the transcript is unaltered and assures the receiving institution of its validity from the originating source. Official transcripts are usually only needed for formal college or job applications.
Unofficial transcripts can be downloaded and/or printed out by you or the college. An unofficial transcript is typically not accepted when formally applying to a college or job, but it allows you to review your transcript and work with an academic counselor to better understand how to transfer that credit.
For your call with our academic counselor, all you need is an unofficial transcript. This will allow us to see what prior credit you’ve earned and research where it can be transferred. The following documents are also acceptable if they’re easier for you to access: degree audits, degree evaluations, academic advising reports and even screenshots as long as the institution and student name are visible. Be sure to include all pages!
How long does it take to get your transcript?
Unofficial transcripts can usually be emailed, downloaded and/or printed right away once you follow the college’s online instructions. For official transcripts, most universities require two to three working days to process after receiving the request in the transcript or records office.
Can I get a free copy of my transcript?
Some universities offer a certain number of transcripts for free, and most offer unofficial transcripts at no charge. Official transcripts may have a fee ranging from $10-50 depending on the college.
I haven’t attended college in years. Will my transcript still be available?
Luckily, transcripts are available years after you attended or graduated from a college. If, by chance, the college you attended has closed, try to find out if it was part of a larger educational organization. The CDE recommends that you try to contact the parent organization first.
If you’re still unable to find the college or a branch of the college, try contacting any of the following organizations for help:
Department of Higher Education in the state in which the school you attended was located. There should be a link to request transcripts from closed schools.
Parchment is a private company that offers transcript recovery services.
At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we love to help students find degree plans that accept as much of their prior credit as possible. In fact, we do your college research for you… for free! Once you provide our academic counselor with your college transcripts, they'll conduct an intensive college research process based specifically on your goals and transferrable credit. Then you’ll get a custom College Options Report of the best colleges we found to fit your degree plan, schedule, budget, credit transfer and more. You’ll be able to make side-by-side college comparisons based on the most important factors to you. If you haven’t set up an appointment with one of our expert academic counselors yet, be sure to reach out today to get your free College Options Report!
Considering a degree in business? You probably already know that a business degree gives you a head start when applying for jobs compared to applicants with less marketable degrees. Business is one of the more popular majors due to its many real-world advantages, including attractive salaries and good jobs right out of school. And while most degrees in business ensure you understand the foundations of accounting, management, financial analysis and business operations, there are many majors and concentrations to choose from, including:
Accounting
Business Administration & Management
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Financial Planning
General Management
Green and Sustainable Management
Healthcare Management
Human Resources Management
International Business
Leadership
Marketing
Project Management
Public Administration
How do you choose a business major?
Well, the most popular choice among students is Business Administration. In fact, it’s not just the most popular among business majors, Business Administration & Management is among the most popular majors in the United States with over 410,000 degrees and certificates handed out per year. But does that mean it’s the best business major? While a Business Administration degree offers a broad foundation in the world of commerce, some research shows that students who major in general business and marketing are more likely to be underemployed or earn less than those in more math-focused business majors, such as accounting or financial planning.
So how do you make a decision with so many business major options? Eyeing the job market outlook for business degrees of the future is a good place to start, but your decision should also take into consideration your preferences, goals and motivations. In this blog, we’ll help you narrow down your choice by looking at three motivating factors: Do you want to earn the most money, gain a sense of fulfillment or be your own boss?
Let’s take a look at five of the highest paying jobs for business graduates according to UoPeople:
VP Sales and Marketing: MBA in Sales, Marketing
Chief Executive Officer: MBA in Management, Operations, Entrepreneurship, Sales
Finance Manager: MBA in Management, Operations, Entrepreneurship
Director of Marketing: BA/MBA in Marketing, International Business, Sales
Budget Director: BA/MBA in Finance, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, Operations, Economics
Notice how most of these upper management high earners have education at the MBA (Master’s in Business Administration) level. If your goal is the make the most money by advancing to executive management, you’ll probably want to obtain your bachelor’s degree and then join the workforce for a few years before applying to an MBA program. For this path, it may seem like an undergraduate degree in Business Administration would be your best option; however, that may not necessarily be the case. TopMBA looked at the undergraduate backgrounds of those accepted into MBA programs at three of the most prestigious business schools in the United States. Results showed that the majority of candidates accepted were not from business backgrounds.
Here’s a breakdown of the undergraduate majors accepted to these MBA programs:
A good deal of students accepted to MBA programs actually come from STEM backgrounds. This may be partly attributed to higher rankings on the GMAT or GRE, which you’ll be required to take to get accepted into a reputable MBA program. If getting a high GMAT or GRE score is important to the MBA program you’re applying, then you may want to consider a major that will help you prepare for it. GMAC analyzed scores from different majors and found the top performers on the GMAT had bachelor’s degrees in Physics (608), Mathematics (605) and Engineering (595) while graduates in Marketing (493) and Education (485) were near the bottom of the list.
In sum, if your goal is to make the most money by striving to become a top corporate executive, your best course is to set your sights on eventually earning an MBA. Instead of just focusing on a generic business undergrad degree, your education plan should align with the type of industry you’d like to work in. If your goal is to someday become the VP of a financial institution, then you might do well to study finance as your undergrad major. If you’d rather be a high-level director or manager in the tech industry, then studying an IT-related major could get you further in your educational goals, career and earnings than a general business major.
I want to be fulfilled in my work life
Some jobs pay well, some have flexible schedules and others are reported to give workers a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. While making lots of money is a good goal for some, others are looking for a job that makes them feel rewarded and engaged. If you cherish your mental health and a good work-life balance, pay attention to these factors that The Balance Careers say make a job fulfilling:
Something you excel at
Limited stress
Good company culture and reputation
Opportunities for advancement
Fair compensation
Lack of major negatives
Caring for others
Positive relationships
While there are a variety of jobs that offer these types of benefits and advantages, it’s best to know your particular personality and values before deciding what might be most satisfying in your work life. Perhaps you have an accounting brain or maybe you’re passionate about non-profit management and social causes. There’s also Green and Sustainable Management for those with a passion for protecting the environment. According to msn.com, here are some of the most-fulfilling roles identified by business professionals:
As you can see, these positions can be held in a range of industries and organizations. If you’d like a job that gives you a sense of fulfillment, it might be a good idea to figure out what makes you feel motivated and engaged. You can also take some general business classes before declaring your business major. This will help you decide if you prefer the math side (accounting, finance, tax) or the people side (human resources, marketing, public administration) of business. Luckily, most business degrees are versatile. So even if you end up in an entry-level role that doesn’t bring you joy, there’s still opportunity for advancement, company change or even career change.
I want to be my own boss
Is your goal to someday run your own company? A business degree is a great start. While anyone can come up with a business idea, how successful that business becomes depends heavily on the individual and their education. It’s true that some successful business owners have never completed college, but this tends to be more of an exception than the rule. A degree will only help your business become more successful, even if you’re able to get a good head start on your own. Knowing how to take your business to the next level is key to being an effective entrepreneur.
There are several business majors that work well for budding entrepreneurs. Here are four we’ve identified as most effective:
Entrepreneurship – A business major in entrepreneurship is a great choice for anyone wanting to start a business, as it teaches you how to pursue business opportunities and provide for the needs of the market. According to CVN, you’ll also learn how to get creative, learn management, be a leader, tackle uncertainty, identify problems, expand demand and dream big.
Finance – Majoring in finance can also give you a great advantage over other entrepreneurs as it teaches you about working with money and investments. According to Investopedia, ‘Finance students may drill deeper into topics such as corporate and global finance, and a finance degree program may address hard skills such as financial analysis and accounting.’
Marketing – Another great choice for those wanting to learn how to start their own business is marketing, as marketing campaigns are pivotal to the success of any new business endeavor. A marketing major will help you explore the fundamentals of consumer behavior while also learning how to conduct market research and develop advertising to promote your products or services and increase your brand awareness.
Economics – An economics major is also useful for entrepreneurs for several reasons. You’ll learn how markets work, be able to identify true costs, know how to collect in-depth market analysis and make long-term business forecasts.
New businesses can fail for many reasons, from poor location choice and inadequate cash flow to poor management practices and ineffective advertising. If your goal is to become your own boss, you’ll want to learn everything you can before starting your business to avoid the pitfalls of inexperienced entrepreneurs. By first obtaining a business degree in entrepreneurship, finance, marketing or economics, you’ll learn how to both identify and implement best business practices so that you can be your own boss – and stay that way!
No matter your motivation for getting a business degree, you’re on the right track! A degree in business is the door to the world of commerce where you’ll get the opportunity to network with professionals, expand your career opportunities, learn useful skills and obtain valuable experience. Whether you’re just starting your education or wanting to finish your business degree to get ahead at your job, we’ve got you covered. At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we give you the freedom to earn or finish your bachelor’s degree through a non-traditional, online college experience that saves you both time and money. See how it works!
You know the battle. You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. It’s a conundrum many college students face when trying to start their careers. Searching through endless job postings that require at least two years of experience can be frustrating, but don’t get discouraged!
Here’s the good news. As a college student or recent grad, you’ve probably already developed a lot of the knowledge and qualifications to ready yourself for the professional world. Even without prior job experience, a college student can still create a strong impactful resume that gets employers’ attention. In fact, Career Alley confirms that most employers want to see evidence of leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills. Luckily, these are all things you can prove you’ve developed in college.
Ready to show hiring managers that you have what it takes to land your dream job? Here’s some handy college resume tips and examples to help.
1. Choose a well-organized resume format
In the past, classic resume formats followed a boring standard layout with limited flexibility. In today’s market, pertinent information and good design have set the standard for catching employers’ attention. Why not stand out from other candidates with a catchy design? If you're looking to get your creative juices going and develop a resume format that stuns while also fitting your aesthetic, Canva has some very cool designs to get you started. Check out this one by Stella.
According to Indeed, “The best resume formats are well organized with only the most relevant information and should make efficient use of blank space to avoid clutter.” Stella has made great use of the one-page space, even including a photo to showcase her unique style and personality. She’s also included a section labeled “Relevant Experience and Training” in place of the traditional “Job Experience” to emphasize her involvement in school teams and committees that have provided her with applicable skills in lieu of an official job.
Keep in mind that if you include a photo on your resume, it should reflect the style and dress for your industry. If you’re entering a more formal career, be sure to adjust your resume accordingly. You can still have a great design while keeping it professional, like in Avery’s resume below. As a new face in the accounting and finance world, Avery wants to make an impact on employers while still representing himself as a reputable professional. His resume stands out yet also does a great job of fitting the expectations and standards for his career.
2. Create a summary focused on the employer’s needs
A summary, objective, or “About Me” statement is an excellent way to introduce yourself and quickly advertise your qualifications. This statement should be brief (1-2 sentences) and focus on your relevant experience as well as your career-developed skills. It’s also a great idea to tailor your summary according to the employer’s needs, rather than your own. If the employer mentions specific desires in their job posting, figure out a way to incorporate the highest priority ones into your statement. Not only does this show the employer that you’ve paid attention to what they want, but also that you're responsive and willing to meet their needs.
3. Prioritize education vs. experience
For college students or recent graduates, it can be difficult to decide whether to list your education or experience first. Notice in Jonathan’s resume below, he lists his education history first to showcase his student activity and accolades, like the Best Student Web Developer Award. That’s because his educational accomplishments demonstrate more enthusiasm and mastery of his technical abilities than his limited experience as a freelance web developer – with just two work projects completed.
Not sure whether to list your education or experience section first? Figure out which one allows you to present your most pertinent and remarkable information. If your main selling points come from your college experience, then be sure to list your education section first. Then you can get really creative in emphasizing your academic history and accomplishments, as discussed next.
4. Get resourceful in your education section
Don’t feel intimidated if your degree doesn’t exactly align with the job you’re applying. By showing a commitment to your education, you can still demonstrate the qualities employers are looking for like strong work ethic, dedication, leadership, commitment, and desire to improve.
According to Live Career, “Not only should the education section of your resume be concise, but it should also relate to the job you are seeking.” This is a good time to brainstorm and make a list of your best student accomplishments. Any relevant honors or academic recognition, coursework, activities, or other achievements obtained during your education should be included to build up what may be lacking in your experience section. You can even add in relevant coursework and school projects you’ve completed to establish your training qualifications and special areas of study, particularly if your major or minor doesn’t readily indicate it.
5. Keep your experience section relevant
Employers don’t need to know about the summer job you had at a pizza shop or about that one time you sold perfume at the mall. Your experience section shouldn’t be limited to just paid jobs nor does it need to include every job you’ve ever had. Hiring managers will be looking to see whether you have job experience that’s relevant to the position they are hiring.
In Jonathan’s resume above, notice how he only includes his work as a Freelance Web Developer. This is his only experience that’s relevant to the positions for which he’s applying. Jonathan doesn't need to include his part-time job stocking shelves at Costco or his sales associate position at Champ’s during his first year in college. Not only can that distract from his qualifications, but it can clutter up his resume and make it seem like he doesn’t understand the employer’s wants or needs.
If you have very limited or no work history at all, you can change the name of this section from “Work Experience” to “Relevant Experience.” Then add in internships, volunteer work, leadership experience, extracurricular activities or any other related involvement or training you can think of to compensate for your lack of workplace experience.
6. Include a skills or strengths section
Including a skills, key strengths, or competencies section on a resume is a great way to let employers know what hard skills and soft skills you bring to the table. Indeed defines hard skills as abilities specific to the job (like proficiency in technical software systems) and soft skills as abilities that can be applied in any job (like problem-solving and time management).
So how do you know which of your many talents to list on your resume? According to The Balance Careers, “Some skills are in high demand for employers hiring college graduates, and there are other skills that specifically relate to the job for which you're applying.” Try reviewing several job descriptions specific to the industry or role you’re applying. Be sure to focus on the key desires and requirements employers emphasize for candidates. Jot down a list of the ones that stand out, then review how their desired skills match your core competencies. From there, you can decide which key strengths to include on your resume.
Check out Ed Stewart’s “Key Strengths” section in the below resume. Notice how he only lists hard skills or technical abilities. This is a good move for Ed as he’s positioning himself as a Search Engine Marketing expert and targeting companies looking to hire someone with a technical approach to their marketing strategy. He also does a great job of keeping his bulleted section short and scannable. Bulleted lists should only include about 5-7 items, so be sure to add only the most important and relevant skills to your resume. Anything that you feel you’ve left off can be included in your cover letter.
7. Always submit a custom cover letter
Did you know around 250 resumes are submitted for each corporate job listing and only about five candidates will be called for an interview? According to Pongo, “without a cover letter, you're relying solely on your resume to make a big enough impact that the hiring manager will call you back for an interview.” As an applicant just starting out in the job market, you’ll need a good cover letter to make up for the lack of experience on your resume.
By submitting a custom cover letter specific to the company and role for which you’re applying, you can let employers know why they should hire you over a candidate with more experience. This is your chance to tell them that you’re a fast learner, hard worker, or willing to go the extra mile to gain experience and to help their company succeed. Don’t count on your resume to get you through the competition. By including a cover letter, you’ll get noticed quickly, show you’ve put in extra effort, and demonstrate how much you want the job. You only have 7.4 seconds to make an impression, so make it good!
8. Get a friend to proofread
After staring at the same resume and cover letter for hours, it can be easy to gloss over your own writing and mistakes that a fresh pair of eyes can detect. After completing these documents, try a few proofreading tricks like reading them slowly and out loud. Then, ask for help! You’d be surprised at what someone else may pick up on. TopResume states, “Have a friend — preferably one who writes for a living or studied English in college — review your resume for contextual spelling mistakes, missing punctuation, and inconsistencies in your resume format.” Once all final details are confirmed, then you’re ready to apply. Good luck!
Want to check out more college resume and cover letter examples? Zety has some excellent templates and guides. And check out this blog if you need help obtaining reference letters. At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we love helping students on the journey to their brightest future and best career. We’d love to help you create your own college experience that develops the background qualifications and skills needed to land your dream job!
Roland is a 32-year-old father of three young girls and the Operations Supervisor for the New York Public Transit facilities. Currently, he’s managing the facility and maintenance staff for two boroughs in NYC: Manhattan and Queens. Although he’s never completed his bachelor’s degree, he loves his job and has made it this far in his career by being a go-getter and a hard worker.
But now he’s hit a bump in the road.
His boss is retiring in a year, and Roland is up for an Associate Director promotion that earns almost double his current salary. To qualify, he’ll need to complete his bachelor’s degree as quickly as possible to “look good on paper.” The company knows how hard Roland works, but without meeting the education qualifications for the promotion, he’ll be surpassed by someone with less experience.
Fortunately, Roland already has 42 college credits that he’s earned over the past 10 years. His prior credits come from different places including a trade school, a community college, and The City University of New York (CUNY). While he enjoys learning, Roland has always encountered difficulty finishing his degree at in-person schools. It seems every time he got started, life got in the way: his wife got pregnant and sick, they moved to be closer to family, Covid started, etc.
Now he understands what it’ll take for him to complete his degree as fast as possible.
This is Roland’s wish list:
He needs to be able to start school right away (no traditional college semesters)
All courses have to be offered completely online (not in-person)
He must be able to take courses during downtime at his job (no set class times)
His college must accept as much of his previous credit as possible (no tight transfer restrictions)
Time to call in the experts!
To fulfill these requirements, Roland turned to the academic counselors at Pearson Accelerated Pathways, trusting their expertise in finding degree paths with freedom and flexibility. By gathering his transcripts from each school, Roland was able to help his academic counselor to review his prior credits and see where they could transfer. Although Roland’s previous studies mostly focused on engineering and architecture, he also had a good deal of general education credits completed.
Roland now wants to major in Business or Project Management to better fit the promotion qualifications at his job. His academic counselor was able to sort through thousands of possibilities and narrow down five degree options in a side-by-side college options report customized to show Roland the degrees that would best fit his wish list. Here’s a preview of three of the six colleges they reviewed.
After going over the best options with his academic counselor, Roland chose Excelsior College based on a combined factor of price and prior credit acceptance. He was able to start courses right away, and with tons of hard work, determination, success coaching, and tips on staying sane while working full time in college, Roland exceeded his completion date and earned his bachelor’s degree in under two years!
As a result, Roland has fully qualified for the promotion to Associate Director at his job and no longer has to worry about hitting a glass ceiling or feeling like his lack of a degree will hold him back from future promotions. He also gained a solid foundation in budgeting, planning, business operations, and management from his degree that will be beneficial as he moves into upper management. Congrats, Roland!
It’s Not Too Late to Go Back to College
Feeling stuck in your career because you still haven’t finished your degree? You’re not alone. According to a Pew Research study, 35 percent of workers say they don’t feel they have the education and training needed to get ahead at work. They’re not wrong either. In fact, there are 57 percent more job opportunities for those with college degrees than without.
That’s why we’ve developed a new way for workers to experience college. By providing flexible start dates and self-paced learning options, Pearson Accelerated Pathways has helped thousands of busy adults and parents get ahead in their career by finishing their degree while they work. Unlike traditional universities, we allow you to start learning right away – not on a rigid semester schedule.
Our flexible online courses can be started anytime, anywhere—even from your job—and with no assignment due dates. You can learn, complete quizzes, and even take tests according to your schedule. With loads of success stories from working adults and parents, our goal is always to help you earn your degree and move up the ladder to your brightest future.
Ready to join our success stories?
Don’t get held back at your job or surpassed by someone who has less experience than you but more education. By demonstrating a willingness to take steps to move up at your job, including expanding your education, management will begin to view you as a prime candidate for greater responsibility and pay. It’s never too late to take the initiative and finish your degree. With non-semester learning schedules, we’ve helped thousands of busy people just like you earn their degree while working and raising families. Click here to learn more about how we can help!
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of research needed to attend college? With so many degree options, costs, and requirements for each school, the search process can feel like a never-ending battle with a thousand unanswered questions. Do I meet the admission requirements? How much will it cost? Will my past credits transfer?
Where do I even start?
Take a deep breath because expert help is on the way! At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, we do all the college research for you… for free. Our academic counselors have tons of expertise, resources, and inside knowledge to help you narrow down the best college options based on your specific goals.
We Build a College Options Report – Just for You
Just provide us with some basic info and our academic counselors will reach out to learn more about your situation. Our goal is to gather the most pertinent info needed to determine your best college and degree options. We’ll factor in things like:
What majors interest you, or do you want to wait to decide?
How many hours per week you can study?
What do you want out of your college experience?
Have you’ve already earned any college credits?
If so, where can they transfer?
From there, just sit back and relax as we crunch the numbers on tuitions, degrees, fees, and much more. We'll conduct an intensive college research process based specifically on your data and circumstance, and then you’ll get the final results. Your academic counselor will send you a super organized and helpful College Options Report – custom built just for you.
What's a College Options Report?
The College Options Report is a side-by-side degree plan of the best colleges we found to fit your goals, schedule, budget, transferrable credit, and more. The first page will look something like this:
Your academic counselor will carefully walk you through each page of the report to make sure you understand all of your options. In particular, they’ll spend lots of time going over the chart on Page 2 (below), where you’ll see a complete breakdown of each school by degree, cost, transferable credit, and more. As you examine this college comparison, you’ll be able to consider important factors like:
Which of the degrees can I obtain the fastest?
Which of the schools costs the least?
Which of the options accepts most of my prior credit?
After that, you’ll see a page-by-page outline for each college (like in the image below). This gives you an overview of each college by tuition, fees, books, and—most importantly—the potential savings through our Global Digital Classroom (GDC). The GDC is Pearson Accelerated Pathways’ online learning platform. It’s how we are able to offer you lots of courses at a much lower cost per credit than traditional colleges. The GDC gives you extra freedom to pursue courses that align with your interests while enjoying our cost savings and flexibility. Best of all, GDC courses are fully accredited and guaranteed to transfer to your final college of choice!
With the College Options Report, you’ll be able to make comparisons based on the most important factors to you. That may be cost, degree, major, college reputation, time to complete, prior credit transfers, or a number of factors combined.
In the above example, let's say you choose to go with Maryville University based on the cost savings. You’ll see that we can save you $32,850 on your total degree cost by offering 25-27 courses through our Global Digital Classroom (GDC). This savings also includes the discounted tuition you’ll receive at Maryville University for transferring from Pearson Accelerated Pathways. That’s a lot of savings – cutting the total cost of your degree almost in half!
In addition, Pearson Accelerated Pathways offers flexible pay-as-you-go plans. Unlike one-size-fits all colleges, we work with your budget to customize payment options. Also unlike traditional colleges, you can get started on online classes right away. No waiting for a semester to begin or working around a set college schedule. We make sure payments and schedules are all on your terms!
We’re Here When You’re Ready
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number of choices involved in doing college research, let us help... for absolutely no charge! We love being a guiding light for students in a world of noise and clutter. Our specialty is helping students identify their best college options and setting them on the right education track for their lifestyle, budget, and schedule.
Ready to get your free College Options Report? Get started here!
Before making any career decision, it’s always a good idea to ask yourself, “Will this career be in demand? And if so, how much can I earn and what education will I need?” With thousands of options available, it can be difficult to narrow down a career path that's right for you. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of five careers that have great demand and excellent earning potential. We hope this will help you on your educational journey and increase your chances of making a good career decision.
1. Cyber security
Did you know the unemployment rate for cyber security professionals has been 0% since 2016! As more businesses rely on data and as cyberattacks become more frequent, demand for cyber security expertise is projected to grow 32% up to 2028, compared with growth of 12% for other computer occupations.
Cyber security encompasses everything that relates to the protection of data and networks. Employment can be found in a wide range of industries and focuses on a number of specialties. Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures; forensic roles deal with the aftermath of data breaches; penetration testers identify vulnerabilities to help prevent breaches; security architects establish and maintain network security; and the CIO sits at the top tier of the industry, overseeing all of this.
For each career pathway there’s a lot of technical knowledge and many certifications to acquire to demonstrate mastery, so it’s best for aspiring cyber-crime fighters to research each specialty early and get on track for the role that best fits their skillset and goals.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Information security analyst ($51K-$108K)
Forensic computer analyst ($49K-$118K)
Penetration & vulnerability tester ($58K-$136K)
Cyber security architect ($86K-$160K)
Chief information security officer ($106K-$200K+)
Study options available
Most entry-level cyber security positions require only an undergraduate degree (which degree may not matter if you have the right skills and certifications), but a graduate degree will open the door to more senior positions and quicker advancement. Increasingly, schools are offering degree programs specific to cyber security that students can pursue rather than the more broad computer science.
No matter what degree a candidate boasts, their prospects may be further improved by adding professional certifications to their résumé. In fact, many job postings will require that prospects come to the table with at least a foundational certification or will ask employees to acquire further credentials for career development.
Here’s some insider advice from Charles Poff, CISO, Salespoint, “Anyone interested in cybersecurity needs to get a degree, as going to college helps you to learn how to learn. No one in IT or security has all the answers, but what defines us as IT and security folks is how we figure out problems. You learn how to become a lifelong learner in college and develop new skills on the job as you fine tune your natural gifts.”
The demand for smart devices increased 16% in 2020, and with it the need for Internet of Things expertise in consumer electronics, transportation, manufacturing, utilities, agriculture, and healthcare has grown. Bachelor’s degrees in the subject are only just starting to be introduced, but there are other programs and skills that can lead to success in this career.
The IoT is the network of physical objects that are embedded with sensors or software to connect and exchange data with the internet. This includes products such as wearable fitness trackers, home automation devices, self-driving cars, and much more. The demand for these devices is staggering, with an estimated 35 billion devices connected worldwide in 2021—a 16% increase in just one year. Although investment and development may have slowed during quarantine, COVID-19 is set to spark further growth. More time at home means more people connecting their homes for health, wellness, and efficiency, and the healthcare industry is leveraging smart tech for tasks like early detection and contact tracing.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
IoT developer ($59K-$74K)
Data scientist ($67K-$135K)
IoT solutions engineer ($80K-$120K)
IoT architect ($98K-$190K)
Cyber security engineer ($94K-$320K)
Study options available
While there are only a couple US colleges offering a bachelor’s degree specific to IoT, the rise in options internationally indicates that number will likely increase soon. In the meantime, for many entry-level roles, a bachelor’s in information technology, computer science/engineering, or software development may suffice.
Learners can set themselves up for IoT job success by researching the competencies expected by their dream employers and planning their course work accordingly. Master’s degrees, micro-masters, and graduate certificates specific to the IoT are increasingly common. These programs may go by alternate labels such as “embedded systems” or “cyber-physical systems”. At all levels (engineers and architects in particular), professional certifications may be a requirement.
Here’s some insider advice from Home Security List, “Without a doubt, the versatile nature of the IoT is one of the numerous reasons it is due to add such significant value to the economy. IoT devices can be implemented in every industry, through adoption, development or both. In this respect, you should learn to collaborate with people from distinct sectors. Make sure your training is diverse so that you can apply it to numerous businesses.”
In the past few years there’s been a growing demand for equality and representation. As a result, more companies are championing the need for diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace and hiring specialists to help them meet that need. In a 2018 column for Inclusion at Work, Jennifer Kim noted that taking on a D&I role comes with significant risk, as they’re often the first cut in an economic downturn. This prediction held true at the onset of COVID-19 when job postings plummeted. However, just months later, the US saw widespread civil rights protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death, and D&I job postings did a quick about-face.
There’s hope right now that roles supporting D&I are newly focused on action over awareness. Examples include GE, which pledged $10 million toward racial justice and inclusivity initiatives, and Salesforce, which committed to increasing Black representation, especially in leadership. The rebounding of job postings is also a positive sign of change. Each of the roles included below supports employers’ mission of attracting, developing, retaining, and supporting the advancement of a diverse workforce.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Chief diversity officer ($75K-$211K)
D&I director ($89K-$120K)
D&I manager ($55K-$124K)
D&I specialist ($46K-$118K)
D&I coordinator ($25K-$102K)
Study options available
Options for a degree specific to D&I are limited, but available. Some institutions, such as Tufts University and The University of Kansas, have developed master’s degrees in D&I leadership. However, most D&I job applicants come from a wide range of backgrounds. Some studied and worked in business or human resources management, choosing to specialize along the way. Some transitioned from other areas of their organization, driven by passion and seeing the need for this role. For them and others, there is a proliferation of graduate certificate and online course options that support D&I development.
It’s worth noting that while education demands are high for these roles (45.6% hold master’s degrees), transferable skills and a demonstrable interest in social justice should not be discounted as qualifying factors. A number of institutions, such as Emporia State University, offer interdisciplinary degrees in subjects like ethnic, gender, and identity studies that will give candidates a social science foundation and help them stand out in the hiring process
Here’s some insider advice from the Allison Dingler, Global DI&B Program Manager, Indeed, “My number one advice for folks looking to get into diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DI&B) is to look at what they can do right now, within their sphere of influence, to create an inclusive culture. DI&B is a vast field, needing a multitude of skills and backgrounds. Consider how your skills translate to DI&B work and start doing that work before you ever have a DI&B title.”
The wine and beer industries are not new. People have been studying the production and use of fermented beverages for thousands of years. Throughout much of that time, education came through apprenticeship and then certification. Historically, the wine and beer industries have been the domain of families and smaller communities. Now, with a myriad of options for self-education, winemaking and brewing have become accessible to a broader group, and many are turning this passion into a career.
Universities are starting to offer degrees to expand the possibilities for job candidates in these industries. Most who seek careers in beer and wine are driven by passion. While some start young — either in the labor-intensive lower tiers of the industry or by seeking formal training right away — others are career-changers looking to turn their hobby into a profession.
Earnings that follow can vary greatly. Working for a small winery or craft brewery is not going to net as much as working for a major brand, but as health and sustainability trends move consumers toward quality over quantity, the number of boutique producers entering the market is increasing. More new producers means more opportunities for those open to both the uncertainty and potential of a start-up.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Winemaker ($85K-$150K)
Sommelier ($55K-$155K)
Vineyard manager ($50K-$85K)
Brewmaster ($40K-$100K)
Study options available
There are many ways to specialize in the wine and beer industries, and expectations for applicants’ experience and background will vary. Those willing to start at the lowest tier of wine and beer work—in the field or in the cellar—will learn a lot on the job. At the business and sales end, industry knowledge is crucial, but traditional degrees often suffice.
Those looking to specialize as brewmasters, enologists, or sommeliers, however, are going to need certifications and proven dedication to understanding the science, taste, and history of their product. University degrees are increasingly a way to gain the necessary academic foundation. There are numerous bachelors and a few masters options in the US, and even some PhDs for those willing to go international.
Here’s some insider advice from Teri Fahrendorf, “My hunch is that as time goes on, the educational requirements of microbrewers in the US will increase, if for no other reason than that the demand will increase. One microbrewery owner I spoke with recently declared he will never again hire another brewer without formal training... or a lot of experience.”
Data is everywhere and in everything we do, and with humans producing 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day, the need for data scientists is rising. The high demand for this role makes it a competitive field that requires intensive education and skills. Love it or fear it, big data is everywhere, and it’s about more than just serving up unnervingly targeted ads. In addition to shaping the retail industry, big data is a cornerstone of healthcare, banking, agriculture, government, transportation, and energy. It’s estimated that humans produce 2.5 quintillion bytes of data daily. That figure is only going up, which has led to the growing demand for data scientists.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Data analyst ($44K-$86K)
Data architect ($77K-$156K)
Data engineer ($65K-$132K)
Statistician ($52K-$109K)
Machine learning engineer ($76K-$154K)
Study options available
Compared to other emerging careers, data science has fairly rigorous academic requirements for entry. A competitive field means employers can make higher demands for education, and the array of technical skills required will demand intensive study, whether formal or informal. A good starting point is a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, IT, or statistics. Increasingly, degrees specific to data science are available as well. This also goes for master’s degrees, which are held by 73% of professionals in the field. As many as 38% have a PhD. However, those with a more mixed background still have a chance.
Since the field is new, many of its leaders didn’t have today’s focused degree options. Applicants may stand out if they can demonstrate that they’ve supplemented coursework with real-world projects, if they have additional expertise in the job’s broader industry (i.e., healthcare, marketing, etc.), or if they can show that they’ve targeted their studies to fit the demands of the role they’re looking to take on.
Here’s some insider advice from Robert Chang, Data @Airbnb, “Instead of fixating on a single technique or programming language, ask yourself, what is the best set of tools or techniques that will help you to solve your problem? Focus on problem solving, and the tools will come naturally.”
For a more comprehensive and in-depth look at additional emerging careers, get our free eBook with up-to-date information and useful charts to help you with your future career decision. If you’re ready to start your journey toward a fast-growing profession with the right education and skills, we can help! At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, our academic advisors are experts at putting you on the right track to become qualified for your dream job. We help you to customize your college experience, choose your learning style, choose your pace, and study from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection. Learn more about our college planning process.
Before making any career decision, it’s always a good idea to ask yourself, “Will this career be in demand? And if so, how much can I earn and what education will I need?” With thousands of options available, it can be difficult to narrow down a career path that's right for you. Fortunately, we’ve compiled a list of five careers that have great demand and excellent earning potential. We hope this will help you on your educational journey and increase your chances of making a good career decision.
1. Cyber security
Did you know the unemployment rate for cyber security professionals has been 0% since 2016! As more businesses rely on data and as cyberattacks become more frequent, demand for cyber security expertise is projected to grow 32% up to 2028, compared with growth of 12% for other computer occupations.
Cyber security encompasses everything that relates to the protection of data and networks. Employment can be found in a wide range of industries and focuses on a number of specialties. Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures; forensic roles deal with the aftermath of data breaches; penetration testers identify vulnerabilities to help prevent breaches; security architects establish and maintain network security; and the CIO sits at the top tier of the industry, overseeing all of this.
For each career pathway there’s a lot of technical knowledge and many certifications to acquire to demonstrate mastery, so it’s best for aspiring cyber-crime fighters to research each specialty early and get on track for the role that best fits their skillset and goals.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Information security analyst ($51K-$108K)
Forensic computer analyst ($49K-$118K)
Penetration & vulnerability tester ($58K-$136K)
Cyber security architect ($86K-$160K)
Chief information security officer ($106K-$200K+)
Study options available
Most entry-level cyber security positions require only an undergraduate degree (which degree may not matter if you have the right skills and certifications), but a graduate degree will open the door to more senior positions and quicker advancement. Increasingly, schools are offering degree programs specific to cyber security that students can pursue rather than the more broad computer science.
No matter what degree a candidate boasts, their prospects may be further improved by adding professional certifications to their résumé. In fact, many job postings will require that prospects come to the table with at least a foundational certification or will ask employees to acquire further credentials for career development.
Here’s some insider advice from Charles Poff, CISO, Salespoint, “Anyone interested in cybersecurity needs to get a degree, as going to college helps you to learn how to learn. No one in IT or security has all the answers, but what defines us as IT and security folks is how we figure out problems. You learn how to become a lifelong learner in college and develop new skills on the job as you fine tune your natural gifts.”
The demand for smart devices increased 16% in 2020, and with it the need for Internet of Things expertise in consumer electronics, transportation, manufacturing, utilities, agriculture, and healthcare has grown. Bachelor’s degrees in the subject are only just starting to be introduced, but there are other programs and skills that can lead to success in this career.
The IoT is the network of physical objects that are embedded with sensors or software to connect and exchange data with the internet. This includes products such as wearable fitness trackers, home automation devices, self-driving cars, and much more. The demand for these devices is staggering, with an estimated 35 billion devices connected worldwide in 2021—a 16% increase in just one year. Although investment and development may have slowed during quarantine, COVID-19 is set to spark further growth. More time at home means more people connecting their homes for health, wellness, and efficiency, and the healthcare industry is leveraging smart tech for tasks like early detection and contact tracing.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
IoT developer ($59K-$74K)
Data scientist ($67K-$135K)
IoT solutions engineer ($80K-$120K)
IoT architect ($98K-$190K)
Cyber security engineer ($94K-$320K)
Study options available
While there are only a couple US colleges offering a bachelor’s degree specific to IoT, the rise in options internationally indicates that number will likely increase soon. In the meantime, for many entry-level roles, a bachelor’s in information technology, computer science/engineering, or software development may suffice.
Learners can set themselves up for IoT job success by researching the competencies expected by their dream employers and planning their course work accordingly. Master’s degrees, micro-masters, and graduate certificates specific to the IoT are increasingly common. These programs may go by alternate labels such as “embedded systems” or “cyber-physical systems”. At all levels (engineers and architects in particular), professional certifications may be a requirement.
Here’s some insider advice from Home Security List, “Without a doubt, the versatile nature of the IoT is one of the numerous reasons it is due to add such significant value to the economy. IoT devices can be implemented in every industry, through adoption, development or both. In this respect, you should learn to collaborate with people from distinct sectors. Make sure your training is diverse so that you can apply it to numerous businesses.”
The wine and beer industries are not new. People have been studying the production and use of fermented beverages for thousands of years. Throughout much of that time, education came through apprenticeship and then certification. Historically, the wine and beer industries have been the domain of families and smaller communities. Now, with a myriad of options for self-education, winemaking and brewing have become accessible to a broader group, and many are turning this passion into a career.
Universities are starting to offer degrees to expand the possibilities for job candidates in these industries. Most who seek careers in beer and wine are driven by passion. While some start young — either in the labor-intensive lower tiers of the industry or by seeking formal training right away — others are career-changers looking to turn their hobby into a profession.
Earnings that follow can vary greatly. Working for a small winery or craft brewery is not going to net as much as working for a major brand, but as health and sustainability trends move consumers toward quality over quantity, the number of boutique producers entering the market is increasing. More new producers means more opportunities for those open to both the uncertainty and potential of a start-up.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Winemaker ($85K-$150K)
Sommelier ($55K-$155K)
Vineyard manager ($50K-$85K)
Brewmaster ($40K-$100K)
Study options available
There are many ways to specialize in the wine and beer industries, and expectations for applicants’ experience and background will vary. Those willing to start at the lowest tier of wine and beer work—in the field or in the cellar—will learn a lot on the job. At the business and sales end, industry knowledge is crucial, but traditional degrees often suffice.
Those looking to specialize as brewmasters, enologists, or sommeliers, however, are going to need certifications and proven dedication to understanding the science, taste, and history of their product. University degrees are increasingly a way to gain the necessary academic foundation. There are numerous bachelors and a few masters options in the US, and even some PhDs for those willing to go international.
Here’s some insider advice from Teri Fahrendorf, “My hunch is that as time goes on, the educational requirements of microbrewers in the US will increase, if for no other reason than that the demand will increase. One microbrewery owner I spoke with recently declared he will never again hire another brewer without formal training... or a lot of experience.”
Data is everywhere and in everything we do, and with humans producing 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day, the need for data scientists is rising. The high demand for this role makes it a competitive field that requires intensive education and skills. Love it or fear it, big data is everywhere, and it’s about more than just serving up unnervingly targeted ads. In addition to shaping the retail industry, big data is a cornerstone of healthcare, banking, agriculture, government, transportation, and energy. It’s estimated that humans produce 2.5 quintillion bytes of data daily. That figure is only going up, which has led to the growing demand for data scientists.
Here are a few specialties and their earning potential:
Data analyst ($44K-$86K)
Data architect ($77K-$156K)
Data engineer ($65K-$132K)
Statistician ($52K-$109K)
Machine learning engineer ($76K-$154K)
Study options available
Compared to other emerging careers, data science has fairly rigorous academic requirements for entry. A competitive field means employers can make higher demands for education, and the array of technical skills required will demand intensive study, whether formal or informal. A good starting point is a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, IT, or statistics. Increasingly, degrees specific to data science are available as well. This also goes for master’s degrees, which are held by 73% of professionals in the field. As many as 38% have a PhD. However, those with a more mixed background still have a chance.
Since the field is new, many of its leaders didn’t have today’s focused degree options. Applicants may stand out if they can demonstrate that they’ve supplemented coursework with real-world projects, if they have additional expertise in the job’s broader industry (i.e., healthcare, marketing, etc.), or if they can show that they’ve targeted their studies to fit the demands of the role they’re looking to take on.
Here’s some insider advice from Robert Chang, Data @Airbnb, “Instead of fixating on a single technique or programming language, ask yourself, what is the best set of tools or techniques that will help you to solve your problem? Focus on problem solving, and the tools will come naturally.”
For a more comprehensive and in-depth look at additional emerging careers, get our free eBook with up-to-date information and useful charts to help you with your future career decision. If you’re ready to start your journey toward a fast-growing profession with the right education and skills, we can help! At Pearson Accelerated Pathways, our academic advisors are experts at putting you on the right track to become qualified for your dream job. We help you to customize your college experience, choose your learning style, choose your pace, and study from anywhere. All you need is an internet connection. Learn more about our college planning process.
