Schools For Me» Want a career in the arts or media? Here are the schools that can get you started.

Visual Effects: Storyboard Artist

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:06:05 +0000

A storyboard artist works closely with directors, heads of a story and producers, working from a script to create a sequential visual drawing of that story. These storyboard drawings provide the initial vision and concepts of commercials, movies, video productions (corporate or entertainment), video games and any other place where animation or moving images will be produced.

The storyboards provide the concepts of the production’s storyline, the characters and the tone to be created when produced. Typically, a storyboard artist works collaboratively with the production leads making required revisions until completed. He/she may also be required to pitch storyboards. These sequences can then be edited into a story reel to provide an initial feel of how the production will appear.

A storyboard artist is highly accomplished and can draw quickly and clearly. A successful artist will produce desired emotions though his/her storyboards, setting tone, character emotions and attitudes. Compositions will provide perspective and staging. He/she is skilled in 2 dimensional animation processes and has strong staging, composition, drawing, mechanical and draftsmanship skills. Experience in computer creative software is expected.

Average Salary: $44,454

Top Salary: $63,108

Entry Level Salary: $29,385

Average Hours: 40+, over time is often required during deadlines.

Union: Possible, especially in movie industry.

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree or equivalent.

Years of Experience: 3-4 years, additional similar work experience may be required.

Strong Markets: This position is predominately found in motion pictures and video industries; advertising, public relations and related services; computer systems design and related services; software publishers; and specialized design services. Strongest markets for the majority of these posts remain in California, Washington, New York, Minnesota and Oregon. This position may also be available in other software development hubs throughout the U.S.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is projected to grow at about 14 percent between now and 2018. It is considered a highly competitive job, as interest in this career is expended to exceed the number of available openings.

Illustrators who work on computers will see more demand for services as media companies use more detailed images and backgrounds in their designs. Realistic video, movie and television special effects, and 3D moves will continue to drive demand for multimedia artists. Additional job openings will arise from an increasing need for computer graphics in the growing number of mobile technologies. The demand for animators is also increasing in alternative areas such as scientific research and design services.

Visual Effects: Rotoscope Artist

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:05:14 +0000

Responsibilities may include:

Sophisticated shape creation and editing.
Shape animation (by hand and with trackers).
Shape compositing, fill modes, opacity settings.
Correcting work as may be required and/or directed.
Paint based on layer information and customer requirements as defined by the Stereographer and Shot Producer.
Paint and edge fill to meet the highest quality standards.
Perform conversion activities using manual and tool related techniques within each task based on layer information and customer requirements as defined by the Executive Producer and Shot Producer.
Provide conversion to meet the highest quality standards.

Average Salary: $42,906

Top Salary: $65,118

Entry Level Salary: $21,631

Average Hours: 40+, over time is often required during deadlines.

Union: Possible, especially in movie industry.

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree or equivalent.

Years of Experience: 3-4 years, additional similar work experience may be required.

Visual Effects: Effects Animator

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:04:06 +0000

An effects animator is responsible for creating and rendering two and three dimensional animate organic characters and non-organic objects, such as scenery, text and particle effects. He/she will be completely versed in the main 2D and 3D computer applications in order to create these objects, such as Light wave, Electronic image, Wavefront or other high end 3D applications. Artists typically receive source art from other teammates from which to create and render the effects, and must be willing to take broad conceptual guidance from requesters, and use their expertise and judgment to develop proposed products.

An effects animator must be multi-faceted in his/her ability to create concepts, as well as be comfortable mimicking a variety of styles to create consistently themed animations with a high level of finish. She/he visually translates complex, abstract concepts to audiences of diverse backgrounds. He/she may also formulate design concepts and presentation approaches for team collaboration on desired effects.

Depending upon experience, responsibilities may include:

Oversee and help design plans for creating 3D models and animations to be incorporated into video productions and multimedia products.
Create special effects, animation, and photo-realistic 3D models using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in video productions and multimedia products.
Oversee and develop pencil sketch boards and original artwork/illustrations.
Ensure animation content created is consistent with the style set out for production.
Work with clients to develop concepts for productions.
Maintain relationships with inside and outside creative resources.
Work with internal animators to ensure consistency in animation application.
Oversee research prior to the commencement of a new production, ensuring effective plan/budget/schedule is in place.
Keep up to date in latest animation technology and may train other less experienced animators.
Create and manages animation pipeline.
Provide team leadership to less experienced staff.

Average Salary: $46,615

Top Salary: $65,118

Entry Level Salary: $30,658

Average Hours: 40+, over time is often required

Union: Possible, especially in movie industry.

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree or equivalent

Years of Experience: 3-4 years as an animator, additional similar work experience may be required

Visual Effects: Compositor

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:02:32 +0000

A compositor creates photorealistic final composites for film, video or digital projects.

He/she is ultimately responsible for the aesthetic integrity and technical quality of the final image delivered to the client. Compositing combines live action and computer generated elements into visual effects shots, bringing the vision of the creative direction to life.

The position requires extensive skills using creative and high-end three dimensional software. A compositor must be able to perform all the creative and technical tasks, such as 2 dimensional tracking, matte extraction, layering of elements, digital matte painting, texture painting or paint, lighting, and color grading. A compositor will work closely with producers and visual effects supervisors, so the ability to work collaboratively is a must.

Average Salary: $42,906

Top Salary: $65,118

Entry Level Salary: $21,631

Average Hours: 40+, over time is often required during deadlines.

Union: Possible, especially in movie industry.

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree or equivalent.

Years of Experience: 3-4 years compositing experience, additional similar work experience may be required.

Visual Effects: Animatic Design & Production

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:00:31 +0000

An animatic designer creates animates a storyboard to create the next step in a production so concepts can be tested. Anamatics are used for a variety of purposes, such as testing advertisements, previewing scenes of live-action films before they are shot, in the pre-production stages of animation and in the video game industry.

The position requires excellent computer skills in creative and two and three dimensional software applications, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and AfterEffects. An anamatic designer must be capable of carrying a conceptual thought through from the story boards to production using Photoshop or After Effects.

An animatic designer is a specialization of 2D and 3D animation. It requires a lot of detail work to ensure that conceptual storyboard artwork is accurately translated into moving animation to provide the necessary feedback producers require before embarking on more costly real-life production.

Average Salary:

Top Salary:

Entry Level Salary:

Average Hours: 40+, over time is often required during deadlines.

Union: Possible, especially in movie industry.

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree or equivalent.

Years of Experience: 3-4 years as an animator, additional similar work experience may be required.

Electronic Gaming Production Designer

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:59:01 +0000

An electronic gaming production designer is responsible for developing the design documents for new games. These are detailed design documents that contain descriptions of all aspects of an electronic game, such as mission, plot, rules, flow charts, sound, artwork, and special features, for the production teams to create the game software.

The electronic gaming production designer maps out a game, providing information about the characters, worlds, story and other details. He/she may build some of the interactive elements using 3-dimensional modeling software. She/he collaborates with other team members to develop the vision, production and possibly marketing of the game.

If in a lead role, the electronic gaming production designer may be responsible for the overall design and manage the design through every phase of the project. This will include concepts, presentations, implementations, tuning, and release. A more senior designer may also be responsible for objectives and flow within the game, and may place and tune game-play elements.

Average Salary: $38,875

Top Salary: $51,819

Entry Level Salary: $29, 777

Average Hours: 40

Union: Possible

Certifications/Education: Design or Game Design degree (Associates or Bachelors) and experience with creative software

Years of Experience: 2-3+

Strong Markets: This position is predominately found with game development companies. It can also be found in other industries that might produce games to support business objectives, such as motion picture and video industries; advertising, public relations and related services; computer systems design and related services; software publishers; and specialized design services. Electronic game development is predominantly found in Calif., Wash., Tex., NY., Mass., and Ill. This position may also be found in other major cities throughout U.S. for other industries.

Job Growth Forecast: Video game design is a vibrant and fast-growing part of the entertainment industry. It is a multi-billion dollar industry that will continue to thrive in any economic environment. Jobs will remain tight as the number of companies producing games remains relatively small and game design positions remain highly sought after. With the market continuing to grow, job stability will remain good.

Electronic Gaming Modeler

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:57:56 +0000

An electronic gaming modeler models, textures and lights three dimensional environments and props necessary for a game’s development. An electronic gaming modeler creates detailed environments/worlds, set-pieces, buildings, vehicles, foliage, props, weapons, characters and more, for video, PC, arcade games and handheld systems.

Experience with stylized environments and lighting are added skills that make the electronic game modeler more desirable. The ability to create hand painted textures is necessary. A strong artistic background is essential.

An electronic gaming modeler can earn a game design degree to make him/her more highly sought after. This degree differs from a design degree in that it deals with game design only, but it is a necessary specialization because of the complexity of creating games.

Average Salary: $60,734

Top Salary: $100,390

Entry Level Salary: $31,570

Average Hours: 40+

Union: Possible

Certifications/Education: Design or Game Design degree (Associates or Bachelors) and experience with creative software

Years of Experience: 3+

Electronic Gaming: Concept Artist

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:56:56 +0000

An electronic gaming concept artist is often considered the holy grail of art positions. His/her main focus is to convey a visual representation of a design, idea, and/or mood for use in an electronic game before it is put into the product.

This is accomplished using two-dimensional sketches and three-dimensional preliminary models. The position is highly collaborative with graphic designers, programmers, copywriters and the team marketing the game, and takes the lead to present concepts to all departmental levels within an organization. In a team setting, a great concept art can inspire the team and give them a strong goal to progress toward.

An electronic gaming concept artist can participate in early stages of product development to ensure that product can be manufactured within cost and profit targets. He/she may also support ongoing product development as needed by the game development team.

Average Salary: $60,694

Top Salary: $78,681

Entry Level Salary: $45,213

Average Hours: 40

Union: Possible

Certifications/Education: Design or Game Design degree (Associates or Bachelors) and experience with creative software

Years of Experience: 2-3+

Electronic Gaming Character Designer

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:55:55 +0000

An electronic gaming character designer is a specialized animator, working solely on creating two- and three-dimensional character animations for a wide variety of games. He/she has a thorough understanding of human and non-humanoid anatomy and he can model, texture and animate complex but realistic characters using his/her good sense of volume, lighting and materials.

More than anything a successful character designer knows what makes a great video game and the style of character(s) that best suite that game. He/she has extensive technical training in graphic design and two and three dimensional animation software and can model form, shape, structure and silhouette.

A character designer understands and develops the physical as well as emotional aspects of his/her characters, He/she goes beyond basic emotions, creating as many nuances of gray as possible to ensure character development is fully explored. She/he may even develop dialog for the character, even if it isn’t going to speak in the actual game.

Average Salary: $38,875

Top Salary: $51,819

Entry Level Salary: $29, 777

Average Hours: 40

Union: Possible

Certifications/Education: Design or Game Design degree (Associates or Bachelors) and experience with creative software

Years of Experience: 2-3+

Electronic Gaming Animator

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:53:21 +0000

An electronic gaming animator is responsible for creating two- and three-dimensional animations for a wide variety of games. He/she has an understanding of human and non-humanoid anatomy and has developed a creative eye for modeling form, shape, structure and silhouette.

An electronic gaming animator needs to create animations that look great, flow smoothly, follow established model sheets, and are versatile enough to be customized by users. She/he can model, texture and animate complex but realistic scenes, characters and background items, using his/her good sense of volume, lighting and materials.

A good electronic gaming animator has a solid background in academic drawing, traditional arts, sketching and/or illustration. An electronic gaming animator can also earn a game design degree to make him/her more highly sought after. Because of the complexity to create electronic games, this degree is more specialized than a standard design degree.

Average Salary: $38,875

Top Salary: $51,819

Entry Level Salary: $29, 777

Average Hours: 40

Union: Possible

Certifications/Education: Design or Game Design degree (Associates or Bachelors) and experience with creative software

Years of Experience: 2-3+

Web Photo Editor

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 07:51:56 +0000

A web photo editor works with editors and producers to determine best photographic online content. She/he researches and approves photos to be utilized and also negotiates acquisition fees. Where necessary, he/she digitizes images using emerging technologies and integrates into online content.

The position requires a strong interest and experience with photography, including rights management and metadata. A web photo editor has experience in an online editorial environment including with content management systems and/or digital asset management systems. He/she is proficient in digital computer skills, including, Photoshop, Bridge and general Office programs.

Responsibilities may include:

Manage day-to-day photo requests and longer-term projects against current resources and constantly shifting deadlines. Maintain accurate calendars and progress reports.
Prioritize/assign tasks for online photo team.
QA all cropped image and metadata to ensure consistency across the brand.
Suggest and implement workflow and process improvements.
Monitor digital rights reports to ensure all photos have appropriate rights.
Assist with photo research as needed.

Average Salary: $53,824

Top Salary: $80,463

Entry Level Salary: $35,211

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: May require a Bachelors Degree; skills in digital photography and digital computer skills

Years of Experience: 2-4 years

Strong Markets: Opportunities in most major US cities, especially in eCommerce companies, online media (radio, television, newspapers, journals, magazines), Hollywood and any company with an extensive creative department.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment of photographers is expected to grow 12 percent over the 2008-18 period, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Photographers can expect keen competition for job openings because the work is attractive to a number of individuals.

Demand for portrait photographers should increase as the population grows. Moreover, growth of Internet versions of magazines, journals, and newspapers will require increasing numbers of commercial photographers to provide digital images. The Internet and improved data management programs also should make it easier for freelancers to market directly to their customers, increasing opportunities for self-employment and decreasing reliance on stock photo agencies.

Job growth, however, will be constrained somewhat by the widespread use of digital photography and the falling price of digital equipment. Improvements in digital technology reduce barriers of entry into this profession and allow more individual consumers and businesses to produce, store, and access photographic images.

Web Photo Editor

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:10:50 +0000

Responsibilities may include:

Manage day-to-day photo requests and longer-term projects against current resources and constantly shifting deadlines. Maintain accurate calendars and progress reports.
Prioritize/assign tasks for online photo team.
QA all cropped image and metadata to ensure consistency across the brand.
Suggest and implement workflow and process improvements.
Monitor digital rights reports to ensure all photos have appropriate rights.
Assist with photo research as needed.

Average Salary: $53,824

Top Salary: $80,463

Entry Level Salary: $35,211

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: May require a Bachelors Degree; skills in digital photography and digital computer skills

Years of Experience: 2-4 years

Web Product Management Director

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:09:21 +0000

A web product management director directs and guides a product management team, and develops and improves the product platform and its yield. He/she establishes, maintains, and plans the overall policies and goals for a web product development department. This key strategic role supports the long-term economic performance for organization’s or client’s product.

Web product management directors are is intimately involved in defining product features and assisting with management and development of the product. He/she develops annual product plans and drives ongoing product decisions and product improvements. As a key facilitator between many departments, this role manages overall product requirements and development plan, including overall product priorities and launch timing, making sure the product development process can go smoothly.

Requiring a thorough understanding of the technical requirements of product development, a web product manager director collaborates with engineering team to make sure there is a balance between business and product requirements and technical feasibility. He/she communicates, coordinates, and negotiates with the marketing and sales group and works in partnership with cross functional teams to ensure product features/functions are delivered on time and within budget to support overall business objectives.

A web product management director assumes accountability for revenue and profit targets and other yearly business metrics for the product. He/she partners with research community, product development, strategic technology group, client service organization, field enablement, and other internal and external stakeholders and senior management to ensure that overall product performance and economics goals are met. This role defines and manages operational changes to existing products, such as website navigation, user interface, content update frequency, content shelf life, service goals, user experience, and expectations.

Average Salary: $134,119

Top Salary: $256,991

Entry Level Salary: $68,515

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree, may require an advanced degree

Years of Experience: 10+ years

Strong Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found predominantly in software/web development agencies and in corporate entities that develop web applications. There are opportunities in most major US cities.

Job Growth Forecast: The focus of this position can be predominantly marketing or it could also be more technical. If more marketing oriented, the growth forecast is around 13 percent. If more technically focused, market growth can run as high as 45 percent from 2008 to 2018, about four times as fast as the 11 percent growth projected for all industries combined.

Senior Web Producer

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:07:49 +0000

A senior web producer oversees the content strategy, new features and technical objectives for websites and web projects. A senior web producer will manage a staff or outsourced team of editors, bloggers, writings, programmers, project managers, designers, to take ideas from concept to launch.

A senior web producer will have an in-depth knowledge of digital and technical trends, tools, technologies and social media best practices and web applications to ensure projects are cutting edge and current. He/She will continue to improve Web user experience and quality. Part of his/her responsibilities may include educating clients and/or management about the differences in Internet communication tools and other forms of marketing and public relations efforts.

He/She will define requirements, estimate resources, schedule deliverables, maintain project documentations, budget and manage costs, motivate teams and resolve conflicts. In some cases, he/she will manage multi-million dollar projects or multiple projects that total over a million dollars.

In addition to the five-plus years of experience in the field, a senior web producer will rely on past practices and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

This position typically reports to top management.

Average Salary: 102,759

Average Hours (per week): 40+

Union: No

Certifications: Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent; Knowledge of digital media tools and technologies; Project management certification a plus

Experience: 5+ years

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and Web design agencies, computer software development firms online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or corporate entities that maintain in-house creative departments. This position is also a popular freelance post.

Entry Level Salary: $69,000

Top Salary: $136,518

Job Growth Forecast: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, depending on the type of skills required by the position, Web professionals can expect to see a 20 to 53 percent increase between 2008 and 2018 in their field .

Web Producer

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:05:50 +0000

A web producer is responsible for managing the technical aspects and, creating the content for websites and web projects assigned. Responsibilities can be different from company to company, but in general, will include creating, formatting and managing the digital content of a website. The position can also include technical expertise, to code, program, design graphics, manage site analytics, or a variety of other skills related to management of the site.

A web producer plans, designs, develops, tests, edits, maintains, and documents look and flow of websites. A thorough knowledge of the latest trends, tools and technologies is a must. For example, exposure/usage and understanding of the social networking ecosystem, social network applications, games and advertising technologies will be necessary.

He/she designs or supervises the design of digitized images, banners, bullets, charts, image maps and other graphics to enhance appearance of site. He/she may also be asked to develop search engine optimization and search engine marketing goals, objectives and strategies.

A more technically oriented web producer will have a background in the field of computer science along with advanced knowledge of various web-enabling computer languages. He/she will actually code the projects to create and maintain the websites.

This person will typically manage many simultaneous projects throughout the full project lifecycle, and be responsible to deliver on time and on budget.

A web producer can work within an interdisciplinary team which can include sales, account managers, designers and developers. Interpersonal skills are required to engage with clients (internal or external) to help them clarify their goals for establishing a website. This position typically reports to a senior producer.

Average Salary: $67,042

Average Hours (per week): 40+

Union: No

Certifications: Bachelors Degree or equivalent; knowledge of digital media software and Web development tools

Experience: 0-3 years experience

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and web design agencies, computer software development firms online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or corporate entities that maintain in-house creative departments. This position is also popular for freelancers.

Entry Level Salary: $27,263

Top Salary: $106,821

Job Growth Forecast: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, depending on the type of skills required by the position, between 2008 and 2018, web professionals can expect to see a 20 to 53 percent increase in their field.

Web Merchandising Manager

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:04:54 +0000

The manager of online merchandising drives all merchandising aspects of the eCommerce department. He/she is responsible for meeting planned sales and gross margin goals for their designated area of merchandise sold online

This position is responsible for the online assortment on the eCommerce site and other related digital properties. This includes product pricing, rich content, product sequencing, promotional execution, on-site search tuning, inventory planning for the online channel and reporting on category/product performance to the rest of the team. This position must maintain and expand upon the relationships with the various retail merchandising teams and represent the eCommerce team in line reviews as well as vendor meetings.

The online merchandise manager also focuses on increasing online conversion through online analytics, user experience, and on and off-site merchandising and increasing attachment by improving cross-sells and other cross merchandising opportunities.

This position requires strong computer, analytical, spreadsheet, and communication skills as well as excellent presentation and negotiating skills, along with the ability to multi-task.

Responsibilities may include:

Setup all SKUs available for sale on the eCommerce site and other digital properties. Activities would include entry of rich content, assigning images and adding cross-sells.
Drive the site feature planning process and SKU selection for all areas of the site, including but not limited to the homepage, category pages and emails. The planning process will include working with the eCommerce team and merchandise planning to forecast inventory appropriately.
Configure the onsite search to present optimal results for the customer’s onsite search queries.
Provide guidance and recommendations for off-site merchandising assets to drive traffic to the sites (paid search, affiliate marketing, etc.).
Work with cross-functional team to define key merchandising performance indicators and regular reporting/analysis, and to ensure that SEO best practices are in place.
Ensure promotional online execution accuracy (pricing, ads, deals, online experience, etc.).
Use reporting/analytics to drive targeted, compelling campaigns, measure results and adjust merchandising strategies & tactics.
Create appropriate cross-sell and up-sell opportunities throughout the site. Monitor performance and adjust accordingly.
Reduce site churn (abandoned carts).
Optimize online navigation and presentation based on analytics (click-path, traffic, conversion, etc.
Provide insight and analysis for product and category performance on an on-going basis. In particular, manages the current season’s business by tracking and analyzing sales information in order to identify opportunities to increase sales, including but not limited to feature changes, promotion changes and re-sequencing. Reporting findings back to the eCommerce department and the broader merchandising organization.
Work with vendors to execute company programs consistently in the online channel, drive vendor funding and come up with unique online channel programs.
Stay informed of current trends within the digital space so that the eCommerce team can be aligned for best practices.

Average Salary: $95,691

Top Salary: $127,581

Entry Level Salary: $72,000

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 7+ years experience

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found with any business selling online.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment for Web promotions and marketing is projected to grow about as fast as average. As with most managerial jobs, keen competition is expected for these highly coveted positions. Overall employment of advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers is expected to increase by 13 percent through 2018. Job growth will be spurred by competition for a growing number of goods and services, both foreign and domestic, and the need to make one’s product or service stand out in the crowd. Employment of marketing managers specifically will grow about as fast as average at 12 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Senior Web Editor

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:56:03 +0000

A senior web editor has oversight of the content that goes onto websites. He/she writes, edits, proofreads, and copyedits a variety of documents, and plans and prepares stories for dissemination on a website. Story editing focuses on improving clarity and style while ensuring the content is accurate. He/she may also define and maintain the editorial calendar and may establish and maintain a style guide and editorial procedures for all written elements of the site.

This person will have experience creating interactive editorial and content development and will play a strategic role in driving important business metrics. He/she will be audience focused when creating new features, tools and content. He/she knows HTML, blogging and social media and search engine optimization (SEO) tools, and has experience with content management systems, digital asset management and databases. This position manages multiple simultaneous deadlines. He/she may also hire and manage freelance writers.

From a business perspective, senior web editors conceive and develop a broad array of engaging site features, working with internal and external partners regarding strategic planning, development and growth of a website.

Average Salary: $79,354

Top Salary: $132,806

Entry Level Salary: $54,000

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 5+ years

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and Web design agencies, online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or companies in a wide array of industries that are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for Web-based information.

Job Growth Forecast: The employment rate is expected to grow about as fast as average. Keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for Web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with Web or multimedia experience.

Web Editorial Assistant

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:52:00 +0000

An editorial assistant provides development and administrative support to the editorial teams (website content editors, writers, producers). Tasks can range from the mundane to the exciting. He/she researches, collects, selects and edits stories, reading them to detect errors in spelling, punctuation and syntax, for dissemination on a website.

An editorial assistant may also be a point of contact for web content contributors, such as authors and reviewers, working closely to ensure completion and on time submissions of work. He/she may also be assigned research projects, which will include the review of appropriate Internet sites and conducting pertinent web searches. Editing and research skills will also be used to verify facts, dates and statistics using standard reference sources.

Administrative duties can include record keeping, database management, maintenance of office supplies and equipment and updating reports.

Average Salary: $37,401

Top Salary: $47,089

Entry Level Salary: $26,944

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 0-2 years

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Overall, keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with multimedia or web experience.

Web Editor

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:25:26 +0000

A web editor manages online content, writing, editing, proofreading, and copy editing a variety of documents. He/she will review website content for grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency, and style. He/she will be the keeper of the style guidelines ensuring that these are followed.

This position requires planning and preparing stories for online dissemination. He/she prepares articles from knowledge of a topic, supplemented with additional study, interviews and research. Articles can be posted online on websites, on company blogs, or other relevant social networking sites.

Average Salary: $54,968

Top Salary: $73,692

Entry Level Salary: $43,000

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 2-4 years

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and website design agencies, online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or companies in a wide array of industries that are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for Web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with multimedia or website experience.

Web Customer Support Specialist

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:24:15 +0000

A web customer support specialist is a key role in many organizations, acting as the first line of contact and support for web-based products and services through email support, desktop support, and telephone support. He/she interacts with customers and troubleshoots problems to provide a high level of customer satisfaction.

Most web customer support specialists provide help desk support for geographically dispersed customers and sales. They must have excellent problem-solving and analytical skills to evaluate logical connections between user questions and systems; Strong technology aptitude with excellent web, Word and Excel skills with a well-developed troubleshooting ability; and have proven customer service and team collaboration skills. He/she must be detail oriented, customer-focused, and intent upon providing quality service

Responsibilities can include:

Assist customers and internal users to resolve issues and address questions regarding self service tools, technical support, and available functionality.
If there is a self-service help desk, perform tracking and reporting of user calls and requests; assist with analyzing self-service reports and metrics.
Troubleshoot and track system errors.
Communicate regularly with system and process experts, and provide leadership to help resolve issues.
Execute regression and patch testing on self-service tool functionality and maintain test plans.
Participate in self-service system requirements.
Assign new user accounts, address user access issues, and conduct user account audits.
Participate in communication to users regarding tool and/or system changes or events, system maintenance/downtime, basic changes in functionality, etc.
Participate in maintaining self-service reference materials.
Maintain effective, concise and professional communications with internal teams and external customers.
Provide information and insight to management and team members to resolve service related issues. Participate in the identification of deficiencies, development of solutions, and implementation of action steps to resolve problems and ensure customer satisfaction.
Provide information and insight to explain or resolve discrepancies and issues of customer dissatisfaction with peers and leadership.
Work closely with customer service, claims, and other customer focused teams to ensure consistent and accurate information to our users.

Average Salary: $72,699

Top Salary: $87,320

Entry Level Salary: $47,399

Average Hours: No

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Years of Experience: 4+ years

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in any service or product company with web-based offering. Customer service representatives are especially prevalent in the finance and insurance industry, as many customer interactions do not require physical contact.

Job Growth Forecast: Customer service representatives are expected to experience faster than average growth. Furthermore, job prospects should be good as many workers who leave this very large occupation will need to be replaced. Employment of customer service representatives is expected to grow by about 18 percent over the 2008-18 period, faster than the average for all occupations. Providing quality customer service is important to nearly every company in the economy; in addition, companies are expected to place increasing emphasis on customer relationships, resulting in increased demand for customer service representatives.

Web Content Manager / Administrator

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:23:09 +0000

A web content manager/administrator manages all web content and projects related to the website. He/She writes, edits, and proofreads new content; ensures that all documents meet established content standards and works with developers to assess any technical challenges in displaying the content.

Web content editors are generally less technical than a website developer, but should have understanding and skills in graphics and Web page creation tools such as the Adobe creative suite and HTML, JavaScript and PHP. She/he will create, develop, acquire, deliver, and maintain quality and consistent content for websites based on management priorities, policy directives, and goals. There may be responsibility for designing and creating Internet applications, enhancements, and modifications to websites.

A full understanding of web analytics practices will be important to monitor web usage and provide statistics for management reporting. Understanding social media and search engine strategies will be necessary so that writing and editing content is optimized for search engines and online audiences.

Web content managers lead and direct the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. The position typically reports to top management.

Responsibilities:

Lead enhancements, manage vendors, improve content.
Manage Website administration.
Optimizes web content using required style guides and graphic standards.
Develop website content enhancements.
Train users & clients on web related tools.
Review Website regularly to ensure content accuracy, timeliness, and relevance.
Test Website accessibility and functionality from various environments.
Manages link and cross-promotions with other sites.
Anticipate emerging trends, technologies, needs, and potentialities as they pertain to the organization.

Average Salary: $78,713

Top Salary: $111,212

Entry Level Salary: $46,214

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 5+ years

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and web design agencies, online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or companies in a wide array of industries that are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information.

Web Community Specialist

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:22:07 +0000

A web community specialist implements community related content for the organization such as live events, bulletin boards, chat rooms and email. He/she has a wide range of web skills, a strong understanding of social networks/online communities, experience with moderation, exposure to content management tools, and a passion for the online world.

A web community specialist is a key contributor to the online community and may become the public face for the company to its online fans. He/she is experienced with website administration and has knowledge of current social media trends.

Some responsibilities may include creating new copy and content for the community; producing monthly reports detailing most successful community conversations, salient points regarding moderation, and next steps; and project management, including: content schedule management, and interaction with, and management of, the content producers as it pertains to maintaining fresh content.
Web community specialists may make recommendations for ways to improve the overall community experience, reporting to web marketing management on task status, interacting with MIS and the services and support manager as the owners of the technical implementation.

Average Salary: $41,651

Top Salary: $63,685

Entry Level Salary: $24,281

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Associates Degree, may require Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 0-2 years of experience

Strongest Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and web design agencies, online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or companies in a wide array of industries that are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow at an average pace. Keen competition is expected for content jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried content positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy.

Web/Online Community Director

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:21:14 +0000

A web/online community director defines the overall strategic goals and executes the strategy for online community based content. He/she develops, directs, and implements community related content for an organization, such as live events, bulletin boards, chat rooms, and email.

This position collaborates with marketing and business leadership to define the requirements and roadmaps for online engagement. This person often acts as the chief spokesperson for a company’s online community and social media efforts, driving forward company thought-leadership and engagement with customers and stakeholders.

Typically, a web/online community director manages a team of community and social media managers and may be responsible for managing substantial budgets.

She/he is knowledgeable and passionate about prominent community technologies including, but not limited to: Lithium Technologies, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google (SEO/SEM).

This position is responsible for setting community guidelines and policies, including escalation and emergency response scenarios. He/she will manage vendor relationships and all metrics for site engagement.
A web/online community relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected.

Responsibilities include:

Works with editors to identify topics and target audiences.

Manages relationships with outside experts for community-based activities.

Manages budget and contributes to developing overall site direction and strategy as part of the site management team.

Develops new products and services to extend the goals and objectives of the organization.

Sets organization’s community strategy and determines the content and delivery strategies of services.

Developes business requirements for future development need.

Develops a variety of products and services that support the facilitation and extension of
the organization’s brand.

Provides leadership to writers and collaborates closely with marketing and product managers who develop community content.

Directs the organization’s web community strategy, creating multiple formats for audience participation on the web site, including forums, expert advice, and ratings.

Average Salary: $121,906

Top Salary: $149,448

Entry Level Salary: $96,847

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent

Years of Experience: 10+ years

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Keen competition is expected for content jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried content positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy.

Web Producer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:20:18 +0000

Web producers plan, design, develop, test, edit, maintain, and documents look and flow of websites. A thorough knowledge of the latest trends, tools and technologies is a must. For example, exposure/usage and understanding of the social networking ecosystem, social network applications, games and advertising technologies will be necessary.

A more technically oriented web producer will have a background in the field of computer science along with advanced knowledge of various web-enabling computer languages. He/She will actually code the projects to create and maintain the websites.

He/she will typically manage many simultaneous projects throughout the full project lifecycle, and be responsible to deliver on time and on budget.

Web producers can work within an interdisciplinary team which can include sales, account managers, designers and developers. Interpersonal skills are required to engage with clients (internal or external) to help them clarify their goals for establishing a website. This position typically reports to a senior producer.

Average Salary: $67,042

Average Hours (per week): 40+

Union: No

Certifications: Bachelors Degree or equivalent; knowledge of digital media software and Web development tools

Experience: 0-3 years experience

Entry Level Salary: $27,263

Top Salary: $106,821

Job Growth Forecast: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, depending on the type of skills required by the position, web professionals can expect to see a 20 to 53 percent increase in their field between 2008 and 2018.

Web Designer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:19:18 +0000

A web designer controls website design and creation. He/she produces graphic sketches, designs, and copy layouts for online content, is knowledgeable of user interface design and techniques, and plans, designs, develops, tests, edits, maintains, and documents look and flow of websites.

Some web designers are expected to be able to code as well as design, combining the skills of a graphic web designer and a Web developer. Most are required to be able to use WYSIWYG Web design software, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver and Adobe GoLive. Others are only responsible for creating the concepts in Photoshop, before handing over the graphics to web developers to hand code. All web designers must have a good understanding of interactive design principles, usability and online branding.

A web designer typically works under general supervision, reporting to a manager. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.

Responsibilities include:

Creating roughs, mockups and prototypes providing suitable designs, colors, fonts and graphics; optimizes images for the web, adhering to branding guidelines.
Participating in brainstorming sessions, user research and testing, and incorporating feedback on designs.
Participating in the development and documentation of design by creating style guides as project deliverables.
Understanding design user interaction and design workflows.
Ensuring web projects are produced accurately and on schedule.
Utilizing best practices to ensure site usability and conversion.
Ensuring website appears properly on all target browsers and internet devices. including Windows, Mac and mobile devices.
Maintaining and share up-to-date knowledge on industry technology and trends
Expert with XHTML, CSS and JavaScript; experience with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and Flash.

Average Salary: $61,278

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Associates Degree to Bachelors Degree or equivalent technical school training. Knowledge in the field of computer science along with advanced knowledge of various web design software tools and computer languages.

Years of Experience: 2+

Entry Level Salary: $32,511

Top Salary: $93,679

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected grow at a rate of about 13 percent into 2018. Stiff competition for positions is expected; and those with website design and animation experience will have the best opportunities.

Web Art Director

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 23:09:18 +0000

A web art director owns all website design and is responsible for building a cohesive web identity that builds upon and maintains the integrity and creativity of the brand online.

A successful web art director is a strategic thinker that plays a strong role in the brand evolution of the websites for which she/she is responsible. He/she will create original graphics and icons for use on the site; implement the web design parameters, style guides and visual standards; and establish and produce graphic material for use in advertising and promoting online services and products.

A comprehensive understanding of web usability – how visitors interact with sites and what influences them to stay and/or purchase are key components. He/she should have a solid working knowledge of HTML, CSS, web design software and web architecture tools will be important.

Typically, a web art director will supervise and interact with other members of a creative team. Setting and ensuring deadlines are met and should vigorously adhere to established guidelines and legal requests and requirements.

He/she must be articulate, organized and attentive to deadlines; must be adept at problem solving and communicating issues clearly with production, graphic, marketing and technical personnel; be able to handle multiple priorities (quickly and efficiently) with tight deadlines; have a clear understanding of priorities and a desire to strive to exceed expectations; and be able to “think outside the box.”
Responsibilities can include:

Translate strategies into compelling and innovative creative that engages the customer, drives traffic and continues to build the brands relevance and desirability.
Define the look and feel of websites, including the exploration, conceptual and visual development, and final execution of design direction.
Lead brainstorming sessions and the development and execution of those ideas (i.e. lifestyle environments, shopping experiences, new sites, etc.)
Act as design leader, work with other senior web designers and flash designers to design world-class work.
Oversee the creative design and execution of all online advertising needs (banners, content modules, etc.)
Integrate company branding, video, animation, still images, text and audio into a web environment that ensures a cohesive brand image.
Develop ideas and presentation of new initiatives to business parents.
Oversee the maintenance of design standards, guidelines, and best practices.
Communicate design rationales and respond to feedback.

Average Salary: $90,514

Average Hours (per week): 40 plus hours per week.

Union: No.

Certifications: This job most likely requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. This is a more senior position and will require at least five years working experience. It will also require skills with graphic and web design software, such as Adobe’s suite of products: Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign/Quark. It will also require a working knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and FTP protocol.

Training Period: 5+ years of experience in the field or in a related area.

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and web design agencies, computer software development firms online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, and/or corporate entities that maintain in-house creative departments. This position is also a popular freelance post.

Entry Level Salary: $65,425 to $72, 125

Top Salary: $125, 455

Job Growth Forecast: Growth in this job category will range from 12 to 14 percent through 2018. Competition for jobs is expected to be high for both salaried and freelance jobs. Despite the competition, employers and individual clients are always on the lookout for talented and creative artists.

Art directors will see an increase in jobs in advertising due to demand for the overall vision they bring to a project. Web art directors should see continued job growth as many magazines and newspapers move to online-only formats.

User Experience Director

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:59:18 +0000

A director of user experience leads and manages the user experience team in a company or agency. The position is responsible for the customer experience for websites and web products, including interaction design, visual (graphics) design, user research and usability engineering. The goals for a director of user experience are to deliver a distinctive online customer experience enabling companies to deepen customer relationships and contribute to business growth.

The leader of user experience works closely with members of the executive staff, the product management & marketing organizations, and the engineering organization to deliver effective, usable designs that meet business needs and provide an excellent user experience.

Responsibilities include:

Evangelize the online user experience by setting a vision and overarching design that will drive engagement and excitement throughout the organization.
Define and implement an online experience program consistent with the vision of deepening customer relationships.
Define and deliver against targets across multiple purposes, such as cross-sell, usage, servicing effectiveness, and retention.
Manage user experience team responsibilities.
Influence and partner with key groups in product management, technology, and marketing to achieve outcomes.
Define content strategy and manage content delivery across websites.
Manages use of user experience delivery partners to ensure that partners deliver against common user experience guidelines with quality.
Have a technical background to build/code static and dynamic web pages, including an excellent understanding of XHTML, CSS & JavaScript; optimize graphics for web and interactive projects; develop and maintain coding standards to achieve efficiency in maintenance and portability; optimize pages for both human readers and search engines; manage testing and QA of pages.
Conduct research & work with end users to determine their experience needs for products.
Maintain current knowledge of human factors, user-centered design processes, interaction design guidelines, usability methodologies, industry standards and trends, both formal and informal usability testing methods, as well as a deep understanding of software and web technology.

Average Salary: $131,354

Top Salary: $181,000

Entry Level Salary: $87,000

Average Hours (per week): 40+

Union: No

Certifications: Bachelors Degree, preferably a Masters Degree

Strong Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found predominantly in software/web development agencies and businesses.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment for computer systems design and related services, such as web development, is expected to grow 45 percent from 2008 to 2018, about 4 times as fast as the 11 percent growth projected for all industries combined. The computer systems design and related services industry grew dramatically throughout the 1990s, as employment more than doubled. While growth has been decidedly slower since the turn of the century, this industry is still projected to be one of the 10 fastest growing in the Nation. Job opportunities should be excellent for most workers, with the best opportunities occurring for computer specialists.

User Experience Designer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:57:31 +0000

A user experience designer will design and develop user interface solutions for websites and web applications. This position requires the ability to translate business needs into user-centric interface requirements.

A successful designer will demonstrate an understanding of the balance between efficiency and ease of use and business goals. He/She will design information structures and navigation flows that anticipate user paths and logical process flows. This will include developing flowcharts, wire frames, concept sketches, UI mockups, site maps, prototypes and content matrices. Also key is an understanding of user research, persona development, task analysis, conceptual design, detail design, and user testing.

A user experience designer will be proficient with graphics editing tools, such as Adobe Photoshop, Fireworks, or similar tools to create screen mockups and communicate conceptual design concepts; basic authoring and editing skills with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and cascading style sheets (CSS); as well as social media tools and techniques.

Presenting work to senior leaders across the organization, including objectives, strategy and creative executions, a user experience designer is usually under the direction of a project manager or design director.

Responsibilities include:

Working collaboratively with usability and initiate research and testing as needed to develop the most effective user experience, gathering data on design solutions and iterating as needed.
Synthesizing large amounts of data into actionable information.

Designing user interfaces for web-based applications.
Evaluating the usability of designs.
Leading the development of usability standard, guidelines, and best practices.
Leading and teaching usability best practices to the development team.

Mocking up or prototyping systems.

Average Salary: $83,437

Top Salary: $96,164

Entry Level Salary: $64,250

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree; may also require certification as a Usability Analyst

Years of Experience: 2+ years

Strongest Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found predominantly in software/web development agencies and businesses.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment for computer systems design and related services, such as web development, is expected to grow 45 percent from 2008 to 2018, about four times as fast as the 11 percent growth projected for all industries combined. The computer systems design and related services industry grew dramatically throughout the 1990s, as employment more than doubled. While growth has been decidedly slower since the turn of the century, this industry is still projected to be one of the 10 fastest growing in the Nation. Job opportunities should be excellent for most workers, with the best opportunities occurring for computer specialists.

Senior User Experience Designer/User Experience Lead

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:54:53 +0000

A senior user experience designer/lead directs a team of interaction and visual designers, prototypers and user researchers in website and web application user experiences. This key role must interface with company stakeholders, including product management, user researcher, engineering, IT, QA, executive management and customers.

A senior user experience designer must have a broad understanding of complex, consumer-oriented systems and the methods for their creation, including participatory user-centered design and other iterative development methodologies. The position requires a critical thinker with a good design sense, leadership potential, and an eye for making things better.

He or she will provide user design services, including interpreting requirements; creating concept designs; developing user flows, wireframes, and superior visual mock-ups; producing detailed design documentation; facilitating design walkthroughs; documenting functional specs; and facilitating usability tests. The senior user experience designer ensures that user experience designs meet overall business information requirements and each application’s aesthetic, functional, and workflow requirements. In addition the senior user experience designer must remain up-to-date with industry standards, new innovative technologies and best practices.

Responsibilities:

Motivate and lead interaction designers, visual designers, user researchers and prototypers.
Partner with key stakeholders to identify, document, and evangelize a roadmap of the customer experience for community-based features and services, including learning, training and support.
Balance organizational demands, timelines and internal milestones to determine the most appropriate methodology for design; storyboards, interaction patterns, prototypes, and other iterative artifacts.
Provide leadership in methodology and deliverables for iterative, user-centered design processes.
Assist in creation and maintenance of interaction and visual standards for web-based UI.
Maintain experience with social media, community and web services or applications.
Demonstrate expertise in modern software development processes and concepts as they relate to user experience, plus a strong ability to translate usability research findings into design improvements.
Show strong skills in problem definition and user-needs analysis, including the ability to focus on the “right” problems to solve in order to advance of strategic goals.
Have Expertise in user research including persona creation, heuristic evaluation, and site visits.
Be able to solve complex problems and drive projects from concept through implementation.
Exhibit experience with industry tools for generating UI prototypes, UI specifications, flow diagrams, and wireframes.
Have advanced knowledge of user-centered design principles and processes and the ability to apply these principles in a real-world environment.

Web Section Editor

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:53:54 +0000

A web section editor is responsible for all content and growing specific sections of a website. He/she works with a wide variety of reporters, freelancers and others in the gather and delivery of current, investigative news.

A web section editor may also be responsible for facilitating and monitoring discussion forums on the website and establishes relationships with chat technology vendors.

The position is a high level editorial post and is responsible for a variety of editorial duties, such as laying out, indexing, and revising content of written materials, in preparation for final publication. This position may also include technical editors.

Responsibilities may include:

Develop the section to not only inform readers, but drive traffic; coordinate coverage of the top stories in your section.
Ensure timeliness of news compared to competitors.
Ensure that teams produce significant exclusives and compelling stories.
Write compelling articles investigative stories and analysis.
Show scalable ability to manage any number of reporters, freelancers, and contributors.
Drive ideas for exclusives, analysis and feature stories.
Be able to adapt quickly to the latest editorial technology.
Deploy true multimedia collaboration.
Work effectively with reporters and editors across a range of geographies and specializations.
Be comfortable in a startup environment.
Be proficient in a digital newsroom and supporting technology.

Average Salary: $81,630

Top Salary: $134,485

Entry Level Salary: $37,653

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree, may require advanced degree

Years of Experience: 3-5+ years experience

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Overall, keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs since many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment should grow by 8 percent, or about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy.

Senior Web Editor

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 22:50:22 +0000

From a business perspective, a senior web editor conceives and develops a broad array of engaging site features, working with internal and external partners regarding strategic planning, development and growth of a Website.

Average Salary: $79,354

Top Salary: $132,806

Entry Level Salary: $54,000

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 5+ years

Job Growth Forecast: Keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average at about 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with web or multimedia experience.

Web Developer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:33:41 +0000

Web developers are cross-functional, having responsibility for both technical and creative aspects of a website. They develop and maintain the front end look and feel of a site, as well as the back-end programming, database and applications.

Typically, web developers use their strong send of design, and firm knowledge of web standards to develop the interfaces, often called Graphical User Interfaces, for both software applications and basic web presentations. As they grow in their positions, Web developers can separate their specialties, excelling in their respective knowledge. These roles require full knowledge of web design principles and programming structures.

On the more technical side, they will troubleshoot, debug and implement software code. They will understand and create SQL server scripts and stored procedures to send and retrieve data. Web developers program with different languages, some open source and some proprietary, i.e. PHP and ASP or .NET, respectively.

On the more creative side, they have knowledge of several different graphic programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Macromedia Flash for multimedia presentations, and other such tools.

Web developers also have knowledge of middleware programming, scripting languages, such as JavaScript; markup languages, such as HTML and XHTML, and CSS; and communications skills to develop basic copy.

Web developers typically report to a project leader or manager. They also work independently as contractors or as a company web developer.

Responsibilities include:

Plan, coordinate, and execute all aspects of a Website project relating to technical design, development, integration, and deployment of Websites and applications.
Interpret business and functional requirements into a strong design.
Apply industry best practices and standards in conjunction with project requirements and design.
Develop code and design documentation.
Work closely with other developers and the marketing teams.
Manage time effectively with minimal supervision to accurately scope projects and ensure that projects are released in a timely fashion.
Identify opportunities for process improvements/efficiencies and drive adoption of high priority/high value improvements.
Excellent time management and organizational skills, including ability to accurately gauge project duration, deliver on deadlines, switch rapidly between projects in a fast paced environment and manage a workload with possible conflicting priorities.
Thrive in a demanding environment, requiring high degree of deadline-driven productivity, commitment, adaptability, communication, follow-through and initiative.
Maintain a strong understanding of web development best practices, including cross-browser compatibility, coding standards and accessibility.
Ability to write efficient queries and optimize database-intensive applications.

Average Salary: $84,059

Top Salary: $136,861

Entry Level Salary: $31,257 – $45,806

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications: Bachelors Degree

Experience: 0-5+ Years

Strong Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in agency settings, as project contracts, or corporate entities that maintain in-house creative and programming departments. This position is also a popular freelance post.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment for computer systems design and related services, such as web development, is expected to grow 45 percent from 2008 to 2018, about four times as fast as the 11 percent growth projected for all industries combined. The computer systems design and related services industry grew dramatically throughout the 1990s, as employment more than doubled. While growth has been decidedly slower since the turn of the century, this industry is still projected to be one of the 10 fastest growing in the nation. The best job opportunities will occur for computer specialists, but overall job opportunities should be excellent for most workers.

Web Copy Editor

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:51:44 +0000

The person in the position as a web copy editor writes, produces, and edits a high volume of web content, ensuring consistency in style, tone, and quality of the organization’s site. He/she will work to complete assignments with fellow editors, writers and designers.

This job must have a thorough understanding of English language and grammar, as well as experience in writing for the web. Proof-reading is a major job function, requiring the ability to fix spelling, punctuation, grammar and syntax. This role will ensure company editorial style guides and standards are maintained. A web copy editor will also be required to modify and rewrite copy as necessary to ensure clarity and to improve structure.

Web copy editors may also be responsible for maintaining a weekly/monthly editorial calendar for content. They may also work with marketing teams to support and manage integrated marketing strategies with the Website. A working knowledge of HTML is an asset.

A web copy editor general works from pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the position, and generally works under immediate supervision.

Average Salary: $54,792

Top Salary: $73,736

Entry Level Salary: $36,492

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: Entry level to 4 years

Job Growth Forecast: Keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with multimedia or web experience.

Senior Web Content Engineer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:48:03 +0000

The senior web content engineer, also known as a web content engineer III, develops and designs interfaces, front pages, and the tools to navigate a website. He/She performs unit testing at the page level; sets code standards and leads code reviews; reviews specifications and provides time estimates on the development of projects and features; and prioritizes projects and deliverables.

This job requires familiarity with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. He/She may be required to be experienced working with Microsoft and Solaris/Linux servers, MSSQL databases, and Oracle databases and have proficiency in programming languages such as: PHP, Java, JavaScript, .Net languages, Perl, PL/SQL and TSQL; and experience with Visual Studio 2008, SharePoint Designer, Toad, Eclipse and vi editors.

The senior web content engineer relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals and will perform a variety of complicated tasks. He/she may direct and lead the work of others and be able to actively participate in team support by proposing and implementing solutions. This position typically reports to a manager or head of a unit/department. A wide degree of creativity and latitude will be expected.

Job responsibilities:

Establish policies and procedures for publishing web pages and applications in conjunction with content creators.
Perform user management on web applications and sites.
Diagnose and troubleshoot problems with existing web applications and sites.
Work with database administrator to design, develop and update databases as they relate to web applications.
Perform periodic website audits.
Document applications and custom code in compliance with team standards.
Develop and communicate web site usage and security policies and standards to all users.
Demonstrated ability to create and maintain technical documentation.
Show strong organizational skills with ability to prioritize and delegate appropriate workload.

Average Salary: $133,584

Top Salary: $155,293

Entry Level Salary: $111,875

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree; depending upon the type of business, may require security clearance and/or other technical certifications

Years of Experience: 5+ years

Strong Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found predominantly in software development companies, news and sports media outlets, web development agencies and businesses with large content requirements.

Job Growth Forecast: The employment growth for computer systems design and related services, such as web development, is expected to grow 45 percent from 2008 to 2018, about four times as fast as the 11 percent growth projected for all industries combined. The computer systems design and related services industry grew dramatically throughout the 1990s, as employment more than doubled. While growth has been decidedly slower since the turn of the century, this industry is still projected to be one of the 10 fastest growing in the Nation. Job opportunities should be excellent for most workers, with computer specialists seeing the best opportunities.

Web Content Engineer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:41:53 +0000

A web content engineer develops and designs interface, front pages, and the tools to navigate on Websites. He/she performs unit testing at the page level, sets code standards, leads code reviews, reviews specifications and provides time estimates on the development of projects and features, prioritizing projects and deliverables.

The web content engineer is familiar with commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures for web development, such as Java technologies, AJAX, HTML, CSS, XML, etc. He/she relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. He/she generally reports to a manager, working under immediate to general supervision. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.

Job responsibilities include:

Assist in building and maintaining Internet applications.
Build, deploy and maintain website pages.
Develop and improve site navigation.
Consult with web content developers to ensure that complex needs are technically feasible.
Provide technical site maintenance, consultation on issues related to animation, search engine techniques, link integrity, navigation, browsers, graphics, and other technical web developments.
Work on areas of websites and applications that require improvement, identifying and implementing a variety of solutions.
Troubleshoot applications and their interaction with web services, web pages and APIs.
Maintain and update websites as necessary through proprietary content management system.
Work on a diverse scope of projects requiring detailed analysis, sound judgment, and creative/practical problem-solving.
Operate effectively in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.

Average Salary:

Average Salary: $94,905

Top Salary: $122,689

Entry Level Salary: $67,122

Average Hours: 40+

Union: NO

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 0-4 years

Strong Markets: This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found predominantly in software development companies, news and sports media outlets, Web development agencies and businesses with large content requirements.

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow 45 percent from 2008 to 2018 for computer systems design and related services, such as web development, which is around four times as fast as the 11 percent growth projected for all industries combined. The computer systems design and related services industry grew dramatically throughout the 1990s, as employment more than doubled. While growth has been decidedly slower since the turn of the century, this industry is still projected to be one of the 10 fastest growing in the Nation. Job opportunities should be excellent for most workers, with the best opportunities occurring for computer specialists.

Director of Web Content

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:40:28 +0000

The director of web content establishes and directs the strategic long-term objectives, policies, and procedures for an organization’s web content. Generally this position handles higher level liaison issues, supervising web content staff and ensuring that the site is in alignment with the branding guidelines and content strategy.

The director of web content sets the direction for composition and development of written and graphical content for websites, meeting company objectives, such as providing information on products and services or entertaining site visitors. He/She determines the long-term systems needs and hardware acquisitions to accomplish the business objectives of the organization.

He/she will be well versed in trends and activities in order to develop guidelines that will increase a website’s presence and improve design and usability. These skills will be used to develop user interface and design standards, including feature improvements to attract visitors to the website. In order to ensure that site content is accurate, the position will require collaboration with other departments, such as marketing and engineering.

This position will require technical understanding of web usability and design protocols and will be responsible for maintaining the content database on technical specifications and compatibility issues. Advanced knowledge of HTML and experience with popular content management systems and web analytics tools, as well as basic skills with Adobe Photoshop will be a necessity.

The director of web content may also work closely with purchasing and marketing teams to make recommendations to increase sales and gross profit; may manage online strategic partnerships; find and review potential, new product suppliers; may develop and leverage relationships with online content vendors incorporating their products or services into the organization’s marketing programs and technology

Responsibilities:

Manage content strategy, and possibly the user experience across the site.
Responsible for content strategy and web user guides and guidelines.
Supervise web content writers, designers, editors.
Analyze use of the website to improve the design/layout.
Collaborate with creative, video, and social media teams to ensure a robust and holistic experience.
Collaborate with other departments regularly, offering suggestions and best practices for maintaining pages and distributing web analytics.

Work with all web content team members to deliver an appropriate mix of high quality products, content and information to members.
Track and measure web traffic and suggest improvements to product placement.
Review current mix of products and services, and work to make improvements to specific products or delivery system.

Average Salary: $102,326

Top Salary: $136,956

Entry Level Salary: $67,697

Average Hours: 40+

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Bachelors Degree

Years of Experience: 7+ years

Job Growth Forecast: Basically employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations from 2008 to 2018. Keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs as many people are attracted to this occupation. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions is expected to increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent.

Web Surfer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:37:55 +0000

A web surfer visits multiple websites to gather specific information to help an organization understand online user behavior. He/she reviews and catalogues websites according to established guidelines and prepares a content analysis of materials available on a website. This position may also accumulate, analyze and compare data that is found on websites.

The web surfer must have strong organizational and PC skills, and must be able to work independently to complete assignments in a timely manner.

Average Salary: $57,676

Top Salary: $125,515

Entry Level Salary: $36,668

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: High School Diploma, Undergraduate

Years of Experience: 0-2 years

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow about as fast as average. Keen competition is expected for writing and editing jobs because a number of people are attracted to this occupation. Overall, employment is expected to grow 8 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations, from 2008 to 2018. Employment in salaried writing and editing positions may increase slightly as jobs become more prevalent throughout the economy. Companies in a wide array of industries are using newer multimedia technologies and online social media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for web-based information. Online publications and services are growing in number and sophistication, spurring the demand for authors, writers, and editors, especially those with multimedia or website experience.

Senior Web Producer

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:36:16 +0000

A senior web producer oversees the content strategy, new features and technical objectives for Websites and Web projects. Senior web producers will manage a staff or outsourced team of editors, bloggers, writings, programmers, project managers, designers, to take ideas from concept to launch.

Senior web producers will have an in-depth knowledge of digital and technical trends, tools, technologies and social media best practices and web applications to ensure projects are cutting edge and current. He/She will continue to improve web user experience and quality. Part of his/her responsibilities may include educating clients and/or management about the differences in Internet communication tools and other forms of marketing and public relations efforts.

This position typically reports to top management.

Average Salary: 102,759

Average Hours (per week): 40+

Union: No

Certifications: Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent; Knowledge of digital media tools and technologies; Project management certification a plus

Experience: 5+ years

Entry Level Salary: $69,000

Top Salary: $136,518

Web Production Assistant

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:31:07 +0000

A web production assistant supports the daily activities for a company or client website. He/she works closely with a website production manager or webmaster with maintenance and management of content, and look and feel of sites.

Technical knowledge is expected, as this person may be required to build pages in HTML, understand CSS and JavaScript, manipulate photos in Adobe PhotoShop, be proficient in other Adobe creative tools, have a working knowledge of content management systems, and other technical skills. He/she may be asked to design pages with photos and copy for internal prototyping.

Web production assistants must be organized, and may be called upon to document and archive projects, including schedules, budgets, detailed specifications, and search engine optimization. She/he provides accurate estimates for deliverables and participates in application deployment and maintenance releases.

Average Salary: $43,705

Top Salary: $61,263

Entry Level Salary: $29,613

Average Hours: 40

Union: No

Certifications/Education: Associates Degree; may require bachelors

Years of Experience: 0-2 years experience

Strongest Market(s): This position should be available in most major cities in the United States and will be found in advertising and Web design agencies, online media, radio stations, television, movies, and Hollywood in general, as well as in companies from a wide array of industries that are using newer multimedia technologies and online social media to reach a more technology friendly consumer and meet the growing demand for Web-based information.

Job Growth Forecast: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, depending on the type of skills required by the position, web professionals can expect to see a 20 to 53 percent increase in their field between 2008 and 2018.

Public Relations Specialists

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:41:55 +0000

A PR specialist is typically responsible for corporate communications but also represents individuals and other organizations for the communication to the public or other target audiences. Public relations specialists, communications specialists, or media specialists, serve as advocates for clients seeking to build and maintain positive relationships with the public. Clients might include businesses, nonprofit associations, universities, hospitals, and other organizations.

Public relations often provide that communication through press releases, events or through press speeches. Often other major news channels will pick up the stories and syndicate them through appropriate media channels. Responsibilities often include managing contacts with reporters and other civic leaders, preparing press packets and displays, and generally writing and sharing favorable publicity about the company or organization. In government, public relations specialists may be called press secretaries. They keep the public informed about the activities of agencies and officials.

Public relations specialists handle organizational functions, such as media, community, consumer, industry, and governmental relations; political campaigns; interest-group representation; conflict mediation; and employee and investor relations. Public relations specialists must understand the attitudes and concerns of community, consumer, employee, and public interest groups to establish and maintain cooperative relationships between them and representatives from print and broadcast journalism.

Strong communication and writing skills are essential because public relations specialists draft press releases and contact people in the media who might print or broadcast their material.

Public relations specialists also arrange and conduct programs to maintain contact between organization representatives and the public.

People who handle publicity for an individual or who direct public relations for a small organization may deal with all aspects of the job. These public relations specialists contact people, plan and research, and prepare materials for distribution. They also may handle advertising or sales promotion work to support marketing efforts.

Occasionally, they must be at the job or on call around the clock, especially if there is an emergency or crisis. Schedules often have to be rearranged so workers can meet deadlines, deliver speeches, attend meetings and community activities, and travel.

Average Salary: $51,280

Average Hours (per week): Public relations specialists work in busy offices. The pressures of deadlines and tight work schedules can be stressful. Some public relations specialists work a standard 35 to 40 hour week, but overtime is common, and work schedules can be irregular and are frequently interrupted.

Union: No.

Certifications: A bachelor’s degree in a communications-related field combined with public relations experience is expected for a person interested in public relations work. Some entry-level public relations specialists have a college degree in communications, public relations, journalism, or marketing. Many colleges and universities offer bachelor’s and postsecondary programs leading to a degree in public relations, usually in a journalism or communications department. Internships in public relations provide students with valuable experience and training and are the best route to finding entry-level employment.

The Universal Accreditation Board accredits public relations specialists who are members of the Public Relations Society of America and who participate in the Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations process.

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) also has an accreditation program for professionals in the communications field, including public relations specialists. Those who meet all the requirements of the program earn the Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) designation must have at least 5 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree in a communications field and must pass written and oral examinations.

Strongest Market(s):

There is a current trend toward public relations jobs to be dispersed throughout the Nation, closer to clients. Public relations specialists are typically concentrated in large cities, where press services and other communications facilities are readily available and where many businesses and trade associations have their headquarters. Many public relations consulting firms, for example, are in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

These jobs are also concentrated in service-providing industries, such as advertising and related services; healthcare and social assistance; educational services; and government. Others work for communications firms, financial institutions, and government agencies.

Entry Level Salary: $38,400; the lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,140

Top Salary: $97,910

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, keen competition is expected for entry-level jobs. Opportunities should be best for college graduates who combine a degree in public relations, journalism, or another communications-related field with a public relations internship or other related work experience.

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Sources: July 2009 salary survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers; Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11Edition.

Job: Labor Relations Manager

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:39:24 +0000

A labor relations manager and specialist not only provides services for handling employee benefits questions or recruiting, interviewing, and hiring new staff in accordance with policies established by top management, but today’s human resources workers also consult with top executives regarding strategic planning. The job has moved from staff work to leading the company in suggesting and changing policies.

In an effort to enhance productivity, reduce job turnover, and help companies increase performance, these workers also help their companies effectively use employee skills, provide training and development opportunities to improve those skills, and increase employees’ satisfaction with their jobs and working conditions. Dealing with people is an important part of the job.

Average Salary: $64,930 to $86,500

Average Hours (per week): 40

Union: No.

Certifications: College graduates and those who have earned certification will have the best job opportunities. There are also professional associations that specialize in human resources classes. A combination of courses in business administration, social and or behavioral sciences is recommended. Some labor relations jobs require graduate study in industrial or labor relations. A strong background in industrial relations and law is highly desirable for contract negotiators, arbitrators and mediators.

Training Period: Entry-level workers often enter on-the-job training programs in which they learn how to classify jobs, interview applicants, or administer employee benefits; they then are assigned to specific areas in the human resources department.

Strongest Market(s):

Human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists held about 904,900 jobs in 2008, and they are employed in virtually every industry. In addition there are12,900 managers and specialists who are self-employed.

Entry Level Salary: $49,350

Top Salary: $113,480 to $147,050

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is expected to grow faster than average for all human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists. Overall employment is projected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Public Relations Manager

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:36:52 +0000

It is the responsibility of the public relations department to manage communications with the media, consumers, investors, employees and the public, and they are often a spokespeople for the company. A PR manager writes press releases and spends their time responding to information requests from journalist or pitch stories to the media. PR Managers engage in promoting or creating good will for their clients — groups, individuals or organizations.

Typically a public relations manager coordinates their companies’ public relations activities. In small firms the owner or chief executive officer might assume all of the public relations responsibilities, but in large firms, an executive vice president directs overall advertising, marketing, promotions, sales, and public relations policies. Anyone interested in becoming a public relations manager should be highly motivated, creative, resistant to stress, flexible, and decisive. The ability to write and communicate well is very important. They must then select favorable publicity materials and release the information through various communications media including wire services or social media networks.

Average Salary: $83,711 to $89,430

Average Hours (per week): 50 hrs per week average but with substantial travel and long hours – often including evenings and weekends.

Union: No.

Certifications: This job requires a college graduate degree and also related experience, Certification is particularly important in a competitive job market. The number of managers who seek certification is expected to grow, and there are numerous management certification programs today based on education and job performance. The Public Relations Society of America offers a certification program for public relations practitioners based on years of experience and performance on an examination.

Training Period: Most employers prefer college graduates with experience in related occupations.

Strongest Market(s): About 48 percent of public relations managers in 2008 were employed in service-providing industries — professional, scientific, and technical services; public and private educational services; finance and insurance; government and healthcare. Others work for communications firms and financial institutions.

Today there is also a trend towards public relations jobs being dispersed throughout the United States, but traditionally PR jobs have been concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Entry Level Salary: $43,325 to $71,808. Many managers earn bonuses equal to 10 percent or more of their salaries.

Top Salary: $98,430

Job Growth Forecast: Employment is projected to grow on an average basis, although competition is tough. Public relations employment for managers is expected to increase by 13 percent through 2018, spurred by competition for a growing number of foreign and domestic goods and services that will be competing.

Public Relations Director

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:35:08 +0000

A public relations (PR) director develops, implements and tracks their company’s overall strategic public relations programs. This can include media relations, internal communications, community relations, and investor relations. Programs may often include media relations, community relations, internal communications and investor relations.

A PR director must be quick thinker with strong communication skills, both written and oral, and they should be a team leader who is confident and able to inspire co-workers and clients alike.

Education/Experience Requirements: A Bachelors degree with at least 7 years of field experience.

Average Salary: $104,837

Average Hours (per week): 50 plus hours per week with substantial travel.

Union: No.

Training Period:

Strongest Market(s):

About 48 percent of public relations managers in 2008 were employed in service-providing industries — professional, scientific, and technical services; public and private educational services; finance and insurance; government and healthcare. Others work for communications firms and financial institutions.

Entry Level Salary: $92,668

Average Salary: Average salary is $104,837.

Top Salary: $125,235 to $206,694.

Job Growth Forecast: Competition is tough, but employment is projected to grow on an average basis and increase by 13 percent through 2018, spurred by competition for a growing number of foreign and domestic goods and services that will be competing.

SVP/Vice President, Corporate Communications

admin — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:32:48 +0000

The senior vice president of corporate communications leads an agency’s corporate practice group, which is the team that develops PR and communication programs for leading corporate brands. They must have a demonstrated track record of developing and executing successful PR campaigns.

This leadership role includes new business proposal development and presentations, and research for new business leads. The senior vice president develops and executes successful PR campaigns, maintains a relationship with senior- level client contacts, manages media relations strategies, and pitching processes, often dealing with media responses. There is also research involved in this position, and maintaining and growing business prospects. Expect the scope of work to expand given different projects, and there will often be convergence assignments.

The person in this position manages and delegates the responsibilities of daily workflow for the firms accounts while driving consistent media results, while at the same time supervising work responsibilities of the staff.

Average Salary: $164,000

Average Hours (per week): 50 plus hours per week with substantial travel at times. Plus, a senior VP must work well under pressure and thrive on meeting deadlines and goals.

Union: No

Certifications: B.S/B.A or masters degree in public relations or a related field; at least eight to 10 years of PR experience. The Public Relations Society of America offers a certification program for public relations practitioners based on years of experience and performance on an examination.

Training Period: It can take as many as ten years or more to become a senior level PR practitioner.

Strongest Market(s): The best service-providing industries include communications firms and financial institutions; professional, scientific, and technical services; public and private educational services; finance and insurance; government and healthcare.

There is also a trend today for public relations jobs to be dispersed throughout the United States, but traditionally PR jobs have been concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Top Salary: $200,000 plus.

Entry Level Salary: $20,000 to $40,000.

Job Growth Forecast: Overall employment of communications and public relations is expected to increase by 13 percent through 2018.

Marketing Assistant (or Coordinator)

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 23:02:08 +0000

A marketing assistant must have good project management skills, and a sound understanding of the principles of marketing. He or she must also have a strong understanding of new technologies and how they can be applied to marketing; excellent copy writing skills; and the ability to rework technical content for a broader audience. Marketing assistants are creative and innovative and pay good attention to detail. They also have the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, members, and the general public.

Marketing assistants coordinate and assist with the departmental marketing activities of a product or business line which may include advertising, direct mailing, printing, customer events, and trade shows. The marketing assistant must be familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field. Relies on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. They perform a variety of tasks, always working under general supervision. The assistant typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

A marketing assistant will be responsible for writing reports, business correspondence, and policies and procedures, often times approving contractor agreements for financial reimbursement, tracking contractors

Responsibilities include:

Assisting in marketing research.
Ensuring the proper use of logos and brand guidelines; and assisting in proofing copy, media scheduling, and trafficking creative.
Carefully monitor communications response data and other performance and marketing metrics.
Establishing and maintaining a centralized archive of presentations, marketing materials and communications that is accessible to various functional groups internally.
Coordinating the production and distribution of various communications with outside vendors, such as printers and mail houses, to meet their designated due date.
Managing and coordinating events.
Creating and distribute communications for program updates, product enhancements, and direct marketing program timelines.
Maintaining marketing plan flowchart.
Assist in limited financial responsibilities: estimating, billing, reporting and invoicing for marketing fees and expenses, cooperative advertising requests and documentation.

Average Salary: $33,548

Average Hours (per week): 40 plus hours per week.

Union: No.

Certifications: This job may require a bachelor’s degree. College graduates with related experience, a high level of creativity, strong communication and computer skills should have the best job opportunities.

Training Period: 0-2 years of experience in the field or in a related area.

Strongest Market(s): There is a trend today for marketing jobs to be dispersed throughout the United States, but primarily concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, DC.

Entry Level Salary: $29,818 to $33,548

Top Salary: $46,693

Job Growth Forecast: 13 percent growth. The marketing industry is expected to increase faster than average, spurred by intense domestic and global competition in products and services offered to consumers and online marketing. Marketing jobs are highly coveted and are growing faster than the national average.

Marketing Manager

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 23:00:13 +0000

A marketing manager typically develops and implements strategic marketing plans for a company, and must stay abreast of changes in the marketing environment to best serve the objectives of the organization, adjusting the plans accordingly. This job requires research and the marketing manager usually works with product managers to develop pricing policies. This person will also recommend appropriate sales channels.

Familiar with a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures, a marketing manager is a key role that relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. They perform a variety of tasks, and also lead and direct the work of others.

Average Salary: $74,929 to $101,110

Average Hours (per week): 50 plus hours per week.

Union: No.

Certifications: Requires a bachelor’s degree.

Training Period: A minimum of seven years of experience in the field.

Strongest Market(s): Major metro areas.

Entry Level Salary: $64,190

Top Salary: $114,207

Job Growth Forecast: 13 percent and strong. The marketing industry is expected to increase faster than average, spurred by intense domestic and global competition in products and services offered to consumers and online marketing. Marketing jobs are highly coveted and are growing faster than the national average.

Director of Marketing and Sales

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:56:11 +0000

The director of marketing and sales will oversee the development of policies, procedures and objectives for marketing and selling the organization’s products and services. This job requires overseeing product/service development, pricing, marketing budgets, and sales objectives. The person in this role often directs the sales force, marketing staff and/or distributors and provides marketing expertise to the executive management team.

The marketing director will determine the demand for products and services, study competitors and identify potential customers. Often times it is their job to develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the company’s profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm’s customers are satisfied. They will also oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

Responsibilities include:

Consulting with product development teams on product specifications such as design, color, and packaging.
Describing product or service offerings.
Establishing distribution networks and developing distribution strategies.
Forecasting sales and strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services
Initiating market research studies and analyzing their findings.
Analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
Negotiating contracts with vendors and distributors to manage product distribution.
Working with legal staff to resolve problems, (e.g. copyright infringement and royalty sharing with outside distributors.)
Selecting products and accessories to be displayed at trade or special production shows.
Consult with buying personnel regarding the types of products or services expected to be in demand.

Average Salary: $168,106

Average Hours (per week): Long hours, including evenings and weekends are common. 40 to 50 plus hours per week with substantial travel at times. A director must work well under pressure and thrive on meeting deadlines and goals. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers work in offices close to those of top managers.

Union: No

Certifications: For marketing, this position usually requires a four year degree and eight or more years of relevant experience, and employers often prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing. Courses in business law, sales management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, and statistics are also helpful, as is the completion of an internship while the candidate is in school is highly recommended.

Training Period: Varies per industry category.

Strongest Market(s): Anywhere. There is a trend today for marketing jobs to be dispersed throughout the United States, but primarily concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Entry Level Salary: $92,438

Top Salary: $196,345

Job Growth Forecast: Overall employment of interactive marketing is expected to increase by 13 percent through 2018. The marketing industry is expected to increase faster than average, spurred by intense domestic and global competition in products and services offered to consumers and online marketing. Marketing jobs are highly coveted and are growing faster than the national average.

SVP/Vice President, Interactive Marketing

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:53:51 +0000

The senior vice president of interactive marketing must uunderstand the high level concepts for the advertising and marketing industry and the language involved with interactive strategy, branding, online marketing, promotions, search engine marketing, web design and development, and other standard industry concepts. This person is responsible for the strategy and execution of search engine marketing (SEM) campaigns as well as managing and mentoring a team of interactive marketers. This job requires managing client relationships and presenting and reporting on campaign activities in addition to managing partner relationships with Google, MSN and Yahoo. Typically this person must also manage and mentor a team of interactive marketers.

The person in this role must have strong analytic capabilities, presentation and written communication skills as well as strong analytics and reporting experience and capabilities. Strong business development experience is suggested.

This job requires an expert understanding of paid search strategies and best practices; solid understanding of SEO strategies and best practices as well as an intimate level of understanding with search engine and search engine marketing technologies. Exceptional people skills and an entrepreneurial spirit are also recommended.

Key responsibilities include

Manage, define and maintain the keyword campaign structure across all search partners
Create, categorize, and refine keyword lists to drive qualified visitors to client web sites
Maximize the ROI of a quarterly budget focused on understanding each partner’s marketplace dynamics
Design reports that measure results and highlight significant trends; Draw conclusions and effectively communicate important insights, best practices, and recommendations
Assess the performance of campaigns and strategies through timely qualitative and quantitative analysis
Analyze campaigns and translate anecdotal or qualitative data into recommendations and plans for revising the campaign
Support search partner relationships, with an eye to improving efficiency and increasing revenue
Accountable for meeting the team’s aggressive revenue and efficiency targets

Average Salary: $103,847

Union: No

Certifications: B.S/B.A or Masters degree in marketing or a related field; complete Google Certification training to become Google certified if not already certified

Training Period: Varies per industry category.

There is also a trend today for interactive marketing jobs to be dispersed throughout the United States, but primarily concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Entry Level Salary: $103,847

Top Salary: $153,125

SPV/Vice President, Marketing

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 22:51:17 +0000

The senior vice president of marketing directs all aspects of an organization’s marketing policies, objectives, and initiatives and must understand the high level concepts for the advertising and marketing industry and the language involved with strategy, branding, online marketing, promotions, search engine marketing, web design and development, and other standard industry concepts. They must identify changes in the marketing environment and evaluate competitive strategies. The vice president of marketing drafts the organization’s marketing plan and must demonstrate expertise in a variety of the field’s concepts, practices, and procedures. Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. Leads and directs the work of others. A wide degree of creativity and latitude is expected. Typically reports to top management.

This person is responsible for managing and mentoring a team of interactive marketers and the job typically requires managing client relationships and presenting and reporting on campaign activities and results. Typically this person must also manage any outside agencies.

The person in this role must have strong analytic capabilities, strong presentation and written communication skills as well as strong analytics and reporting experience and capabilities. Strong business development experience is suggested. Marketing VPS often work with advertising and promotions to promote the firm’s or organization’s products and services. With the help of lower level managers, including product development managers and market research managers, marketing strategists estimate the demand for products and services offered by the firm and its competitors and identify potential markets for the firm’s products.

This job requires an expert understanding of best marketing practices; and a good understanding of strategies and best practices as well as an intimate level of understanding with online marketing technologies. Exceptional people skills and an entrepreneurial spirit are also recommended.

Responsibilities include:

Formulating, directing and coordinating all marketing activities and policies to promote products and services.
Directing the hiring, training, and performance evaluations of marketing and sales staff and overseeing their daily activities.
Developing pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
Identify, develop, and evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
Evaluating the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, and return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
Conducting economic and commercial surveys to identify potential markets for products and services.
Calculating annual budgetary reviews with return on investment (ROI)

Average Salary: $158,909

Average Hours (per week): Long hours, including evenings and weekends are common. 40 plus hours per week with substantial travel at times. Plus, a senior VP must work well under pressure and thrive on meeting deadlines and goals. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers work in offices close to those of top managers. Substantial travel may be required in order to meet with customers and consult with others in the industry.

Union: No

Certifications: Requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 15 years of experience in the field. Employers often prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing. Courses in business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, and statistics are also helpful, as is the completion of an internship while the candidate is in school is highly recommended.

Training Period: Varies per industry category.

There is also a trend today for marketing jobs to be dispersed throughout the United States, but primarily concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Entry Level Salary: $121,215

Top Salary: $307,138

Film and Video Editors

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:17:18 +0000

Film and video editors put together into a cohesive story the footage that the directors shoot. Editors may work on motion pictures, television shows, commercials, music videos, news stories, or any kind of filmed entertainment. Sample job titles include: editor, news editor, video editor, videographer, news video editor, news videotape editor, non-linear editor, multimedia artist, production manager, and tape editor. Now virtually all editing is done digitally. Even when something is shot on film or tape it is converted to a digital format for editing and then usually converted back to the original medium.

Average Salary:

$50,560

Average Hours (per week):

Hours of work and working schedules for editors vary considerably. Those employed by television and cable networks or advertising agencies may work long hours to meet production schedules. ENG (electronic news gathering) operators often work long, irregular hours and must be available to work on short notice. Editors working in motion picture production also may work long, irregular hours.

Union:

Editors in many markets are covered by NABET and the International Cinematographers Guild.

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

Editors usually acquire their skills through formal post-secondary training at film schools, colleges, universities, or photographic institutes. A bachelor’s degree is required for most positions. Work as an editor’s assistant is valuable in learning the trade. Editors must be both extremely organized and very creative. They usually have a complete understanding of filmmaking as well as a good understanding of all of the post-production techniques such as sound editing and mixing, color correcting, special effects, and similar specialties.

Strongest Market(s):

In 2008, there were 25,500 jobs as editors. Over 37 percent of the salaried editors work in the motion picture and video industry while 18 percent work in television broadcasting. Most editors work in large metropolitan areas.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $11.85 to $15.90 per hour.

Top Salary:

$112,410

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be average over the next decade, at 7 percent to 13 percent.

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:16:37 +0000

Camera operators work television, video, or motion picture cameras to photograph images or scenes for various purposes, such as TV broadcasts, advertising, video production, or motion pictures. Sample job titles include: camera operator, photojournalist, television news photographer, production assistant, videographer, master control operator (MCO), cameraman, production technician, studio camera operator, and floor director. As with the still camera, those who know how to properly use a motion camera can work in any number of industries, from television news to sitcoms, from sports to movies.

Average Salary:

$41,670

Average Hours (per week):

Hours of work and working schedules for camera operators vary considerably. Those employed by television and cable networks or advertising agencies may work long hours to meet production schedules. ENG (electronic news gathering) operators often work long, irregular hours and must be available to work on short notice. Camera operators working in motion picture production also may work long, irregular hours.

Union:

Roughly 11 percent of all camera operators are union members, primarily in larger markets covered by NABET, IBEW, IATSE, and AFTRA contracts.

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

Television, video, and motion picture camera operators usually acquire their skills through formal training at film schools, colleges, universities, or photographic institutes. A bachelor’s degree is required for most positions. Employers usually seek applicants with a good eye, imagination, and creativity, as well as a good technical understanding of how the camera operates.

Strongest Market(s):

Most medium-sized cities have television stations that need camera operators, and the competition may be far less than in the major cities. Even though the competition is fierce, the largest cities are where most of the television production is done.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $10.44 to $13.95 per hour.

Top Salary:

$79,440

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be average over the next decade at 7 to 13 percent.

Photojournalist

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:15:36 +0000

Photojournalists document people and events, usually for news stories, but sometimes also for feature stories. Though photojournalists are usually still photographers, videographers, documentary filmmakers, and various video and film artists may also consider themselves to be photojournalists. Many specialize in specific areas, such as sports, entertainment, foreign policy, war, nature, travel, or crime. Most often their photographs accompany news stories, but photojournalists try to capture the moments that speak for themselves.

Average Salary:

$24,040

Average Hours (per week):

Photojournalists work in publishing, news gathering, government, advertising, and other fields. Travel is frequently required, sometimes over long stretches. The hours are extremely erratic.

Union:

None

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

A college degree in journalism and/or photography, or some related field is necessary. Most photojournalists can get good training not only in college classes but working on the school newspaper and yearbook. A strong liberal arts degree with an emphasis on history, social sciences, political science, with art and art history courses is recommended. Most photojournalists begin as assistants. It is important to try to get an internship with a newspaper or magazine. Many news gathering organizations require some form of formal training and a minimum of a few years of journalism experience.

Strongest Market(s):

Changes in the publishing industry because of the advent of strong Internet news sites suggest short-term freelance and contract work are becoming common. Electronic digital image processing and manipulation are growth areas.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals start around $7.32 per hour.

Top Salary:

$49,920

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be stagnant.

Photographer, Scientific

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:13:19 +0000

Scientific photographers take images of a variety of subjects to record scientific or medical data or phenomena, using knowledge of scientific procedures. They typically possess additional knowledge in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry. They create photographic displays for scientific exhibits, brochures, and other related material.

Average Salary:

$48,326

Average Hours (per week):

Scientific photographers are typically free-lance professionals who contract out their services. Some are employed in part-time and full-time positions in industrial research and development, and education.

Union:

None

Certifications:

Some certifications are available in particular sciences.

Training Period:

Scientific photography generally requires a college degree in photography or in a field related to the industry in which the photographer seeks employment. In addition to professional-level skills in all of the many details of photography, an avid interest in science and an education therein, is a must.

Strongest Market(s):

Growth markets for scientific photographers include: aerospace and industrial manufacturing, and scientific research and development services.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $19.78 to $21.82 per hour.

Top Salary:

$64,070

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be higher than the national average over the next decade, at 14 to 19 percent.

Biomedical Photographer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:11:44 +0000

The biomedical photographer photographs patients, operating room procedures, and autopsy specimens; the biomedical photographer also designs layouts and materials for special projects, and selects the most technically correct, cost effective and efficient method for photographing subjects. This photographer typically reports to a supervisor or manager.

Average Salary:

$48,326

Average Hours (per week):

Medical photographers are typically free-lance professionals contracting their services. Some are employed in part-time and full-time positions in hospitals, medical schools, and in the biomedical industry.

Union:

None

Certifications:

The position may require a technical certification, offered by the BioCommunications Association’s Board of Registry, in order to become a Registered Biological Photographer (R.B.P.).

Training Period:

This particular specialty usually requires a high school diploma or its equivalent and two to four years of related experience. The photographer must be familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the biomedical field. The photographer relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish his tasks. A certain degree of creativity is required, as well as an attention to the many details involved in photography. An interest in science, medicine, and/or technology is recommended for a successful career in biomedical photography.

Strongest Market(s):

Medical photography is a small competitive field. Medical photographers are utilized in education. Changes in technology dictate that photographers are needed to produce state-of-the art computer representations of biological processes.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $19.78 per hour to $21.82 per hour.

Top Salary:

$57,432

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be higher than the national average over the next decade, at 14 to 19 percent

Photographers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:10:21 +0000

Photographers photograph persons, subjects, merchandise, or other commercial products. They may develop negatives and produce finished prints. Sample job titles include: photographer, photojournalist, newspaper photographer, newspaper photojournalist, advertising photographer, news photographer, photo editor, sports photographer, and studio photographer.

Average Salary:

$29,440

Average Hours (per week):

Working conditions for photographers vary considerably. Some photographers may work a 5-day, 40-hour week. News photographers, however, often work long, irregular hours and must be available to work on short notice. Many photographers work part time or on variable schedules. 60 percent of photographers are self-employed and 28 percent are employed in professional, scientific, and technical services.

Union:

None

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

Entry-level positions in photojournalism or in industrial or scientific photography generally require a college degree in photography or in a field related to the industry in which the photographer seeks employment. Entry-level freelance or portrait photographers need technical proficiency. Some complete a college degree or vocational training programs. Photographers wishing to enter the news business can often find an internship with a publishing entity, where they can develop a real-life portfolio, get experience and develop contacts.

Strongest Market(s):

Demand for portrait photographers should increase as the population grows. Growth of Internet versions of magazines, journals, and newspapers will require increasing numbers of commercial photographers to provide digital images. The Internet and improved data management programs also should make it easier for freelancers to market directly to their customers, increasing opportunities for self-employment and decreasing reliance on stock photo agencies. This allows the photographer more freedom to work and live virtually anywhere, depending on the particular subjects they are shooting.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $8.14 to $9.91 per hour.

Top Salary:

$62,430

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be average nationally over the next decade at 7 to 13 percent.

Sound Engineering Technicians

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:09:10 +0000

Sound engineering technicians operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theatre productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions.

Average Salary:

$47,490

Average Hours (per week):

Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common.

Union:

None

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

Sound engineering technicians usually complete a vocational program, which can take about a year, although there are shorter programs. Prospective technicians should take high school courses in math, physics, and electronics. Technicians need to have excellent computer training to be successful in this field.

Strongest Market(s):

People seeking entry-level jobs as sound engineer technicians are expected to face keen competition because of the large number of people attracted by the glamour of working in the entertainment and recording industries. Competition will be stronger in large metropolitan areas where pay is generally higher and the number of job seekers usually exceeds the number of openings. Prospects for entry-level positions are expected to be better in small cities and towns, provided that the jobseeker has appropriate training. Industry markets are: motion picture and video, sound recording, radio and television, performing arts, and cable.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $11.44 to $15.75 per hour.

Top Salary:

$92,700

Job Growth Forecast:

Job growth is expected to be slower than the national average over the next decade, at 3 to 6 percent.

Radio Operators

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:08:09 +0000

Radio operators receive and transmit communications using radio/telephone equipment, in accordance with government regulations. They may also repair equipment. A sample of job titles includes: communications specialist, radio electronics officer (REO), flight communications specialist, radio operator, telecommunication operator, airline operations agent, flight follower, police communications operator, communications technician, and radio electronics technician (RET).

Average Salary:

$37,120

Average Hours (per week):

Over 58 percent of jobs for radio operators are with government agencies. 15 percent of them work in the information telecommunications industry.

Union:

None

Certifications:

No certification or licensing is required for most radio operator jobs.

Training Period:

Radio operators are not usually required to complete any formal training. This is an entry-level position that generally requires on-the-job training.

Strongest Market(s):

Radio operator is a low-demand occupation, with 1,000 jobs nationwide.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $9.25 per hour to $13.41 per hour.

Top Salary:

$61,290

Job Growth Forecast:

Job growth is expected to be about at the national average over the next decade, at 7 percent to 13 percent.

Broadcast Technicians

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:06:50 +0000

Broadcast technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to transmit radio and television programs. They control audio equipment to regulate volume level and quality of sound during radio and television broadcasts. They operate transmitters to broadcast radio or television programs. Sample job titles include: broadcast engineer, and audio engineer.

Average Salary:

$32,900

Average Hours (per week):

Broadcast technicians at large stations and the networks usually work a 40-hour week under great pressure to meet broadcast deadlines, and may occasionally be required to work overtime. Technicians at small stations routinely work more than 40 hours a week. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is usual because most stations are on the air 18 to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some technicians need to be available on call whenever the station is broadcasting. Technicians must handle any problems that occur during this time.

Union:

Roughly 11 percent of all broadcasting employees are union members, primarily in larger markets covered by NABET, IBEW, IATSE, and AFTRA contracts.

Certifications:

Licensing is not required for broadcast technicians. However, certification by the Society of Broadcast Engineers is issued to experienced technicians who pass an examination, and the certification may help with advancement. Experienced technicians can become supervisory technicians or chief engineers.

Training Period:

A college degree in engineering is needed to become chief engineer at large television stations. Technical school, community college, or college training in broadcast technology, electronics, or computer networking provides the best preparation.

Strongest Market(s):

People seeking entry-level jobs as broadcast technicians are expected to face keen competition because of the large number of people attracted by the glamour of working in television or radio. Competition will be stronger in large metropolitan areas where pay is generally higher and the number of job seekers usually exceeds the number of openings. Prospects for entry-level positions are expected to be better in small cities and towns, provided that the jobseeker has appropriate training.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $8.42 to $11.01 per hour.

Top Salary:

$66,550

Job Growth Forecast:

Little to no growth is expected over the next decade. The prospects range from negative two percent to two percent.

Audio and Video Equipment Technicians

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:05:07 +0000

AV technicians set up, and/or operate audio and video equipment, including microphones, sound speakers, video screens, projectors, video monitors, recording equipment, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, and related electronic equipment. They may do this for concerts, sports events, meetings and conventions, presentations, or news conferences, among other possible events. They may also set up and operate associated spotlights and other custom lighting systems. Sample job titles include: production assistant, audio visual technician, master control operator (MCO), broadcast engineer, stagehand, videographer, audio/visual manager, audio/visual operator, equipment technician, master control engineer

Average Salary:

$38,050

Average Hours (per week):

Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators at large stations and the networks usually work a 40-hour week under great pressure to meet broadcast deadlines. They may occasionally work overtime. Technicians at small stations routinely work more than 40 hours a week. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is usual because most stations are on the air 18 to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work long hours to meet contractual deadlines.

Union:

Roughly 11percent of all broadcasting employees are union members, primarily in larger markets covered by NABET, IBEW, IATSE, and AFTRA contracts.

Certifications:

Training Period:

Technical school, community college, or college training in broadcast technology, electronics, or computer networking provides the best preparation for these jobs.

Strongest Market(s):

Job applicants will face keen competition for jobs in major metropolitan areas, where pay generally is higher. Prospects are expected to be better in small cities and towns. About 29 percent of these workers are in broadcasting, mainly in radio and television stations, and 15 percent work in the motion picture, video, and sound recording industries.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $10.34 to $13.52 per hour.

Top Salary:

$66,030

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be average over the next decade at 7 to 13 percent.

Interpreters and Translators

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:04:02 +0000

Interpreters translate or interpret written, oral, or sign language text into another language for others. Sample job titles include: sign language interpreter, interpreter, translator, educational interpreter, medical interpreter, paraprofessional interpreter, bilingual interpreter, conference interpreter, conference translator, court interpreter

Average Salary:

$38,850

Average Hours (per week):

Over 26 percent of interpreters are self-employed freelancers. Their schedules often vary, with periods of limited work interspersed with periods requiring long, irregular hours. For those who freelance, a significant amount of time must be dedicated to looking for jobs. Another 28 percent of interpreters work in educational settings. Interpreters who work over the telephone or through videoconferencing generally work in call centers in urban areas and keep to a standard 5-day, 40-hour work week.

Union:

None

Certifications:

Currently there is no universal form of certification required in the United States. However there are a variety of different tests that workers can take to demonstrate proficiency. One, the American Translators Association, provides certification in 24 language combinations involving English for its members. Federal courts have certification for Spanish, Navajo, and Haitian Creole interpreters, and many state and municipal courts offer their own forms of certification. The National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators also offers certification for court interpreting. The U.S. Department of State has a three-test series for prospective interpreters — one test in simple consecutive interpreting (for escort work), another in simultaneous interpreting (for court or seminar work), and a third in conference-level interpreting (for international conferences) — as well as a test for prospective translators. Additionally, the International Association of Conference Interpreters offers certification for conference interpreters. The National Association of the Deaf and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) jointly offer certification for general sign interpreters.

Training Period:

The educational backgrounds of interpreters and translators vary. Knowing at least two languages is obviously essential. The more languages one knows, the more one is in demand. (Knowing three languages doubles the potential number of jobs; knowing four languages increases that number by a factor of six.)

Strongest Market(s):

Strong markets for interpreters and translators are: education, professional technical services, local government, and general medical and surgical hospitals. The demand for interpreters is high in all regions of the country.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $9.73 to $12.38 per hour.

Top Salary:

$55,290

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be much higher than average over the next decade, at 20 percent or higher.

Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:02:50 +0000

Here described as “creative writers,” this field encompasses a great deal of work. Generally creative writers are responsible for original written works, whether they are film or stage scripts, essays, prose, poetry or song lyrics – all for publication or performance. Sample job titles include: author, freelance writer, novelist, songwriter, lyricist, book reviewer, creative writer, documentary script writer, freelance journalist, or librettist.

Average Salary:

$53,070

Average Hours (per week):

Some poets, lyricists and creative writers keep regular office hours, either to maintain contact with sources, collaborators, publishers and editors, or to establish a writing routine. Most, though, set their own hours. Many writers — especially freelance writers —are paid per completed assignment and must work any number of hours necessary to meet a deadline. As a result, writers must be willing to work evenings, nights, or weekends to produce a piece acceptable to an editor or client by the deadline.

Union:

Where applicable, the same unions and guilds apply to poets, lyricists and creative writers. The theatre and film industries often require membership of anyone working in those industries, and that would even apply to writers.

Certifications:

None.

Training Period:

A bachelor’s degree or higher is typically needed for these jobs, and can be the preliminary source for the specific working training needed. Training and experience are found in college theatre and music programs, where playwrights and songwriters have an opportunity to have their work performed. Many magazines, newspapers, and broadcast stations also have internships for students. Interns may write stories, conduct research and interviews, and learn about the publishing, theatre, or broadcasting business.

Strongest Market(s):

Over 70 percent of all poets, lyricists and creative writers are self-employed, permitting them to work virtually anywhere they have access to the Internet, fax, or phone.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $10.62 to $14.07 per hour. There are paid internships available, or internships for college credit, which are more common. As creative industries are often difficult to break into, this path is helpful in establishing contacts, getting to know the business one is interested in, and developing a real-life portfolio.

Top Salary:

$87,390

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be higher than average over the next decade at 14 to 19 percent.

Authors and Writers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:01:46 +0000

Writers originate and prepare written material, such as scripts, stories, advertisements, and other material. They work in both fiction and non-fiction, depending on their specialties and on the demands of the marketplace.

Average Salary:

$53,070

Average Hours (per week):

Some writers keep regular office hours, either to maintain contact with sources and editors or to establish a writing routine, but most writers are freelance and therefore set their own hours. Many writers — especially freelance writers — are paid per completed assignment. So, they must work any number of hours necessary to meet a deadline. As a result, writers must be willing to work evenings, nights, or weekends to produce a piece acceptable to an editor or client by the deadline.

Union:

There are a number of unions and/or guilds for authors and writers, depending on the industry they write in (film, publishing, newspaper, fiction, broadcasting, non-fiction, and even Internet). The National Writers Union and the Writers Guild are two of the more well known among them.

Certifications:

None. Certain specialties that writers work on have certifications but they generally wouldn’t help the writer get the writing assignment. They would help the writer in becoming a specialist. There are many certifications related to technical fields that a technical writer may want to consider.

Training Period:

Depending on the market the writer is working on, there are plenty of internships available at publishing houses, film production houses, newspapers, and the like. The ability to write well almost certainly demands a college education with as wide a variety of subjects as possible.

Strongest Market(s):

Over 70 percent of all writers are self-employed, permitting them to work virtually anywhere they have access to communications equipment (Internet, fax, phone).

Entry Level Salary:

Entry-level salaries for qualified individuals range from $10.62 to $14.07 per hour.

Top Salary:

$87,390

Job Growth Forecast:

Growth is expected to be higher than average over the next decade at 14 to 19 percent, primarily because of exponentially increased need for writers online. Job prospects for most technical writing jobs are expected to be good, particularly for those with web or multimedia experience.

Editors

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:00:36 +0000

Editors plan, coordinate, or edit content of material for publication. They often review story proposals from writers, or assign stories from other sources to particular writers. They must sometimes copy edit drafts of stories for possible publication. Job titles may include: copy editor, technical editor, and advertising editor.

Average Salary:

$57,180

Average Hours (per week):

Editors’ schedules generally are determined by the news organization’s production schedule and the type of editorial position. Most salaried editors work in very busy offices and have to deal with production deadline pressures and the stresses of ensuring that the information they publish is accurate. As a result, editors often work long hours, especially leading up to a publication deadline. Deadlines are often daily or even more frequently when editing material for the Internet or for a live broadcast. Overseeing and coordinating multiple writing projects simultaneously is common in these jobs. Freelance editors face the added pressures of finding work on an ongoing basis and continually adjusting to new work environments.

Union:

None

Certifications:

A college degree is required for a position as an editor. Mastery of computers and communications equipment is necessary in order to stay in touch with sources, editors, and other writers while working on assignments, whether from home, an office, or while traveling.

Training Period:

A bachelor’s degree or higher is typically needed for a job as an author, writer, or editor. Good training and experience for editorial jobs can be had by working on high school and college newspapers, community newspapers, and radio and television stations. Most magazines, newspapers, and broadcast stations also have internships for students. Interns may write stories, conduct research and interviews, and learn about the publishing or broadcasting business from the inside.

Strongest Market(s):

The largest market for editors is in the newspaper, magazine, and publishing industries. Demand is high in these industries in Washington D.C., New York, Boston and Chicago. Currently there is a shift from print editorial to online digital editorial.

Entry Level Salary:

Entry level salaries for qualified individuals range from $13.51 to $17.64 per hour.

Top Salary:

$95,490

Job Growth Forecast:

Little or no change in growth for editors is anticipated in the coming decade due to the shift to online editorial.

Reporters and Correspondents

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:59:03 +0000

Reporters, or journalists, investigate leads and news tips to write stories for publication or broadcast. They look at documents, observe events at the scene, and interview people. They take careful notes and may sometimes take photographs or shoot videos. They organize the material, decide which aspects of the story to emphasize, write their stories, and edit accompanying video material. Usually, reporters enter information or write stories on laptop computers and electronically submit the material to their offices from remote locations. Increasingly, reporters are asked to maintain and produce material for a newspaper’s website. Radio and television reporters often compose stories and report live from the scene. At times, they later tape an introduction to, or commentary on, their stories in the studio. Some journalists also interpret the news or offer opinions to readers, viewers, or listeners. In this role, they are called commentators or columnists.

Average Salary:

$34,850

Average Hours (per week):

The work environment is tremendously hectic. There is great pressure to meet deadlines. Broadcast reporters/correspondents have very little time prior to airing for preparation of their stories. Work hours vary. Print reporters working for morning papers often work from late afternoon until midnight. Radio and television reporters are typically assigned to day or evening shifts. Hours change frequently to meet deadlines or follow late-breaking developments. Work may require long hours, irregular schedules, and some travel.

Union:

Many of these positions require union membership.

Certifications:

No certification or licensing is required.

Training Period:

Most employers prefer individuals with a bachelor’s degree in journalism or mass communications, but some hire graduates with other majors. They look for experience at school newspapers or broadcasting stations, and internships with news organizations. Large-city newspapers and stations also may prefer candidates with a degree in a subject-matter specialty such as economics, political science, or business. Some large newspapers and broadcasters may hire only experienced reporters.

Strongest Market(s):

The largest market for reporters and correspondents is Washington D.C. and other metropolitan areas.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $9.70 to $12.38 per hour.

Top Salary:

$77,480

Job Growth Forecast:

Due to industry consolidation this category is expected to decline by 8 percent over the next decade.

Broadcast News Analysts

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:58:06 +0000

News analysts — also sometimes referred to as newscasters or news anchors — examine, interpret, and broadcast news received from various sources. News anchors present news stories and introduce videotaped news or live transmissions from on-the-scene reporters. News analysts are also off-screen individuals who work behind the scenes to gather the news, or check facts, or direct reporters to investigate certain areas of their stories. They also may help in editing the news stories before they go on the air. Often, news analysts are specialists in a certain area of interest and will appear on news shows to give their analysis and opinions regarding current events. These jobs may be in any area, but are most often in “beats” that get a lot of coverage, such as national, state and local politics; criminal and civil legal proceedings (and, for a very select few, the Supreme Court); and various areas of business, from local to international.

Average Salary:

$51,890

Average Hours (per week):

The weeks are often long and go well into the weekends and late at night, particularly if there is a breaking story. News analysts work easily over 40 hours per week.

Union:

Typically this is a non-union management position.

Certifications:

No certification or licensing is required.

Training Period:

Most employers prefer individuals with a bachelor’s degree in journalism or mass communications, but some hire graduates with other majors. The employers look for experience at school newspapers or broadcasting stations, and internships with news organizations. Large-city newspapers and television and radio stations also may prefer candidates with a degree in a subject-matter specialty such as economics, political science, or business. Some large newspapers and broadcasters may hire only experienced reporters. Generally news analysts have a strong liberal arts education, with emphasis on history, political science, social science, and even psychology.

Strongest Market(s):

There were 6,310 broadcast news analysts in 2008. Due to the limited number of broadcast licenses, smaller markets (Idaho, Georgia, Utah, Montana, and South Dakota) offer a better opportunity for entry-level news analyst jobs versus larger markets.

Entry Level Salary:

The starting salary range is $11.28 to $15.39 per hour.

Top Salary:

$156,200

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is below average at 4 percent.

Public Address System and Other Announcers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:56:43 +0000

Known generally as P.A. or public announcers, these voice talents make announcements over loud speakers at sporting events or other public events. A public announcer may act as master of ceremonies or a disc jockey at weddings, parties, clubs, or other gathering places. Sample job titles include: disc jockey (DJ), master of ceremonies (MC), mobile disc jockey (mobile DJ), announcer, public address announcer, bingo caller, entertainer, event planner, emcee, and track announcer.

Average Salary:

$27,420

Average Hours (per week):

The average work week is fairly low at 25 hours per week. A third of all public address announcers are self-employed and work a variety of hours and days. Weekends and evenings are common. The balance are employed in the arts, entertainment and recreation industries.

Union:

None

Certifications:

No certification or licensing is required for this job.

Training Period:

These occupations usually require a high-school diploma, and some job preparation is necessary. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations. Most announcers are comfortable in front of people, no matter the level of “performance” required. Not only a pleasant voice, but practiced skill in public speaking is necessary to success.

Strongest Market(s):

Typical industries employing this category include: performing arts companies, spectator sports, promoters of events, independent artists, writers, performers, amusement, gambling, and recreation industries, and fitness and recreational sports centers. The strongest markets for this category are in the Midwest.

Entry Level Salary:

The starting salary averages at $7.51 to $13.18 per hour.

Top Salary:

$69,850

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is anywhere from 7 to 13 percent, depending on the area and the particular job within these various industries.

Radio and Television Announcers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:55:32 +0000

Announcers, basically, talk on radio or television. They may interview guests, act as master of ceremonies, read news flashes, identify station by giving call letters, or announce song title and artist. Sample job titles include: news anchor, anchor, television news anchor (TV news anchor), announcer, meteorologist, host, program director, sports director, radio announcer, and news director.

Average Salary:

$29,940.

Average Hours (per week):

Generally, announcers work around the average amount of hours per week, which is 36 in the communications industry. Many stations broadcast 24 hours a day, so announcers can expect to work unusual hours. Many announcers work part time and many are self-employed working freelance.

Union:

Roughly 11 percent of all broadcasting employees are union members, primarily in larger markets covered by NABET, IBEW, IATSE, and AFTRA contracts.

Certifications:

No certification or licensing is required.

Training Period:

Announcers usually begin at a station in a small community and, if they are qualified, may move to a better paying job in a large city. They also may advance by hosting a regular program, as a disc jockey, sportscaster, or other specialist. Competition for employment by networks is particularly intense, and employees will need a college degree with at least several years of successful announcing experience if they wish to advance.

Strongest Market(s):

Announcers held about 67,400 jobs in 2008. About 51 percent were employed in radio and television broadcasting. Many other announcers are self-employed freelance announcers, who sell their services to networks and stations, advertising agencies, other independent producers, or to sponsors of local events. Due to the limited number of broadcast licenses, smaller markets (North and South Dakota, Alaska, Montana and West Virginia) offer better entry level opportunities for announcer jobs versus larger markets.

Entry Level Salary:

Salaries in broadcasting vary widely, but generally are relatively low, except for announcers who work for large stations in major markets or for networks. The starting salary averages a very low $7.45 per hour to $12.95 predicated on location. Even though there is more competition, urban areas pay more per hour.

Top Salary: Earnings are higher in television than in radio and higher in commercial broadcasting than in public broadcasting. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $7.45, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $36.42.

Job Growth Forecast:

Job opportunities for radio and television announcers are projected to decline between 3 percent and 9 percent over the next decade. Projected job openings over the decade are 15,500. Announcers held about 67,400 jobs in 2008, with 51 percent employed in radio and television broadcasting.

Book Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:48:46 +0000

Book designers work either full-time or as a freelance regular for a publishing company. The book designer designs not only the jacket and cover of the book, but also the interior. The designer works with the book editor and the publisher’s art director to find out all the information needed to correctly design the book. Designers then make a variety of sketches to show the editor and art director, and sometimes the author. With input from them, the sketches are changed and improved until everyone is happy with the look. Then, more specific drawings or designs are produced to exact specifications.

A designer must communicate clearly with, and supervise the ongoing work of any artists or designers or photographers that help in providing the elements that go into the book design.
Average Salary:

$50,000.
Average Hours (per week):

The average work week for the book designer is 40 hours, though as more designers become freelancers, their hours may vary, and they must make themselves available to the clients in the Publishing house.
Union:

Membership in the Graphic Artists Guild, though not mandatory, may help with networking possibilities.
Certifications:

As with all design jobs, a good design portfolio will get you the job.
Training Period:

A bachelor’s degree in art and design, with courses in publishing, is necessary, as is proficiency on all design software. Courses in psychology, marketing, and business are a good idea. A love of books is not necessary, but it helps. An internship in a publishing house, or a couple of years as an assistant, provides you with a strong knowledge of the demands of the business, a few connections in the industry, and a strong portfolio.
Strongest Market(s):

New York and Boston house most of the book publishers, and are still the centers of the book-publishing world. However, more and more book designing jobs are being outsourced rather than having a full-time staff position, so it may not be quite as necessary to live in one of these two cities.
Entry Level Salary:

$30,000.
Top Salary:

$65,000.
Job Growth Forecast:
The job growth forecast over the next ten years for book designers is 7 percent. Though the Web is replacing many publishing enterprises, there is still a demand for books, specialty and otherwise, that online resources have enhanced rather than diminished.

Design Director

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:46:58 +0000

The design director develops, implements and manages a company’s design strategy, with ultimate responsibility for the company’s product design output. They may work for a design firm, often as its head, or as the head of the design department within a big manufacturing company.
Average Salary:

$120,000.
Average Hours (per week):

40 plus hours per week are the norm for the design director, who has multiple responsibilities.
Union:

No
Certifications:

No certifications are needed that relate directly to director level, though certification in project management would be needed along the way, as well as any engineering certification related to design specialties.
Training Period:

At least ten years of direct experience and a master’s degree are required. An understanding of business administration, people management, engineering, and government regulations related to the areas of design, and best practices are also necessary.
Strongest Market(s):

Some design directors work with start-ups, helping to perfect the products of an entrepreneur. They would want to live in California, where most of the innovators live. Others would be where the prestigious design firms are, or would have worked their way up inside a manufacturing company, which are most anywhere.
Entry Level Salary:

$60,000. This is the low end of a Director’s salary, or a typical senior manager’s pay.
Top Salary:

$180,000.
Job Growth Forecast:
The ten-year Design Director forecast is 7 percent growth, along the lines with growth in high-tech and the need for senior management in all areas of product design and manufacturing.

Design Manager

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:45:10 +0000

The design manager, or industrial design manager, or commercial design manager, or senior manager, is the creative director of the product-designers and draftsmen working to develop or improve products.

Design managers often hire the other designers, then oversees their work. The design manager works with the client and the other members of a design firm to understand completely the client’s needs and budget. They then develop a schedule and puts the right team or teams together to complete the project on time. The manager also advises the teams all along the way, to make sure that they stay on track with the client’s specifications.

A design manager usually works in the same product-design firms as the designers. However, some prefer to work in companies on one kind of product, whether it is a car company, a toy company, or a manufacturing company that produces better and better machine parts.
Average Salary:

$104,000.

Average Hours (per week):

A typical work week for a manager is usually more than 40 hours.
Union:

No.
Certifications:

CAD certification as well as project management certification is a good idea. Also, managers must remain current in areas of product design, consumer trends, and software. They must also stay current with any issues affect the particular industry they are working in.
Training Period:

Beyond the bachelor’s degree or master’s degree that the industrial designer requires, seven years at least are required in a specialized area of design to be a design manager. Besides people management abilities, the job requires project management, and a strong business sense.
Strongest Market(s):

Design and engineering firms needing managers are all over the country. Big manufacturing firms also need managers. The prestigious product design firms are in California, New York, and Boston. Design managers who prefer to work in one industry can go to anywhere that there is a factory with designers.
Entry Level Salary:

$77,000. This is the typical salary for a beginning design manager or a commercial/industrial designer with a few years of experience.
Top Salary:

$136,000.
Job Growth Forecast:
Just as with industrial designers, the ten-year forecast for job growth for design managers and senior designers is 7 percent. Of particular interest is the steady growth, beyond seven percent in the high-tech field.

Commercial/Industrial Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:43:29 +0000

The Commercial/Industrial Designer employs an understanding of design, engineering, marketing, psychology, and other skills to design or improve the products we use every day. Though many designers specialize in a particular product category such as cars, appliances, tech goods, medical equipment or even toys, they all combine an appreciation for art, business and engineering in their work of developing and improving products.

Many designers who work for design firms get their assignments from clients, who wish to turn their product ideas into reality so that they can be tested. The designers must gather from the clients all the information they need to perform their assignments. They will often present several possible design sketches, each with its own advantages and drawbacks, in order to discuss the client’s preferences, and to move on to a more thorough design stage.
Average Salary:

$62,000.
Average Hours (per week):

The designer works an average forty-hour week. Because of the nature of product design, there are not usually the overnight deadlines that require overtime.
Union:

No.
Certifications:

A good design portfolio and a certificate in Computer Aided Design are essential.
Training Period:

A bachelor’s degree in industrial design or engineering is necessary. Many designers also pursue master’s degrees for better entry-level positions. Courses should include design, CAD, manufacturing methods, engineering, math, and psychology. An understanding of marketing and business is helpful. One to three years of on-the-job training is required before one can expect to move up
Strongest Market(s):

California is and will continue to be the entrepreneurial center of the world, and the natural home base for anyone wanting to create the next big product in any number of industries. However, any big city will have product-design firms that are producing great ideas, products, and product innovations.
Entry Level Salary:

$30,000. Higher salaries are expected by candidates with Master’s degrees.
Top Salary:

$95,000. More for management positions.
Job Growth Forecast:
The ten-year forecast for commercial/industrial designers working in companies and design firms is 7 percent. Though that is lower than the national average, there is a particular need in the growing high-tech world.

Exhibit Designer — Museum

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:41:36 +0000

Exhibit designers design and construct environments and exhibits for museums. They must make the material as easily reachable and as understandable as possible. They also try to make the exhibits as engaging as possible.

The exhibit designer works with the curator and other museum personnel to gather all the information needed about the exhibit: the number of pieces, the space allowed, and the content and all of the educational material to be conveyed. The designer then makes several possible design sketches for the curator to choose from. The designer then adapts the designs to the curator’s needs and other demands. Once the design is finalized, the designer oversees its construction and installation, making any and all final touches before the exhibit is open to the public.
Average Salary:

$62,000

Average Hours (per week):

The average work week for an exhibit designer is 40 hours, and more if there is a special exhibit with deadlines.
Union:

No
Certifications:

Good portfolio, as with all design jobs, is essential. CAD Certification may be useful, especially as museums are increasingly working toward stimulating environments and not just exhibits.
Training Period:

A Bachelors degree in scenic design with emphasis on interior design is recommended. Many exhibit designers have specialties – art, science, natural history, etc, — based on their own interests. A thorough education in your specialty is also a good idea. Exhibit designers definitely need as broad a liberal arts education as possible in order to be able to design any kind of exhibit. Ability to research is crucial. Graphic arts courses are also a good idea. Internships in museums are a chance to build a portfolio and learn on-the-job techniques as well as develop connections with future employers.
Strongest Market(s):

Washington, D.C. is the place with most of the museums, which, run by the federal government, generally have more money at their disposal. Any major metropolitan area, though, also has plenty of museums, which feature both semi-permanent exhibits as well as traveling or temporary shows.
Entry Level Salary:

$40,000.
Top Salary:

$86,000.
Job Growth Forecast:
The forecasts for ten-year job growth for exhibit designers is 12 percent. Since most museums are dependent on the philanthropy of both individuals and businesses, jobs are expected to increase as the economy improves.

Set Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:40:14 +0000

Set designers use a sense of design, an understanding of the architecture of the period presented in the play or film (or commercial), and an understanding of theatre or film in general to create engaging sets.

Set designers read the script and work with the director to understand all the basic needs of the set as well as the director’s vision. They must often do research to ensure that their designs are accurate with the period presented, and with the place presented. The designer shows several possible sketches for the sets to the director, and then must adapt and change as the sketches move to models and to blueprints and then the set itself.
Average Salary:

$45,000. Theatre set designers are on average lower salaries than for film and television.
Average Hours (per week):

Unless employed by a studio or production company, where the work would be steady, the days would be long to meet production deadlines. Forty-plus hours per week would be expected.
Union:

IATSE is the union for most people in the scenic professions, whether building or designing.
Certifications:

CAD certification is useful. The portfolio of your work is still the determining factor for employment.
Training Period:

A college degree – an Associates or, better yet, Bachelors degree — in scenic design is required. Courses in theatre and film, architecture, and art are a good idea. Understanding of structure and construction is helpful. Two to four years working as an assistant will be necessary. As with other design professions, getting an internship with a production company or theatre company would help you build a portfolio, establish connections in the industry, and give you a good working knowledge of the business from the inside.
Strongest Market(s):

Los Angeles is where the soundstages are. Vancouver, Canada, too. New York is where Broadway is. Other big cities may afford an opportunity to build a portfolio by working in theatre.
Entry Level Salary:

$25,000. Set design is competitive, so the entry-level salary is low for both film and theatre.
Top Salary:

$75,000.
Job Growth Forecast:
The ten-year growth projection is 14 percent for set designers, which is better than average growth because of increased film and video markets, both globally and with ever-increasing cable markets.

Interior Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:38:50 +0000

Interior designers design the interior space of homes, office buildings, restaurants, and virtually any inside space. The designer works with the client to find out all of the practical needs of the space, and any particular problems that may have to be overcome. They then put together an understanding of space, architecture, art, fabrics, colors and textures to make both an optimally attractive and practical space within the client’s budget. The interior designer needs to be a successful communicator, in addition to having the artistic skills.
Average Salary:

$42,000. Salaries vary widely depending on the type of design specialty and employer.
Average Hours (per week):

The average work week of forty hours fits most interior design schedules. There are deadlines in this profession, too, which often require late nights.
Union:

No, though most are members of American Society for Interior Designers, a trade association.
Certifications:

Some states require a license. Six years combined college education and experience are required before one can take the test. Once certified, continuing education is required to keep the license. Optional certifications in kitchen and bath design are available.
Training Period:

An associates or bachelors degree is recommended for entry-level interior-design positions. A degree in interior design, with courses in architecture and some knowledge of engineering is a good foundation. Besides art courses, knowledge of CAD (Computer-Aided Design) is crucial. Internships with a design firm will help you develop connections, give you a better understanding of the business, and help you develop your portfolio.
Strongest Market(s):

Any city with 500,000 population is going to be of sufficient market-size to support design firms needing help.
Entry Level Salary:

$25,000. The entry-level salary is low because of the competition to get into good interior design firms.
Top Salary:

$85,000 is the usual top salary, but supervisory designers, owners of firms, and more experienced and specialized designers make several times that.
Job Growth Forecast:
The ten-year job forecast for interior designers is 19 percent over the next ten years. This forecast is surprisingly good. As the economy improves, housing will improve as will expansion of businesses. Meanwhile, more homeowners are appreciating individualized interior design and are more likely to pay for expert advice.

Senior Graphic Design Specialist

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:37:11 +0000

Also called a Senior Graphic Artist, this individual creates visual solutions to communication problems. Using a knowledge of type, art, composition, illustration, photography, and all of the visual arts, Graphic Designers also use computers to put together visuals for advertising, packaging, promotions, layout of newspapers and magazines, branding, just about everything that uses graphic arts. The Senior Specialist, in a book or magazine publishing house or a design firm, would be like an advertising Creative Director. This person would oversee other graphic artists and help plan larger projects.
Average Salary:

The average salary for a graphic designer is $50,000 at a newspaper; and $75,000 at a magazine. Those working on advertising are usually freelance and can make any amount of money.
Average Hours (per week):

The average work week usually exceeds forty hours, depending on the average deadline, which almost certainly demands working late nights.
Union:

No, except possibly if working in the newspapers.
Certifications:

Even a senior artist needs to keep up a good portfolio of work.
Training Period:

Six years at least as a graphic artist is required before one may get the title Senior Graphic Artist. A Bachelor’s degree in graphic design with a broad liberal arts background, computer courses, and marketing or psychology courses form a good foundation. The senior graphic artist needs to keep up with new forms of computer graphic software, as well as new type fonts, and design trends.
Strongest Market(s):

For senior graphic design positions in magazines, the top ten most populated cities all have a good number of publications, though New York is still the center of the magazine publishing world. For graphic arts in general, the top fifty cities in population are the top-fifty strongest markets.
Entry Level Salary:

$35,000. This is the very low-end of a senior position in graphic design. Most good graphic designers should be making this much in two or three years out of college.
Top Salary:

$75,000 to $100,000. Freelance graphic designers with regular clients can make more than that.
Job Growth Forecast:
Job growth for senior graphic artists is about 10 percent over ten years, about par with the general growth of the job market.

Graphic Design Specialist

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:35:40 +0000

Also known as graphic artists, graphic design specialists create visual solutions to communication problems, meaning they are particularly adept at telling stories or communicating messages using graphic elements. When words are part of the message, they use skills with type fonts to augment the power of the words.

Graphic artists have an understanding of all the visual arts and apply them as needed to advertising, newspapers and magazines, Internet pages, and virtually anything that can be a visual communication. They employ type, illustration, composition, photography and other visual arts into one graphic design. Most graphic designers work on computers, using graphic design software to help them create works faster.
Average Salary:

Advertising graphic designers (salaried) average $44,000. Those on the staffs of newspapers and magazines average $35,000. Many graphic designers are freelance, too.
Average Hours (per week):

Salaried graphic designers work a typical 40-hour week. Freelance designers often have to work after hours when they can meet the client, or otherwise be available when the client needs them.
Union:

Possibly those designers working in newspapers are required to join unions.
Certifications:

A portfolio of one’s best work is the best certification. There are technical certificates for those without a bachelor’s degree who wish to master the technical side of composing ads, or putting together the work of others under their direction.
Training Period:

A college degree in graphic design is useful, as are courses in computer design, psychology, marketing, and general liberal arts.

Strongest Market(s):

The fifty cities with the largest populations are the best bet. Graphic designers must count on a certain level of clients other than grocery stores or the average retail business or small-town newspaper.
Entry Level Salary:

$25,000 – $34,000
Top Salary:

For salaried graphic artists, before moving on to a supervisory role, the top salary is $64,000. Self-employed graphic designers in demand can make more than twice that.
Job Growth Forecast:

The ten-year job forecast is 10 percent growth, about par with the general growth of the job market.

Floral Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:33:37 +0000

Floral designers can make literally breathtaking works of art, using flowers, greenery, and sometimes other props such as knickknacks and balloons, or various kinds of planters and vases. There is definitely more to it than meets the eye. Floral designers have a strong visual sense, and learn on the job, or by just noticing the designs of others.

Different occasions – funerals, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and just general occasions – require different kinds of floral arrangements, which the floral designer works to make as beautiful as possible with the flowers at hand and the budget of the customer.
Average Salary:

$23,000.
Average Hours (per week):

The typical work week of 35 hours is what a floral designer can expect. Holidays, wedding seasons, or other occasions may require a few extra hours.
Union:

No
Certifications:

The American Institute of Floral designers offers an accreditation exam to show professional achievement in floral design. Community colleges and other schools offer certificates in floral design.
Training Period:

This is one of the only design-oriented jobs that does not require any education past high school. Most floral designers learn on the job, working for a florist. With ability, persistence, and a good business sense, the floral designer may manage the shop for the owner or open up her own shop.
Strongest Market(s):

Anywhere there is a florist or a grocery store, there is a potential job for a floral designer.
Entry Level Salary:

$15,000. The job often pays minimum-wage, though people who prove they can handle customers well can move up fast.
Top Salary:

$35,000. Owning a successful flower shop, though, can bring more money than this, though the floral designer would have to be good at business and self-promoting, getting business from regular clients such as funeral homes or churches, hotels, or other wedding locales and working well with wedding planners, who will recommend them.
Job Growth Forecast:

The number of floral designers is expected to decline by 9 percent over the next ten years. This doesn’t mean there won’t be possible jobs, though, for the serious person who wants to be a florist. There is high turnover in this field because of the relatively low pay. There are also florists who go out of business or retire all of the time.

Costume Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:31:48 +0000

Costume Designers are fashion designers who work for films, television, or in theatre. Besides creating fashions, these designers must do extensive research in the period and place depicted on screen or stage. The Costume Designers present many sketches of possible costumes to the Director. Then, they work to develop the Director’s vision of the costumes, changing and adapting as the designs go from sketches to complete drawings to actual costumes. The Costume Designer will also search through costume outlets, used clothing stores, and vintage shops, to find just the right piece.

Average Salary:

Big-budget stage productions, which also rely on the visual appeal of the costumes, may pay as much as films and television. However, as most theatre jobs, the pay is tiny. $60,000 is the average for film; theatre is at best half of that.
Average Hours (per week):

During the run of a show or film, there are many 12-hour days. So, while the costume designer is working, she is working 50-plus hours a week.
Union:

Costume designers usually belong to IATSE.
Certifications:

Costume designers need a portfolio of fashion drawings. Skills in sewing and patternmaking are important. CAD certifications can be had, but are not as important as proof of creativity and know-how.
Training Period:

An associate or bachelor’s degree in fashion design and theatre arts is required. An emphasis or even minor in art is a good idea. Courses in anatomy, film, theatre are also a good idea. Studios and production companies have internships, as do independent costume designers. An unpaid stint with a theatre company or even student films is also a good way of developing a portfolio, making connections, and getting a practical understanding of the business.
Strongest Market(s):

The costume designer is wise to go where the business is. That means New York and Los Angeles for work in film; New York to design costumes for theatre; and Los Angeles for television work.
Entry Level Salary:

$25,000.

The glamour of film and theatre, and the glamour of fashion combine to make this also a fiercely competitive business to break into. Consequently, true entry-level positions with small theatres or production companies may be much less.
Top Salary:

$100,000 is generally the top salary. Oscar-winning costume designers, and even Obie-winning (theatre) costume designers may make several times that.
Job Growth Forecast:
The job growth forecast for costume designers is 9 percent, a little better than for the fashion industry as a whole. This is because of the increase in film and productions for new media, and their need for those who can find and create the period-accurate or otherwise appropriate costumes.

Fashion Designer

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:28:48 +0000

Fashion designers are gifted artists who work in the three-dimensional, ever-changing world of designing clothes. Fashion designers study trends in design, particularly, of course, clothing design. They then must create their designs for clothes that won’t be in the stores for two more years. Fashion designers not only are experts at color and style. They must also consider fabrics, the limits of anatomy, and certain practicalities of everyday life in designing clothes. Fashion designers also work closely with the manufacturers to ensure the clothes are done correctly.
Average Salary:

$61,000 for full-time workers. The average for freelance designers is less.
Average Hours (per week):

The standard 40-hour week is typical for salaried designers. Freelance designers need to be flexible and meet often after hours, or whenever the clients can meet. Several trips to trade and fashion shows are also required.
Union:

Not usually for the level of designer, though the clothing industry has many affiliated unions.
Certifications:

A portfolio of your best drawings speaks for itself. Skills in sewing and patternmaking are important. CAD certifications can be had, but are not as important as proof of creativity and know-how.
Training Period:

A college degree, either an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in fashion design, is required. Emphasis on, or even a minor in, business, marketing, merchandising is a good idea. Courses in anatomy, math and psychology are also a good idea. Internships with a design or manufacturing firm a good way of developing a portfolio, understanding the business, and making connections. Also, experience working in retail stores is helpful, especially in developing presentation and sales skills.

Beginners start as pattern makers or assistants.
Strongest Market(s):

New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco are the best markets. This is where apparel manufacturers or merchant wholesalers are. Design firms selling to mass-market outlets are there, too.
Entry Level Salary:

$30,000 is the entry-level salary, if you’re lucky. The competition to break in to the industry is fierce, requiring entry-level designers to work for what they can get.
Top Salary:

$125,000 is the top salary for a fashion designer who works in a company. Freelance fashion designers can possibly make any amount of money if their designs catch on.
Job Growth Forecast:

The official forecast for job growth for fashion designers is only five percent over the next ten years, and the competition for those jobs, because of the prestige and glamour of the fashion industry, is fierce.

Culinary Jobs – Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants, Bartender Helpers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:17:50 +0000

Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers assist waiters, waitresses, and bartenders by cleaning tables, removing dirty dishes, and keeping serving areas stocked with supplies. Sometimes called backwaiters or runners, they bring meals out of the kitchen and assist waiters and waitresses by distributing dishes to individual diners. They also replenish the supply of clean linens, dishes, silverware, and glasses in the dining room, and keep the bar stocked with glasses, liquor, ice, and drink garnishes. At the conclusion of meals, they remove dirty dishes and soiled linens from tables. Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers are sometimes referred to collectively as the bus staff. Cafeteria attendants stock serving tables with food, trays, dishes, and silverware. They may carry trays to dining tables for patrons. Bartender helpers keep bar equipment clean and glasses washed. Dishwashers clean dishes, cutlery, and kitchen utensils and equipment. These jobs are also prevalent in limited service eateries, which don’t employ servers and specialize in simpler preparations that often are made in advance.

Sample job titles include: bar attendant, bar back, bartender helper, beverage server, buffet attendant, busboy, busser, cafeteria attendant, cafeteria worker, carry out clerk, dining room attendant, dishwasher, food service attendant, kitchen help, hostess, kitchen helper, line server, lunchroom attendant, lunchroom worker, nutrition aide, server, set up attendant, silver steward, silver wrapper, table attendant, wait staff, waitress, water attendant, club attendant, cook, counter supply worker, dietary aide, and water carrier.

Average Salary:

$18,140

Average Hours (per week):

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

Some food-serving workers can acquire more skills by attending relevant classes offered by public or private vocational schools, restaurant associations, or large restaurant chains.

Strongest Market(s):

Job opportunities at most eating and drinking places will be excellent because many people in these occupations change jobs frequently. Of course, the opportunities exist all over the country.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $6.82 to $7.39 per hour.

Top Salary:

$24,270

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is below average at 6 percent. Job opportunities at most eating and drinking places will be excellent, though, because many people in these occupations change jobs frequently, creating a steady stream of openings.

Culinary Jobs – Waiters and Waitresses

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:16:16 +0000

Waiters and waitresses, also called servers, take customers’ orders, serve food and beverages, prepare itemized checks, and sometimes accept payment. Their specific duties vary considerably, depending on the establishment. In casual-dining restaurants serving routine, straightforward fare, such as salads, soups, and sandwiches, servers are expected to provide fast, efficient, and courteous service. In fine dining restaurants, where more complicated meals are prepared and often served over several courses, waiters and waitresses provide more formal service, emphasizing personal, attentive treatment at a more leisurely pace. Waiters and waitresses may meet with managers and chefs before each shift to discuss the menu and any new items or specials, review ingredients for potential food allergies, or talk about any food safety concerns. They also discuss coordination between the kitchen and the dining room and any customer service issues from the previous day or shift.

Average Salary:

$15,870

Average Hours (per week):

Food service and drinking establishments typically maintain long dining hours and offer flexible and varied work opportunities. Many food and beverage serving and related workers work evenings, weekends, and holidays. The long business hours allow for more flexible schedules that appeal to many younger applicants who can gain valuable work experience. More than one-fifth of all food and beverage serving and related workers were 16 to 19 years old in 2008—about six times the proportion for all workers. Part-time work is more common among food and beverage serving and related workers than among workers in almost any other occupation. In 2008, those on part-time schedules included half of all waiters and waitresses and almost three-fourths of all hosts and hostesses.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

None

Training Period:

All new employees receive some training from their employer. They learn safe food handling procedures and sanitation practices, for example. Some employers, particularly those in fast-food restaurants, teach new workers using self-study programs, on-line programs, audiovisual presentations, and instructional booklets that explain food preparation and service skills. But most food and beverage serving and related workers pick up their skills by observing and working with more experienced workers. Some full-service restaurants also provide new dining room employees with some form of classroom training that alternates with periods of on-the-job work experience. These training programs communicate the operating philosophy of the restaurant, help establish a personal rapport with other staff, teach formal serving techniques, and instill a desire to work as a team. They also provide an opportunity to discuss customer service situations and the proper ways to handle unpleasant circumstances or unruly patrons.

Strongest Market(s):

Job opportunities at most eating and drinking places will be excellent because many people in these occupations change jobs frequently, which creates a large number of openings. Keen competition is expected, however, for jobs in popular restaurants and fine dining establishments, where potential earnings from tips are greatest.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting Salaries range from $6.73 to $7.32 per hour.

Top Salary:

$23,180

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is below the national average, at 6 percent.

Culinary Jobs – Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:15:08 +0000

Combined food preparation and serving workers perform duties which combine both food preparation and food service. Job responsibilities include accepting payment from customers, and making change as necessary. They request and record customer orders and computes bills using cash registers; they clean and organize eating and service areas, too. Additionally, combined food preparation and serving workers serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food; tasks may include preparing and serving cold drinks, desserts, milkshakes, or frozen custard from machines, and selecting food items from serving or storage areas and placing them on dishes or serving trays, or in takeout bags. The job frequently requires workers to prepare simple foods and beverages such as sandwiches, salads, and coffee. Serving workers also notify kitchen staff of shortages or special orders. It is not unusual to cook or re-heat food items such as French fries. Frequently, food preparation and serving workers wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals. Sample job titles include: deli clerk (delicatessen clerk), dietary aide, school cafeteria cook, bar hop, deli worker (delicatessen worker), food service worker, prep cook (preparation cook), deli manager (delicatessen manager), drive thru window order taker, and front line worker.

Average Salary:

$17,400

Average Hours (per week):

Food service and drinking establishments typically maintain long dining hours and offer flexible and varied work opportunities. Many food and beverage serving and related workers work evenings, weekends, and holidays. The long business hours allow for more flexible schedules that appeal to many teenagers who can gain valuable work experience. More than one-fifth of all food and beverage serving and related workers were 16 to 19 years old in 2008 — about six times the proportion for all workers. Part-time work is more common among food and beverage serving and related workers than among workers in almost any other occupation. In 2008, those on part-time schedules included half of all waiters and waitresses and almost three-fourths of all hosts and hostesses.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

Food preparation and serving workers typically receive on the job training. The certified foodservice management professional designation, available through the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, while not a requirement for employment or advancement, is a widely recognized and respected designation, and can lead to higher positions and increased salary.

Training Period:

Waiters and waitresses need a good memory to avoid confusing customers’ orders and to recall faces, names, and preferences of frequent patrons. Knowledge of a foreign language can be helpful to communicate with a diverse clientele and staff. Restaurants and hotels that have rigid table service standards often offer higher wages and have greater income potential from tips, but they may also have stiffer employment requirements, such as prior table service experience or higher education attainment than other establishments.

Strongest Market(s):

Jobs are located throughout the country but are more plentiful in larger cities and tourist areas. Vacation resorts offer seasonal employment. The overwhelming majority of jobs for food and beverage serving and related workers were found in food services and drinking places, such as restaurants, fast food outlets, bars, and catering or contract food service operations. Other jobs are in hotels, motels, and other traveler accommodation establishments; amusement, gambling, and recreation establishments; educational services; nursing care facilities; and civic and social organizations.

Entry Level Salary:

Salaries range from a starting rate of $6.73 to $7.32 per hour.

Top Salary:

$29,660

Job Growth Forecast:

Job growth over the next decade is projected at an average of 10 percent. Job opportunities at most eating and drinking places will be excellent because many people in these occupations change jobs frequently, which create a large number of openings. Keen competition is expected, however, for jobs in popular restaurants and fine dining establishments, where potential earnings from tips are greatest.

Bartender

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:13:59 +0000

Bartenders mix and serve to patrons alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks following standard recipes. Bartenders are required to mix ingredients, serve wine and draft or bottled beer. They collect money for drinks served, and arrange bottles and glasses in an attractive display. They also slice and pit fruit for garnishing drinks. Bartenders must order or requisition liquors and supplies, clean glasses, utensils, and bar equipment; in many operations they also must prepare appetizers. Bartenders stock the bar with liquor and mixers as well as other ingredients. They track inventory of wines, beers, liquor and other supplies. Bartenders must have good memories for recipes of mixed beverages, as well as an ability to recall, out of many patrons lining the bars, who ordered what drinks and what other special instructions the customer may have requested. A smile and good personality may increase a bartender’s income substantially as tips may amount to as much as 50 percent of a bartender’s income.

Average Salary:

$20,460

Average Hours (per week):

Part-time work is common for bartenders. Half of all bartenders work on a part-time basis. Long business hours permit more flexible scheduling. The job frequently requires long evening hours, well past midnight. Food service and drinking establishments typically maintain long dining hours and offer flexible and varied work opportunities. Many food and beverage serving and related workers work evenings, weekends, and holidays. The long business hours allow for more flexible schedules that appeal to younger applicants, who can gain valuable work experience. More than one-fifth of all food and beverage serving and related workers were 16 to 19 years old in 2008 — about six times the proportion for all workers.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

Some states require a bartender’s license or a state health certificate. Bartenders usually must be at least twenty-one years old, but many bars prefer to hire individuals who are twenty-five or older.

Training Period:

Most bartenders are trained on the job. There are a number of vocational schools that offer courses in bartending. Waiting on tables is good experience and may help in learning how to tend bar, by watching the bartender work.

Strongest Market(s):

Bars, cocktail lounges, restaurants, hotels, private clubs, aboard ships, and even on trains, are the best places to seek a job in bartending. All areas of the country are good markets.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $7.00 to $7.53 per hour, plus tips.

Top Salary:

$31,060

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is average at 7 to 13 percent.

Culinary Jobs – Food Preparation Workers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:11:56 +0000

Food preparation workers perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea. They clean and prepare portions, cut or peel various foods in preparing for cooking and serving. They prepare food according to customers’ orders or instructions and arrange food on serving dishes, trays, carts, or conveyor belts. They also prepare and serve a variety of beverages, such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks, and carry and move supplies, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas, as well as preparing food for storage in containers and storage areas to prevent spoilage. Food preparation workers also distribute food to the waiter staff for delivery to customers, and maintain and clean all of the work areas, equipment, and utensils. They may also be required to butcher and clean fowl, fish, poultry, and shellfish to prepare for cooking or serving.

Average Salary:

$19,850

Average Hours (per week):

Forty-four percent of prep cooks work part-time. Shifts for prep cooks are long and often require early morning or late nights, evenings and weekends. Full time employment can typically be found at established full-service restaurants.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

Many states require a health department food safety certificate for those handling and preparing food. Typically these certificates can be earned over a period of a few days, depending on the requirements of the state.

Training Period:

Employment as a food preparation worker usually requires a high school diploma or GED. Training is usually performed on the job.

Strongest Market(s):

Restaurants, hotels, banquet facilities, hospitals, prisons, schools, and just about any place where food is served is a possibility for employment. Needless to say, there is no particular part of the country that is more favorable than another place for such employment

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $7.05 to $8.64 per hour

Top Salary:

$27,440

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is below average at 6 percent. However, high turnover in this field generally means job prospects are good for entry-level workers looking for part-time work. Competition is higher, though, for full-time employment at established restaurants.

Culinary Jobs – Cooks, Short Order

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:10:44 +0000

Short-order cooks prepare and cook to the customer’s specific demands a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. They may take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables. They work in small full-service restaurants, grills, coffee shops, and other eateries where dishes are prepared as soon as they are ordered. Their job requires that they prepare food as quickly as possible. These are typically hot breakfast items, grilled sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, and other items that take only a few minutes to fix. The short-order cooks must be organized, keeping track of dozens of food orders during rush periods ensuring the customers receive their orders (and not someone else’s orders) and that they are hot. In those periods when the restaurant isn’t busy, they prepare foods for cooking, cutting up vegetables, weighing portions, and restocking kitchen supplies and stores, for example. In small operations such as lunch counters, cooks may take orders, make out checks, and operate the cash register, wash dishes and clean the counters.

Average Salary:

$20,230

Average Hours (per week):

The average work-week for short-order cooks is approximately 40 to 48 hours per week. Shifts span morning, afternoon and evening hours. They may also rotate shifts with other cooks Weekend and holiday work is often required.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

Many states require a health department food-safety certificate for those handling and preparing food. Typically these certificates can be earned over a period of a few days, depending on the state.

Training Period:

Most short-order cooks start out as bus boys, dining-room attendants, dishwashers or kitchen helpers and are progressively promoted to positions of greater responsibility. The position does not require college education, but a high-school diploma is preferable.

Strongest Market(s):

Small restaurants, coffee shops, and lunch counters – both chains and independent – all over the country are in need of short-order cooks.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $7.08 to $7.83 per hour.

Top Salary:

$27,630

Job Growth Forecast:

Though there is no projected growth in the number of short-order cooks nationally over the next ten years, there is always a need for them because of the high turn-over or because of the desire not to work the late shift at all-night restaurants on the part of experienced cooks.

Culinary Jobs – Food & Beverage Director

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:09:39 +0000

Food and beverage managers or directors are responsible for the daily operations of restaurants and other establishments that prepare and serve meals and beverages to customers. Whether in a medium-sized restaurant or as part of a hotel or other larger business, the job can be very stressful. More on the business side than the food-preparation side, the job demands organizational and management ability. Sample job titles include: restaurant manager, food service manager, food service director, banquet manager, food service supervisor, restaurant general manager, director of food and beverage, and kitchen manager.

Average Salary:

$46,320

Average Hours (per week):

Food and beverage managers work 50 or more hours per week, often 7 days-a-week. This is particularly true of businesses that operate on extended hours such as casinos, hotels, and resorts.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions, including the service employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

A number of certificates, and two and four-year degrees are available at culinary institutes and colleges. Certificates in project management are also helpful.

Training Period:

Most food and beverage managers have less than a full four-year bachelor’s degree. However, some postsecondary education, including a college degree, is increasingly preferred. Many food-service management companies and national or regional restaurant chains recruit management trainees from two and four-year hospitality or food service management programs at colleges, institutes and universities. These educational institutions also require (and most provide) internships and real-life experience to graduate. Besides a great way to make many contacts, internships provide an insider’s look at the business.

Strongest Market(s):

Full-service restaurants will offer the best opportunity over the next few years. Also there are opportunities for food and beverage directors at such institutions as healthcare and elder-care facilities. Self-employment, under contract with food-service and other places, will generate 40 percent of these new jobs.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries range from $14.50 per hour.

Top Salary:

$76,940

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for the next decade is below the national average, at 5 percent.

Culinary Jobs – Banquet Chef

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 07:08:18 +0000

Banquet chefs are responsible for the execution and organization of catered functions, including running the kitchens, ordering all supplies, schedules, meetings, etc. They are responsible for knowing and following all contractual agreements between their employers and the guests or clients when developing and preparing menus. They are responsible for all members of the banquet staff, and must demonstrate excellent management skills as well as monitoring meal quality and customer satisfaction. Knowledge of food-safety practices and food inspectors’ requirements are also among a banquet chef’s responsibilities.

Average Salary:

$52,135

Average Hours (per week):

Banquet chefs may work very long, odd hours. However, days without scheduled banquets may offer more conventional or flexible hours.

Union:

Many large hotels and restaurant kitchen workers belong to unions including the Service Employees International Union or the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

Certifications:

Training Period:

Professional culinary institutes, industry associations, and trade unions may sponsor formal apprenticeship programs for cooks in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor. Employers of banquet chefs may require five years of experience, with increasing responsibilities, and possibly a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

Strongest Market(s):

Strong markets for banquet chefs will be found most often in large markets with hotels offering banquet facilities. Resort hotels are also a good bet.

Entry Level Salary:

Starting salaries average from $17 per hour.

Top Salary:

$82,813

Job Growth Forecast:

Projected growth for positions as banquet chefs over the next decade is below the national average at 6.5 percent.