GradPower

Finding a job in 2010 is getting easier as the economy is slowly getting back on its feet. However, companies are still weary of hiring individuals with little to no work experience. This is why recent college grads need to look harder and really showcase their individual talents in their resumes and cover letters. Jobs surrounding the hot field of technology seem to be everywhere, and although many companies are searching for senior positions, many recent grads have found jobs in technology.

However, one must remember that tech career profiles are not the only kind out there. Creative careers have decreased in popularity due to the common belief that they have low pay. However, these career profiles, some not conventionally creative, offer employees 40k or more!

1. Marketing and Business
   • Description: Knowing where to put your work is vital in not only making money, but creating a name for yourself. Having knowledge in business or marketing is key for an artist’s livelihood. Whether your passion is in photography, music, visual arts or graphic design, having a bachelor’s degree in business administration or marketing can prepare you for marketing your work in the best possible way.
   • Pay: The pay for a marketing or business creative career depends on the type of degree and experience one has. A marketing manager with experience can make on average $108,580 a year! However, a recent grad would be making substantially less, but still somewhere around 40k.
2. Education
   • Description: This career profile is not usually thought of as a creative option for recent grads looking for a career. However, teaching art, computer science, chorus or music is a great creative career. If being around kids is not for you, being an educational specialist or arts organizer could be a better option. These positions work with students and are in the education field but do not have as close a working relationship with students as teachers do.
   • Pay: In a public school, the average pay for a teacher is anywhere between $47-51,000.
3. Web Design and Development
   • Description: This career description is one of those that combines the highly sought after technological careers with a creative aspect. Web design is a highly lucrative and highly competitive career choice. The age of technology continues to grow and more companies are looking to profit from their online presence. There are also many smaller venues like music groups, theater companies and art galleries looking for web designers to promote their product or company. These clients tend to give their designers full artistic creativity.
   • Pay: average of $51,000
4. Technology
   • Description: Every company has some sort of technology infrastructure, even creative venues. Theaters, museums, art schools, concert venues and camps need to maintain databases and security information. Tech specialists and database administrators may not seem very creative, but with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, technology information or database technology, these jobs could be for you.
   • Pay: average of $70,000
5. Paralegal Studies
   • Description: Intellectual property is a link between the legal and creative worlds. With music, pictures and other creative materials available at the click of a mouse, it is extremely easy to infringe upon an artist’s copyrighted work. Working with a paralegal puts you in the middle of the action and allows you to not only get to know law better, but help protect other artist’s works. An associate’s degree in paralegal studies or a paralegal certificate program is needed for this type of creative career.
   • Pay: $66,330 is the average annual salary for paralegals who work in the publishing industry, and those in arts, entertainment, and recreation earn $57,120.

Tags: career profiles