Overrated and underrated careers (and what you can learn from them)

Overrated and underrated careers (and what you can learn from them)Overrated and underrated careers (and what you can learn from them)As kids, we dream of fascinating careers from ballerinas to astronauts. Having tried a few vastly different careers on for size, I can attest to the fact that some glamorous sounding careers can be incredibly overrated. When people learn I once earned a living as a celebrity makeup artist, they want to hear juicy stories and behind the scenes gossip. The reality was often exhausting and mundane and depending on the client, all too frequently soul-crushing.No matter your current career, you can probably find ways to use your skills in different professional arenas. Even if you love what you do, it might be interesting to challenge yourself to pair your best skills with completely different careers.Lawyer vs. crafterI was a trial attorney for 14 years. I primarily defended medical professionals in high-value malpractice cases. It was fascinating and chal lenging, but incredibly stressful, said Tasha Agruso, Owner of Designer Trapped in a Lawyers Body.Even though TV shows and movies can make long trials look fascinating and intense, the reality is a lot different. Most people dont realize how infrequently you actually get to go to trial. Its very uncommon, at least at in my particular practice area Agruso said. So, most days involved sitting in my office, which wasnt very exciting.Agruso began creating art out of necessity when she couldnt afford the home dcor and furniture she loved. I taught myself how to make what I wanted. We invested in a variety of tools, from a table saw to my Cricut cutting machines, that have enabled us to make pretty much anything we can dream up for our home.The same but different In case youre wondering, Agruso says Believe it or not, making isnt entirely different from practicing law. As a lawyer, I had a result I wanted to achieve for my client and had to figure out a plan to get to that result with the facts that we had available to us. As a maker, I will dream up something I want to create for my home and then I have to figure out how to do it with the tools that are available to me.The takeaway? Agruso says Both definitely require thinking outside the box and making the most of what you have available to you.The love factor While one of zu sich careers had an impressive title, Agruso says The fact that making is now my full-time career is my dream come true. I dont work any less than when I was an attorney, but the difference is that now it doesnt really feel like work. I would continue doing this even if I won the lottery. Score one for loving what you do.Youd be great at What else would you be good at? Sometimes we work so hard to hone our professional skills that we forget about the skills that make us potentially great elsewhere. Earlier this year, Kristie Goshow joined Preferred Hotels Resorts as Chief Marketing Officer. Though shes worked on everything from marketing eff orts to e-commerce and digital marketing initiatives across the airline, hospitality, and travel technology spaces, Goshow sometimes wonders if she would have been better suited to be a TV host. I love to engage with audiences, share thoughts, opinions and what ifs. Audience responses, be they good, bad or indifferent provide stimulus and energize me. As a TV host, you are provided with a platform (and a privilege) to move others both mentally and emotionally. Thats a powerful endowment.Appreciate the underappreciated Then again, Goshow also believes one of the most underrated careers is that of a gasthaus housekeeper The housekeeper or room attendant is the quiet magic that keeps everything together. They watch how their guests live and subtly manage their hotel lifestyles in a peripheral and unobtrusive manner. Its an art. Their role provides a sense of visual completion making something right again. Ultimately, helping others just feels good.Find the career that fits While Gosho w can envision using her talents in a variety of careers, shes also cognizant of the fact that her current job fits her best. She also clearly understands how to highlight all the parts of the whole and appreciates the necessary skills of everyone on her team no matter their titles.At the end of the day Are you proud of what you do? Do you use your skills and find satisfaction? If your reality fits well with your fantasy career, youre on the right (career) track

The Top 10 Jobs for Marketing Majors

The Top 10 Jobs for absatzwirtschaft MajorsThe Top 10 Jobs for Marketing MajorsMarketing involves promoting particular products and services to consumers, and convincing consumers that they should buy those products. If you love the idea of learning about products and consumers and finding creative ways to sell products to a target audience, a absatzwirtschaft major might be right for you. Are you a marketing major interested in a career in marketing? Curious about career options? Marketing majors develop a broad range ofskills and knowledge that can be applied to jobs in every sector of the economy. Marketing Major Skills Students who major in marketing develop a number of skills that can be used across industries. For example, marketing majors develop strong research skills. When working on market research projects, they have to assess the needs and preferences of consumers for products and services. This requires both quantitative and qualitative research skills. Communication is central to effective marketing, so students refine their writing, verbal, and presentation skills while completing assignments and internships.They compose pitches for advertising campaigns, text for press releases, and content for social media. They learn how to write for a wide variety of audiences. Many marketing projects in college are team assignments. Therefore, marketing majors also develop strong leadership and teamwork skills. Marketing majors also learn to plan and promote events and campaigns. Students with stronginterpersonal skillsdevelop the ability to engage others directly and encourage them to purchase products and services. Marketing majors with a creative bent excel at visual communication and product design as well as conceptualizing slogans and themes for marketing campaigns. Best Jobs for Marketing Majors The best job for you as a marketing major will depend on your unique set of skills, values, personality traits, and interests. This list will help you to identify some traditional and nontraditional options for consideration. Be sure to speak to faculty, alumni, your college career services office, and other network contacts to generate other possibilities suitable for your background. 1. Admissions RepresentativeAdmissions offices market colleges and other educational institutions to prospective students and their families.Marketing majors have the research skills and knowledge of marketing strategies to help admissions offices promote their institutions. Marketing majors who can engage prospective students, uncover their interests in a college, and present the benefits of attending their school, can be very effective as admissions representatives.Admissionsstaff members tap the organizational and event planning skills of the marketing major to coordinate open houses and other admissions programs.Presentation skills are vital as admissions staff members represent their institutions at college fairs and school visits. 2. Brand/Pr oduct ManagerBrand managers oversee all aspects of marketing a product or service. They usually begin their careers as assistants, market research analysts, sales representatives, or trainees in development programs before earning an MBA. Marketing majors have the knowledge of marketing research, advertising, and product development that is required for this role. Highly developed analytical skills are necessary to evaluate consumer trends and research related to a product. Brand managers select and direct other departments or contractors that conduct research, media planning, and advertising regarding their brands. Presentation and persuasive skills are critical when pitching budgets and other product proposals to executives at a firm. 3. auffhrung/Meeting PlannerWeddings, alumni gatherings, press conferences, professional conferences, training sessions, and promotional events all require a planner who can anticipate the needs and preferences of an audience. Marketing majors have t he research and analytical skills to assess what the consumers of events might be looking for in a program. Students or graduates with a history of organizing and promoting campus events would benefit from exploring this option. Writing skills and facility with social media will enable the marketing major to publicize events and draw a viable audience. 4. FundraiserDevelopment workers and others who raise money for non-profit organizations are essentially marketing their organizations to the public. In this capacity, they assess the interests of prospective donors and develop communications that emphasize key services provided by their organizations. Fundraiserstap the presentation and interpersonal skills of the marketing major to make pitches to groups of potential donors. They organize and publicize events and secure sponsorships from corporate entities. 5. Marketing AssistantMarketing professionals often employ recent graduates as assistants to carry out support duties and more routine tasks. Marketing majors with strong subject knowledge and detail orientation can use this punkt as a gateway to more responsible jobs in the field. Organizational and event planning skills help marketing majors to coordinate promotional initiatives. Writing and editing skills honed through marketing studies help assistants to compose and revise marketing communications.Facility with social media applications enables assistants to enhance the online presence of their organizations. 6. Market Research AnalystMarketing majors with strong quantitative, analytical, and research skills should investigate this role. Market research analysts design and carry out assessments of consumer reactions to new products/services, modified products, packaging, and advertising themes. They gather, organize, and interpret data using software and statistical tools. Market research analysts must prepare and deliver presentations to marketing managers highlighting their findings, much like the aca demic reports made by marketing majors. The creative talents of marketing majors are useful when selecting methods for eliciting consumer responses to products. 7. Media PlannerMarketing majors are well equipped to analyze the viewing, reading, listening, and surfing patterns of various consumer groups as required by media planners. Media planners work to determine what forms of media a company should use to attract consumers or gain users. Students who are well organized, systematic, and comfortable with quantitative thinking and fascinated by the media should give consideration to this field. fruchtwein graduates will start out in support positions like media assistants where attention to detail, organizing data, generating spreadsheets, and preparing presentations will be common job responsibilities. 8. Public Relations RepresentativeMarketing majors learn to analyze an audience and identify the types of communication which can influence that demographic. This is a main goal of p ublic relations, an industry that focuses on helping a client develop and maintain a positive reputation with the public.Marketing graduates with strong journalistic writing skills are often well suited for public relations jobs that involve engaging with the media to promote a client. Public speaking, organizational, and event planning skills help the marketing major to orchestrate press conferences and other publicity events. Extroverts who can readily develop a rapport with key contacts often thrive in this profession. 9. Sales RepresentativeThe ultimate goal of all marketing enterprises is to increase sales of products or services.There are many sales jobs available, and these positions can serve as an excellent springboard for careers in other areas of marketing. Marketing majors learn to assess the preferences of consumers.They also refine the verbal and presentation skills needed to make effective sales pitches. Marketing majors with a competitive nature, outgoing personality , and capacity to bounce back from failure, will be well suited for sales jobs. 10. Social Media ManagerOrganizations of all kinds have placed increased emphasis on online marketing. Social media managers orchestrate the presence and refine the image of their organizations on outlets like Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. Tech-savvy marketing majors with strong creative and writing skills can excel in this role. Social media managers tap the teamwork skills of the marketing major to work collaboratively with staff from other operating units at their firms. They must have the persuasive ability and finesse with people to coax cooperation from colleagues over which they have no formal authority.

How to Cobble Together 5 Months Maternity Leave

How to Cobble Together 5 Months Maternity LeaveHow to Cobble Together 5 Months Maternity Leave Few things compare to the excitement of finding out youre pregnant. Instantly your mind fills with images of little baby shoes, playing with your little one and teaching him or her their ABCs. However, for many Americans, aelendher thought comes to mind very quickly How am I going to actually take time off of work?A job helps you create the life you want, but it can also keep you from living it fully. Endless 9-to-5 days and demanding projects make it hard for parents-to-be to imagine how they are going to take time off from work to have a baby.24 years ago the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was passed, the national law that grants 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to eligible employees. However, unpaid leave is just thatunpaid. Very few Americans can manage to go 12 weeks without a paycheck. It has been left up to individual states to enact laws around paid l eave , and while states like California have done an excellent job of enacting a paid family leave law, states likeArizona, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma and more have not passed any legislation to help families since the passing of FMLA.So, how can moms-to-be maximize their time off to care for children? We spoke to Lauren Wallenstein , maternity leave expert and founder of MilkYourBenefits.com about how moms and dads can cobble together weeks and months of leave. Her tips are specific to California state law, but the points are worth bringing up to your employer no matter where you live.Glassdoor Navigating maternity leave can be nerve-wracking when to tell your boss, how to talk about it, what are your rights, etc. When a woman first finds out shes pregnant, when should she talk to her boss?Lauren Wallenstein I recommend that women notify their employers about their pregnancy as soon as they begin to show. At that point its too early to discuss leave spe cifics, but it gives the company enough time to process the initial leave paperwork and make any workplace accommodations that may be necessary. Waiting longer just leads to unnecessary whispering and wondering.Glassdoor You specialize in California leave policies.Approximately how much paid maternity leave can expecting moms receive from sources such as CA State Disability Insurance and parental leave policies?Lauren Wallenstein The thing to remember about any disability plan is that it will only pay you during the portion of time that youre disabled. Many people mistakenly believe that theyll receive disability income no matter how long theyre out on leave. While CA SDI will pay you for a max of 52 weeks with little pushback (although the norm is 6-8 weeks), company disability and parental leave policies vary widely. And often those plans refuse to pay out before the baby is born regardless of the mother being rendered disabled by her doctor or midwife. GlassdoorOften moms have t o cobble together sick days, PTO, personal days , etc. to get the maximum amount of time. Is it possible to cobble together 5 months of maternity leave? How?Lauren Wallenstein How long one can be out on a leave of absence is determined by a variety of factors including longevity with the employer, number of employees, and company policy, among others. How long one can be PAID during that time is another matter altogether. Is it possible to be paid during your entire leave? Maybe. What I would recommend is that if you know you want to get pregnant or you already are pregnant, save those sick and vacation days to use during your leaveGlassdoor Companies like Facebook, Etsy, Dell and more are offering 4 to 6 months maternity leave. How are these companies impacting the movement to milk your benefits?Lauren Wallenstein Tech companies, in general, are leading the charge for paid family leave . And there has been a noticeable trickle-down effect for smaller companies in other fields o ver the past few years. But its just that a trickle. Its going to take more time and a lot of effort on the part of voters and elected officials to bring the US into alignment with the rest of the world with regard to paid family leave. Glassdoor Given this, how should job seekers approach their search if they have parenthood on their minds?Lauren Wallenstein One important thing for all women to remember is to review parental leave policies before accepting a new job. I cant tell you how many of my clients took on a new role just before becoming pregnant, only to discover that their new employer has less generous maternity benefits . Dont be afraid to ask to review the company handbook if youre serious about accepting a new job. You may be better off waiting to make a change after the baby is born.Glassdoor What is your best advice for communicating a parental leave plan with HR?Lauren Wallenstein I always recommend that my clients formulate a plan once theyre in the last trime sterits premature to do it before then. But its important to underscore that these plans are mere projections Babies dont always come according to schedule. So both parties need to expect some measure of variance from the plan. Glassdoor Lastly, What is the most important thing for parents-to-be to know about parental leave? Any parting words?Lauren Wallenstein Always milk your benefits Too many expectant parents hem and haw about taking off the max amount of time because theyre worried about perception issues at work. Your baby is a newborn for such a minute amount of time, so maximize your maternity leave And if youre unsure about how to integrate your benefits, be sure to ask an expert.The charitable organizations parental leave policy offers new parents up to 52 weeks of paid leave during the first year after their childs birth.Johnson & Johnson offers an zwischenstaatlich maternity and paternity leave policy. In the U.S., new parents (including fathers and those who adopt ) can take eight additional weeks of paid parental leave, on top of the companys current 17-week leave policy , during the childs first year of life.In March 2016 , the company introduced 26-week paid parental leave benefit , which includes biological, adoptive, and surrogate parents of both genders. The time can be taken over the two years following the birth or adoption of a child, although the first 8 weeks must be taken consecutively following the birth or adoption.This music streaming company was started in Sweden, a country that has one of the best parental leave policies in the world, with 480 days available to all parents. Because of this, Spotify wanted to provide a full 24 weeks of paid leave for both moms and dads , which can be taken over a period of three years.In December 2016 , Amex upped their offering to 20 weeks for all new parents , including full-time and part-time employees, which is incredibly rare. Plus, expectant parents will have access to a par ent concierge , whom they can go to for information on the companys family benefits and resources. And employees who wish to have a child will receive up to $35,000 for adoption or surrogacy for up to two children. Those undergoing infertility treatments, meanwhile, will receive up to a lifetime maximum of $35,000 to help defray costs.The retail giant increased their benefit to 20 weeks of paid leave , and now offer parents the option of splitting up some of that time with their spouse. For example, if an Amazon employees spouse did not get any paid leave at their company, they could take up to six weeks on Amazons dime.Twitter also offers 20 weeks of paid leave to both moms and dads , regardless of whether they had the child by birth or adoption.The Swedish furniture giant changed their U.S. policy late last year to offer its 13,000 salaried and hourly employees in the U.S. up to four months of paid parental leave .