Phone interviews are a fairly fundamental part of the job search process. Yet many candidates fail to progress beyond this stage in their pursuit of a particular job.

Most people understand the importance of building strong relationships in their personal lives. Without friends and family, you’d not only be lonely, but you’d also have a hard time dealing with life’s events.

Employment is a hot topic these days, and everyone seems to have an opinion on it. From morning news anchors to business bloggers well-meaning friends and family, job advice is everywhere. While a wealth of information is never a bad thing, with so much advice out there, it can be hard to know what to trust. (more…)

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With unemployment rates hovering at a staggering national level of 9.5 percent, it is clear we are in the middle of a long and difficult period of joblessness even though there are longer-term impending labor shortages in key industries like health-care and education.
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When it comes to self-promotion, it seems like people take one of two polarized approaches. There are those who jump all in and self-congratulate to the fullest (“Did you hear? I just won Employee of the Year! I mean it’s not like I’m shocked, I did close some huge deals last month.”), while at the other end of the spectrum are those who completely avoid all self-promotion and humbly go through life, taking all precautions to avoid being dubbed “that guy who self-congratulates to the fullest.”

It’s not hard to understand the lack of a happy medium, though. There is a fine line between bolstering your professional image (or your business’s) and coming across as self-absorbed and narcissistic — hence the seemingly black and white nature of self-promotion.

Yet experts say achieving that middle ground is possible and — if done the right way — promoting yourself is one of the best ways to advance your career. “The basic concept of self-promotion is that even if you’re uncomfortable blowing your own horn, you must at least let people know that you have one,” says Steve Balzac, president of 7 Steps Ahead and author of “The 36-hour Course in Organizational Development.”

Here: The Dos and Don’ts of self-promotion.

DO focus on results

“For a job seeker, the key to self-promotion is to focus on situations and results, with very little on the details of what they actually did. Employers care about results more than anything else. Skills are merely a method of convincing someone that you can produce the results they need. Job seekers, therefore, should make a point of asking not just what the employer wants to accomplish, but why. What is the specific situation? They should then briefly describe a similar situation and talk about the results they obtained,” Balzac says.

The same principles apply to your résumé. Replace your job duties with your job accomplishments. “Cut the fluff — stuff that anyone in your position would have had to do to make it to payday,” says Nancy Ancowitz, a business communication coach and author of “Self-Promotion for Introverts®.” “We know if you’re an accountant you’re probably good with numbers. Instead, talk specifics about the home runs you’ve hit — like how you’ve helped save your clients 25 percent off their energy bill while boosting morale at their organization.”

DO sing the praises of others

OK, this one might be a little sneaky, but by talking up a co-worker’s role in your accomplishments, you can simultaneously remind the higher ups of a success you’ve had.

For example: “Tell Sally’s boss and your boss how helpful Sally was to you in accomplishing some major project. This reminds everyone of your contribution without it coming off as bragging,” Balzac says.

Besides accomplishing some out-of-the-box self-promotion, you’ll also build your reputation as a team player, by genuinely complimenting a co-worker. “Sally will probably be quite flattered and will respond by telling everyone what a great job you did,” Balzac says.

DON’T monopolize conversations by talking about yourself

Going on and on about yourself is a terrible self-promotion tactic. Think about it: Nothing is more boring than listening to someone ramble on about themselves during a conversation. Not only do you zone out after about five minutes of listening to the person talk, but you’ll probably go out of your way to avoid talking to that person in the future.

“Pay attention to your talking-to-listening ratio. Do you typically dominate conversations and start most sentences with ‘I’? When you’re chatting with someone, do you frequently change the topic to yourself? Or do you more often engage people and add information about yourself when it’s timely and relevant?” Ancowitz says.

“Talking all about you and all about your great accomplishments and your great new method of solving sales problems or motivating workers or whatever is going to turn people off,” Balzac says.

DO get others on board

“For small business owners, there are two excellent means of self-promotion: one is to get testimonials from your clients and have them up on your website, in your portfolio, etc.,” Balzac says. “The other is to provide free expert advice through publishing articles, giving interviews, etc. Show people how good you are. Give them something they can take home and try. Put the information up on your website. These tactics are particularly useful if you don’t like to promote yourself or don’t want to feel sleazy. You are helping others. If you are genuine in that intent, you will help promote yourself as well.”

Ancowitz agrees. “Everybody loves a freebie. Raffle off a taste of your product or service to entice your audience so they’ll buzz about it. Also ask your fans for testimonials you can use for your marketing materials.”

DON’T use clichés or name-drop

“Describing yourself as a sought after speaker, internationally acclaimed guru, or, worse, a thought leader — gak. Of course, no problem if someone else says these things about you. Research backs this up,” Ancowitz says.

“Watch the namedropping. If you were fortunate enough to go to Harvard, don’t ‘drop the H-bomb’ within the first few minutes of meeting someone,” she adds.

DO use social networks

“Position yourself on social media sites as a ‘go to’ person in your areas of expertise by asking and answering questions online. Your followers will appreciate it when you generously share useful information and news they can use. When it comes time for them to hire or recommend a candidate from your area of expertise, your name will be top of mind,” Ancowitz advises.

Besides showing off your skills, you can also used networks like LinkedIn as a way to showcase client and co-worker testimonial, by getting your peers to add recommendations to your profile. “Ask your fans — clients, colleagues, former bosses — to post recommendations about your work on LinkedIn to showcase your talents. Of course, do the same for people you’ve enjoyed working with,” Ancowitz says.

DON’T force the topic

There’s nothing that says “bragging” like the sharp turn of a conversation toward your achievements, for example:

Person A: “I’m thinking of going to the baseball game on Tuesday.”

Person B: “Oh really? I’m giving the keynote speech at my Big Industry Convention on Tuesday!”

“Allow [the topic] to come up naturally and address it in a relaxed and authentic manner,” Ancowitz says. “Start by putting the spotlight on your conversation partners. Show genuine interest in them, ask compelling questions, and find common ground — like interests you share and people you both know.”

DO promote yourself by providing value to others

“Promote yourself in the spirit of sharing and helping. That spirit is often contagious. Let’s say you click with someone you meet at a social occasion. Ask how you can help spread the word about her services or her job search. Assuming you show sincere interest in helping her, if she’s clued in, she’ll probably ask what she can do to help you. If not, it didn’t hurt to try,” Ancowitz says.

DON’T inflate you achievements

According to Ancowitz, there is a line between useful sharing and self-aggrandizing. “Bragging entails inflating yourself and your accomplishments, putting other people down, and even name-dropping,” she says.

Make sure that when you do talk about your own accomplishments, you do so objectively, and only give the facts. If someone finds out you are talking up your achievements, you’ll develop a reputation as someone who exaggerates their own worth, and people might not believe you next time you bring up an accomplishment.

Also, says Ancowitz, “[while] it’s important to take credit for your own accomplishments, it’s at least as important to share that credit when others contributed to your wins. If you’re not generous with your colleagues, that small mindedness can come back to bite you.”

Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @CBForJobSeekers on Twitter.

In a tough job market, workers often put off thoughts of searching for new employment and stick with their position. But as the economy gets better, studies show that many top employees will leave when they get an opportunity. Not wanting to lose them, current employers may make counteroffers.

But before you become too flattered by thoughts of meaning so much to the company that it can’t bear to have you leave, experts recommend carefully weighing your reasons for staying versus going. Below are some things to consider when presented with a counteroffer.

A counteroffer may be in the company’s best interest, not yours.

“After recruiting folks in this field for almost 18 years, I can unequivocally say that accepting a counteroffer, no matter the amount of money or promise, is career suicide,” says Dave Vigliotti, managing partner of TSP Inc., a staffing firm in Portsmouth, N.H., that specializes in placing information technology professionals. As illustration, he offers this story:

“I had a candidate accept a counteroffer that was almost an additional $25,000 per year raise from her current salary of $60,000. How could you turn that down, right? Well, after two months, coincidentally enough when the company’s system implementation ended, she was laid off due to downsizing. She only saw two months worth of that 25K, or about $4,000 before taxes. It was cheaper for the company to pay her the 4K than do without her knowledge base at a critical time. Even in the event the company was telling the truth and it was a true downsizing out of the blue, by accepting the counter she lost out on a new job that was providing all the things her current role didn’t. Lastly, when deciding who to downsize, she already showed her desire to leave the company, which put her at the top of the list of who should be downsized.”

Kevin Steele, president of Winter, Wyman — one of the largest staffing firms in the Northeast — voices similar concerns:

“When you resign, you make your supervisor’s job significantly more difficult in the short term. In addition to the department being understaffed, the time, effort and expense involved in replacing you has him reaching for the panic button. Resignations at times also can reflect poorly on the performance of the manager, something he would naturally like to avoid. A knee-jerk reaction may be to fix this problem with a counteroffer, which might include more compensation, a new title, needed support, a flexible schedule or different responsibilities.”

Making the choice

Deciding to accept or reject a counteroffer involves asking oneself some key questions, many of which do not have clear-cut answers:

• Why am I hearing a counteroffer now? Do they really value me as a professional, or are they just trying to solve their short-term problem of an employee leaving?

• Is my loyalty to the company going to be questioned if I stay since they now know I was looking at other places? Am I going to feel uncomfortable?
• Does this counteroffer really address the issues that led me to seek a different job in the first place?

• Which place best suits my long-term career goals?

To make the process easier, Steele recommends thinking about the possibility of a counteroffer before even stepping foot in the boss’s office. Removing the element of surprise can keep emotions from taking over and give you time to analyze with a clear head. And if you know there’s nothing that can be done to remedy the situation, he suggests stopping the counteroffer process at the beginning. “You want to leave on good terms, and having your supervisor woo you with counteroffers, which you know you will reject, can burn bridges.”

Along these same lines, Vigliotti offers a final piece of advice. Before you seek another job, think about why you want to leave your current employer. “If it’s really a matter of money, gather facts on current market rates for your skills and have an honest dialogue with your boss on why you deserve more, but don’t threaten to leave. If you are valued, you won’t have to threaten to leave to make a change.”

Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer

According to real estate experts, the biggest influence on a person purchasing a home is location, location, location. Without the perfect view or proximity to good schools, a great house can sit on the market for months.

In a job hunt, some experts say that connections are the most important influence in landing a job. (more…)

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Love the idea of working in healthcare, but can’t stand either the sight of blood or several more years of school? Good news: Jobs in the healthcare industry are wide-ranging and cater to a variety of professional levels and skill sets. Better yet, these jobs are also growing at a rapid pace.

Wherever your particular interests lie, from analysis to administration, chances are there’s a healthcare job for you.

1. Physician assistants

What they do: Provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive healthcare services as delegated by a physician.

What they need: Accredited educational programs usually last two years and are full-time. Once they complete one of these programs, physician assistants will need to take a national exam to obtain a license.

What they earn: $63,675/year* With benefits and bonuses: $75,861

2. Medical records technicians

What they do: Maintain and evaluate the accuracy of patients’ medical records, including exam results, X-ray reports, lab tests and past diagnoses.

What they need: Most often, an associate’s degree from a community or junior college, with coursework in science and medicine.

What they earn: $31,837/year With benefits and bonuses: $36,575

3. Social workers

What they do: Help people and families who face life-threatening diseases, domestic troubles or social problems function the best way they can in their environments, deal with relationships and solve personal and family problems.

What they need: Although a bachelor’s degree in social work is sufficient for entry into the field, a master’s degree in social work is becoming the standard and is typically required for positions in health settings and clinical work.

What they earn: $52,119/year With benefits and bonuses: $59,554

4. Clinical laboratory technicians

What they do: Perform tests that result in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. They analyze the results and relay them to physicians.

What they need: The usual requirement for an entry-level position is a bachelor’s degree in medical technology or one of the life sciences; however, a combination of education, on-the-job experience and specialized training may suffice.

What they earn: $27,861/year With benefits and bonuses: $32,070

5. Mental health counselor

What they do: Work with individuals, families and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and promote optimum mental health, using a variety of therapeutic techniques.

What they need: A master’s degree is typically required to be licensed as a counselor, which may entail 48 to 60 hours of graduate study.

What they earn: $40,338/year With benefits and bonuses: $46,206

6. Medical scientists

What they do: Research human diseases to provide the information necessary to develop solutions to human health problems, such as vaccines and medicines. They may also perform clinical investigations, technical writing, drug application reviews and patent examinations.

What they need: A doctorate in a biological science is the minimum education required for most prospective medical scientists. Medical scientists who perform invasive procedures on patients must obtain licensure by graduating from an accredited medical school, passing a licensing exam and completing up to seven years of graduate education.

What they earn: $88,281/year With benefits and bonuses: $103,638

7. Pharmacists

What they do: Distribute drugs prescribed by health practitioners, inform patients about medications and their use and advise health practitioners on the selection, dosages, interactions and side effects of medications.

What they need: A degree from an accredited college of pharmacy and successful completion of the state-required licensing exam.

What they earn: $81,439/year With benefits and bonuses: $102,792

8. Physical therapists

What they do: Provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries and physical ailments.

What they need: A master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited physical therapist educational program, as well as a state-required license.

What they earn: $53,410/year With benefits and bonuses: $67,229

9. Medical transcriptionist

What they do: Transcribe dictated recordings made by healthcare professionals into medical reports, correspondence and other administrative material that eventually become part of patients’ permanent files.

What they need: Postsecondary training in medical transcription from a vocational school, community college or distance-learning programs is often preferred by employers. Certificate programs often last a year and associate’s degrees last two.

What they earn: $27,602/year With benefits and bonuses: $31,776

10. Medical and health service managers

What they do: Plan, direct, coordinate and supervise the delivery of healthcare.

What they need: A master’s degree in health sciences or administration (health services, long-term care, public or business) is the standard; however, a bachelor’s degree is adequate for some entry-level positions.

What they earn: $55,380/year With benefits and bonuses: $68,860 *Salary information from CBsalary.com

Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor

Information technology (IT) professionals don’t always get the best rap. Employees grumble about the help desk, how IT workers think they’re so smart — heck, “IT nerd” is even a searchable phrase on the Internet.

But, maybe it’s time to cut these folks some slack. Imagine the number of phone calls and e-mails IT probably gets per day, from workers whining that this isn’t working and neither is that. Consider their responsibility for keeping databases, phone lines, computers and security programs for entire companies up and running. And you really want to nag them for being smart? Suit yourself — but the next time you poke fun at the techies, consider that many IT workers have average salaries well into the six figures, according to the “2010 Robert Half Technology Salary Guide.”

Thinking about a career in technology? Here are the top 10 jobs in IT, based on salary, according to the salary guide.

1. Chief information officer

What they do*: Develop and direct firm’s overall IT strategy.

What you need**: A bachelor’s degree in computer science (master’s is preferred) plus at least 10 years of managerial experience.

Job function: Administration

Salary range: $130,250 – $210,500

2. Chief technology officer

What they do: Set the firm’s overall IT standards and practices, make technology recommendations to firm’s senior management.

What you need: A computer science degree and at least seven years of IT management experience.

Job function: Administration

Salary range: $111,750 – $174,250

3. Vice president of information technology

What they do: Manage day-to-day operations of the IT department, work with senior management to develop systems strategy.

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science plus five to 10 years of experience.

Job function: Administration

Salary range: $116,500 – $169,000

4. Chief security officer

What they do: Develop and implement long-term security strategy.

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in information systems, plus 10 or more years of work experience, with a focus on information security.

Job function: Administration

Salary range: $107,000 – $160,250

5. Information technology consultant

What they do: Work with clients to establish systems goals and strategy.

What you need: Employer’s prefer candidates have an MBA or another relevant master’s degree, plus five to 10 years of additional business experience.

Job function: Consulting and systems integration

Salary range: $95,750 – $145,000

6. Information systems security manager

What they do: Protect information systems from internal and external breaches.

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, plus five to 7 years of security-related work experience.

Job function: Security

Salary range: $96,500 – $130,750

7. Practice manager, systems integration

What they do: Develop scope of consulting projects.

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in business or computer science, plus 10 years of IT experience.

Job function: Consulting and systems integration

Salary range: $96,000 – $130,000

8. Data warehouse manager

What they do: Develops and maintains data warehouse systems

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, plus at least five years of warehousing experience.

Job function: Data/database administration

Salary range: $92,250 – $124,500

9. Information technology manager

What they do: Analyze workflow, implement and monitor new projects and performance standards.

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in an IT-related field, and at least five years of IT experience.

Job function: Administration

10. Network architect

What they do: Plan, design and execute corporate data and voice networks.

What you need: Bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field, plus seven years of experience with network operating systems.

Job function: Networking

Salary range: $87,750 – $122,750

* Job descriptions are from “Glossary of Job Descriptions for Information Technology,” by Robert Half Technology

** Educational requirements are from “Glossary of Job Descriptions for Information Technology,” by Robert Half Technology

(www.rht.com). Descriptions do not necessarily include all job duties.

Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder.com Writer

The expansion of financial services available through banks and insurance companies, as well as the growth of online banking, has added new job opportunities in the financial field. Consulting has also grown as individuals hire advisors to help them plan a financially comfortable retirement and companies try to maintain a healthy bottom line.

While bachelor’s degrees in business administration, finance or economics are necessary for many jobs in banking and finance, a master’s degree is often preferred for management and the most competitive positions. Certifications for specific fields, such as those offered by the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), also set apart the best candidates.

Projected job growth varies widely from 8 percent in management to 30 percent for financial advisors to individuals and businesses. Median salaries also vary considerably, but many financial professionals earn from $60,000 to $100,000 annually, based on figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Banking and financial managers: The responsibilities of financial managers in the coming decade, according to the BLS, will require them to be “creative thinkers and problem-solvers, applying their analytical skills to business.” Competition is high, reflecting the level of responsibility and earning power of management positions.

Accountants: The demand for accountants has increased dramatically since the Enron fraud scandal of the early 2000′s. Tighter accounting regulations mandated by the federal government have led to this increased demand. Many companies require their accountants to possess or pursue a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation to widen their opportunities.

Auditors: Alongside their accounting counterparts, the need for more auditors also has grown in response to the greater scrutiny placed on company finances. It’s the auditors who review accounting records and procedures, then make recommendations in their financial reports to clients.

Financial advisors: The needs of an aging population to plan their long-term financial future has created growing opportunities for financial professionals who often are self-employed. However, banks and insurance firms are also incorporating financial advising into their operations. Financial advisors not only provide advice on investments, they may also assist clients with tax laws and insurance decisions.

Bank loan officers: With tightened lending policies for both businesses and home buyers, bank loan officers face a complicated credit landscape in their jobs these days. But with a creative approach to maximize federal options in small business and home ownership programs, loan officers are a valued link to a bank’s client base.

Financial analysts: Sometimes called investment or securities analysts, there are financial analysts working throughout the business world who examine financial data and advise businesses and individuals on their investment strategies. They work in banks, corporations, stock brokerages, insurance companies, and government agencies.

Non-profit chief financial officers: Taking a cue from the private sector, non-profit organizations have become more professional in their financial planning and now often have CFOs advising them on fundraising, investing and other financial activities. “Donors are demanding more information from nonprofits. They want to know the impact of the organization and the effectiveness they have in achieving their goals,” said Phil Buchanan, executive director of the Center for Effectiveness in Philanthropy in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in an interview with the Boston Business Journal.

Insurance agents: The services that insurance companies are allowed to provide have broadened considerably since federal regulations changed to allow agents to sell financial products, such as mutual funds and variable annuities. Along with casualty, life, health and disability plans, there is expected to be growth in long-term care insurance as Baby Boomers continue to age and Americans in general live longer.

Bank customer service: The traditional services of bank branches, such as opening new accounts and providing safe deposit boxes, have been augmented by online banking.  Customer service professionals are the front-line advisors to all a bank has to offer. They help customers decide which accounts work best for their needs and refer them to other bank personnel, such as loan officers, for specific services.

Government: Finance professionals can find opportunities at many levels of government as auditors, finance directors, budget analysts and economists. Accountants can work as Internal Revenue Service agents who examine government records and audit individuals and businesses that are publicly regulated. In local governments, finance directors often advise officials on public policy issues.

As technology advances, financial professionals are expected to go beyond number-crunching to develop job skills that keep up with trends in their fields. The IMA’s description of today’s management accountants could as easily apply to others in finance and banking. “[They] are valued business partners, directly supporting an organization’s strategic goals,” according to the accounting association. “With a renewed emphasis on good internal controls and sound financial reporting, [their] role is more important than ever.”

CareerBuilder

As the restaurant industry grows, there are plenty of opportunities to find interesting work within its establishments. Many chefs have recently become celebrities in their own right, helping to fuel high-end restaurants, while quick-service eating establishments are also experiencing growth. By 2020 the National Restaurant Association expects 1.3 million restaurant jobs to be created across all areas of the industry.

If you’re eager to build your restaurant career, here are 10 great jobs to consider:

Executive chef

Education: Associate in Culinary Arts degree

Salary: $66,771

The executive chef is on top of the totem pole at most dining establishments. By designing the menu, the executive chef guides the vision of the restaurant; meaning the job is about maintaining quality, making decisions and exercising top-notch management skills.

Large restaurant manager

Education: Bachelor of Science or Business Administration degree

Salary: $108,887

Making sure a team of people can run the restaurant smoothly requires meticulous attention to detail as well as knowledge of how to run a business. Restaurant managers often work to keep patrons happy with all aspects of their dining experience (food quality, service, atmosphere) and make sure customers will eagerly return. Hours can be long, and busy eating times are often hectic for managers.

Sous-chef

Education: Associate in Culinary Arts degree

Salary: $44,485

The sous-chef is the head cook or pastry chef at most restaurants or hotels. The job calls for hands-on involvement with all of the dishes that leave the kitchen. Often, a sous-chef is in training to rise through the ranks to an executive chef position.

Special events coordinator

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree

Salary: $76,590

Because they’re in charge of booking and managing all special occasions that occur at the restaurant, banquet hall or hotel, the special events manager needs to have a clear understanding of all of the logistics of the business. People skills and attention to detail are required in dealing with customers that are organizing large events.

Franchise manager

Education: Bachelor’s degree

Salary: $95,408

Traveling and maintaining quality for a restaurant chain requires an understanding of how to ensure consistent quality among each outpost. International and national travel is often required to provide support for each franchise.

Sommelier

Education: Master Sommelier Diploma or the Advanced Sommelier Certificate

Salary: $34,558

A good sommelier (or wine steward) will become increasingly valuable in the restaurant industry, given the recent trend of fine dining combining with more casual settings, points out Erica Papillion, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Restaurant Association. Sommeliers also manage and order the stock of wine for their particular dining establishment.

Restaurant consultant

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration degree

Salary: $99,775

Working at top restaurant consulting firms, like the Solomon Group or the Vucurevich Simons Advisory Group, which are dedicated to helping the restaurant industry, can be a welcome challenge for those who have spent time working in food service. Consultants take on different projects across all types of food establishments to aid in all stages of business development.

Food service manager

Education: Bachelor of Science degree

Salary: $64,944

Estimating food consumption, ordering supplies and making sure diners are content are the key roles of a food service manager. Running the logistics-related portions of the restaurant requires a huge commitment to quality.

Sustainability consultant

Education: Bachelor of Science degree

Salary: $65,000

Sourcing local ingredients and focusing on sustainability when it comes to restaurants has recently gained more importance, says Papillion. “Customers want their food to have a story, preferably a local one,” she says. As a sustainability consultant working in the restaurant industry you’ll manage tasks like finding quality, local farmers, and assisting in the creation of a menu that features readily available local ingredients.

Dietary services manager

Education: Bachelor of Science degree

Salary: $36,210

Serving food in a hospital and corporate setting is becoming a viable option for those interested in the industry. Close monitoring of dietary restrictions is required for hospital supervisors as well as knowledge of nutrition requirements.

Alina Dizik

Working in retail can mean unpredictable hours, demanding customers and jam-packed days. At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the retail industry will experience higher than average growth and add 557,000 new jobs through 2016. Those who work in the industry also say there is always room to move up — even if you start at the cashier level.

Since so many people tend to turn to the profession while completing school or when in need of a flexible schedule, the industry in especially receptive to those who have experience and want to work towards a clear retail career path, explains Jan Teague, president of the Washington Retail Association. “Within a short amount of time you can have more management roles and work your way up in retail,” she says.

Here are 10 great retail jobs to consider:

Buyer

Education: Bachelor of Science or Business Administration degree

Salary: $59,102*

Working to stock the store with goods, services or any needed raw materials often means buyers travel far and wide to learn about new merchandise. Buyers in the fashion world work with the merchandising department to set a tone for the store or chain of stores by bringing in new goods. Others may work to procure services or any needed components of a product.

Visual merchandiser

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree

Salary: $36,710

Creatively building displays or working with the store layout is a rewarding position for those who like to flex their creative muscle. The merchandiser comes up with all of the ideas that are used in display spaces throughout the store and must have a thorough knowledge of the brand.

Store manager

Education: Undergraduate degree (any)

Salary: $80,986

Managing the retail process involves having a hand in all areas of the business. Store managers often work long hours, and deal with both inventory and employees to make sure the retail operation is running smoothly.

Inventory manager

Education: Bachelor of Science degree

Salary: $82,213

Controlling the amount of product in a retail store means organizing shipments, taking customer orders and checking in on production. It’s also important to not order too much inventory to avoid overstock, so understanding the analytics is key.

Retail salesperson

Education: High-school diploma

Salary: $25,857

The ultimate salespeople combine people skills with sales ability. Salespeople in the retail environment are in constant communication with their customers, selling anything from furniture to clothes to electronics. “Customer service skills are the top priority,” Teague says.

Retail management trainee

Education: Undergraduate degree (any field)

Salary: $35,968

Many of the large retail corporations offer management-training programs where employees can rotate departments to learn all aspects of the retail business in order to become a store manager. The apprenticeship is a valuable aspect when it comes to advancement in the company, and there’s typically more opportunity for growth after this type of training.

Wholesale showroom manager

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration degree

Salary: $52,207

Showroom managers work with retail buyers or others involved with merchandising to help buyers select goods that can then be resold to customers. Showrooms are wholesale operations and do not cater directly to consumers, meaning the customer service component is less important than to the ability to truly understand and be able to sell the product.

Loss prevention specialist

Education: Bachelor of Science or Criminal Justice degree

Salary: $37,472

Working in the retail environment to prevent theft requires a constant attention to detail. Loss prevention specialists also need an understanding of the current technology used in each store. They function behind the scenes to watch both customers and employees.

Retail warehouse supervisor

Education: High school diploma

Salary: $60,246

Coordinating tasks in a retail warehouse keeps the supply chain running smoothly. Supervisors are accountable for all of the merchandise and are an important part of how the goods are moved from warehouse to store.

Retail human resources

Education: Bachelor of Arts degree

Salary: $42,745

An employee in human resources is in charge of the hiring process. HR Reps are especially important in retail, since a large number of seasonal and part-time offerings can make turnover rates high. Working in human resources for a retailer requires a keen sense for successful employees and an understanding of how the individual would be an asset to the company.

Alina Dizik

Engineering is one of the country’s largest professions with more than 1.6 million jobs in the U.S. as of 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). With numerous specialties offering job opportunities, it’s also one of the most lucrative fields with some of the highest starting salaries for college graduates.

A bachelor’s degree is the minimum training required to be an engineer. Many who go into the profession earn graduate degrees and various certifications depending on their discipline. Every state requires engineers to be licensed as professional engineers (PE) if they offer their services directly to the public.

The requirements for a license are a bachelor’s degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), at least four years on the job and completion of a two-part exam. Many engineering students take the first part while they are still in school or newly graduated. The second part is taken after work experience has accrued.

The BLS projects that employment overall in engineering will grow by 11 percent in the coming decade, although some branches of the profession will have much greater job growth.

Civil engineering: About one-fifth of all U.S. engineers are civil engineers responsible for major infrastructure projects that range from airports to sewer systems and all the roads, bridges and tunnels in between. Within civil engineering, there are several subgroups that include those who specialize in water resources, construction, transportation, and geotechnical engineering.

Mechanical engineers: Perhaps the most versatile engineering discipline, mechanical engineers design tools and machines used in manufacturing, agricultural production and by other engineers in the oil and gas industry. Many aerospace engineers also have mechanical training.

Engineering faculty: If an engineer wants to join the faculty of a college or go into research, a doctoral degree is required to teach at a 4-year program and supervise graduate students. There are more than 1,800 colleges that are accredited by ABET and many offer upper-level degrees.

Biomedical field: The biggest job growth in the profession, 72 percent, is expected for biomedical engineers, reflecting overall growth in the biomedical field. Biomed engineers combine their engineering knowledge with biology and medicine to develop devices and procedures used in the health field.

Government sector: Federal jobs, particularly for the U.S. Department of Defense, are a huge source of opportunities in engineering, and often require security clearance because of job-related access to sensitive government data. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the world’s largest public engineering, design and construction agency in the world, with a mostly civilian workforce of about 35,000 employees. They work on both military and civilian public works projects.

Energy sources: Petroleum, nuclear and mining/geological engineers are well-established in the field. But with the heightened search for new energy resources, and the growth of green industry, engineers have a growing role in related fields. Environmental engineers, who are expected to have job growth of more than 30 percent, apply both biology and chemistry to their work in recycling, public health, pollution control and waste management.

Chemical engineers: This engineering group applies the principles of chemistry to develop a wide range of products from food and clothing to chemicals and electronics. They design the chemical processes used in manufacturing, test their methods and supervise production. Increasingly, they are playing a role in health care and biotechnology.

Industrial engineering: This discipline focuses on the most effective ways to use machines, materials and energy in production. They develop control systems to ensure product quality as well as the physical distribution of goods. Often, industrial engineers become supervisors because so much of their work reflects management of resources. Graduate degrees are common for engineers who want to climb the career ladder into management.

Electrical and electronic: Though distinct from each other, their roles are interrelated.   Electrical engineers focus on developing equipment that generates and supplies power while electronics engineers apply electricity to their designs of communications systems, signal processing, and control systems.

Smaller engineer groups: Other categories of engineers have many fewer members (2,700 agricultural engineers compared to nearly 280,000 civil engineers in the U.S.) but they serve other purposes to further scientific discoveries as well as commercial needs. Agricultural engineers, for instance, use their technology to improve agricultural equipment and structures, while marine engineers design and construct vessels that range from aircraft carriers to sailboats. Health and safety engineers measure potential hazards, such as damage by fires or toxic chemicals, and come up with ways to prevent those dangers.

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Sales occupations, from selling cars, financial services and real estate to selling clothing, industrial products or pharmaceuticals, employ millions of workers in the U.S. Retail alone accounts for about 4.5 million jobs, with wholesalers, account executives, sales engineers and sellers of financial products adding millions more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While a high school education and on-the-job training have traditionally been enough to succeed in sales, particularly in retail, many sales occupations are increasingly calling for employees to have a college degree. For experienced sales representatives, there are also professional certifications available through organizations such as the Manufacturers’ Representatives Education Research Foundation.

Media account executive: As a sales agent for advertising in various types of media, an account executive helps generate much of the revenue that supports publications, TV and radio broadcasts, direct mail and online advertisements. Some account executives work on local accounts and some solicit national clients, often for a particular media outlet. Others represent clients as media buyers at advertising agencies.

Sales engineer: These sales personnel often have an engineering degree because they are dealing with technologically or scientifically advanced products that may be customized to their clients’ needs. Some sales engineers work for the companies that produce technical products and others for independent sales firms. They also may team up with other inside or outside sales personnel, while they concentrate on the technical aspects of the products.

Sales representative: Sometimes referred to as manufacturers’ agents, they work for wholesalers and manufacturers whose products they sell to businesses, government agencies or organizations. Sales reps often attend trade shows and conferences to learn about new products, and they may partner with a technical expert who explains the products’ capabilities at sales presentations. Some represent a single manufacturer or product line, while others may sell multiple product lines and brands.

Product demonstrator: Through demonstrations of a product, these salespeople introduce new products to the public and generate sales through promotional efforts such as contests, coupons and free samples. They often sell cosmetics, food or housewares in retail stores, but demonstrators may also show other products at shopping malls, trade shows and outdoor fairs. These demonstrators impart information about the product and give presentations to create brand awareness.

Sales manager: Supervisors of sales forces not only manage a team of sales people, they often handle administrative duties and personnel matters to hire and train new employees. They are experienced sales professionals, often with a college degree, who address customer concerns, implement company policies, coordinate promotions and review inventory and sales records. They may oversee particular departments or an entire operation, depending on the size of the business. Non-retail sales managers coordinate their sales forces, approve sales contracts and address advertising needs.

Pharmaceutical sales: While inside sales representatives spend most of their time taking products orders and resolving merchandise issues, outside sales representatives such as pharmaceutical salespeople make the rounds of current and prospective customers. With the growth in pharmaceutical products, those in this line of work deal with pharmacies, doctors’ offices, hospitals and other health care settings that purchase medicines and health-related products. They determine the client’s needs and show samples or catalogs on their products, which may be from one company or complementary items from different manufacturers.

Insurance sales agent: In addition to life, health, and disability plans, insurance agents may also sell financial products such as mutual funds and variable annuities. Those products, which may be tied to a client’s retirement, and long-term care insurance are growth products needed by the aging U.S. population. Insurance agents generally have a college degree and frequently gain sales experience in other industries before entering the insurance field. They also must pass a state exam to obtain their selling license.

Retail sales: Salespeople in retail are selling consumer goods and assisting customers at clothing and department stores, building supplies chains, warehouse clubs and car dealerships. They also may help stock inventory and set up displays. For sales jobs involving expensive or complex items, retail sales reps may need special knowledge about the products they sell. They also may need to know their companies’ service and credit policies and security procedures.

Financial sales: Banks have increased the types of financial products they offer beyond accounts and loans, and investment bankers sell by connecting businesses that need funding with investors to provide funding in exchange for debt or equity. In securities, the sales agent is a stock broker who advises clients on investment needs then earns a commission when the transactions are finalized. A business or finance degree is necessary for such jobs.

International sales: Opportunities for a sales career overseas may be available with large companies that have global operations. In addition to sales experience, an assignment overseas may require some familiarity with local culture and language as well as an understanding of how American sales philosophy fits with the business practices in the host country.

CareerBuilder

Think back to the 2007 Miss Teen USA pageant when Caitlin Upton, representing South Carolina, was asked why so many Americans were unable to locate the United States on a map. Her response was muddled, to put it kindly. Her incoherent response not only left the judges scratching their heads but also proved that answering a question on the spot can cause anyone to stumble.

When Anna Klenman and her boyfriend moved to Los Angeles, they decided to try a local temp service for employment opportunities. Her boyfriend went in one day and was told, “We have lots of jobs. We’ll get you placed right away.” He was working in less than 48 hours. Encouraged, Klenman went in soon afterward and was interviewed by the very same client-placement manager. But instead of an enthusiastic response, Klenman was told, “It’s a difficult market. You should apply to as many other temp services as you can.” (more…)