How to Learn More About Media Careers

Due to the continued growth of the Internet, careers in areas such as broadcasting, public relations, advertising, and writing for media have also continued to grow. In this article, I will direct you to resources to help you learn more about media careers.

1) In every one of the career articles I'm writing, I'm directing people the Occupational Outlook Handbook website which is operated by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Here you can find specific information on average pay, future growth, and typical working conditions for many careers. I'm including links below related to several media careers.

2) Something I really wish I had done when I was in college was gotten an internship with a TV station (I was a broadcasting major).

What isn't always told to students is that practical experience has a high priority, sometimes even over formal education. To be successful, you need a healthy balance of both.

3) Make efforts to find someone in the field you're interested in that can tell you more about their everyday life.

They can give you information on what to expect and help you determine if the career has the lifestyle that you want.

4) Another great resource to explore are conventions and expositions held by media organizations where you can meet experts in the field.

These usually range from free to less than $100 according to the length of the event and if it is sponsored by a corporation. I'm aware of NBS (National Broadcasting Society) and NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) for my field but doing a Google search on National (insert your field here) Society will likely help you find more information. These conferences are fun, and be prepared to carry away bags of free stuff like pens, mouse pads, sticky notes, etc. from vendors. I've even met famous authors in the field and received free autographed books before!

Additional Tip:

• I think something important to remember about media careers in general is that they're constantly adapting to new formats. I think the future is heading to where Internet-related careers are going to equal or surpass where most of the jobs are now. Now is a good time to get on the leading-edge of that if you can find the right opportunity.

Resources:

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Advertising, Marketing, and Promotions Information
News and Journalism
Career Search

How to Learn More About Administrative Careers

One of the problems I remember encountering in high school and college was finding good information about different careers. This article is the second in a series where I've researched basic information about careers, in this case administrative positions. I hope you find the information useful and helpful.

1) First, there is some research on accounting careers that you can do at home or at school. A good place to start is the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

I've included links to areas of the site you may find useful specifically for administrative careers at the end of this article. Feel free to explore the site yourself as well, which is operated by the U.S. Department of Labor. You can find information such as average salaries, educational requirements, typical working conditions, and expected future growth of many careers.

2) If you're still in high school or college, see if you can arrange an internship where you can work with an administrative assistant or manager.

This will help you test drive the career and see if you'd actually like it long-term.

3) If you can't find a long-term opportunity, an alternative is getting permission to spend a day with someone.

While you won't get the same amount of experience out of it, it's better than leaping into the career without knowing what to expect.

More Tips:

• Administrative positions vary widely, so if possible while you're planning or attending college you may want to research the different areas that interest you the most. This way you can pursue those options and not spend as much time on aspects you don't enjoy.
• Realize that your career is a process and that you don't have to know everything in your late teens and early 20s. Having an idea of what to expect however can help you decide if something interests you or not.

Resources:

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Secretary and Administrative Assistant Information
Occupation Search

How to Learn More About Accounting Careers

When I was in high school and college, I was interested in many careers but wasn't quite sure where to find good information. In this article, I'll provide you links and ideas on exploring the possibility of a career in the accounting field.

1) First, there is some research on accounting careers that you can do at home or at school.

A good place to start is the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Useful information available includes average salaries, typical working conditions, and career growth projections.
I've included links to the online version of this book you may find useful specifically for accounting at the end of this article. Feel free to explore the entire site yourself as well, which is operated by the U.S. Department of Labor.

2) If you're still in high school or college, see if you can arrange an internship through your school where you can work with an accountant.

This will help you test drive the career and see if you'd actually like it long-term.

3) If this is not possible, at least try to find an accountant (possibly one that is self-employed) who will let you spend a day with them for a shorter experience of what the position is like.

More Tips:

• Realize that creating a career for yourself is a process. You don't have to know everything in your late teens and early 20s, but it's better when you're well-informed and know what to expect.
• If you're Generation Y or younger, you have to expect the possibility of having multiple careers during your lifetime. This should be something to consider when setting career and education goals.

Resources:

Occupational Outlook Handbook
Accountants and Auditors Information
Occupation Search