Blog Entries

Cash-Related Careers: 10 Jobs that Deal with Money

You’ve always been good with money. Whether that meant creating a workable budget for a project, calculating change, or meeting a savings goal, you feel comfortable dealing with cash. This valuable skill sets you apart from many people who struggle to manage money. So why not put your strong financial sensibility to work?

Working with money can take the shape of many different professions and offer opportunities to work in a number of exciting fields. Some financial careers involve working with software and computer systems, others require you to work mostly with people as an advisor or manager. Whatever your unique interests are, we’ve compiled information from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to highlight 10 growing professions to consider if you enjoy managing money.

10 Jobs that deal with money worth career consideration

Whether it’s literally handling cash or dealing with money in a more abstract form, these careers give you an opportunity to put your money management and mathematical skills to good use.

1. Accountant

Accountants are responsible for the preparation, maintenance and analysis of important financial records.¹They monitor assets, tax liability, profits and losses, and create reports to ensure that organizations run efficiently. Accountants frequently work with computer systems to enter data and process information. This role requires both numerical sense and the ability to navigate complicated tax and regulatory guidelines.

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree or higher¹

2018 Median annual salary: $70,500¹

Learn more about the work of accountants with our article, “Myth vs. Reality: What Is Being an Accountant Really Like?”

2. Auditor

Auditors conduct very similar work to accountants. Where an accountant works for an individual or organization on a daily basis, auditors are brought in to perform quarterly or annual reviews or if there is a critical situation such as suspected fraud. Auditors review and analyze financial records and prepare reports recommending changes in an organization’s operations and financial activities.

Learn more about auditors with our article, “What Does an Auditor Do? Examining This Financial Career.”

Education needed (DOL): Bachelors’ degree or higher¹

2018 Median annual salary: $70,500¹

3. Personal financial advisor

Personal financial advisors work with clients to assist them with their financial goals. They draw on their knowledge of areas such as tax and investment strategies, insurance, and real estate to answer clients’ questions and recommend financial plans and strategies. This is an excellent role for anyone who enjoys advising clients face-to-face and financial problem-solving.

Learn more about financial advisors with our article, “Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Financial Advisor.”

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree¹

2018 Median annual salary: $88,890¹

4. Compensation and benefits manager

Compensation and benefits managers develop and manage an organization’s employee benefits. They are well versed in government rules and regulations in order to create programs and packages that are competitive and in compliance with legal requirements. Additionally, they create policies and procedures for employee recruitment, testing and placement. This management-level position plays a pivotal role in employee retention and happiness as well as the overall financial health of an organization.

Want to learn more? Check out our article, “What Is a Compensation Manager? A Peek at the Pros Influencing Your Paycheck.”

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree or higher¹

2018 Median annual salary: $121,010¹

5. Loan officer

Loan officers conduct a detailed review of an applicant’s financial status, credit and property to recommend approval for commercial, real estate and credit loans. They advise customers on terms and types of loan and credit options available to them. This role requires a mix of sales skill and financial teaching ability. This is because they often need to convince applicants their institution is the best place to apply for a loan while also walking applicants through their options and what the financial implications of a loan’s term may mean for them.

Our article, “What Is a Loan Officer? Evaluating This Career in Finance,” can provide additional insight.

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree¹

2018 Median annual salary: $63,040¹

6. Loan interviewers and clerks

Loan interviewers and clerks interview and investigate loan applicants. They verify an applicant’s background and references and send a complete report to the loan officer. Loan interviewers and clerks may also be responsible for communication with applicants about the status of their application. Many of these professionals work in roles related to home mortgages and real estate. If you’ve ever bought a house, you know there’s quite a bit of important documentation and information to have squared away before a sale is completed—loan interviewers and documentation clerks are the people who help keep the process moving.

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree preferred¹

2018 Median annual salary: $39,890¹

7. Credit analyst

Credit analysts calculate the level of risk involved with lending money or extending credit. They utilize computer software to create an accurate portrait of a customer’s financial status and prepare a report which will be used to decide whether or not to lend money or extend credit. These business professionals play a key role in determining the likelihood of a loan being profitable.

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree¹

2018 Median annual salary: $71,520¹

8. Financial analyst

Financial analysts use data to predict business, industry or economic conditions in order to make investment recommendations to public or private institutions. Financial analysists have extensive knowledge of economics and accounting and frequently utilize analytical software. They may also put together presentations and reports for their employers. The work of financial analysts is one of the key inputs for investment decision makers—they’re keenly aware of the market signals that drive the daily fluctuations in stock exchanges around the globe.

Looking for more? Our article, “What Does a Financial Analyst Do? Beyond the Numbers,” goes further in-depth.

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree or higher¹

2018 Median annual salary: $85,660¹

9. Sales manager

Sales managers oversee an organization’s sales team as they deliver a product or service to customers. Sales managers develop training programs and set goals for the sales team. They closely monitor profit margins in order to set sales schedules and available discounts. Costumer complaints are brought to the sales manager, requiring them to have expert customer and personal service skills.

Education needed (DOL): Bachelor’s degree preferred¹

2018 Median annual salary: $124,220¹

10. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

First-line supervisors of retail sales workers work in a wide variety of retail environments overseeing retail sales employees. They work closely with sales workers to direct activities such as taking inventory, reconciling cash receipts and providing customer service. They often handle customer complaints or disputes and ensure quality control of the retail products. These supervisors often have profitability goals that require careful management of labor costs and other expenses to stay on track.

Education needed (DOL): High school diploma or higher¹

2018 Median annual salary: $39,630¹

What’s your next step into the business world?

As you can see, many of these jobs that deal with money require some fairly advanced financial knowledge. Your natural sense for finance and budgeting is a great start, but for many of these roles you’ll likely need a college education. Learn more about some of the different degree options available to you with our article, “The Beginner’s Guide to Different Types of Business Degrees.”

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [accessed October, 2019] www.bls.gov/oes/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

7 Signs an Organization Has Strong HR Leadership

The value of a well-run human resources (HR) department is hard to overstate. The work they do touches every corner of an organization from the highest rungs of senior leadership on down. With such a prominent position in a company’s structure, it’s no surprise many place an emphasis on developing a culture of strong HR leadership.

But what does an organization with healthy HR leadership look like? We enlisted HR professionals to help us identify the signs of a well-run HR department—read on to learn what they had to say.

7 Ways to identify a strong HR leadership team

While the specifics of a well-run human resources department will vary depending on factors like organization size, resources and overall company culture, there are definitely some universal characteristics found across effective HR organizations.

1. Development is emphasized

One excellent way to evaluate the effectiveness of an HR department is to get a feel for how they approach professional development. Organizations that place a premium on the professional development and growth of their existing employees can increase their hiring flexibility and help overall employee morale as they witness viable paths to promotion or growth.

“Employees are a company’s top-value asset,” says Piotr Sosnowski, ResumeLab co-founder and head of HR. “HR leadership needs to invest in employees’ professional growth and development.”

This effort goes beyond basic job training which ensures employees have the skills to perform a specific role to fill short-term needs. A strong development program will focus on long-term employee growth with strategies like formalized mentorship programs, stretch development projects and opportunities to work with subject-matter experts in potential professional growth areas of interest.

2. Hiring processes are thorough and effective

Finding an employee who’s the right fit for a role isn’t always easy—and obviously there’s a push to get positions filled as soon as possible. But strong HR organizations understand a rushed process leading to a hiring miss is often worse than taking the time to make sure they get it right in the first place.

“Although there is always pressure to fill vacant positions in the workplace, a poorly-run HR department makes light of the hiring process,” says Nate Masterson of Maple Holistics. “This is a fundamental aspect of HR that should never be rushed.”

Sosnowski says a high success rate for new hires is a clear sign of solid HR leadership. If your organization is consistently having issues finding ideal candidates for open positions, it may be a sign that some tweaks to the process need to be made. While it’s true some hiring misses are near impossible to avoid, few should result from a hurried hiring process which let a detectable issue sneak through. Masterson says a hasty hiring process can affect employee retention, makes it much easier for a better candidate to slip through the cracks and “doesn’t do justice to the workplace as a whole.”

3. Employee onboarding processes are well established

Starting a new job is a whirlwind experience with tons of new names, places, processes and ground rules to become familiar with—and that can get pretty stressful. A haphazard or poorly-planned onboarding process only adds to that stress and can lead to larger issues down the line.

Onboarding is the time to set expectations and clearly communicate processes for how things should be done. Inconsistent onboarding is a recipe for frustration and lost productivity with time spent getting everyone back on the same page.

Gargi Rajan, head of HR at Mercer | Mettl, says a lackluster onboarding process is a common mistake among organizations. “We are living in a flexible, hyper-agile, freelancing, and gig economy where people come from different specializations, backgrounds, cultures and countries,” Rajan says. “You have to make sure career transition comes with proper onboarding, training and learning initiatives.”

4. The HR team is approachable

HR professionals assist employees with plenty of sensitive issues—and often those issues are the last things employees would like to be spending their time talking about. That’s part of why it’s so important for HR professionals to be accessible and easy to talk to. Sosnowski says the best HR leaders focus on building rapport with employees.

“Strong HR leadership should act as the first point of contact for the issues and concerns of staffers and resolve them effectively,” Sosnowski says.

Without a certain level of connection and trust, employees may be hesitant to bring up issues as often as they ideally should. This can lead to seemingly small, correctable situations festering and turning into bigger and potentially expensive headaches.

5. Leadership isn’t afraid to enlist outside help

In smaller but growing organizations, HR professionals are often generalists who can be stretched to their limits—and sometimes beyond—trying to keep up with everything on their plate. Instead of allowing certain HR focus-areas to be neglected, Sosnowski says well-run HR organizations will consider calling on third-party help for assisting with the more mundane functions.

“This gives the HR department some breathing room and helps it focus on big-picture plans,” he explains.

6. The HR staff doesn’t treat employees as problems

As an HR professional, you’re likely to encounter your share of frustrating or difficult-to-work-with employees. But those employees and the situations surrounding them shouldn’t color an HR department’s overall approach to resolving issues. That means setting aside previous experiences and tackling each scenario with positivity and a genuine desire to help.

“You can’t be an effective HR leader without caring about each person that comes to your desk,” Masterson says. “This can be draining but it’s a key component of coaching, mentoring and giving effective feedback to employees.”

Sosnowski says a pervasive, poor attitude in an HR organization toward employees and their issues is a clear sign of trouble.

“If an HR organization treats employees like a problem or avoids them like the latest malware, it’s a surefire sign that there’s an issue to tackle,” Sosnowski says. “HR organizations should be wired around providing support and creating a positive organizational climate.” He goes on to explain that some HR teams place too much focus on difficult employees and “policing” them for negative behavior.

7. Decisions are backed by data

We live in a wired world—and that makes it easier than ever to collect and use data for setting and adjusting policies. Metrics like absenteeism, employee turnover, cost per hire, employee satisfaction and revenue per employee (among others) can help provide a much clearer picture of the state of an organization and where energy should be focused.

Data collection and analysis also provides an opportunity for HR professionals to make the case for why a change in policy was or was not effective—trying to justify a large expense based on a gut-feeling and anecdotal evidence is no easy task.

“Nothing could be more pleasing than presenting the analytics about the impact HR makes on business success,” Rajan shares.

Do you have a future in HR leadership?

Does this talk of how effective human resources organizations operate have you wondering if you’d do well in a HR leadership role? Qualifying for one of these advanced positions might require further education or experience in the field, but it’s never too soon to start planning your path.

Learn more about what that path might entail in our article, “How to Become a Human Resources Manager.”

What Is a Compensation Manager? A Peek at the Pros Influencing Your Paycheck

You expected your exploration of new career possibilities to be an exciting time. But rather than being the adventure you expected, you’ve found yourself stuck in an endless scroll through stale job titles that don’t hold the appeal you’re looking for.

That is, until you came upon a career called “compensation manager.” Just the name intrigues you! You don’t know much about this human resources (HR) career, but it certainly sounds like compensation managers play an influential role in an organization—and overall employee satisfaction. Where can you sign up?

Before you jump headfirst into pursuing this HR position, you need a better understanding of what the role entails. What do compensation managers really do, and how can you know whether you’re a good fit for the job?

Look no further! We did the research and spoke with an expert in the field to bring you this detailed overview of a compensation manager career.

What do compensation managers do?

Compensation managers are part of an organization’s human resources team. Their role focuses on managing all aspects of employee compensation plans.

This includes determining wages that are fair and competitive for their company’s location and industry, and ensuring that their pay structure adheres to government regulations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹ Depending on the size of their organization, they may also supervise other members of their HR team, such as payroll specialists.

A compensation manager’s job may seem straightforward, but it has more of an impact than you might imagine. “This role affects the entire employee experience,” says certified mediator Michael Trust, “which in turn drives organizational productivity, profit, customer satisfaction and employee engagement.”

He adds that a compensation manager’s day-to-day work sets the organization’s compensation philosophy overall, making this HR position one that has a huge influence over the future of a company.

What are a compensation manager’s job duties?

You might have a mental image of a compensation manager painstakingly determining each employee’s salary, but that’s not the case. Much of a compensation manager’s daily work revolves around higher-level planning for their organization.

Compensation managers’ job duties include some of the following, according to Trust:

Writing detailed employee job descriptions to help determine their pay level
Conducting external pay studies to make sure salaries are competitive within their industry
Conducting internal pay studies to ensure there is no discrimination among employees’ pay rates
Researching and choosing pay structures
Staying up to date on compensation regulations
Budgeting for promotions and salary increases, including cost-of-living raises
Researching and determining the structure for alternative compensation plans, like commission or stock and equity options

Trust adds that some compensation managers are also in charge of “total rewards” programs, like benefits packages, health and wellness incentives, and monetary recognition awards. All of these job duties combine to make compensation managers a valuable part of organizations across all industries.

What types of skills do compensation managers need?

It comes as no surprise that professionals in this role spend a lot of time working with numbers, so aspiring compensation managers should be comfortable with basic business math, according to the BLS.¹ It should come as no surprise that skills like the ability to put together a budget and understand business finances are essential in this career.

However, it’s not all about crunching numbers. Compensation managers aren’t always concerned with the cheapest option; they need to wisely select compensation plans that encourage employee satisfaction. Trust says compensation managers need an understanding of how compensation affects other parts of HR, which in turn affect employees and the overall organization. For example, does a bonus compensation program with aggressive goals or criteria actually motivate employees as intended or do those lofty goals become a source of frustration? Will that frustration result in a higher turnover rate and make it harder to recruit talented employees? As you can see, what might seem like a relatively small area of overall business operations can have large ripple effects if not implemented carefully.

Because of this, compensation managers should also have strong decision-making skills as they’re often tasked with weighing different options and choosing the best fit for their company. And effectively communicating those decisions with others in the organization is key. Trust suggests that compensation managers should have “outstanding writing ability and excellent negotiation ability” for this reason.

How much do compensation managers earn?

Thinking about a compensation manager’s salary might feel like a bit of a brain-bender, but this is an important question to consider if you’re thinking about pursuing this career. The BLS reports that the median annual salary for compensation managers in 2018 was $121,010.¹

Because compensation managers are needed in nearly every type of company, there is some fluctuation in salary depending on industry. The highest-paid industry is insurance carriers, where compensation managers earned a median annual salary of $130,420 per year in 2018.¹ The lowest-paid industry is the government, coming in at a median annual salary of $102,470.¹

As with most management positions, the overall number of compensation manager jobs will be fewer than that of a specialist—but the good news is that this role is projected to have a solid overall employment growth outlook. The BLS projects employment of compensation managers to grow by 5 percent through 2016—which they estimate translates to approximately 800 new compensation manager positions added from 2016 to 2026.¹

How do you become a compensation manager?

There isn’t one straight-and-narrow path to becoming a compensation manager. However, the BLS shares that there are some basic education requirements that make for a good starting point. Most compensation managers require a business-related bachelor’s degree, especially one like human resources or business administration. To help you get a better feel for what employers are seeking, we used job posting analysis software to analyze over 11,000 compensation and benefits manager positions nationwide.

As you might expect, this position is not typically something a new graduate jumps directly into. Our analysis found just over 42 percent of all job postings were seeking candidates with 6 or more years of experience.² As you can see, you’ll likely need several years of experience and strong performance in a specialist position to be considered.

Trust believes that most aspiring compensation managers should start out in an entry-level HR position, using their experience and growing knowledge of the industry to work their way up. “One should likely spend some time supervising others on this track, and also learn other parts of HR on at least a basic level to understand how compensation interacts with other parts of HR,” he says.

Certification is also an option for compensation managers who want further proof of their expertise, though this isn’t required in most states. “As HR overall becomes more and more complex, more and more organizations want both experience and relevant certifications,” Trust says. The Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)® credential is one popular option for professionals in this field to consider. Additionally, our job posting analysis indicates a master’s degree in HR or a related field may help your chances—just over 28 percent of all job postings indicate a preference for candidates with a master’s degree.²

Take the next step in your HR career

It’s not hard to see the appeal of a career as a compensation manager! Now that you know what the job entails, you can already picture yourself working in this pivotal HR role.

Daydreaming won’t land you a new career, though! Take action today and discover how a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources could be your first step toward a career in compensation management.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed August, 2019] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
²Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 11,038 compensation manager job postings, August 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019)

Certified Compensation Professional is a registered trademark of WorldatWork.

55 Finance Terms You Should Know Before Investing

You know that feeling when you run into someone and their name is on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t place it? Then, when they remember you without hesitation, you just squirm and change the subject. Talking finance can feel a lot like that if you’re not familiar with the terminology.

That’s certainly an issue for anyone interested in investing—and that issue gets bigger if you have serious ambitions of someday pursuing a career in finance. You’re ready to learn more about how investing works and who the major players are, but you don’t want to be greeting your peers with a blank stare if they mentioned terms like the “Target-date fund” or “Bottom-up investing.”

The financial world can be intimidating, but once you debunk the jargon, it will be much easier to jump into the conversation with confidence.

We rounded up some of the most important—and sometimes confusing—finance terms to help you master the vocab.

Learn the lingo with these finance terms

Use this guide to familiarize yourself with 55 fundamental finance terms and you will be well on your way to becoming an investment expert.

1. Annual percentage rate (APR)

The rate that is earned from an investment over the length of a year, expressed in a percentage.

2. Appreciation

When any financial asset increases in value.

3. Asset allocation

This refers to how an investment portfolio is divided among different types of investments—usually with the intention of balancing risk.

4. Assets

Also known as capital or capital assets, assets refer to anything you own with financial value (e.g., shares, bonds, certificates of deposit, etc.)

5. Bear market

When prices of securities in a market are falling, causing pessimism among investors.

6. Blue chip

Companies that are notorious for being financially sound and enduring the ups and downs of the economy.

7. Bottom-up investing

When an investor focuses on the activity of individual stocks rather than the overall economic or market trends.

8. Budget

An estimation of how much can be spent as a result of how much is earned during a future period.

9. Bull market

When prices of securities in a market are rising or projected to rise, resulting in optimism and confidence among investors.

10. Bond

Money an investor loans to a company, city or government with the promise to be paid back in full with regular interest payments. U.S. Treasury bonds are generally considered a safe investment with small but guaranteed returns.

11. Bond rating

Used to evaluate the credit quality of a bond. This is indicated by a lettering system—“AAA” being the highest rating and “CCC” being low.

12. Capital gain

The profit that’s made when an asset is sold for more than its original purchase price.

13. Capital growth

When an asset or investment increases in value over a period of time.

14. Certificate of deposit (CD)

A sum of money deposited in a bank which accumulates interest over time. Unlike a savings account, the money cannot be accessed until an agreed-upon date—the trade-off being that CDs often have higher interest rates than savings accounts.

15. Common stock

The most common form of stock in which dividends depend on the success or failure of the company you invest in.

16. Concentration

An investment strategy that focuses all investments in a single stock or sector.

17. Cutoff time

All stock exchange markets, such as the NYSE or the NASDAQ, only allow trading between certain hours each day. The cutoff time refers to when those markets close for the day.

18. Diversification

Investing in different types of assets, companies or stocks in a variety of sectors or industries.

19. Dividends

The distribution of profits a company pays to its shareholders.

20. Dow Jones Industrial Average

An index that consists of 30 significant stocks traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ; also known as the Dow or DJIA.

21. Earnings per share (EPS)

This figure is calculated by dividing a company’s profit by the number of outstanding shares of its common stock. This is one important figure for determining the value of a stock.

22. Index

A combination of stocks that is used as a benchmark to reflect the overall performance of all investments within a sector.

23. Inflation

The (typically) gradual rise in the cost of goods or services, often measured as an annual percentage increase.

24. Interest

A fee charged by a lender to a borrower for the use of assets, usually expressed in the form of an annual percentage rate.

25. Investing

The practice of committing money to something with the expectation of earning additional income or profit.

26. Large cap stocks

A term referring to companies that have a market capitalization of more than $10 billion.

27. Liquidity

The ability to quickly convert an asset to cash without losing much value. Stocks, mutual funds and short-term bonds are examples of liquid assets, while things like real estate investments and land are considered illiquid.

28. Market capitalization

The overall dollar value of a company’s outstanding shares, used to determine a company’s size.

29. Mutual fund

A pool of funds collected from several individuals to invest in a shared asset in which dividends are split between members.

30. NASDAQ

An international electronic marketplace where securities can be bought and sold.

31. Net income (NI)

The amount of earnings or profit for an individual or company after all expenses have been subtracted.

32. Net worth

A business or individual’s total assets subtracted by their liabilities.

33. Option

The ability to sell or buy an asset at a predetermined price for a set period of time.

34. Penny stocks

Shares that sell for less than a dollar, often a volatile investment.

35. Preferred stock

Investors with preferred stock receive set dividends at consistent intervals and have first claim on assets if the company goes under, but they typically do not have voting power and do not receive larger dividends if the company succeeds.

36. Portfolio

All of an investor’s financial assets: shares, bonds, CDs, etc.

37. Prospectus

A legal document required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that informs an investor of a company’s history, management biographies, financial statements, best- and worst-case scenarios, and other information about an investment.

38. Put option

A put is a form of option contract that allows the owner the right to sell an asset at a set price within a certain time frame. This is used to hedge against asset prices falling—you pay a premium to have the option to sell at a set price, but if you own an option contract for multiple shares at $10 per share and the share value drops to $8, you’ll come out ahead.

39. Return

Capital gains and other forms of income from investments, usually quoted as a percentage.

40. Revenue

The total amount of money an individual or company earns during a period of time.

41. Security

A catchall term for investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.

42. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

A department of the U.S. government that seeks to enforce investment laws, protect investors and maintain a healthy economy.

43. Shareholder

Any individual who owns at least one share of a company’s stock, entitling them to a portion or percentage of the company’s profits.

44. Short-term investment

When an asset is purchased and sold within a year.

45. Small-cap stocks

A term for companies with a small market capitalization, usually between $300 million to $2 billion.

46. Stock exchange

A physical or electronic marketplace where securities are traded. Common exchanges include the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.

47. Stock market

The general term referring to the act of trading and exchanging of stocks.

48. Share

A share is a unit of ownership in a corporation or financial asset.

49. Stock

A security that shows partial and proportionate ownership of a business. Stockholders are entitled to a portion of that business’s earnings or assets. The more stock you own, the larger the share you receive.

50. Target-date fund

A fund that is tailored toward an end date—riskier investments at first and more conservative investments as the target or end date approaches. Often a 401(k) or a college investment fund.

51. Time horizon

When you expect to stop investing in an asset or security.

52. Top-down investing

An investment strategy that focuses first on analyzing the “big picture economy,” this approach prioritizes macro-level factors when evaluating investment options.

53. Volatility

A measure of risk that refers to the frequency an investment rises or falls in value or the amount the value varies.

54. Volume

The number of shares or other assets that have been traded in a specific time period.

55. Yield

This term is used to refer to the specific dividends or income earned by an investor.

Invest in your financial future

Now that you can talk the talk, you’re one step closer to walking the walk. Working in finance can be an exciting and rewarding way to make a living—but you’ll need some additional education first.

Before getting too far, find out if this field is the right fit for you by reading our article, “9 Signs You Have What It Takes to Major in Finance.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in August 2015. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2019.

What Is Inbound Marketing? Exploring This Consumer-First Approach

Inbound marketing is the talk of the town in the business world. Every business-related publication from Forbes to the Wall Street Journal seems to have turned their attention to this relatively new marketing method designed for the digital age.

All the fuss probably has you wondering what inbound marketing is. Is it really that big of a deal? Or is it more of a passing fad? You have a growing interest in learning about all things marketing, but you don’t want to give inbound marketing too much of your attention if it’s not long for this world.

Fortunately, inbound marketing is more than just the latest trend. In fact, it’s already a well-established approach to digital marketing with an entire ecosystem of marketing professionals sharing their advice for this growing niche—and it doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.

So let’s get right to it—in this article we’ll explain what inbound marketing is, how it works and why it matters for digital marketing professionals.

What is inbound marketing?

Many people assume marketers are all similar to used car salesmen: people who actively pressure others to use their products with over-the-top pitches and very direct tactics. Inbound marketing, however, takes a much gentler approach. Rather than interrupting people with annoying ads or unwanted cold calls, inbound marketing is a method that draws customers in by meeting them where they’re at and providing useful information.

So what does that look like? A power tool company might create how-to guides for common home repairs. While not everyone who views those guides may be in the market for new tools, some will be—and seeing a helpful video that highlights how easy these tools make a project can help push someone closer to buying.

“Inbound marketing is a business strategy that attracts clients by creating valuable, niche-specific content and a fantastic user experience,” says Raul Mercado, owner at Mercado Wix Design. “The content solves problems the client is already looking for, and the user experience helps form deeper connections.”

Content—everything from blog posts to infographics to explainer videos—is at the center of most inbound marketing strategies. This content offers high value to potential customers. Its goal is to draw them in by answering questions they were already searching for. This is why many companies have a corporate blog, a growing social media presence and sometimes even podcasts or video blogs.

Blog posts alone don’t make for an inbound marketing strategy, however. “As an inbound marketer, it is important to keep the customer engaged by creating content that specifically addresses solutions to their problems,” says inbound marketing manager Shoshi Goldstein. Inbound marketers must pair value-driven content with a strategic sales funnel that “attracts the right type of people, those who are going to convert.”

The history of inbound marketing

While inbound marketing has certainly gained a lot of steam in recent years, here’s a little secret: Much of it is really nothing new. Ever hear of a Michelin Star restaurant? The guidebook identifying all of these far-flung (and excellent) eateries was originally created in 1900 in order to get people traveling, and consequently, buying more tires. Your grandma’s cookbook? There’s a good chance it was created by a food producer in order to highlight additional uses for their products—who knew cream of mushroom soup could be the base for nearly anything?

Of course, these clever approaches weren’t exactly common—so what gave this approach a jump-start? The answer goes back to the advancing digital world, which changed the way brands interact with consumers.

Inbound marketing rose out of a “seismic shift in the digital landscape,” according to Greg Bullock, marketing manager at TheraSpecs. With the rise of the internet, growth of social media sites and device usage increasing by the day, businesses were on the lookout for better ways to connect with consumers who’ve become inundated with advertisements.

That’s where inbound marketing comes in. “Inbound marketing became all the rage after the term was coined by HubSpot in 2005,” Bullock says. HubSpot, a customer relationship management (CRM) software company, is still at the forefront of the expanding inbound marketing movement, sharing resources like their popular “flywheel” philosophy of attracting, engaging and delighting consumers to earn their business.

At the same time, search engines were constantly refining their algorithms to show users websites that provided the answers they’re looking for. “The ability to use a search engine to find what you wanted gave consumers real purchasing power for the first time,” Mercado says.

This marriage of search and content gave steady rise to inbound marketing. “The instant access to information online all fundamentally changed consumer behavior by giving greater control over how and when they engaged with businesses,” Bullock says. “This created opportunities to reach these potential customers beyond the traditional forms of marketing.”

In short? The internet made it very easy to find the topics or questions people were searching for—and smart marketers saw an opportunity to position their brands as an authority by creating content that fits these searchers’ needs.

The importance of inbound marketing

Inbound marketing represents a shift in the way consumers and businesses interact with each other. Consumers no longer want to be constantly sold to; they want to do business with brands they like and trust. Inbound marketing is one way to build that foundation of trust with consumers.

“Brands have to provide value beyond just their product or service in order to be relevant at each stage of the customer journey,” Bullock says. Companies build rapport with consumers by creating content that’s informative and entertaining, that promotes their causes and values, and that engages consumers on a human level in a way that traditional marketing ads can’t match.

In addition to building trust, inbound marketing lets consumers know that a particular brand exists in the first place. This phase of the sales funnel is called awareness, and it’s vitally important for businesses who want to stand out in a competitive market.

Google® reports that 51 percent of smartphone users have discovered a new company or product through a search on their phones.¹ Inbound marketing makes the most of these search-engine users, as well as social media channels, to promote awareness of their brand in a way that can have a big payoff. One study by the Journal of Consumer Research found that “repeated exposure to a brand will lead to an increased likelihood of selecting that brand” by consumers making a purchase.²

With inbound marketing both boosting sales and building trust with consumers, it’s not hard to see the importance of this marketing model.

Inbound marketing tactics

Inbound marketing is a big-picture methodology for attracting the right consumers. It may sound simple enough, but there are many specific actions that take place to bring inbound marketing to life.

“Tactics for successful inbound marketing include SEO, content creation, social media, branding and more,” Goldstein says. These are just a few of the tactics that inbound marketers use to connect with consumers on a daily basis:

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the strategic use of keywords to get a certain piece of content to “rank” as high as possible on the results page of a search engine.
Content marketing is the creation of anything that shares information, like blog posts, podcasts, videos and infographics. Inbound marketers strategically plan content that meets their consumers’ needs and is presented in a way that’s consistent with their brand.
Email marketing is used to reach out to consumers directly in their inbox, like when companies send emails offering coupons, announcing sales or sharing other special perks. This approach is often used in concert with content marketing—think of guides and information that are only accessible if you provide an email address first.

These tactics have been tried and true for more than a decade of inbound marketing, but new forms of this consumer-centered marketing strategy are on the horizon. Bullock sees enhanced personalization as an upcoming tactic that will allow brands to connect with consumers on a deeper level than ever, while Goldstein believes that artificial intelligence, automation and voice search will soon come into play.

Regardless of which tactics they use, inbound marketers must always come back to a focus on growing a long-term relationship with their customers. “There are no shortcuts to inbound marketing,” Mercado says.

A marketing career worth considering

Now that you’re aware of the value inbound marketing brings to companies and consumers alike, you’ve moved on from asking “What is inbound marketing?” to “Could inbound marketing be the career for me?”

The first step to working in inbound marketing is to earn a related degree. Find out whether you’re a good fit for a marketing degree with our article “Should I Be a Marketing Major? Everything You Need to Decide.”

¹Google, Think With Google, Being there in micro-moments, especially on mobile [accessed August 2019] https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-resources/micro-moments/being-there-micromoments-especially-mobile/
²ScienceDaily, University of Chicago Press Journals, Subconscious Encounters: How Brand Exposure Affects Your Choices [accessed August 2019] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081014111202.htm

Google is a registered trademark of Google, LLC.

15 Marketing Blogs to Help You Stay Ahead of the Game

The nature of marketing is to change—to stay ahead of the trend, stand out from the rest. Even with experience in this field, it can be hard to keep track of how quickly things shift. When you miss out on something that could have helped you improve the bottom line, it’s easy to feel in the dark.

Thankfully, there are ways to stay connected to the industry—ways that don’t involve spending all of your free time scrolling through Instagram, trying to gauge the interests of your audience.

Following a couple of marketing blogs is one such way. Reading other professionals in your field can spark new ideas and help you predict what’s popular.

To help you get started, we’ve identified 15 marketing blogs in different areas you might be interested in. Need to keep a pulse on the industry? Want to finally learn the finer points of search engine optimization? Just need a little inspiration?

Bookmark this list for later, so the next time an opportunity arises, you’ll be ready.

Marketing blogs for staying up to date

Sometimes, you need to join the trend. Other times, you need to make your own. Either way, there are blogs to help you know what’s going on in the world of marketing and beyond.

AdAge

If you want to know what the biggest marketing budgets are up to and where the market is headed next, this blog is your source of the most-recent marketing news. This is an excellent nexus of all things advertising related.

Adweek’s Adfreak

From laughable mistakes in advertising to genius wins, this blog will help you stay on top of all the current waves in pop culture. This site highlights advertisements and digs into the minds of the creatives who’ve made them.

Adweek’s Social Pro Daily

Though these topical headlines are more like content bites, Social Pro will give you an idea of what’s changing day to day in the world of Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.

Digiday

For brand updates and expert opinions, visit this catchall publication. Their scope may be wide but their depth is admirable, and if you prefer print, check out their quarterly magazine, Pulse.

Marketing Land

With hundreds of subject categories to choose from, this blog will help answer all of your marketing questions one search engine, popular product and social media platform at a time.

Marketing blogs by industry professionals

We all have days when the creativity seems to run out. Not matter what you do, clichés follow you around. Try following these successful marketers to reframe your focus and beat the block.

Seth Godin

His short-form, off-the-wall content ranges from topics like “Quieting the Lizard Brain” to “Permission Marketing.” If you are looking for a marketing blog that doesn’t take itself too seriously while peppering in useful insight, this one is for you.

George Tannenbaum

In his blog Ad Aged, explore “the future of advertising, the decline of the English language and other frivolities.” You might have to dig a little for the marketing content, but you’ll have a good time doing it.

Neil Patel

While you might have to push past his self-promotion, Patel offers a variety of relevant blogs as well as a podcast that’s perfect for the productive commute.

Babak Azad

Learn from his personal experiences. With many years in the world of marketing, Azad has lots of lessons to share about performance marketing and brand building.

Gary Vaynerchuk

For an endearing combination of personal stories and practical blogs, this widely published CEO is one to follow.

Marketing blogs for learning the ropes

Whether you’re new to the game or have been here a while, it’s always a good idea to learn new things about your craft. Follow these blogs for new ways to improve your practice.

Moz

From breaking into video marketing and boosting your web traffic, this blog is absolutely packed full of helpful tips on developing your current strategies and finding new ways to reach your audience. This is a must-bookmark for anyone working in digital marketing.

RazorSocial

This blog doesn’t mess around. They have all the how-tos of marketing technology. RazorSocial is made for those who want to wade into the deep end of marketing in a modern age.

Rebekah Radice

With an emphasis on social media, this blog is for both the new and the experienced. Its tone is unintimidating and its content is quality.

Content Marketing Institute

Unsurprisingly, this blog is made for marketers interested in content and serves as a credential for the training, consulting and other services that CMI offers.

The Flux

This blog will get into the nitty-gritty of performance auditing as well as search engine optimization (SEO). You may have good content, but do you know how to get it in front of the people who need to see it most?

Stay current with these marketing blogs

By keeping up to date with the world of marketing, you could gain an edge, learn something new and make your campaigns more effective.

Others may do what’s required, but you’re not someone to settle for the bare minimum. Why not have a job title that proves it? Take your skills up the ladder and find a career that gives you the freedom to take risks and see the benefits. For a better idea of where a marketing career could take you, check out our article “11 Impressive Marketing Job Titles to Strive For in Your Career.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2019.

What Do Accountants Do? A Look at Life Behind the Ledger

There are certain connotations many pair with the idea of working as an accountant. The mere mention of the word accounting in conversation likely triggers images of endless spreadsheets and complex equations, or extended hours trapped behind a desk during tax season and the influx of phone calls from loved ones (or even just distant acquaintances) seeking financial advice.

While many might jump to the conclusion that this is a dull career, accountants would beg to differ! In fact, most consider their jobs to be anything but boring, pointing toward the exciting opportunity they have to get a behind-the-scenes look at how an organization functions. It’s as if accountants are fluent in a language that allows them to understand the business culture as a whole.

It may also surprise you to learn that accountants have an array of areas in which they can specialize. If you’re intrigued by the industry but not quite ready to commit to a career, you can sleep easy knowing that a career in accounting offers several options.

If you’re the least bit curious about this multifaceted career, then you’re in the right place. We’ve compiled all of the need-to-know facts about working as an accountant—everything from daily duties and career outlook to salary info and the various specialties you can pursue in your accounting career. Read on to see if it all adds up to the right career path for you.

What exactly does an accountant do?

In general, accountants compile, analyze, verify and prepare financial records for their department or organization as a whole, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹ In layman’s terms, they work with financial documents to ensure lawful, efficient and compliant business practices.

In addition to preparing and analyzing financial data, accountants are also expected to explain their findings in written reports or presentations to their organization’s managers or to individual clients. Another key duty of accountants is to use their findings to suggest various ways to reduce costs and improve profits.

What are some common requirements for accounting jobs?

For most accounting positions, a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in the field is required, though some employers may prefer candidates who’ve earned a Master’s degree as well.

It’s also true that every accountant who files a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission is lawfully required to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). To become a CPA, candidates must pass a national exam and meet other state-specific requirements. It’s recommended to look into the licensure requirements of your state’s Board of Accountancy—some states may have more stringent requirements than others, so it’s important to have a clear view of what’s expected of you.

But becoming a CPA isn’t the only option for accountants—they can choose to work as part of an internal accounting team for individual businesses and organizations. Accountants who take this path may want to consider becoming a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Where do accountants work & how much do accountants make?

While some accountants secure positions that allow them to work from home, a majority of professionals in this field work in office settings. It’s also worth noting that auditors and CPAs working for large firms may also be expected to travel to meet with clients. A nice positive about this field is that accounting professionals are needed nearly everywhere. Organizations of all stripes require the services of accountants—family farms, government agencies, nonprofit organization or Fortune 500 goliaths all turn to accounting professionals.

Future demand for accountants appears strong, too. Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 10 percent by 2026, according to the BLS—a rate of growth that is slightly faster than the average for all occupations nationwide.^*

Relatively strong demand coupled with the specialized skill set needed for accounting is a recipe for solid earning potential. Accounting and auditing professionals report a 2017 median annual salary of $69,350, which is nearly double that of the national average earnings for all workers.^*

The job of an accountant: 10 specialties to consider

With so many different facets of accounting, you don’t have to lock yourself into a single career path before pursuing your degree. The knowledge and training you receive in the classroom will likely help you hone in on an area of interest. But until then, these brief breakdowns will provide you with a quick introduction:

1. Financial accounting

Financial accountants track a company or client’s financial transactions, summarize them and generate financial reports or statements. Company shareholders are then able to assess the value of a company based on these documents.

2. Managerial accounting

Managerial accountants track information needed for management of a company in order for the company to make informed operational and strategic decisions.

3. Cost accounting

Cost accountants determine the costs of products and services by analyzing records and depreciation data. They classify and record all operating costs so management can control expenditures and may also assist in making management decisions.

4. Tax accounting

Tax accountants prepare federal, state or local tax returns for individuals or organizations according to prescribed rates, laws and regulations. Tax accountants will often specialize even further in an area such as corporate, individual income or property tax.

5. Government accounting

Government accountants exist at the federal, state and local level. At the federal level, they may work to investigate white-collar crime or manage public funds. At the state and local levels, they may work to manage use of local revenues, investigate fraud and perform lower-level audits.

6. Nonprofit accounting

Nonprofit accountants assess their organization’s financial situation. Their goal is not to maximize profits, but to minimize costs and maximize their service to society, which distinguishes them from accountants employed by for-profit companies.

7. Forensic accounting

Forensic accountants work as investigatory accounting professionals. They often work in conjunction with an ongoing or anticipated legal issue and are charged with uprooting questionable financial data and uncovering fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and other financial misconducts.

8. International accounting

International accountants work with companies or organizations that conduct business internationally. They may work to recast foreign financial statements to align with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). They also determine what these statements reveal based on knowledge of the foreign country’s economic and cultural atmosphere.

9. Accounting information system services

Accounting information system professionals generally have an educational background of general business as well as information systems. They can work in a variety of positions including systems auditors, consultants and accountants. They may help companies develop accounting information systems, assess the data within the systems or make it available to other accounting professionals.

10. Auditing & assurance services

Assurance service providers review several types of documents such as loans, contracts or websites to certify they are correct. An assurance provider may work with financial or non-financial documents, whereas auditors work strictly with financial records. Auditors may work internally or as a third-party service to ensure an organization’s financial records are accurate, complete and compliant under federal law.

Is an accounting career the right fit for you?

Now that you’ve become acquainted with the ins and outs of accounting—including the array of specialties that exist within the field, you can rest easy knowing that you can start taking steps toward your future career without pigeonholing yourself into one specific path.

But even if you’re now certain that accounting is the perfect career fit for you, there are a few steps you’ll need to take before you reach that end goal. For a clear-cut play-by-play of what you’ll need to do, head over to our article, “Your Step-by-Step Guide on How to Become an Accountant.”

^*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [information accessed August 12, 2018] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in September 2014. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018.

What Is a Loan Officer? Evaluating This Career in Finance

Do you love seeing others succeed and reach their goals? Loan officers help people reach big milestones and life goals on a daily basis. Working as a loan officer, also called a loan originator, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside individuals and families looking to secure financing for big purchases—such as a home or a college education. These finance pros also work with businesses that are looking to launch a startup or purchase a new brick-and-mortar space.

No matter the type of client, loan officers get to play a crucial role in helping to make longstanding dreams a reality for many who’ve faced financial roadblocks in the past. And this rewarding job boasts some promising opportunity. Employment of loan officers is projected to grow 11 percent by 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), indicating this crucial career in finance has substantial staying power.^*

If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a loan officer, then it helps to gather and review as much information as possible before committing. Read on to learn more about the daily duties, necessary skills, earning potential and more.

What do loan officers do?

In sum, a loan officer’s job is to “Minimize risk and maximize profits,” according to Skylar Wallace, CEO of Lendly. Loan officers are required to wear at least two different hats. First, a loan officer often works as a sort of salesperson to convince an individual or business that their bank or financial institution offers the best borrowing option. This can include the following:

Contacting companies or individuals to ask if they need a loan
Meeting with loan applicants to discuss ambitions and loan options
Spelling out various types of loans and terms to the client

Once the business or individual is on board, the loan officer shifts from acting as a salesperson to being a loan approval chaperon. This can consist of the following elements:

Gathering and verifying personal and financial information
Inputting information into underwriting software, which produces a loan application recommendation based on the applicant’s creditworthiness and risk
Considering underwriting output and any additional information to arrive at a decision
Working with a third party, like a notary, to close the loan

The ability to perform several functions allows future loan officers the opportunity to utilize previous customer service or sales experience while also learning new software and technical skills. Keep in mind, however, that larger banks sometimes separate these roles into unique positions.

In general, there are three primary types of loan specialists, based on the kind of loans they work with. Do note that some of these specialty areas require separate certifications.

Commercial loan officers specialize in business loans, some of which have such complicated financial situations that the business may work with the loan officer more than the lender to create a package of loans that best serves the business’ larger goals. Loan officers who love coordination and big projects might fit best here.
Consumer loan officers work primarily with individuals buying a car or paying for college. This type of underwriting is normally automated, while some smaller banks or credit unions do it manually. This one-on-one connection is just right for personality types that excel at individuation, seeing the unique aspects of a person’s situation, and helping them get a loan that best fits their life.
Mortgage loan officers deal with real estate, property and building loans. Their clients typically include real estate companies and home-buyers. This type of work requires a special mortgage lenders license offered by organizations like the Mortgage Bankers Associations (MBA) and the American Bankers Association (ABA).

Where do loan officers work?

Loan officers are typically employed by commercial banks, credit unions, mortgage companies and other financial institutions. Most work full time or more, depending on their workload and employer.

Though many loan officers work in local branches, Wallace says more and more banks are consolidating and have transitioned to a centralized underwriting team that approves all loans bank-wide, leaving the local office staff to just take applications.

But it’s also true that working at a local branch can have its own advantages. Since the loan officer position is relationship-based, Wallace notes these professionals often make connections by serving in their communities—coaching little league teams, attending parades and high school football games or joining the local chamber of commerce.

Local loan officers who are established in their communities will receive informal inquiries at all times of the day—Wallace says the best performing lenders are sure to follow up on these, but need to balance performance demands with their own personal happiness..

What skills do loan officers need?

Not everyone is cut out for a career as a loan officer. These professionals are tasked with making tough decisions and staying on top of several applications and client situations at once. With that in mind, the following soft skills will set most loan officers up for success:

Decision-making: Loan officers can’t depend on the output of underwriting software and must consider what outside elements impact a client’s ability to pay the loan.
An eye for detail: Each piece of information on an application can have a huge effect on the probability of the loan.
Initiative: Since many loan officers are paid a commission, the more they can seek out new clients and promote the institution, the more successful both the loan officers and their company will be.
Interpersonal Skills: Clients must have complete trust and confidence in their loan officer, believing that they are guiding them toward the best loan option to fit their lives and financial situation.

Jeff Hensel, a loan officer at North Coast Financial, emphasizes the relational aspect of being a loan officer and the importance of earning your client’s trust. “Home-buyers can often be anxious. At times, being a [mortgage] loan officer can feel like being a therapist,” he says. “Clients often need to be reassured that everything is going smoothly and their loan will close in time.”

In addition to soft skills, specific industry skills are in particular demand. According to our analysis of loan officer job postings, 60 percent ask for mortgage lending experience and 40 percent prefer candidates with mortgage underwriting experience. As far as past experience is concerned, 35 percent of job postings are looking for candidates with sales experience and 32 percent are seeking customer service skills.^**

How much do loan officers earn?

The 2017 median annual salary for loan officers was $64,660, according to the BLS. This works out to an hourly wage of approximately $31.09.^* The BLS reports that loan officer earning potential can vary significantly depending on what sector a loan officer works in:

In automobile dealerships, loan officers earn $82,230*
In company management, loan officers earn $68,740 *
In credit intermediation, loan officers earn $63,420*

Keep in mind that compensation for many loan officer positions may be based on commission—which can make earning potential somewhat volatile.

How do you become a loan officer?

Most loan officer positions require a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business or Finance, according to the BLS. Applicants must be able to understand general business accounting and read financial statements. Once you do score a job, expect some on-the-job training on how to use underwriting software and company-specific policies.

In addition to earning a Bachelor’s degree, mortgage loan officers must receive additional licensure. Interested candidates can earn certifications through the American Bankers Association (ABA) or the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).

Lou Haverty, a senior portfolio manager with more than a decade of experience working with a number of Philadelphia-area banks, notes that since this can be a competitive business to break into, working as a credit analyst can be a great place to start. “Successful credit analysts gradually move into junior relationship manger (loan officer) roles as they become available,” he says.

Could you thrive in a rewarding career as loan officer?

The ability to help others on a day-to-day basis as a loan officer can be very rewarding. Even during the difficult moments during which they have to turn applicants down for a loan or collect collateral from struggling clients, impactful loan officers can still make the circumstance a positive one. By forming relationships with the clients and potentially helping them become qualified, top professionals have the opportunity to transform the scenario into a positive, rewarding experience, Wallace says.

Between solid, commission-based earning potential, steady employment prospects and the satisfaction of making people’s dreams come true, becoming a loan officer could be the gratifying career path you’ve been seeking. If you’re considering taking a step into the world of finance, you’ll want to consider investing in a degree. To learn more, check out our article, “Is a Finance Degree Worth It? 4 Factors Impacting Your Finance Career Forecast.”

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [information accessed September 10, 2018] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
**Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 16,243 loan officer job postings, Aug. 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018)

7 Business Documentaries on Netflix to Stream in 2018

One of the greatest advantages of our modern world is the sheer wealth of information at our fingertips at any given moment. Pick any subject, and you could literally spend days going down a rabbit hole of reading and research. While probing the depths of Wikipedia’s collective knowledge is a fun possibility, there are easier and more entertaining options for learning about businesses and the issues surrounding them—that’s where Netflix comes in.

Whether you’re interested in starting your own business, learning about the stock market, exploring corporate corruption or just seeking new material to explore in your down time, we’ve got you covered with these seven business documentaries on Netflix.

7 Intriguing business documentaries on Netflix

Instead of plopping down to rewatch yet another episode of Friends or The Office, fire up one of the following documentaries instead. You’ll be entertained, inspired, and might even learn a thing or two along the way.

1.Dirty Money

Year: 2018

Duration: 6 one-hour episodes

Dirty Money is a Netflix-produced docuseries that spends each episode chronicling a prominent example of corporate corruption. The first episode centers on Volkswagen’s corporate deceit and how the government struck a deal with the company that endangered the environment by deceiving regulators.

Other episodes cover topics such as payday loans, pharmaceutical industry price gouging, drug cartels and money laundering and even Canadian syrup cartels—as strange as that might sound. The one-hour format of each episode makes this an easy show to binge-watch, no matter what aspect of business you’re interested in.

2.Betting on Zero

Year: 2016

Duration: 98 minutes

If you’re interested in marketing, management and big business, this may be the film for you. This docu-thriller follows hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman as he attempts to expose Herbalife, a multilevel marketing company focused on selling nutritional products, as the biggest pyramid scheme in history.

According to Betting on Zero’s official website, the film “Blend[s] tales of high-stakes corporate intrigue with working-class people caught in the crossfire.” Watch the back-and-forth as Herbalife claims Ackman is a market manipulator and as others come forth to either defend of vilify the company. The film brings up pertinent discussions around money and fraud, allowing you an inside look at the damage pyramid schemes can cause.

3.Banking on Bitcoin

Year: 2016

Duration: 1hr 30m

For those interested in finance and technology, Banking on Bitcoin is a worthwhile watch. The documentary chronicles the rise and evolution of Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency in today’s market. Featured are some of the earliest users of the technology: Charlie Shrem, Erik Voorhees and the Winklevoss twins.

In addition to providing an introduction to what Bitcoin is, the filmmakers delve into the relationship between cryptocurrency and regulatory bodies as well as failed uses of Bitcoin, such as with the dark-web marketplace Silk Road and bankrupt Bitcoin exchange site Mt. Gox.

4.Generation Startup

Year: 2016

Duration: 1hr 33min

Thinking of starting your own business or pursuing entrepreneurship? Learn from Generation Startup. This documentary follows six recent college graduates hoping to find success building startups in Detroit. With a range of interests—from tech to real-estate to pasta—these entrepreneurs and their startups are followed over a 17-month period.

Directed and filmed by two Academy Award winners, this film showcases the highs and lows of building your own business from the ground up. You can watch the struggles and triumphs of the six budding business owners while realizing your own business plans aren’t too impossible.

5.Explained

Year: 2018

Duration: 15-minute anthology episodes

Short on time? Explained packs a lot of useful information into a relatively small window. This docuseries, which is produced by news site Vox, tackles one important issue per episode. It should be noted that Explained isn’t contained to strictly business issues—it covers and explains a huge array of pressing modern topics in a digestible, 15–20-minute episode format.

For those who are looking for business-centric topics, you’ll want to check out episodes such as “The Stock Market” and “The Racial Wealth Gap.” These episodes break down complex financial issues in a very easy-to-understand way and can serve as an excellent jumping-off point for further learning.

6.Saving Capitalism

Year: 2017

Duration: 1hr 30 min

Based on the book of the same name by former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, Saving Capitalism is an introduction to the evolution of capitalism in United States. In the film, Reich travels around the country, meeting with minimum-wage-earning workers who are struggling to make ends meet. He explores the increasingly large gap between the wealthy and the poor and how the current economic system came to create such disparities.

Reich uses his decades of political expertise to weave a narrative that is both thought-provoking and informative, leaving you to contemplate capitalism’s effects on the future of America. Even if you disagree with Reich’s views, this documentary provides excellent food for thought.

7.Something Ventured

Year: 2011

Duration: 1hr 25min

There’s the old adage, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” and in Something Ventured, there’s a lot to be gained. This documentary explores the lives of several men who risked money and status to invest in companies no one else saw potential in. Without the help from these original venture capitalists, it’s hard to say if those companies would have ever had the financial backing to succeed.

And what companies are they? Some of the biggest names in tech: Apple, Intel, Atari, Google and Cisco, among others. For those with an interest in how venture capitalism began, you can hear it straight from the original venture capitalists themselves.

Ready, set, binge!

Who knew learning could be so entertaining? Get cozy on your couch and prepare to dig into some of the biggest business scandals, issues and intrigues. Learn about ordinary people like you who worked their way to the top, step into the fast-paced world of finance or explore up-and-coming technologies and ideas.

While you can learn a lot from business documentaries on Netflix, they’re only a supplement to a formal education. If you’re interested in a business career, there are several degrees to consider pursuing. Check out our article, “The Beginner’s Guide to Different Types of Business Degrees,” to learn more about some of the most common Business-related degree options.

What Can You Do With a Supply Chain Management Degree? 9 Careers to Consider

Business is a massive field, and each career path and degree seems more complicated than the next. You’re not interested in becoming a CEO at some prestigious firm. You just want a degree that will help you find the kind of job satisfaction you’ve been seeking—things you know you won’t find in your current job. That’s where a Supply Chain Management degree comes in.

Of course, before you’re convinced of that, you likely have a few questions: What does a supply chain management career entail? What can you do with a Supply Chain Management degree? What is a typical supply chain management salary? Don’t worry, we have the answers to your burning questions.

Supply chain management might seem simple on the surface, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Join us as we uncover the fundamentals of the field and, more importantly, the types of careers you could land in this industry.

What is supply chain management?

Put simply, supply chain management is all about the production, shipment and distribution of products. It covers everything from inventory to sales, and is crucial to any business that makes and sells products.

Professionals in this field must work closely with others to acquire everything they need. More importantly, they need to ensure it’s all completed on time and within budget. There are several actual job duties, and these will vary depending on the position.

The Institute for Supply Management has identified 14 crucial components in the supply chain management process. These areas include:

Disposition/investment recovery
Distribution
Inventory control
Logistics
Manufacturing supervision
Materials management
Packaging
Procurement/purchasing
Product/service development
Quality
Receiving
Strategic sourcing
Transportation/traffic/shipping
Warehousing/stores

The list above is a comprehensive one, detailing all aspects of supply chain management. Most professionals in the field are focused on just one or a few of these components. Even so, it’s helpful to have a fundamental understanding of the entire system.

So how can you acquire the practical knowledge and hands-on training needed to launch your career? This is precisely the kind of information incorporated in the curriculum of most Supply Chain Management degree programs. Most positions will involve some degree of on-the-job training as well.

If the list above has you intrigued, keep reading to learn more about the actual supply chain management careers you could pursue.

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9 Supply chain management jobs for degree holders

As you can see, there are a lot of factors involved in the supply chain management process. What’s more is that businesses large and small rely on supply chain efforts to keep operations running smoothly. This translates into plenty of job variety, spanning from specialist positions to more general ones.

This is good news for those interested in working in the industry, because you can narrow your job search to the areas that interest you most. We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 50,000 job postings from the past year that called for a Supply Chain Management degree.¹The data helped us identify the nine positions in highest demand.

Check out the info below to get a high-level breakdown of these supply chain management jobs, listed in order of highest total job openings to lowest.

1. Purchasing agent

Median annual salary (2017): $62,1202
Job duties:

Purchases equipment, parts or services needed for the operation of a manufacturing establishment.
Prepares purchase orders, solicits bid proposals and reviews requisitions for goods and services.
Negotiates and administers contracts with suppliers, vendors and other representatives.

2. Operations manager

Median annual salary (2017): $100,4102
Job duties:

Responsible for the overall operations of a public or private organization.
Directs and coordinates activities dealing with the production, pricing, sales or distribution of products.
Reviews performance data to measure productivity and identify areas needing cost reduction or process improvement.

3. Logistics analyst

Median annual salary (2017): $74,5902
Job duties:

Analyzes supply chain processes to identify or recommend optimizations and improvements.
Maintains databases that compile and organize logistics information.
Provides ongoing analyses in areas such as transportation costs, parts procurement, back orders or delivery processes.

4. Purchasing manager

Median annual salary (2017): $115,7602
Job duties:

Plans and directs the activities of buyers, purchasing officers and others involved in purchasing materials, products and services.
Represents companies in negotiating contracts and formulating policies with various suppliers.
Interviews and hires staff and oversees the training and development of existing employees.

5. Supply chain manager

Median annual salary (2017): $105,6102
Job duties:

Directs and coordinates supply chain processes to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service and safety.
Monitors forecasts and quotas to identify changes and determine their effect on supply chain activities.
Develops procedures to help coordinate supply chain efforts with other departments, such as sales, marketing, finance, production and quality assurance.

6. Logistician

Median annual salary (2017): $74,5902
Job duties:

Analyzes and coordinates an organization’s logistical functions.
Develops and maintains positive relationships with a client’s key personnel involved in logistics activity.
Reviews logistics performance with customers, weighing against targets, benchmarks and service agreements.

7. Logistics manager

Median annual salary (2017): $92,4602
Job duties:

Coordinates an organizations purchasing warehousing, distribution, forecasting, customer service and planning efforts.
Manages the personnel and systems involved in daily logistics operations.
Collaborates with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes.

8. Production, planning and expediting clerk

Median annual salary (2017): $46,6702
Job duties:

Organizes and expedites the flow of work and materials between an organization’s departments according to production schedule.
Distributes production schedules and work orders to various departments.
Arranges for delivery, assembly or distribution of supplies to accelerate the flow of materials.

9. Storage and distribution manager

Median annual salary (2017): $92,4602
Job duties:

Oversees a facility’s storage or distribution operations or that of an organization that’s engaged in storing or distributing materials or products.
Interviews, selects, trains and supervises warehouse personnel.
Develops and implements warehouse safety and security activities and programs.

Take the next step

So what can you do with a Supply Chain Management degree? Lucky for you, it’s not a dead-end road. Graduates in this field will have a variety of avenues to follow. But no matter what role you play in the overall supply chain system, you can feel satisfaction knowing you’re helping to provide products to the people who need them.

If you’re ready to take the next step, visit our Supply Chain and Logistics Management degree page for more information. If you’re still looking for more details on what to expect in this career field, get some expert insight in our article, “6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Supply Chain Management Career.”

Get started on your supply chain career path.

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¹Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 54,874 supply chain management degree job postings, Sep. 01, 2017 – Aug. 31, 2018).
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [salary data accessed September 18, 2018] www.bls.gov/oes/. Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in May 2015. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018.

What Can You Do With an Associate's Degree in Business Management?

There’s no doubt about it—the business field impacts everyone. Every business, from small, mom-and-pop shops to billion-dollar tycoons, contributes to the shifting of the economy, taxes paid and even the price of milk on the supermarket shelf.

A formal education can help equip you with the business skills and know-how needed for a wide variety of careers in this field. So it’s no wonder you’re considering going back to school to study Business Management. But you’re not quite sure if you’re interested in committing up to four years to earn a Bachelor’s degree.

Luckily for you, there is another option. An Associate’s degree in Business Management can provide you with the foundational knowledge on which to build a career, and you can earn it in as few as 18 months.¹ If this sounds like the winning scenario you’ve been seeking, then keep reading to learn more about the value of a Business Management Associate’s degree and the outcomes it could lead to.

Is an associate’s degree in business actually worth it?

You may be thinking this sounds too good to be true. After all, you can’t really land a decent business job without a Bachelor’s degree, right? Wrong! There are associate business degrees that can lead to good career outcomes, and one of them is Business Management.

The truth is that earning an Associate’s degree in Business Management can improve your job prospects and your earning potential. We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 800,000 business job postings from the past year.² The data revealed that associate’s degree holders were eligible for at least 30,000 more job postings than those with only a high school degree.

Not only are there more jobs you can get with an associate’s degree, but you’ll generally earn a higher income as well. In 2017, associate’s degree holders earned an average of $6,448 more annually than those with only a high school diploma, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).³

Jobs you could land with an Associate’s degree in Business Management

Now that you know there are shorter and viable educational paths to the workforce, you’re probably curious about what careers you could land with an Associate’s degree in Business Management. You’ll be happy to hear that there are several positions that call for the types of business skills taught in these programs.

To help give you a better idea, we analyzed 125,000 job postings from the last year that called for a Business Management Associate’s degree.⁴ The data helped us identify 10 common associate business degree jobs in this field.

1. Customer service associate

It’s right there in the title—customer service associates are all about serving the customer. Whether it’s listening to a customer’s questions or concerns, placing orders, providing information about products and services or recording details of customer contact information, these business professionals are at their best when they’re helping those visiting or contacting their store. Patience and understanding go far in this position, because customer service associates are often listening to customer complaints and working to solve them.

2. Retail sales workers

These workers can be found in a wide range of industries from clothing stores, coffee shops or specialty grocery stores to car dealerships or furniture stores. They greet customers, offer expertise on merchandise, answer customers’ questions and process transactions. Retail sales workers may also be responsible for stocking shelves, marking price tags, managing inventory and participating in a host of other store-related duties.

3. Assistant store manager

Assistant store managers have the best of both worlds. While they don’t have the entire responsibility and performance of the store on their shoulders as a head store manager does, they still have a lot of the privileges and duties that come with a management position. These professionals typically train employees, create work schedules, evaluate competing stores, order inventory, construct display windows and attend educational workshops. They also assist customers and set a good example for the rest of the team.

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4. Administrative assistant

Administrative assistants have been known as secretaries for years, but these days the titles are interchangeable. They typically report to upper-level management, answer phone calls, schedule meetings and appointments, prepare invoices and manage incoming and outgoing mail. These employees must be organized and detail-oriented, as they are responsible for a variety of clerical tasks that keep businesses running smoothly.

5. Store manager

As a store manager, the buck stops with you. Store managers direct sales teams by setting sales goals, analyzing data and developing training programs for new and existing employees. They’re often the go-to person when customers have complaints regarding sales and service, and they manage any employee issues as well. You can also find store managers overseeing budgets, determining discount rates and developing plans to attract new customers.

6. Relationship banker

A relationship banker handles a client’s entire relationship with a bank. From loans and personal accounts to trust funds and investments, these bankers have a wide range of knowledge about the products and services a bank offers. They can provide great customer service by answering clients’ questions and helping them make the right decision for their finances. They are the central point of contact for clients, and they often work with businesses to help manage more complicated accounts.

7. Sales consultant

Sales consultants seek out clients who may be interested in purchasing their company’s products. They’re generally assigned a certain territory and are then required to schedule meetings with prospective clients to explain the features and specialties of their company’s products or services. There’s typically some degree of travel involved in this position, although some sales consultants do work primarily via phone.

8. Sales support specialist

Unlike sales associates, sales support specialists focus specifically on sales-related issues, like providing help-desk support in person, on the phone or via online chat. In addition to helping with current clients, sales support specialists are often tasked with the “pre-work” of a sales cycle—market research, cold calling and preparing materials for the sales team are just a few examples. Additionally, they update client records, assist with unique customer requests and help provide solutions to product issues.

9. Sales supervisor

While a sales supervisor title covers a range of sales positions, the duties are generally the same. The goal of sales is to generate revenue for a company, so the sales supervisor’s job is to ensure customers’ needs are met, oversee the sales team and work through any problems that might arise between the customer and the product. Conflict-resolution skills, good communication and negotiation skills are a must for these business professionals.

10. Executive assistant

Executive assistants aren’t just assistants. This is typically the right-hand person to an upper-management professional—some of the busiest employees in any business. By handling clerical functions such as email correspondence, scheduling appointments, receiving visitors, preparing reports, booking travel accommodations and a host of other duties, the executive assistant is paramount to the success of other positions within the team.

Earn your Business Management Associate's Degree online

As you can see, there is a variety of business careers out there for those with an Associate’s degree in Business Management. Even better? Rasmussen College offers competency-based education programs that can allow you to earn your degree on your own time and at your own pace—perfect for anyone trying to balance a job and schooling.

Visit the Business Management Associate’s degree page to learn more about the exciting blend of learning options available to you.

Get started on your business career path.

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¹Time to completion is dependent on the number of transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term.
²Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 895,368 business job postings by education level, Apr. 01, 2017 – Mar. 31, 2018).
³Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries, and employment conditions in your area may vary.
⁴Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 143,242 business management associate’s degree job postings, Apr. 01, 2017 – Mar. 31, 2018).
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in December 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018.

10 Must-Know Pros and Cons of an Accounting Career

Like nearly everything in life, accounting careers have positives and negatives. But the truth is not that the career itself is good or bad, but rather that it’s the right fit for certain people and not for others.

Think of it like shopping for a new car—some people seek dependability and safety while others crave performance and speed. Neither option is inherently good or bad, but each vehicle is a better choice for different types of people.

What you’ll think of an accounting career depends on your personality, working style and life priorities. Once you understand the possible pros and cons of an accounting career, you can make an informed decision.

So is accounting a good major for you to pursue? Take a look at these pros and cons of accounting careers to steer yourself in the right direction.

Pros of an accounting career

There’s a lot to love about a career in accounting. Learn more about a few of the perks you can expect by pursuing this profession.

1. There is a clear career path

If you’re studying accounting, you’re learning practical skills about crunching numbers and analyzing costs that employers need. This gives you a much clearer career path compared to someone who chooses to study English or philosophy where the potential career outcomes are harder to define.

If you choose to pursue an accounting degree, you’ll have a pretty solid idea of where your career will take you. Though there are different types of accountants in the field, the duties you’ll have and skills you’ll use will be generally the same, meaning you know what you’re signing up for.

2. It’s a stable and growing job field

Accounting is not a profession that’s going away anytime soon. Virtually every business needs an accountant or an entire accounting team, and even the average person has reasons to hire an accountant from time to time.

The job prospects in accounting are projected to grow in the coming years. As long as people need help with taxes and as long as businesses exist, there will be a need for accountants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment in the accounting field will grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026. This is faster than the national average rate for all occupations.¹

3. You’ll have the potential for professional growth

After graduation, you might begin as an entry-level associate, but the potential for growth can be great. Many accounting graduates will start as staff accountants, junior auditors in public accounting or assistants in the controller’s office in private accounting as they begin to plot their career paths.

After getting established and gaining experience, career advancement can be achieved through on-the-job performance and additional education or certifications, like becoming a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA).

Looking for more specifics? Check out Accounting Career Paths: The Number Cruncher’s Guide.

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4. The earning potential is favorable

Like anyone, you want a career that allows you to provide for yourself and your family. So how does an accounting career stack up?

The median annual salary for an accountant in 2017 was $69,350, according to the BLS.¹ In fact, the BLS reports that the top 10 percent of earners made upwards of $120,000. Against the national median salary of $37,040, that’s an impressive amount of upside.¹

Additionally, many full-time accountants receive great benefits such as healthcare, vacation time, retirement plans and more. The BLS reports that most accountants work full-time, around or over 40 hours a week.

5. You can work where you want to work

Where would you like to live? West Coast, East Coast or somewhere in between? Big city or small town? In a mountain range or by the ocean?

With some career fields, you may need to uproot your life and move to an industry hub to find work. Accounting, however, tends to be everywhere. From farmers to government organizations to software development companies, seemingly everyone could use the services of an accountant. This gives accountants a fair amount of flexibility when it comes to choosing where they want to settle down.

6. There is entrepreneurial potential

Starting your own business is the same option in every profession. It’s highly unlikely that a pilot will ever launch their own airline, but accountants establish their own firms routinely. The dream of being your own boss is alive and well in the profession of accounting. If you have some of that entrepreneurial spirit, starting an accounting firm could be a great way to advance your career.

Starting an accounting firm, like starting any business, has its risks and may not be for everyone, but it’s definitely good to have this as an option.

Cons of an accounting career

Just like any industry, working in accounting does have its drawbacks. Get a taste of some of the less appealing factors so you can decide if it’s the right fit.

1. The education is ongoing

If you become an accountant, the learning doesn’t stop once you’ve earned your degree. To progress in your career, you’ll need to plan on continuing education—at least to keep up with changes in the industry and important certifications.

After getting started as an entry-level accountant, you should look at what type of certifications you might want to earn. There are different accounting credentials, including the CMA (Certified Management Accountant), CPA (Certified Professional Accountant) and CFA (Chartered Financial Accountant). These credentials will all take a significant amount of time and effort to obtain, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into ahead of time.

2. The work can seem dull

How many world-famous accountants do you know of? If you’re struggling to think of one, there’s a reason for that—accounting isn’t usually seen as a “glamorous” field. But recognition and glitz aren’t everything. The day-to-day work requires a lot of investigating and math, which can be boring to some but interesting to others.

This is one of those questions in which you’ll need to look within yourself and answer honestly about what works for you. Learning more about what accountants do on a daily basis will help you determine whether or not the work appeals to you. Check out “What Do Accountants Do? A Look at Life Behind the Ledger” for more additional perspective.

3. There is a busy season

Accounting is typically a standard 9-to-5 job, except for certain times of the year with impending deadlines. The most notable deadline is April 15 for tax accountants. For most tax accountants, the heavy lifting starts after New Year’s Day right up to April 15.

During the busy season, long days and weekend work become the norm as accountants work to get their clients’ finances in order. But the plus side is that things slow down significantly after that time period. In this way accounting careers offer some variety in the yearly schedule.

4. The work can be stressful

When you’re responsible for an organization’s finances, there is bound to be some pressure. It’s just part of the game. But that pressure and stress can have an impact on your overall mental health, and deserves consideration.

These negative experiences have a lot to do with where an accountant works and the specifics of their roles. It’s a safe bet to say, the more important your position is and the more money you work with, the more pressure you will face on the job. But whether that pressure results in negative levels of stress depends on your personality.

Try to honestly assess your attitude toward pressure and heavy workloads. If you don’t stress easy or don’t mind being a little high-strung, working as an accountant might not bother you. If you know you’re easily frazzled, it’s possible that an accounting career isn’t the ideal choice for you.

So, is accounting a good career choice for you?

Now that you’ve got a better grasp of the pros and cons of an accounting career, take the time to evaluate whether this is the field for you. If the pros are outweighing the cons, you might want to take a closer look at how to prepare yourself for a job in this field.

Are you still asking, should I become an accountant? It might help to know what kind of commitment is involved. Learn more about what it takes to launch this career in our article “Your Step-by-Step Guide on How to Become an Accountant.”

Get started on your accounting career path.

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¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed February 12, 2019] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in July 2014. It has since been updated.

9 Top Human Resources Job Skills Employers Are Seeking

There’s a strange dynamic at play when applying for a position in human resources (HR). You sit on one side of the desk as an applicant, but—in many cases—if you land the job, you might just vault right over that desk into the hiring seat.

Pursuing an HR career is not for the faint of heart. Being responsible for making hiring and firing decisions, keeping watch over employee welfare and handling a company’s most sensitive information isn’t for everyone. You feel like you’re up for the challenge, but want to know what exactly will be expected of you. This preparedness is especially important, given how well your potential interviewers may know the job—you’ve got to know your stuff.

We’re here to help you prepare and better understand what employers are seeking. To do this, we spoke to a few HR professionals and used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 140,000 human resources job postings from the past year.^* The data helped us identify the top nine skills employers are seeking in HR candidates—and, if you’re ready to interview, how to showcase these skills and abilities in yourself.

9 In-demand human resources skills

As you consider your proficiency in each of the HR skills listed below, think about how you could represent them in an interview and on your human resources resume. This can help you frame each skill in a way that will impress hiring managers.

1. Employee relations

Successful businesses thrive on secure employee–employer relationships and the professionals who support those connections. Being able to identify and resolve employee concerns as they develop creates a more satisfying work environment for employees and employers alike. This is a relatively broad area in the HR field—everything from labor disputes to managing employee benefits packages can be tied to it. Fundamentally, it comes down to your ability to manage conflict and be an advocate for both your employer and its employees.

How to highlight this in a job interview: Ask yourself if there was a time when you were involved in a discrepancy between two individuals in a professional setting. How did you work to resolve their differences in a respectful, empathetic and efficient way? Be specific. Which soft skills were important to use? How did you address concerns and determine an outcome?

2. Onboarding

Employee turnover is expensive, and a strong onboarding process can help reduce it. Onboarding refers to the process that allows new hires to become adjusted to the social and performance aspects of their new job quickly and smoothly. Companies are looking to hire HR professionals who can bring new recruits “onboard” to increase the chance that they will settle happily and successfully into their new jobs for the long run.

How to highlight this in a job interview: Share occasions where you helped someone feel at home or make a transition. Specific examples of taking initiative to prevent hard feelings and promote open communication between co-workers will speak well of your ability to thrive in an HR position.

3. Human Resources Information Software (HRIS)

HR Payroll Systems defines HRIS (also known as HRMS) as “an intersection of human resources and information technology through HR software.” This allows HR activities and processes to occur electronically, making the workload lighter and more efficient for HR professionals. These specialized tools may vary somewhat from organization to organization, but most offer core functionality that helps HR organizations run smoothly.

How to highlight this in a job interview: This can be a tricky requirement to fulfil if you haven’t previously worked in an HR role. If you have any experience working with an HRIS system, it’s clearly a good idea to mention what software you’ve worked with and how you used it. If you lack experience with this software, then your best bet may be showcasing how you’ve learned to use other software and tying it to your eagerness to quickly learn.

4. Performance management

Performance management is defined as how a company involves its employees in improving effectiveness towards the accomplishment of company goals, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The OPM lists performance management tasks that fall under this umbrella, such as setting expectations for employees, monitoring performance, developing their capacity to perform and rating performance. This skill relies heavily on strong communication and interpersonal abilities.

“If you’re pursuing a career in HR, then you should have great listening skills, empathy and emotional intelligence,” says Sophie Lhoutellier, HR manager at Badger Maps. “I wish more HR applicants would show great listening skills as well as proactivity. People tend to forget that they’re here to listen to the employees and their needs, and to do everything they can to make the company a better place to work at.”

How to highlight this in a job interview: Talk about any experience you have teaching, coaching, tutoring or mentoring someone else. Think of times when really listening to what someone was saying helped you solve a problem. Highlight these experiences on your resume and be prepared to discuss them in a way that shows you’re open, tolerant and versatile.

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5. Teamwork and collaboration

“Because HR professionals are focused on finding and creating the best workplace possible, it is extremely important that we find collaborative team members who believe in our mission,” says Vicki Choi, director of HR at Course Hero. You might think that teamwork would be a given in a field like HR, but it’s in-demand to the point of making the top-five skills on job postings.

This could reflect a mindset of HR professionals who look to the overall vision of the company instead of just the rules and tasks that make up their daily work. “I wish that more applicants would be oriented toward change and growth instead of just working with the existing HR processes,” Lhoutellier says.

How to highlight this in a job interview: Collaborating in HR often means working with professionals from many different departments, some of which might be outside of your personal wheelhouse. It’s important to know what you don’t know—and be willing to learn.

“Candidates who stand out during the interview process are able to show that they communicate honestly and are willing to be transparent about their successes, failures and progress,” Choi explains. “We have found that candidates who show these skills continue to create value for our HR team and the entire company.”

6. Scheduling

Employers want HR candidates with scheduling skills because many positions require juggling and prioritizing tasks on a team or company calendar. It’s important to be able to create a plan that allows everyone to achieve their goals.

How to highlight this in a job interview: Ask yourself if you have experience planning a multi-step project and how you had to strategically organize and prioritize time to complete each task along the way. This could have been for a wedding, school project or even a vacation overseas.

7. Customer service

Human resources professionals need plenty of management and leadership ability to do their jobs. But customer service skills are a huge part of resolving workplace issues. HR professionals spend lots of time in conflict situations. According to Joe Campagna, owner of My Virtual HR Director, simply being a people-person isn’t enough to field discipline, mediation and receiving complaints.

How to highlight this in a job interview: “I prioritize candidates who have experience in working with and helping people in some way,” says Lhoutellier. She offers examples such as volunteering, tutoring or coaching. “It shows that they have empathy, which is at the heart of any HR position. You can teach certain tasks of an HR role but it’s much more difficult to teach soft skills like empathy and communication.”

8. Project management

“Apart from day to day administrative duties, HR is almost always in the midst of some large project,” says Campagna. “It can be writing a handbook, installing a performance management system, or any other of a myriad of HR-driven projects from HRIS to employee surveys.”

How to highlight this in a job interview: If you’ve managed even a small project before—definitely include that information on your resume. If not, showcasing assertiveness, leadership and a great work ethic can be helpful for this skill. “HR isn’t the picnic department, it’s the productivity department,” Campagna says. “If HR cannot align managers to goals and ask the tough questions, then it is not worth having in a company.”

9. Worker’s compensation

HR handles any incidents of work-related injuries or illnesses. Each company should have a plan of action and compensation for employees who are hurt on the job that is in accordance with state and federal laws. HR representatives need to understand the laws regarding worker’s compensation and how to help the employee and the company navigate the compensation process.

How to highlight this in an interview: Since an injury incident can be fraught with tension, strong communication and professionalism are vital in compensation conversations. If you haven’t had experience with worker’s compensation, try to showcase your ability to remain professional and compassionate in conflict.

“The most important soft skills in a professional HR specialist are conflict management and ethics,” says Eva Winslow, HR manager at Careers Booster. “Listening to others, resolving issues in a respectful and appropriate way, all while handling lots of sensitive information are the most common tasks for this role.”

Bonus skill: Technological aptitude

Though technology-specific skills didn’t appear in the top-ten skills employers are asking for in their job postings, many of our experts shared that being tech savvy gives you an edge on the market. This could be anything from data analysis to virtual reality adaptations in HR, according to Winslow.

“HR applicants need to have love for number and data, projections and analysis,” Winslow says. “Many HR professionals make all kinds of decisions without looking at the numbers—their job revolves around theories and politics.” Winslow adds that many job candidates get lost when data analysis and projection come into the conversation.

How to highlight this in a job interview: Courses or certifications in data analytics would be excellent things to include. Definitely read up on what is happening in the industry—as well as which technologies are enabling the trends. “New employees should be up-to-date on the latest HR trends,” Winslow says. “Big data, gamification, virtual reality in HR—it’s all already here.”

Are your HR job skills up to par?

As you can see, there is a lot more to human resources job skills than being good with people. If you could see yourself getting into some of these aptitudes, you might have what it takes to thrive in human resources. “Go into HR because you like to make order out of chaos,” Campagna says. “Go into HR because you like to impact people’s lives for good by influencing pay, benefit packages and employee-friendly policies.”

If you don't quite feel you've mastered these skills enough to list them on your human resources resume, don’t be intimidated. This is precisely the knowledge and experience you’ll acquire in an HR degree program. Learn more about how you can develop your HR skills by checking out the Rasmussen College Human Resources and Organizational Leadership degree page.

Get started on your HR career path.

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^*Burning-Glass.com (Analysis of 144,736 human resources job postings, Apr. 01, 2017 – Mar. 31, 2018.)
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in July 2013. It has since been updated to reflect information relevant to 2018.

A Closer Look at Compensation for 6 In-Demand Business Careers

People launch their careers with a variety of different motivators in mind. You may be looking for a position you can feel passionate about each day, one that will allow you to climb the ladder, one with an attractive benefits package or one with a competitive salary—or all of the above.

Whatever your criteria, it can sometimes feel impossible to find a career path that fits. But the more you learn about the different job opportunities in the field you’ve set your sights on, you may begin to discover a number of different options you could get excited about. As someone for whom business acumen seems to come naturally, you’ll be happy to learn there are numerous options you could pursue with a business-related degree.

Seeing as there are so many career paths in the business field, you’ll find an expansive compensation range when researching business major salaries. But we’re here to help provide a clearer picture by examining the earning potential for some of the most common careers associated with business degrees. Read on to learn more about what you could expect from these common business careers.

6 In-demand business degree jobs and their salaries

To assist you as you conduct your career research, we used real-time job posting analysis software to examine more than 1.4 million business job postings.¹ This data helped us identify six positions for business degree-holders that employers sought most frequently in the last year. Let’s dive in to what we’ve found.

1. Business analyst

As a business analyst, you’d have the opportunity to analyze a wide variety of business processes and systems in search of efficiencies and ways to increase profitability. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reports that business analysts (sometimes called management analysts) are often tasked with creating reports on a particular subject or initiative. To do this, they’ll need to gather and analyze data and conduct interviews with key stakeholders.² The ultimate goal of their work is to improve business processes (or create new processes altogether) with an eye on operational feasibility and the organization’s bottom line.

This relatively senior position typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree, with many seeking candidates with a master’s degree as well, according to the DOL.

Median annual salary (2018): $83,610²

Projected employment growth (2016-2016): 10-14% (faster than average)²

2. Financial analyst

If you pursued a career as a financial analyst, you’d spend your days providing guidance to businesses and individuals making important investment decisions. This is done by evaluating current and historical financial data, studying economic and business trends, meeting with company officials and assessing the strength of the management team.

This professional path could land you a job in a bank, a mutual fund, a pension fund, a security firm, an insurance company or in other business venues. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial analyst positions typically require a bachelor’s degree.³

Median annual salary (2018): $85,660³

Projected employment growth (2016-2026): 11% (faster than average)³

3. Marketing manager

If your business interests skew more toward the marketing and advertising side of business, you could thrive as a marketing manager. In this career path, you’d devote your professional life to generating interest in products or services by helping your organization learn more about its target audience and keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the market at large. Collaboration is a big aspect of this career path, as marketing managers will interact often with art directors, sales representatives, public relations teams and product development staff.

To land a job in this realm, the BLS reports you’ll need a bachelor’s degree along with several years of work experience in advertising, marketing, promotions or sales.³

Median annual salary (2018): $134,290³

Projected employment growth (2016-2026): 10% (faster than average)³

4. Sales manager

Companies thrive when they have skilled sales representatives, but there needs to be someone at the helm to direct and support them. As a sales manager, you’d be responsible for overseeing your organization’s sales team. This includes setting goals, analyzing sales data and developing training programs for the company’s sales representatives. This role will often also include a responsibility for resolving customer complaints regarding sales and service.

If you hope to become a sales manager, the BLS reports you’ll need a bachelor’s degree along with some prior work experience as a sales representative.³

Median annual salary (2018): $124,220³

Projected employment growth (2016-2026): 7% (as fast as average)³

5. Accountant

If you’re one of those business-minded people who is particularly good with numbers and organized processes, a career as an accountant could be a great fit for you. In this role, you’d spend your days assessing financial operations and working to ensure organizations are run efficiently. This includes determining whether financial records are accurate, ensuring taxes are paid properly and on time and maintaining financial records. Skilled accountants will also suggest ways to reduce costs, enhance revenues and improve profits.

To work in this sector of business, the BLS reports you’ll need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.³ Taking the extra step to obtain certification, such as the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential, can give you a competitive edge in your job search.

Median annual salary (2018): $70,500³

Projected employment growth (2016-2026): 10% (faster than average)³

6. Human resources manager

While many of these in-demand business careers will have you working directly with your company’s products or clients, working as a human resources manager would allow you to focus more on the people who contribute to your organization’s operations. In this role, you’d center your efforts more on the administrative functions of your workplace, including things like recruiting, hiring and training employees; planning and overseeing employee benefit programs; and handling staffing issues, such as mediating disputes or directing disciplinary procedures.

To land a position as a human resources manager, the BLS reports you’ll need a bachelor’s degree along with related work experience. Some positions do prefer candidates with a master’s degree.

Median annual salary (2018): $113,300³

Projected employment growth (2016-2026): 9% (as fast as average)³

Get started on your business career path

As you analyze the potential career opportunities and business major salary potential, it may be refreshing to learn you can find a variety of different in-demand options with impressive earning potential.

If learning about these exciting career paths has further convinced you to take the next step forward in your education, it may be time to learn more about your options. Head over to the Rasmussen College School of Business programs page to see the wide variety of degree opportunities that could help launch your career.

¹Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 1,467,649 business administration & management job postings, July 01, 2018 – June 30, 2019)
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [accessed August, 2019] www.bls.gov/oes/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
³Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed August, 2019] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2014. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2019.

5 Things You Won't Find in the Human Resources Job Description

You’ve always been a good listener, and your friends and family swear by your wonderful communication skills. You have a knack for people, and not only that, but you’re pretty organized too.

A career in human resources (HR) seems like a position that’s been built for you, but you’re not sure of the actual ins and outs of the job. The human resources job description only reveals so much about the day-to-day duties.

So how can you discover what an HR position is really like so you don’t get roped into something unexpected? Look no further than this article.

We gathered firsthand accounts from a number of HR professionals and compiled a list of some helpful insights about working in the field. If you want to know about the skills you’ll need to succeed or what the work environment is really like, then keep reading.

5 expert insights about the human resources job description

1. Working with people isn’t always easy

Having great people skills isn’t necessarily synonymous with pleasing them. When you work in a human resources department, you have to keep in mind that while you’re advocating for the employees of the company, you also have to keep the organization’s best interest in mind as well.

“There might be tears and a host of reasons why [someone] shouldn’t really be in this or that position,” says Karla Jobling, COO and Founder of BeecherMadden. “Being able to empathize but sticking to the process or outcome that the company needs can be really hard.”

The juggling act of keeping people happy and protecting the business can be challenging. But if you enter your HR position with this knowledge ahead of time, it could make all the difference. Keep in mind that your empathy is still a valuable asset. Hiring and firing employees can be taxing, but it’s essential to the success of a business. You just have to stay the course and remember what you’re there to accomplish.

“You might need to keep the tissues handy as people get emotional when they bring their hurt feelings and personal problems to you,” explains Katy Caselli, an industrial and organizational psychologist and author of Building Giants. “But remember this, you are there to save the company money, protect it from liability and put a people-friendly face on top of that.”

2. You’ll do a lot of administrative work at first

No matter the work environment you’re hired into, you’ll most likely be assisting with a variety of administrative work to help keep the organization running smoothly. This is where you get to flex your jack-of-all-trades muscles and show the company just how organized you really are.

“You'll likely do a lot of filing, writing template letters, uploading employee information into HRIS systems, talking to staff about benefit coverage, helping to troubleshoot pay or other issues and so on,” says Jana Tulloch, a human resources professional at Develop Intelligence.

While the administrative duties of HR employees are vast, it’s clear that you won’t have to complete these same tasks for the entirety of your career. As you gain more experience, you’ll have the opportunity to focus on other areas within the field.

“You may wish to specialize in a particular area of human resources,” Tulloch says. Some common areas include: Employee/labor relations, compensation and benefits, training and development, staffing/hiring and analytics. “This is when you'll take on more responsibility and more autonomy in the decision-making process,” she adds.

3. Hiring and recruiting involves a certain finesse

There’s no way around it—hiring the right employees is a very specific skill. As an HR professional, you may be conducting interviews one-on-one with potential candidates or you might be a part of a hiring committee.

“Knowing how to conduct an interview is even more difficult than being interviewed,” says Lauren McAdams, Career Advisor and Hiring Manager at ResumeCompanion. “You need to learn to read between the lines, to understand the difference between a nervous mistake and a lack of confidence and what specific features in an interview will translate into appropriate attributes on the job.”

Part of the human resources job description if to act as the gatekeeper for your company. So understanding what the red flags are and whom you should and shouldn’t hire is certainly something you’ll do well to master.

4. You’ll have to understand and communicate the big picture

Oftentimes, HR professionals will be the ones training in new employees. Most companies have a very specific process to onboard new hires, so understanding the mission and vision of the organization, as well as how all the different roles work into the greater whole, is necessary.

“You'll need to have a firm understanding of just about every role and every department in a company and be able to articulate how that particular position functions and how it contributes to the big picture,” McAdams says.

While you probably won’t be conducting every part of the training, you’ll be introducing new hires to the essentials and the basics—like getting them a name badge, explaining benefits, vacation and sick leave. You’ll likely also assist them in getting familiar with the layout of the building and their office.

5. It’s important to be approachable, yet discreet

HR professionals walk the tricky tightrope of leveraging payroll and benefits, while at the same time, remaining prudent about what information they take in and share.

“Confidentiality in HR is obviously important. But it is also important to build relationships with the rest of the business, and keep your finger on the pulse,” Jobling says. “Colleagues in other departments need to trust you enough to pass on what is happening, what morale is like and what the real feedback is on new policies. But to get that information without giving anything away is a challenge.”

It’s not always an easy balance, but there’s a certain satisfaction that comes with being able to sway the direction of employee benefits and reward those who really need it.

“In HR you will be responsible for discussing pay and perks with employees and management alike,” McAdams explains. “Because of this, your negotiating skills need to be on point. This is also highly confidential information, so discretion is critical, as well as good judgment of employee performance.”

It’s time to take the next step

Now you have a better understanding of the human resources job description. However, many factors depend on your specific company and position. The roles and responsibilities you have in your first job will likely change as you gain more experience and move up the ladder.

To learn more about the advancement opportunities in the field, check out our article, Human Resources Job Titles for Every Stage of Your Career.

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12 Facts to Consider About the BIG Benefits of Small Businesses

Whether you’re a business student, a small business employee or a hopeful small business owner, it’s easy to feel like your work and your dreams are drowned out by the Fortune 500 companies and other big names in business.

These business tycoons may seem to be getting all the attention, but the reality of the small business advantage might surprise you. Small businesses benefit our nation and communities in a big way. More and more, the importance of small businesses in local communities and the national economy is coming to the light.

The little guys, from Mom and Pop restaurants to independent boutiques, are forming the backbone of our nation’s workforce. Keep reading to learn more about the big impact of small businesses.

Get the facts on the small business advantage

As you consider a career working for a small business or have dreams of starting your own, you might be concerned about your chances of success or whether or not you’ll make a positive impact. Don’t be—chances are your fears are unfounded.

We rounded up 12 encouraging facts that shed light on the benefits of small businesses. They might be just what you need to take the plunge and earn that business degree, apply for your first small business loan or even sketch out that business idea you’ve been dreaming about.

1. Small businesses are doing their part to keep the unemployment rate low

Though it’s hard to nail down an exact number, statistics suggest that small businesses account for between 60 and 80 percent of all US jobs! These businesses may only employ a handful of workers, but they add up to a large portion of the job market.

2. There are more small businesses than you may realize

It’s clear from that last fact that small businesses are abundant in the US. But just how many are there? It’s estimated that 25-37 million small businesses small businesses preside in the United States. So if you’re looking to start out your career working for a small business, there are plenty of options out there.

3. You don’t need a huge team to run a successful small business

Concerned that you need to hire employees right off the bat? Don’t be! The truth is that about 22 million small businesses consist of just one person.

4. Small businesses are killing it in retail

Considering starting your own boutique store or working for local retailer? You aren’t alone. Small businesses are rocking the retail market. They’re actually the largest retail employers in the US economy, making up about half of the retail employment market.

5. Small business owners are California dreamin’

Wondering where small businesses have fertile land to grow? In 2012, California had the highest number of small businesses and had the most workers employed by small businesses.

6. You don’t need to break the bank to get started

You don’t necessarily have to take out a huge loan to become a small business owner. There are several small businesses you can start for $100 or less. Think house and landscaping projects, like painting or gardening services. Or go online with app services, like becoming an Uber driver.

7. Social media is helping small businesses make big strides

There are several savvy ways to market your small business without a huge marketing budget. Facebook’s total number of users rose to 1.65 billion, a jump of nearly 60 million over the fourth quarter. Additionally, more than 3 million businesses are using Facebook’s advertising products every month.

8. Mobile devices are the future of purchasing

Will going mobile will help your small business grow? Keep in mind that we spend 174 minutes on our mobile devices each day, with 30 percent of all online purchases by millennials happening on mobile devices.

9. Small businesses have a surprising survival rate

Perhaps you’ve heard that most small businesses fail almost as soon as they launch. You might be surprised to learn that 70 percent of small businesses remain in operation for at least two years. Additionally, 50 percent are still around in five years; 33 percent are alive in ten years; and 25 percent are still thriving fifteen years later.

10. Small business are filling the employment void

Small businesses have done wonders for our economy. Large companies have eliminated a whopping 4 million jobs since the 1990s. But small businesses have come to the rescue, adding around 8 million!

11. Small business encourage inventiveness and new ideas

Small businesses are launching pads for new innovations. In fact, small businesses generate 1 3 times more patents per employee than large patenting companies.

12. Small businesses have room to grow

Small businesses are not necessarily that small. While there is no universal definition, some classify small businesses as any company with less than 500 employees. So if you see the potential for your small business to grow, that doesn’t mean you still can’t still reap the benefits of being “small.”

Starting small

Now that you know the facts, the benefits of small businesses are clear. They play a large role in our communities and the economy—and there’s a real future for those who start them.

If you’re ready to take the next step in launching a small business, check out our article: 8 Small Business Marketing Tips to Help You Make More with Less.

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5 Impressive Finance Job Titles to Work Toward

You have your sights set on a prosperous career in the finance world. Maybe you’re already working in a business role and are ready to advance. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a lay of the land so you can start planning your first steps. Either way, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with the different finance job titles you could land one day.

Not everyone will reach the rank of chief financial officer, but there are plenty of other upper-level finance job titles seasoned professionals can set their sights on. With the proper education and experience under your belt, you can start climbing the corporate ladder to one of these impressive finance careers.

5 Finance job titles for experienced professionals to consider

We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 275,000 finance job postings from the past year.¹The data helped us determine the most common finance job titles available to professionals with at least three years of experience in the field.

Keep reading to learn more about the opportunities. You may find your future finance job title in this list.

1. Financial analyst

As a financial analyst, you’ll dive deep into business trends, company resources and investment opportunities in order to guide the business toward smart financial decisions. You’ll also interact with company officials to better understand your organization’s prospects and recommend investments.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that more and more companies are looking for financial analysts who have a global perspective and can understand the culture, language and business environment of the country or region they cover.² This worldly focus makes sense—globalization has led to businesses with operations on multiple continents and businesses need analysts who understand the challenges and opportunities this presents.

Median annual salary (2018): $85,660²

Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 11 percent (faster than average)²

How to become one: Companies typically require a bachelor’s degree in Finance or a related field. The more advanced ranks may also call for a master’s degree.²

2. Financial branch manager

These financial managers oversee the financial activities of employees in a branch or department of an establishment, such as a brokerage firm, a bank, insurance division or a credit department. You’ll need to maintain relationships with individual or business customers and provide assistance with problems they may encounter.

As a financial manager, you’ll also be responsible for recruiting staff members, evaluating data and planning budgets, and preparing operational or risk reports for management analysis.

Median annual salary (2018): $127,990²

Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 15 percent (much faster than average)²

How to become one: Most financial branch managers have a bachelor’s degree in a finance-related field. Due to the leadership aspect of the role, you’ll likely be expected to have at least five years of experience in the field and some employers will be seeking master’s-qualified candidates to fill these roles.²

3. Accountant

Accountants are responsible for preparing and examining financial records for accuracy and ensuring that taxes are paid properly and on time. This level of insight into an organization’s finances will also allow for you to assess financial operations and find inefficiencies to cut, helping improve the organization’s bottom line.

Accounting positions can range from entry-level to advanced. Roles and responsibilities can increase as you increase your level of experience or acquire additional credentials. Esteemed job titles within the accounting realm include: Certified Public Accountant, Accounting Supervisor and Certified Management Accountant.

Median annual salary (2018): $70,500²

Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 10 percent (faster than average)²

How to become one: Most accountants will need a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Earning credentials, such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) will show specialized expertise to help you stand out and land more advanced positions.²

4. Controller

As a controller, you’ll manage the accounting operations of an organization to oversee financial reports, forecast the company’s financial position and maintain a set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk and ensure the accuracy of the company’s reported finances.

You’ll help develop internal policies and procedures and may supervise employees performing financial duties. Controllers also play an important part in keeping an organization’s financial reporting in line with generally accepted accounting principles and other regulatory standards.

Median annual salary (2018): $127,990²

Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 15 percent (much faster than average)²

How to become one: You’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics or business management. Depending on the position you’re pursuing, it may also be beneficial to pursue professional certifications like Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) or the Certified Treasury Professional credential after completion of a bachelor’s degree program.²

5. Financial examiner

Financial examiners enforce and ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing financial institutions. You’ll be responsible for inspecting important information to help organizations avoid financial crisis. A keen eye for detail and deep knowledge of laws and regulations are needed to ensure companies are adhering to the necessary guidelines.

In this role, you’ll prepare and review reports relating to an organization’s financial conditions, ensure legality of transactions and operations, and recommend actions to protect solvency of institutions. You may also be required to attend routine meetings with bank directors, trustees, senior management, accountants or consultants to discuss findings.

Median annual salary (2018): $80,180²

Projected employment growth (2016 – 2026): 10 percent (faster than average)²

How to become one: Financial examiners typically need a bachelor’s degree in a finance-related field. In order to be qualified for senior-level positions, you may need to earn a master’s degree or become a CPA.²

Forecasting your future in finance

Now that you’ve examined a few of the finance job titles available to experienced professionals, you should have a better understanding of your potential career path in the finance industry. After acquiring some field experience, you should start to get a feel for which areas interest you.

If you can picture yourself landing one of these finance job titles, it’s time to start planning out your next steps. Learn more about the importance of the proper training in our article, “Is a Finance Degree Worth It? 4 Factors Impacting Your Finance Career Forecast.”

¹ Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 277,932 finance job postings by experience, Jul. 01, 2018 – Jun. 30, 2019).
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed July 2019]. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2019.

9 Signs You Have What It Takes to Major in Finance

You feel like a cog in the wheel at your current job, and you’re getting tired of going nowhere. You know you have the natural talents to go places, but you’re just not sure which places will suit you best. One thing is for sure: You need to escape your slow-moving job and find a career where your abilities can shine.

Not all careers are right for someone with your ambitions and perpetual drive. The world of finance is one field that will take your natural abilities and reward you with an exciting and financially satisfying career. But not everyone can hack it in this field.

So how do you know if you have what it takes to major in Finance? We spoke with finance experts about which skills you need to get ahead in this competitive industry. If these characteristics sound familiar, you might be a natural winner in the world of finance.

You should consider a career in finance if …

Finance majors need a specific skill set if they want to achieve success in this dynamic industry. Take a look at this list to see if you have what it takes!

1. You have stellar communication skills

Financial discussions can get complicated. Whether you’re explaining to a client exactly what’s happening with their money or you’re brokering a complex financial deal, you need to have solid communication skills to keep the process moving smoothly.

“As a finance professional, you won’t always be communicating with other finance people that know all the jargon and complex terms,” says Edgar Collado, CFO at Tobias Financial Advisors. Strong communicators know how to adjust their language to get their points across as concisely as possible. “Most of the time you will be talking to colleagues in other areas and departments,” Collado says. “People will seek you out if you make things easy to understand, rather than trying to impress them with your financial acumen.”

2. You take initiative

You don’t need directives to make yourself useful. Whether you are at work or engaging in a project for fun, you like to look at goals and start working on a way to make those goals happen. Even if you aren’t sure how to do something, you know that getting started is usually more effective than kicking around doing nothing.

“I get really bothered when someone says they’re bored and have nothing to do,” Collado says. “It’s about independence. If you are bored, go out and find something awesome to work on without someone having to tell you what to do.” Collado says good employers value initiative and look for employees who think for themselves and take ownership of their work.

“I have always wanted to take ownership of my work, to show my bosses that I can be independent and operate with little supervision,” Collado says. “This has led to many opportunities to lead projects or teams.”

3. You’re inquisitive

You aren’t just curious about finance. You’re curious about lots of things. Some people walk through their day with their head down, just trying to do their part and go home. But that’s not you—you want to see what’s going on. That is a highly valued trait in the finance industry.

“Inquisitive people tend to do well in finance,” says Stephen Hart, CEO of Cardswitcher. “Instead of accepting everything as rote, I advise you to question everything. Why are things done this way? Could I improve this process? Why does this group of people get a bad deal, and this other group get a good deal?” Hart says this mindset led him to ask the most important question of his life, eventually leading to the foundation of his company to fit the need he saw in merchant services.

“I have no doubt that there are thousands of other questions to be answered out there for budding financial entrepreneurs to answer.” Hart says challenger banks once asked why banks generally have such poor digital systems. “And just like that, you’ve got Monzo, Atom, Revolut and so on.”

4. You work hard

When you have your eyes on a goal, you’re willing to work for it. If that means going the extra mile or thinking outside the box, then you’ll do it. You are tenacious when it comes to completing your mission. That trait is pretty valuable in any industry, but in finance, it’s a must.

“The one personality trait that has helped me the most is my great work ethic,” says JC Matthews, co-founder of Simply Insurance. “In the finance industry, smarts will only get you halfway; you also need to be a hard worker.” Matthews did not feel like a strong sales person and wasn’t gifted in small talk. “But I always worked the longest hours, and I would consistently outperform the best sales person on our team.

5. You have high emotional intelligence (EQ)

You don’t have a hard time relating to people. Whether it’s your best friend or someone you’ve never met before, you like to understand where people are coming from, and you are pretty good at reading between the lines of what someone is saying.

“A skill that is rare, but very useful in finance, is high emotional intelligence,” says Jacob Dayan, CEO of Community Tax. “Most of us finance people are analytical thinkers, and sometimes we aren't the best people to talk with when it comes to something as personal as finances.” Dayan says the finance professionals who have high EQ make clients feel that they care.

“Those people tend to do great,” Dayan says. “You can learn a lot from being able to comprehend why someone has the opinion they do instead of just assuming.”

6. You love to learn

You get bored with repetitive tasks that stay the same, week after week. The best jobs you’ve had were marked by their interesting developments, new things to learn and new people to meet. You’re just plain energized when you learn something new, and you’re pretty good at catching on fast. That’s a critical finance trait.

“Finance is a fast-paced field with a steep learning curve,” says Alexander Lowry, executive director of the financial analysis program at Gordon College. “Finance jobs are not stagnant, and the rate of change seems to be accelerating rapidly. You have to put in the effort to learn and to keep up with the quickly moving environment.”

“You can’t just reach a point, plateau and then expect to continue doing well,” Hart says. “The finance world moves so quickly—especially with the digital revolution over the past decade.”

Lowry says new innovations and technological developments like AI, blockchain and “fintech” (financial technology) are altering the whole finance landscape. “They are forcing every role in finance to rethink how the role should be performed.” No matter how long you work in the industry, changes like these will come along and necessitate a mindset of continued learning.

7. You persist

No one likes setbacks, but instead of getting disheartened, you rise to the challenge. You are willing to work at something for a long time if that’s what success takes. And when it comes to finance, time is often a huge factor in success.

Perseverance is a very important trait in the industry according to Anna Knezevic, managing director of M&A Solutions. “Finance as a field can, and does, get boring and challenging at the same time,” Knezevic says. “Being able to adapt and persist can be a success in itself, as it will give you experience that you will be able to use when the environment changes.”

Knezevic explains that lots of people view finance as a way to get rich quickly, but smart financial practices take time. While other people abandon their plans in finance, the professionals who are happy persisting in their work for the long term will see the most return on their work.

Lowry sees a genuine enjoyment for the work at the heart of the issue. “Yes, finance can be financially rewarding. But if your heart isn’t in it, then no paycheck is worth it. Finance is a fantastic career for the right person. Just give it serious thought to ensure it’s right for you.”

8. You’re a natural problem solver

Finance professionals deal with problem solving on a daily basis, from negotiating a deal to determining the best solution for a client. You’ll stand out above the crowd if you can show your employer you have the critical-thinking skills to handle tricky situations.

“I feel that my problem-solving skills have been hugely beneficial in my career,” Dayan says. “In finance specifically, you're going to be faced with new challenges on a daily basis.” Dayan says the vital steps of good problem solving are to assess the situation, weigh different options and quickly make a decision on how to move forward. “Practicing and perfecting these skills is extremely beneficial.”

9. You have the heart of a teacher

You love to share what you know. Whether it’s training someone in on a job, teaching a nephew to ride his bike or showing your grandma how to use her smartphone—you know how to walk someone through a process. In finance, teaching can be a huge part of the job.

“Discussing the topic of money with people requires optimism, an extroverted personality and the ability to translate financial concepts into plain English. You definitely cannot be afraid of the telephone,” says John Bodnar, CEO of Bodnar Financial Advisors Inc.

“Explaining behavioral finance is the most difficult part of my job. Some people walk into my office thinking there’s a magic wand that will fix their financial woes overnight.” Bodnar says, in reality, financial planning is more like losing weight. “It takes a lifestyle change, not a fad diet.”

When clients come in expecting miracles, your ability to teach them how finance works can make all the difference between changing someone’s financial future and a client who walks out.

“The ability to listen and understand the concerns of your clients keeps you focused on the bigger picture,” Bodnar says. “These aren’t just numbers and formulas—these are individuals and families with real hopes and fears. They are taking time out of their busy lives to do an incredibly vulnerable thing—opening their books to a complete stranger.”

Are you naturally inclined to major in finance?

It’s clear by the descriptions above that not everyone is meant to major in Finance. It takes a unique variety of skills and characteristics to excel in this career.

Many people don’t realize how many different roles and job opportunities exist within the finance sector. “Finance is extremely broad and there are many options,” Collado says. “I know professionals in finance that spend 100% of their day buried in spreadsheets running models, and they love it. I also know professionals in finance communication and media that spend most of their day writing stories and taking interviews, and they love it.”

There are so many more finance career options than meet the eye. Now that you can see some of your natural traits working in finance, check out our article, “Jobs You Can Get with a Finance Degree: 4 Elite Opportunities.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in February 2016. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018.

What Does a Recruiter do? Insiders Identify the Traits of the Industry's Best

When you hear the word recruiter, you may immediately picture a smooth-talking scout for a sports team. But talented individuals aren’t only sought out for the field or court. Recruiters are employed in the corporate world as well to seek out high-caliber candidates to meet companies’ needs.

“A recruiter is the link between candidates and their next job. It is a very fulfilling career,” says Tracy Vistine, lead recruiter for Messina Group .

So what does a recruiter do? And more importantly, what do the best recruiters do? Read on to learn what a day in the life of the industry’s best recruiters looks like.

Where do recruiters work?

There are two main types of work environments a recruiter may work. Many large organizations will employ their own team of recruiters in order to fill vacant positions within the company. The other option is to work for a recruiting agency, which works to fill positions on behalf of its clients.

Recruiters employed by a stand-alone business are typically closely engrained in the office culture. This means they’re on the hunt for candidates that will be a good match both for the position and the company. They work with various teams throughout the company to learn about their specific needs in order to choose an optimal candidate.

Agency recruiters often work in a specific area of expertise, such as technology or business positions. This allows them to hone in on certain fields in order to have a deeper understanding of industry trends and skillsets.

Just as there are a variety of work environments, there are a variety of job titles that recruiters can hold. Often falling under the umbrella of the human resources department, here are a few common positions you may encounter:

Corporate recruiter
Employment coordinator
Technical recruiter
Personnel coordinator

The day-to-day

No matter which work environment you choose, our recruiting pros agreed that your workdays will vary and you’ll be responsible for an assortment of tasks.

“I multi-task throughout my day,” says Amy Wolcott, talent manager for Sprout Social. She says she is constantly researching backgrounds, interviewing candidates and sifting through stacks of resumes.

Whitney Bristol of Jasper Contractors Inc. says she spends a lot of time on third party sites like Monster, Indeed and even Craigslist looking for candidates. She’s mastered the art of identifying top talent by how a candidate’s resume looks, their work experience and the use of specific keywords.

Recruiter Colleen Lauria agrees that the work varies based on the industry. Her day is a mix of networking with colleagues and friends to identify qualified candidates, using social media to generate buzz about open positions, interviewing candidates and meeting with clients to understand their business. Lauria also keeps tabs on industry news and trends to stay as informed as possible on developments that might impact her clients or candidates.

What skills do the best recruiters possess?

You don’t just want to be a recruiter; you want to be a top recruiter! So what are some qualities that many successful recruiters share?

Prime people skills

It shouldn’t be surprising that good communication skills are required to be a recruiter. Vistine says she spends more than half of her days on the phone, talking to candidates to determine if they have the right skills and attitude for the position.

You’ll also need to interact with the managers or clients needing to fill the position to understand exactly what they are seeking in an employee.

Strong intuition

You can never truly know a person through a few phone conversations or an interview. That’s why recruiters need to have good instincts and be able to detect potential that may not be obvious to others. A candidate may seem perfect on paper but that doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for the position. It’s the recruiter’s job to make that distinction.

“The best recruiters look for core skills such as adaptability, social intelligence and a willingness to learn rather than a strict adherence to job descriptions,” says Lynda Spiegel of Rising Star Resumes.

Will to succeed

“Recruiting isn't about just finding a 'butt to fill the seat'—you want to deliver quality talent for your team,” Wolcott says.

The best recruiters are driven to find the best possible candidates for each position they are attempting to fill. It’s easy to find a person to take the job, but finding the right match is much more difficult. Wolcott adds that successful recruiters are always thinking about what’s next for an organization, going above and beyond to meet their needs.

Desire to help

“At the end of the day this is a matchmaking business built on relationships,” Lauria explains. The best recruiters understand that and treat their candidates with integrity and compassion. They want to make a win-win situation for both the company and the client, so they endeavor to understand the needs and expectations on both sides before making a move.

The opportunities ahead

So what does a recruiter do? It all comes down to interacting with people. That means that every recruiter is going to do things a little differently, according to Wolcott.

If you are interested in recruiting, she recommends talking to as many different companies, agencies, recruiters, sourcers and account executives as you possibly can to get a wider view of how recruiters operate.

Once you’re willing to take the next step, learn how a degree in human resources can help prime you for success as a recruiter.

5 Business Management Facts that Will Make You a Believer

Going to college is a big commitment. It’s only natural to want to be sure of yourself when it comes to choosing the right major. To find that feeling of self-assurance, you’re going to need the most valuable resource of all—information. Unfortunately a busy schedule and the daily grind of life can make finding the facts you need to decide on a career path tricky.

We’re here to help.

We compiled a variety of business management facts to help give you the confidence you need in choosing business management as your major.

Business management career outlook facts

To help uncover these business management facts, we used real-time data analysis from Burning-Glass.com.* This data may be just what you need to get started pursuing your dream of becoming a manager.

1. Job openings

When selecting a focus area for your career it’s smart to ensure that the size of the market offers you a good number of job options. The Law of Averages tells us that the larger the job pool, the greater chance you’ll have to land a position.

The fact is: Burning-Glass analysis of the past 12 months revealed 357,983 job postings for positions requiring a business management degree. Moreover, 7,950 of those job postings were for a business analyst, one of Glassdoor.com’s ‘Top 25 Jobs in America’ for 2015!

2. Education requirements

Knowing the most commonly required level of education for a career in management allows you to avoid any career speed bumps on your way up the corporate ladder. It’s important to be aware of what employers want so you don’t miss a chance at a promotion due to lack of education.

The fact is: 85 percent of Burning-Glass.com results for positions related to business management prefer or require a bachelor’s degree. There are still many opportunities available to associate degree holders, but more and more employers want a bachelor’s degree.

3. Experience requirements

A degree in business management doesn’t mean you get to skip entry-level work and head straight into management without experience. But don’t let this discourage you! Many of the most effective managers have firsthand experience working in roles they now supervise. Your time spent in an entry-level position is valuable for learning the ins and outs of a job and developing your leadership skills.

The fact is: 77 percent of all business management positions require at least two years of experience. Starting off in entry-level work might not be as glamorous as a management position, but remember, this is the time to prove your potential. If possible, work with your manager to create a career development plan and make your management aspirations clear.

4. Salary

While choosing a career is often based on many different factors including location, growth potential, and—most importantly for some—salary. And while salaries can vary depending on your position, knowing your potential income can help you plan your family’s future.

The fact is: 65 percent of the business management jobs analyzed list salary information equal to or greater than $50,000 annually.** It is important to note that industry and years of experience are factors that will impact salary. This should give you confidence in your future earning potential as you progress within your career.

5. Employment variety

From finance to healthcare, one of the major benefits to working in management is the variety of organizations that need professionals with the right skills. Few degrees offer the type of flexibility that business management degree holders have at their fingertips.

The fact is: You can pursue management positions in pretty much any industry. Do you love the outdoors? Forestry could be your answer. Do you enjoy healthcare? Managing a hospital billing department is right up your alley. Want to help change the world? Maybe managing the finances of a non-profit organization is for you.

The possibilities are vast. In fact, a few of the top industries for management positions include:

Professional, scientific & technical services

Job title examples: project manager, product manager or district manager

Hospitals

Job title examples: human resources manager, program director or clinic manager

Educational services

Job title examples: director of admissions, marketing manager or administrative manager

Feeling confident?

Hopefully these five facts have reassured you that a degree in business management is the perfect fit for you. If you’re still on the fence, this final business management fact should help: if you have an associate degree, you may be eligible to finish a bachelor’s degree in business management for as little as $9,900!

*Source Burning-Glass.com (Analysis of top titles requiring a business management or administration major, 1/30/14 to 1/27/15)
**Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
Editor's Note: This article was originally written and published in August 2013 but has since been edited to include updated information and statistics.

Marketing for Introverts: Do You Really Need to Be Social to Succeed?

A career in marketing sounds appealing. You envision a glamorous scene like the days of Mad Men, with creative men and women working together to create marketing campaigns that transform their clients’ businesses. It’s fun to daydream about yourself succeeding in this career, but you aren’t sure whether your quiet personality fits in the seemingly loud world of marketing.

The idea that marketing careers are only for outgoing extroverts is driven by misunderstandings about both introversion and marketing. Introverts aren’t afraid of people; they just need time alone to recharge. You might be an introvert if you prefer meaningful, one-on-one relationships over making small talk with a new acquaintance and if you do your best work when you have time to think on your own.

Marketing careers don’t require you to be an energetic, smooth-talking salesperson. There are plenty of careers in marketing for introverts. Join us as we explore the many ways introverts can succeed in this field, including the marketing roles that are perfect for introverts.

The advantages of introverts in marketing

Marketing isn’t about pushy sales tactics and cold calls that would have most introverts running for the hills. In today’s world of digital marketing, much of this career involves working independently behind a screen. Many introverts have found success in marketing because of their quieter personality type, not in spite of it.

Introverts have their own unique strengths that can be an advantage in marketing. “I focus on connecting with people one-on-one,” says Stacy Caprio, founder of Accelerated Growth Marketing. “I’ve found my introversion and ability to make deeper connections to be more valuable in getting jobs and retaining clients than if I were naturally an extrovert.”

Focusing on your strengths as an introvert can help you make your way in the marketing world. “Introverts play a vital role in the marketing process because not every consumer responds well to an in-your-face sales pitch or aggressive banner ads,” says Courtenay Stevens, writer for Business.org. “Introverts provide a unique perspective that helps marketing teams hone their campaigns to be accessible for everyone.”

Marketing roles that are ideal for introverts

Many job titles in today’s digital marketing space are a great fit for introverts. These are just some of the marketing roles that introverts might be a natural fit for.

Content marketer

What they do: Content marketers create blog posts, infographics, podcasts and videos to raise awareness of their brand and connect with potential customers.

Why it’s a good fit for introverts: Content marketers spend much of their time working independently to create on-brand content that fits their company’s marketing strategy. Introverts will be able to put their creative side to work as they develop content that connects with others.

Market research analyst

What they do: Market research analysts uncover information about a company’s target customers and their products. This includes asking probing questions to determine which products, services and features they’d need and how much they’re willing to pay for them.

Why it’s a good fit for introverts: Market research analysts work behind the scenes, diving into data collected from surveys and sales to create an accurate customer profile. Like the job title suggests, these marketers spend more time analyzing data and numbers than working with people.

SEO specialist

What they do: Search engine optimization (SEO) specialists make sure that websites, blog posts and other content appear as high as possible in a user’s search results on websites like Google and Bing.

Why it’s a good fit for introverts: SEO specialists must keep a close eye on analytics so they can tweak their strategy according to what works and what doesn’t. Detail-oriented introverts who enjoy working on their own to solve a problem could find just what they’re looking for in this marketing career.

Social media manager

What they do: These digital marketers manage a brand’s social media platforms, sharing company news, writing and planning engaging posts and interacting with followers online.

Why it’s a good fit for introverts: Introverted social media managers are able to engage with customers from behind the screen, where they can use their relationship-building skills to develop connections without feeling as drained as they would from in-person conversations.

Advice for introverts in marketing

Introversion is part of your personality, not a weakness to overcome. Learning how to work with your personality instead of against it can help you find your place in the marketing field.

Choosing the right role in the right workplace can make all the difference in finding the marketing career for you. Caprio recommends searching for jobs driven by analytics or creativity rather than those that are all about directly communicating with others. “I’d also recommend looking for a marketing job at a single company as opposed to an agency role where client interaction will play a bigger part in your day-to-day job.”

No matter which job you choose, introverts in any career can expect to have some interaction with others. Knowing which situations make you uncomfortable can help you be prepared so you’re never caught off guard.

“My number-one piece of advice would be to know your triggers,” Stevens says. For example, she asks for discussion topics before meetings so she doesn’t have to think on the spot in front of a group. “Thinking about the topic in advance helps me think of thoughtful, well-reasoned points, which makes it easier to speak up in a public setting.”

Is the marketing field a better fit than you thought?

As you can see, a career in marketing for introverts isn’t exactly out of the question. There are several roles suited for introverts—and often the personality traits that come with it can be an asset! If you had mentally written off the marketing field up until this point, you may have been overlooking a world of opportunity. Learn more about the important traits that lend themselves to this field in our article “6 Signs You Might Be Destined to Work in Marketing.”

What Is Logistics Management? Understanding Its Importance

If you’re unfamiliar with the field, logistics management can seem pretty mystifying. When you start digging into this career specialization and the whole behind-the-scenes industry that comes with it, the confusion can really amplify.

But supply chain management (SCM) and logistics is also a gigantic part of life as we know it. Practically every item you see in your home has an entire supply chain leading it there—with natural resources, parts and components all being created and shipped across a complex global network. These vast interconnected streams of goods and materials are essentially the global economy’s circulatory system.

And the demand on that system is rising. “The need to have better transparency, real-time updates and better efficiency is more important than ever before in remaining competitive and meeting the demands of customers,” says Shaun Savage, CEO and founder of GoShare, a logistics and delivery company.

“Historically, the logistics industry has dragged its feet when it comes to new technology adoption,” Savage explains. “But, in recent years, that's changing. It's an exciting time to be part of the logistics community.”

Sound interesting? Read on to find out what the logistics community is like.

So, what is logistics management all about?

Supply chain logistics is about getting a product from its origin to its final destination. It may seem simple on paper—but the transfers, barriers, legal restrictions, modes of transport and more can make the logistics industry incredibly complicated.

Think of the steps you have to go through to ship a package to someone else. Even sending a simple object from point A to point B involves choosing a shipping company, packaging the object, transporting it to the shipping place and more.

Now imagine hundreds, thousands of objects, multiple points of origin, multiple destinations, international borders, trucks, freight trains and ships, items that must arrive in a small window of time and done as inexpensively as possible ... you can see how things get very complicated very fast. Professionals who work in logistics are there to keep this supply chain running smoothly, making sure all points of the transit are covered, and that everything is packaged, accounted for and delivered on time.

Contrary to what some may think—this field is by no means getting smaller with automation. “While technology is certainly advancing and becoming more of a reality in supply chain management, cutting-edge advances in supply chain robotics will augment workers—not replace them,” says Vivek Kumar, CEO of Qlicket. In fact, Kumar explains that companies today are having trouble finding qualified employees in logistics.

Part of this is because of what Kumar references as “the Amazon effect,” or a rising demand for multiple small distribution centers to meet the consumer’s desire for fast shipping. “The marriage of these two phenomena—the Amazon effect and human-robot collaboration—will lead to an increase in warehouse and distribution center employment,” Kumar says.

What does a logistics manager do?

Logistics managers plan, direct or coordinate purchasing, warehousing, distribution, forecasting, customer service or planning services, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.¹ They oversee logistics employees and systems and direct daily operations.

If you work in this role, you might be called a Logistics Manager—but there are many titles that all cover similar ground. Logistics Operations Director, Logistics Solution Manager, Logistics Team Leader and Supply Chain Logistics Manager are some other common titles.

Professionals in this role will likely collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems like sales or accounting. They will supervise schedulers, create procedures for logistics activity, monitor and manage distribution center activities and resolve problems concerning transportation, imports or exports, or customer issues.

Logistics managers also need to plan for trouble. They develop risk management programs to ensure the continuity of supply in emergency scenarios—what’s the backup plan if a hurricane disrupts shipping routes or a factory is taken offline? These are the variables logistics management professionals need to anticipate.

What does it take to become a logistics manager?

If you’re thinking work in logistics sounds both fascinating and complicated—you’d be right! Work in logistics also tends to be fast-paced and stressful in crunch times, so it’s not necessarily for everyone. But for people with the right skills and traits, the field of logistics is full of both opportunity and excitement.

Logistics managers rely on a mix of soft skills and technical skills to do their jobs—plus lots of software. The Department of Labor reports the following skills as especially important in this field.

Soft skills for logistics managers:¹

Reading comprehension
Active listening
Coordination
Critical thinking
Speaking / communication

As you can see, these skills tend to revolve around communication and analytical thinking. Logistics managers have to coordinate groups of people in different places and ensure that everything connects and flows as it should.

Technology for logistics managers:

Database management software
Enterprise resource planning (ERP software)
Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
Transtek Compass ERP
Planning logistics and supply chain software (3PL Central; Four Soft 4S VisiLog; Logisuite Enterprise)

Savage says the use of technology in logistics particularly is growing rapidly. Improved software systems can now create on-demand virtual networks of transportation professionals, improve forecasting and allow for complete supply chain visibility, he explains. “Up and coming logistics management professionals who can learn and adopt these innovations will stand out from their peers and find many strong opportunities for themselves in the field.”

For specific skill areas like these, logistics managers rely on education. But what education is needed? We analyzed over 22,000 logistics management job postings from the past year to see what employers are seeking. What we found is that over 85 percent of job postings were looking for applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher.² While many business-focused degrees paired with the right experience could work for meeting this requirement, there are Supply Chain and Logistics Management programs that cater to this specific subject.

What is logistics management to you?

It’s the circulatory system of our economy. It’s a crucial industry with intriguing career opportunities. It may even be your future career! If you could use a little more information about logistics careers—and want to hear from professionals in the field—you’ll want to check out our article “6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Supply Chain Management Career.”

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [accessed July 2019] www.bls.gov/oes/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
²Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 22,061 logistics management job postings, June 1, 2018 – May 31, 2019)

When Should I Start Investing? Financial Experts Answer the 6 Personal Finance Questions They Hear Most

Many people hear words like “portfolio” or “investing” and feel a sense of bewildered panic. These words sound like they belong in the mouths of wealthy, middle-aged people sipping champagne as they track the stock market. But is the idea of investing and sound financial management really that complicated or unattainable for most?

“A common misconception is that finances are complicated and expensive,” says Krista Neeley, managing VP of Appreciation Financial. “But your finances will only grow if you start saving and stay committed.”

It’s hard to think ahead in finances when you are having a hard time making ends meet. But you don’t have to be wealthy or far along in life to make changes that can help secure your future. Neeley emphasizes that starting even the smallest thing—a savings account, a good habit or a small investment—can be transformative when you have time on your side.

So whether you like the thought of getting a handle on your money or feel like running the other way when financial talk comes up, financial experts have advice to meet you where you’re at. These professionals offered some of the questions they hear most often—and their answers.

6 Commonly-asked questions for financial advisors

1. When should I start investing?

“Start investing the first moment you are able to,” says Michael Landsberg, Partner at Landsberg Bennett Private Wealth Management.“Put time to work for you.” Landsberg explains that time is one of the only elements of investing you can really control. Thanks to compounding, even a tiny amount of money can become substantial over thirty or forty years.

“The earlier you start, the better the results will often be. It doesn’t have to be big, but it should be something.”

2. How can I pay off student loans when I’m barely getting by?

Even a pretty small student loan by today’s standards is a big chunk of change. If your bills have you scrambling every month, clearing a student loan can feel impossibly out of reach. Financial educator and blogger, Kate Horrell, says the first step is doing what you can to avoid living paycheck-to-paycheck.

“Figure out where your money is going,” Horrell says, and recommends using a spending tracker app to account for every penny for a month or two. “Then figure out where you can cut back. Analyze your spending, and identify needs versus wants.” Horrell says making progress in this way requires commitment and focus.

“Avoid taking advantage of the different repayment plans with lower payments unless you have no other option,” Horrell says. “You may have to do things that seem drastic, like moving back in with your parents or cutting your grocery budget to beans and rice. But you will be so glad you did!”

“You are used to living on next to nothing as a student,” says Debbi King, personal finance expert and motivational speaker. “So you need to continue to do so and aggressively pay off the debt.” If you still live like a college student even after you’re working a better job, applying any surplus to your debt, you will pay it off much quicker. “Remember, all of this is temporary just until you pay it off,” King says.

3. How do I start building credit?

If you have a bad credit score, you might run into trouble when applying for loans or insurance coverage. But the system of credit scoring can be confusing.

“There is a lot to know about credit scores, so doing personal research is key,” says Alayna Pehrson, manager of Best Company’s Credit Repair vertical. Pehrson says it’s important to know what factors affect a credit score. “Payment history makes up 35 percent, amounts owed makes up 30 percent, length of credit history decides 15 percent, new credit makes up 10 percent, and credit mix adds up 10 percent of a score. Overall, the more you know, the more likely you are to build good credit.”

Once you have a general grip on how credit works, building credit doesn’t have to be difficult. “Credit cards are the most effective way to build credit in this day and age,” Pehrson says. “There are a few other options, like applying for an installment loan, making payments (like rent payments) on time and having them sent to credit bureaus and becoming an authorized user on someone else’s card.”

If you have traditionally avoided loans and credit cards, you might lack a credit history altogether. Even though that seems like a good financial place to be, it can make it hard to obtain a loan with favorable terms for something like a house without a credit trail behind you. “Basically, the sooner you start, the better—whether that includes credit cards or not,” Pehrson says.

4. Should I save for retirement or invest when I still have loans to repay?

It’s hard to think about retirement and investments when you are still encumbered with loans, but according to Galen Herbst de Cortina, lead planner at Buff Your Finances, you should analyze the situation for a moment. “If you have an employer match in a retirement account, save right away and maximize the matching funds,” Herbst de Cortina says.

If you don’t have an employer match, it depends on how high the interest rate is on your student loan. “If it’s six percent or higher, than I say focus on paying the student loans. Stock market returns are generally higher than six percent, but you know you’re getting that steady payoff when you minimize loans.”

Basically when it comes to funds you don’t need for immediate use, Herbst de Cortina says the first step is to make sure you have an emergency fund that can cover at least 3–6 months’ worth of expenses. Next, focus on contributing up to the match level on any employer retirement plan you have. After that it gets a little more complex—if you have loans with high interest rates, you’ll likely be better served focusing on paying those down instead of investing more into a retirement account. That said, every situation is different and there isn’t always a clear “right” approach—that’s part of the reason why this is such a common question for financial advisors!

5. How can I save money?

Investing, retirement planning and paying loans all require some savings. So how do you build up extra funds? While this question can lead to a thousand different answers, according to Neeley, it’s all about your perspective. “Savings habits are difficult for people because they perceive it as a loss, rather than a replacement.” Neeley explains that seeing that money “disappear” into a savings account or out of your income can make us feel like we are losing it. This perspective makes saving hard.

“You should always remember that one of the primary principles to building wealth is to pay yourself 10 percent. That's money you've earned and deserve to keep.” If you view your savings account as long-term money for you, it can feel gratifying instead of limiting. “We have so many bills to pay—sometimes we forget to get ourselves onto that list!”

As a practical step, Neeley recommends setting up an automatic transfer at your bank, to swap money from your checking account into your savings account every month. “You can also use a third-party app like Digit to help you save each month. This is a great tool when saving for a trip or something fun that's a few months out. You will surprise yourself with how much you can save in small increments.”

6. What is financial planning?

Financial planning basically means looking into the future for yourself financially and taking steps to make that future secure. “Our financial health and strength is just as important as our mental, emotional and physical health and strength,” Neeley says. “Taking time to better understand and empower yourself financially can be the backbone to the freedom, flexibility and peace of mind you desire for your future.”

Many people prefer not to think about their finances and avoid financial planning altogether, but this approach can be damaging. Taking a good look at your finances and doing a little research into budgeting, retirement and investments as soon as possible will give you more time to compound your assets, fix any problems before they become expensive and get a good head start on your financial future. “Having a strong, stable foundation for your finances is the easiest way to create a bright future in all other areas of your life,” Neeley says.

Speaking of bright futures…

As you can see, the world of finance doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, taking control of your personal finances can be incredibly empowering. If you enjoyed reading up on these financial FAQs, maybe you should consider a career in finance—after all, it can be incredibly rewarding to help others develop a firm financial foundation. Check out our article, “8 Signs You Have What It Takes to Major in Finance&rdquo to see if you might be a fit.

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What Is a Budget Analyst? Everything You Need to Know About This Number-Crunching Career

You’re the go-to numbers-person for everyone, from your family to your boss. They know that if you can’t get a budget whipped into shape, then no one can. Every now and then you wonder if your financial skills could be applied to more than just the weekly grocery budget, but a career as a budget analyst has remained a mystery to you.

What if it turns out you don’t like the day-to-day job duties, or if a budget analyst salary isn’t enough to tempt you away from your current job? You’ve come to the right place. We’re unravelling all the details of a career as a budget analyst so you can make the right calculation about whether this should be your next job title.

Keep reading for our breakdown of everything you need to know about a career as a budget analyst.

What is a budget analyst?

Just like the job title suggests, budget analysts help organizations big and small stay on track with their finances by maintaining a balanced budget. They help to keep company finances organized by running regular financial reports, collaborating with executives about funding needs and assessing budget decisions about special programs or one-time expenses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹

These expert number-crunchers aren’t just focused on past and current spending. They also help organizations plan for the future and assess the pros and cons of making large purchases. Though they typically don’t make final spending decisions, their recommendations are a valuable asset for company leaders.

What does a budget analyst do?

You might be surprised to learn that budget analysts aren’t tied to calculators and spreadsheets all day. They cover a wide range of daily job duties that allow them to best serve their organization through both calculation and collaboration.

These are some of the job duties you can expect to encounter as a budget analyst, according to the BLS:

Work with managers to develop program and department budgets
Review budget proposals for accuracy and compliance with laws and regulations
Prepare regular financial reports and analyze data
Use data to make spending and planning recommendations to organization leaders
Help organization leaders develop alternate solutions if the recommended plans or budgets don’t meet the company’s needs
Monitor company spending
Plan for future expenses

What skills does a budget analyst need?

As you’d suspect, a successful budget analyst requires plenty of financial know-how to make accurate calculations. We looked at the latest real-time data to uncover the in-demand skills employers are seeking in candidates for budget analyst positions²:

Budgeting
Accounting
Microsoft Excel
Financial management
Financial analysis
Financial reporting
Business administration
Spreadsheets
Forecasting
Microsoft PowerPoint

Though technical skills like these are vital for this career, there are also a handful of soft skills that make budget analysts even more valuable to their employers. Take a look at this list of soft skills from U.S. Department of Labor to see if you might already have qualities that fit the bill of a successful budget analyst³:

Active listening
Reading comprehension
Critical thinking
Speaking
Complex problem solving
Judgment and decision making

Where do budget analysts work?

Organizations in virtually every industry require the forecasting and balancing skills of a budget analyst. The BLS reports that 20 percent of budget analysts worked for the federal government in 2016, with the rest being spread across industries as varied as education, professional services and both private and public organizations.

Most budget analysts work in a standard office environment as full-time employees. They may typically be required to work overtime during certain seasons, such as at the end of a company’s fiscal year. Budget analysts should be able to meet deadlines year-round, so their organization has time to analyze reports and prepare for the future.

What is the average budget analyst salary?

The median annual salary for a budget analyst in 2016 was $73,840, according to the BLS.¹ Those in professional, scientific or technical services stand to earn even more, with their average being $81,550. The top ten percent of earners with this job title as a whole topped out at more than $111,460.

The job outlook for this career is also bright, with the BLS projecting a 7 percent increase in employment from 2016 through 2026. That’s keeping pace with the national average for all job growth, with a total of nearly 4,000 new budget analyst jobs being added by 2026.

How do you become a budget analyst?

The BLS suggests that most budget analysts hold a Bachelor’s degree, and our research agrees. Our analysis of budget analyst job postings reveals that 80.7 percent of budget analyst job postings were seeking candidates with a Bachelor’s degree. However, there are some options when it comes to choosing a degree. The BLS reports that both Finance and Accounting degrees can prepare you with the skills you’ll need as a budget analyst.

Budget analysts who work in the government after earning their Bachelor’s degree also have the option of earning an additional certification called the Certified Government Financial Management credential, which is offered through the Association of Government Accountants to candidates who complete requirements in education, experience and continuing education.

Are you calculating your next career move?

If all of this information is adding up to you making a move toward a career as a budget analyst, your next step is to choose the degree program that will help you get there. Learn more about finding the best option for you in our article, “Finance vs. Accounting: Which Degree Is Right for You?”

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed April 4, 2018] www.bls.gov/ooh/.Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
²Burning-Glass.com (Analysis of 4,958 budget analyst job postings Mar. 01, 2017 – Feb. 28, 2018)
³ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [career information accessed April 4, 2018] www.bls.gov/oes/.

What Is Organizational Leadership? HR’s Other Half

You are a leader and always have been. While some people quake at the thought of stepping up and taking charge, that is your dream. You’ve been searching high and low for a career path that lets you put this talent to the test, and you have finally stumbled across something that sounds promising: Organizational leadership.

But what is organizational leadership? You see it paired with the human resources field a lot but have never understood the differences between the two. Join us as we help you make sense of the two fields and how they overlap.

What is organizational leadership?

Let’s begin with your most pressing question—what is organizational leadership?

“Organizational leadership is a management strategy that focuses on the organization as a whole, and the processes needed to unify the individual and organizational goals,” says Dr. Jennifer Trout, department chair of the Human Resources Management and Organizational Leadership program at Rasmussen College.

“This role focuses on strategy and systematic approaches to the areas of performance and training for individuals throughout the organization to meet strategic goals through empowerment and developing a strong work ethic.”

In short, organizational leadership is the merger of management and human psychology. Those who excel in organizational leadership are able to gauge and understand the skills and talents of each employee and leverage those talents to help both the company and employees succeed.

Why is organizational leadership important?

Now that you know what organizational leadership is, let’s take a look at why it is so important in businesses.

“The [organizational] leadership needs to chart the course for where the company is going and provide the managers and staff with the resources and skill to steer the ship toward success,” says Michael Patterson, founder of MP Motivates. He says that organizational leadership is needed to achieve goals and keep the company’s best interests in mind; without it, managers may only focus on their own needs and interests.

Strong organizational leadership ensures managers and employees are equipped with the skills and perspective to make sure everyone is working in sync with broader organizational goals. In well-led organizations, employee problems are dealt with by leadership as transparently and respectfully as possible. When employees feel trusted and listened to, they are more productive.

Organizational leadership is therefore crucial to businesses looking to have and retain the best talent. Those looking to go into organizational leadership should be fair, honest, reliable and ready to keep the company’s best interests in mind.

How is organizational leadership different from HR?

Organizational leadership and human resources are often clumped together. Although they go hand-in-hand, they are not the same. Organizational leadership focuses more on the overall scope of the company, while human resources concerns itself with the human capital strategy for the organization, Dr. Trout says. Human capital here refers to the hiring, training, mentoring and other administrative tasks associated with employee recruitment and retention.

“Many organizations have HR managers working in organizational leadership roles or vice versa,” Dr. Trout says. She explains that businesses are moving to make HR positions more strategic, which ties in with the interdependence of both human resources and organizational leadership.

Therefore, while organizational leadership is different from HR, both work together to ensure that all employees in an organization are working as best they can.

What can you do with a degree in Human Resources and Organizational Leadership?

Now that you are well-versed on what organizational leadership is and how it fits in with human resources, you may still be wondering what you can do with a Human Resources and Organizational Leadership degree. Because the organizational leadership and human resources fields are so closely intertwined, we’ve scoured thousands of job postings requiring a degree in either HR Management or Organizational Leadership to find the top ten job titles that fit the bill.

Human resources manager, generalist, specialist, coordinator or assistant
Director of human resources
Human resources consultant
Recruiter
Human resources analyst
Talent acquisition manager
Human resources representative
Compensation analyst
Human resources business partner
Human resources administrator

Although many of these titles seemingly encompass more of the HR aspect than the organizational leadership, obtaining a degree that focuses on both Human Resources and Organizational Leadership will equip you with the leadership skills you need.

Human Resources and Organizational Leadership courses

If you are thinking of entering a Bachelor’s degree program, you will take plenty of classes in Organizational Leadership. Here’s a sampling of the courses offered by Rasmussen College:

Organizational Development
Contemporary Leadership Challenges
Organizational Behavior Analysis
Leadership and Teams
International Leadership and Human Resource Management

You will also take classes on law and ethics in HR, HR management and training and development. This will provide you with a well-rounded skill set for both administrative HR roles and for positions involving organizational leadership. These courses will also provide an excellent foundation to build upon for anyone interested in eventually pursuing a Master's degree in Human Resources Management.

Put your skills into action

Organizational leadership is essential to any business, as is human resources. You know now how the two differ and how they work together to create stronger, more efficient businesses and happier employees.

Curious about the career path you may take with a Human Resources and Organizational Leadership degree? Learn more about the potential road ahead in our article, “Top Human Resources Job Titles for Every Stage of Your Career.”

*Burning-Glass.com (job analysis of 14,061 jobs that require a degree in Human Resources Management or Organizational Leadership from Sep. 1, 2016 – Aug. 31, 2017).

7 Satisfying Business Management Jobs for Degree Holders

Sometimes taking care of your family means taking care of yourself. Your decision to earn your degree is as much for you as it is for them. This is why you want to choose a career that will not only support your family, but also allow you to enjoy going to work every day.

Considering a degree in business management is a great place to start. It is understandable, though, to have questions: What can you do with a business management degree? What is the outlook for business management jobs? What is an average business management salary?

The answer to that first question isn’t as simple as you might think. It is important to note that a business management degree isn’t only for professionals who desire to supervise a team. There are a variety of careers in business management available to those with this educational background.

7 Business management degree jobs

The good news is that a business management degree isn’t a dead-end road. Earning this credential can lead you down a variety of career paths in today’s corporate world. We identified seven of the most common business management careers available to degree holders.

Check out this video to discover the opportunities:

Business management career facts

1. Sales representative

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 6% increase

2016 median annual salary: $60,530*

Job overview: Sales representatives contact new and existing customers, explain product features, answer any questions that customers may have. Some sell directly to consumers, and some to businesses and other organizations.

2. Marketing manager

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 9% increase

2016 median annual salary: $127,560*

Job overview: Marketing managers estimate the demand for products and services that an organization, and its competitors, offer. They identify potential markets for the organization’s products and oversee a team that develops strategies to maximize profits.

3. Sales manager

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 7% increase

2016 median annual salary: $117,960*

Job overview: Sales managers direct an organization’s sales teams—setting goals, analyzing data, and developing training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.

4. Management analyst

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 12% increase

2016 median annual salary: $81,330*

Job overview: Management analysts propose ways to improve an organization’s efficiency. They advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues.

5. General and operations manager

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 8% increase

2016 median annual salary: $99,310*

Job overview: General and operations managers review performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement and identify areas that may need cost reduction or program improvement.

6. Financial analyst:

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 11% increase

2016 median annual salary: $81,760*

Job overview: Financial analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds and other types of investments.

7. Financial manager:

Projected job growth (2016 – 2026): 19% increase

2016 median annual salary: $121,750*

Job overview: Financial managers oversee the financial health of an organization. They produce financial reports, direct investment activities, and develop strategies and plans for the long-term financial goals of their organization.

Find your career in business management

If you’re looking for an education path that provides a variety of options, a business management degree might be the perfect choice for you. The career outlook, earning potential and job duties are appealing. But what’s more enticing is the fact that you earn your bachelor’s degree in as few as 18 months.**

Start on the path to pursuing your dream job by learning more about the Rasmussen College Business Management program today!

*Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
**Time to complete is dependent on accepted transfer credits and courses completed each quarter.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in September 2014. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2017.

Experts Reveal 10 Invaluable Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs

As a kid, having a lemonade stand set up on the side of the road wasn’t just for fun. It was a business, and you worked hard to earn those quarters. Years later, you still have that entrepreneurial streak and are maybe thinking of setting out on an all-new business venture of your own.

While the allure of being your own boss is strong, starting your own business can be pretty intimidating. There’s a ton of information that needs to be taken into consideration. You’ve heard plenty of stories of start-ups and small businesses that have either succeeded or failed—but it’s not always clear what caused their success (or lack thereof). There have been plenty of business ideas backed with resources and plans that just never seemed to work out—and some of that failure to take off rests on the traits and the personalities of the people in charge.

Before jumping head-first into a new venture, consider your strengths and ask yourself how they compare to the traits of successful entrepreneurs. We talked to entrepreneurship experts to find out what traits successful entrepreneurs have.

10 Traits of successful entrepreneurs

1. Ambition

Without ambition, entrepreneurs would never pursue their dreams. Not only that, but also that the world’s too competitive for entrepreneurs to settle for “good enough”— as that can quickly slide into failure. Ambition keeps entrepreneurs pushing for ways to improve, and it is an essential trait for anyone aspiring to own their own business.

“Skills can be learned and experience can be acquired, but there’s no replacement for ambition,” Jimmy Chan, photographer of Pixelicious, says. “Students need to understand that they will only reach as far as their ambition will allow.”

2. Clarity of purpose

Before embarking on your entrepreneurship journey, think about your goals and purpose. You will need to know your purpose and goals before diving into a new business. “You need a clear vision about what you want and why you want it. Answer those, and you will be able to realize pretty much anything,” says Kevin Huhn, business growth strategist and consultant.

3.Courage

Entrepreneurs need to have the courage to take risks and put themselves out there. Many entrepreneurs quit their old jobs to pursue their dream, which is a big leap of faith. Can you stomach risk? While you certainly have some control over how your business will fare, sometimes success or failure really can come down to luck—and that’s something you’ll need to be comfortable with.

4. Empathy

Entrepreneurs who are hoping to start and run a business will be responsible for managing employees and running client relations. “You need to have the ability to relate to your employees, customers and partners and be able to put yourself in the soul of other people. Without empathy, it’s very hard to rally your troops around your vision or sell your product or service,” says Gene Caballero, co-founder of GreenPal.

5. Integrity

As an aspiring business owner, you need to have integrity in order for investors and clients to trust you and feel comfortable working with you. Your employees and investors—especially as you’re just getting started—are also taking a risk when signing on to work with you. It’s incredibly important to “walk the walk” and hold yourself to a high standard of accountability. As the saying goes, “Breaking trust is easy, but building trust is not”—your integrity goes a long way in maintaining a healthy, trustworthy business relationship for all parties involved.

6. Passion

Entrepreneurs need passion to fuel their ideas. Getting established is likely going to take long hours and a ton of hard work. That level of work is not sustainable if you’re not all-in on your business concept.

“Starting a small business means you have to be passionate,” says Sean Hopwood, CEO and founder of Day Translations Inc. “Small businesses are hard work, and your passion is what keeps you going every day. So build a business around something you really care about.”

7. Patience

This trait is essential in entrepreneurs, as businesses and ideas take time to come to fruition. You may not succeed as quickly as you think, but don’t let that discourage you. Have patience and persistence in your quest to make your dream a reality. Sooner or later your hard work will pay off, even if you have to wait out some rough patches first.

8. Decisiveness

Being an entrepreneur means you’re going to make a lot of decisions. Big, intimidating, “We-might-fail-if-I-choose-wrong” decisions. While it’s certainly important to research information and weigh options carefully, there’s also the potential for “paralysis by analysis,” resulting in missed opportunities—sometimes businesses succeed by being the first to do it, not necessarily by being the best at it. Whatever your choice is when making a decision, you’ll need to be firm and confident.

9. Resilience

There’s no doubt that you will face challenges and obstacles on your way to becoming a successful business owner. You might even need to completely change course with a new business opportunity—entrepreneurship can take multiple tries before things click.

“It's unlikely you'll achieve your goals the first time around, or in the time frame you think it can be done. But that's part of the challenge. If you want it bad enough, you'll get knocked down and keep getting back up, ready to try again,” says Jase Rodley, principal at Otium Boutique.

10. Responsibility

“Having your own business is a ton of responsibility—you are steering the ship yourself, directing everything that happens,” Alexandria Broytman, founder of EvaDane says. Entrepreneurs need to be responsible in staying on top of what needs to be done. Starting your own business is a big undertaking, but if you know how to prioritize and work hard, you will have a leg up.

Do you have what it takes?

Now you know some of the traits successful entrepreneurs share. If you find yourself shaking your head, then don’t worry! These skills are only part of what makes a successful entrepreneur. This list is not exhaustive and some of these traits can be learned over time.

Whether you decide to start out on your own right away or first build some business experience, an education plus these entrepreneurial traits is a key to success. If you’d like to develop a well-rounded set of business skills for entrepreneurship, a degree in Business Management specializing in Entrepreneurship is an excellent option.

10 Compelling Marketing Courses You Can Look Forward to Taking

For some, the marketing field is an irresistible calling. The industry’s intriguing mix of psychology, advertising and business is enough to pique your interest in pursuing a potential marketing career. But when it’s time to choose a Marketing degree program, it’s only natural to be curious about what you’re going to learn. After all, things change quickly in the marketing world, and you’ll want to spend time mastering material that will be relevant when you graduate.

If you’re looking for up-to-date marketing courses, you’ve come to the right place. Rasmussen College has recently revamped its Marketing degree program to include two new specialization paths: Digital Marketing and Sales Management. We asked one of the experts behind this curriculum redesign, Dr. Carolanne Azan, to help us highlight some of the exciting changes and interesting courses you can expect to take in these specialized paths.

Digital marketing courses

Marketing students who choose to pursue the digital marketing specialization path can look forward to the following:

Web Analytics

What you’ll learn: This course will teach you the fundamentals of web analytics as well as the tools used to build data visualizations and dashboards for business purposes.

Why it matters: Websites have become the virtual storefront for businesses large and small. Understanding web analytics allows you to shine a light on the performance of this virtual store. That visibility allows for site improvement strategies that are measureable. The layout of a brick and mortar retail store is constantly being tweaked to improve sales or profit margins. Analytics is the key to doing the virtual equivalent in an intelligent way.

Advanced Digital Marketing Strategies

What you’ll learn: In this course, students will learn digital marketing platforms as well as the tactics and strategies for using them effectively.

Why it matters: Effective digital marketing requires nuance, a deep understanding of how these platforms work and where they are best used in a sales funnel. Knowing how to reach people at the right time and with the right message is key.

“Students are exposed to a wide variety of digital tools and platforms so they can go into the workforce with hands-on familiarity,” Azan explains. “They’ll learn how to optimize digital marketing tactics for reach, engagement and expansion into new markets.”

Visual Marketing and Social Media

What you’ll learn: Students will learn how to develop effective social media campaigns and understand the strategies powering them. This course includes learning how to use visual marketing materials to enhance campaigns as well as how crisis communication plans are woven into social media marketing.

Why it matters: Social media has become increasingly crowded with brands and organizations vying for users’ attention. This course helps students understand the visual marketing tactics that catch the eye of consumers and how to best leverage them.

Website Development for Business

What you’ll learn: In this course, students will build their technical knowledge of website development and publishing. Key focus areas for this course include usability studies, information architecture design and the technology tools used for building business websites.

Why it matters: Not every marketing professional needs to be a master web developer, but it is helpful to understand how websites are made and how customers use them. The layout and design of a website can have a profound impact on its effectiveness, which means marketers need to know the basics to maximize their virtual storefront’s value.

Search Engine Optimization and Marketing Strategies

What you’ll learn: This course teaches students the fundamentals of search engine optimization (SEO) and what it takes to get a webpage to appear at the top of a search engine results page. This includes developing keyword strategies, technical and on-page SEO techniques and understanding how to define success metrics.

Why it matters: Finding information on search engines like Google is second nature for most people. SEO is the key to making sure your business or organization’s website is easily found, which can easily translate into site visitors and, if all goes well, customers.

Sales management courses

Marketing students looking to develop their professional sales skills can look forward to the following courses:

Strategic Sales and Sales Management

What you’ll learn: Students in this course will learn how to strategically approach the sales process in both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) sales situations. Students will learn the value of consultative selling and how to effectively position a product or service as a solution to a customer’s problem.

Why it matters: Sales may seem like a simple transaction, but the best salespeople understand how to position their products and services in an appealing way. Understanding the needs of a customer or client is the key to offering up the right pitch. When done well, strategic salespeople are viewed by their customers as partners looking to accomplish a common goal.

Business Development and Customer Relations Management

What you’ll learn: In this course, students will develop a working knowledge of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms and how to best utilize this technology. Additionally, students will learn how to develop strategic relationships, how to develop a long-term growth strategy and how to research, identify and cultivate new business opportunities.

Why it matters: Every effective sales team needs leads or prospects to thrive. Identifying potential customers and developing relationships is a key component to sales, and CRM software is a linchpin in keeping these prospects and a sales team’s interactions with them organized.

Professional Selling

What you’ll learn: This course focuses on how to effectively communicate as a sales professional. Focus areas include relationship building, products, customers, presentations and ethics. Students will learn how to successfully uncover the needs of a prospect while also building and maintaining long-term relationships.

Why it matters: Salespeople don’t get very far without a plan for how they’ll communicate with prospects. While building personal connections may come naturally for some, that doesn’t mean they’ll materialize into a sale. This class will teach you how to approach a prospect like a sales professional.

Sales Promotion, Analytics and Forecasting

What you’ll learn: Students in this course will learn about short-term promotional tactics used to boost sales, how to increase demand and visibility through promotions and analyze trends for future sales projections.

Why it matters: Promotions are an effective option in any salesperson’s toolkit. But promotional efforts need to be done intelligently to maximize their effectiveness. This course will also give students a better understanding of sales trends and how to project future sales goals, which can help make the most out of promotional tactics.

“Students will have the knowledge, skills and abilities to evaluate and plan sales promotions and predict future conditions to reduce uncertainty and increase self-confidence with decision making,” Azan says.

Salesforce Management

What you’ll learn: This course prepares students for sales management positions by focusing on how to manage and lead personnel with effective communication and relationship-building skills. Students will learn the qualities of effective sales managers, how to manage conflict and how to build their leadership abilities while managing a diverse, global sales team.

Why it matters: Being a top-notch salesperson is great, but even the best deal-closers can struggle with managing others if they’re not prepared. This course helps build leadership and management competencies to help students feel confident as they work their way up in a sales career.

Ready to get started?

Whether you’re focused on launching a digital marketing or sales career, there’s plenty to be excited about in the field of marketing. Now that you know a little more about the intriguing Marketing courses you’ll find at Rasmussen College, are you ready to get started? If so, check out the Marketing program page to learn even more about the details of this program.

The 16 Hottest Marketing Podcasts to Add to Your Playlist

In marketing, trends change fast. Between lunch and the end of the workday, hashtags have surged then disappeared, posts have gone viral and businesses all over the world have scrambled to get on top of various media waves. Even if your particular branch of business is a bit slower-paced, knowledge is marketing power.

Enter the podcast–the perfect format for staying up-to-date on the marketing world. If you don’t have the time to scroll through articles or blogs every day, just turn to one of these while taking your lunch break or commuting to work. Podcasts are the ideal format for things happening now in the world of marketing, business and everything that impacts those spheres.

Some marketing podcasts are more formal, while others might just be two thought leaders talking from the comfort of a living room. There are so many great marketing podcasts out there, so you’ll have no trouble finding a handful that suits your style, challenges your thinking and maybe even makes you laugh. Check out this list of some of the hottest marketing podcasts and get better connected to the marketing world.

16 Marketing podcasts worth checking out

1. Six Pixels of Separation

With hundreds of episodes recorded, this weekly podcast is a practical library of marketing knowledge. Hosted by marketing expert and digital visionary, Mitch Joel, the episodes focus on “digital marketing and media hacking insights.” Recent topics include precise sales pitch wording, the use of humor in marketing, the impact of audio on branding efforts and more. These episodes run about an hour in length, so if you face a particularly long commute, Six Pixels of Separation could be the perfect fit.

2. Noah Kagan Presents

A bit wider in its range of topics, this podcast is about “strategies to start and grow your business, improve your productivity, and live a happier and more successful life.” Host Noah Kagan interviews many big names in many different industries about their tips and keys to success. These lively episodes are far from sounding like a lecture and often feature colorful language.

The run-time of each episode is on the shorter side, averaging 20–30 minutes. And the episodes are specifically titled, making it easy for listeners to choose topics they are most interested in. Examples of some recent episodes are: “How to Have More Engaging Conversations,” and “How YouTube’s Top Earners Promote Their Content and Grow Their Audience.”

3. Perpetual Traffic

Perpetual Traffic is all about utilizing paid-traffic channels to the best of your ability. It describes itself as “actionable advice for generating more leads and sales for your business through channels like Facebook advertising.” Many of the episodes also break down how highly successful businesses or campaigns achieved their results. If you want to keep tabs on the best way to utilize paid traffic at this moment, this is the podcast for you.

4. Building a StoryBrand with Donald Miller

This podcast features expert insight with a holistic approach to building your brand. Miller’s successful model is based on the concept that the best brands tell a story. “Don has studied story for decades and, as such, is versatile in a language human beings have been speaking for centuries,” the StoryBrand website writes. The podcast is an easy way to enhance the way you approach your branding and communicate a narrative in your marketing.

5. The Influencer Podcast

If you are curious about influencer marketing (or don’t know much about it), you’ll want to dig into The Influencer Podcast. Marketing strategist and New York Times bestselling publicist and influencer, Julie Solomon, hosts these episodes dedicated to trends, success stories and how-tos in influencer marketing. For insight into building an industry-leading influence, give this podcast a try.

6. The B2B Revenue Leadership Show

If you work in the business to business (B2B) space, The B2B Revenue Leadership Show is a must listen. They focus specifically on marketing tactics and strategies that are tailored for a business audience, discussing cutting-edge ideas to drive revenue. Recent topics include: “How to go from Start-up to Hyper-growth,” “How Influence Works in the Real World” and “Making Sense out of Your CRM Data.”

7. Social Media Marketing with Michael Stelzner

This podcast by the Social Media Examiner is all about marketing and business tactics related to, you guessed it—social media. The episodes typically run from 30 to 45 minutes and feature interviews with experts, success stories and social media strategists. This podcast is one of the most popular business and marketing podcasts on iTunes.

8. Growth Everywhere

Growth Everywhere is an interview series with entrepreneurs and marketers. The pared-down format of each episode keeps the content of each interview as the focal point. The cast of interviewed experts offers a wide range of ideas and advice. This one is perfect for marketers working in small businesses, startups or other entrepreneurial ventures.

9. The Marketing Book Podcast

If you wish you could take more time to read marketing books, give this podcast a try. It features an interview every week with best-selling authors in sales and marketing. You’ll get some of the great ideas and themes from their books, as well as relevant conversation from their expertise. And if you do find time to do some follow-up reading, you’ll have a few ideas on which books you are most interested in.

10. I Love Marketing

I Love Marketing describes itself as useful for “entrepreneurs, small business owners or even startups that want inspiration and actionable marketing strategies.” Every Monday, this weekly podcast is poised to be a great start to your workweek and inspire some good ideas for lead generation, lead conversion, getting referrals, email marketing and more. With over 200 episodes and counting, this established podcast offers an education in the marketing mindset along with recent trends.

11. Growth Mapping Podcast

The Growth Mapping Podcast is dedicated to growth strategies in marketing. Hosted by two professionals with their own competing agencies in the field, these episodes deliver practical—and sometimes pretty granular—ways to get your business growing. In short, easily digestible bites, this one makes a great choice for listening and applying what you just learned.

12. The Science of Social Media

One of the most popular social media marketing podcasts on iTunes, The Science of Social Media digs deep into all forms of social media and their implications for marketers and businesses. You can find episodes dedicated to Facebook notes, Instagram algorithms and the deconstruction of why people like or share articles. This weekly podcast is perfect for the marketer who wants to stay on top of developments in the social media realm.

13. Stack & Flow

Automation is changing the way many professionals work, and marketing is no exception. The Stack & Flow podcast is all about creating and utilizing a marketing technology stack. “Sales and marketing automation is being reimagined every day, and there are many fresh voices and ideas in the industry that deserve to be heard,” writes the Stack & Flow website. “This show will be a platform for new thought leaders who understand how to solve technology and data challenges in modern businesses.”

14. Marketing Over Coffee

One of the more popular marketing podcasts on iTunes, Marketing Over Coffee features two hosts from different industries who discuss marketing strategy and best practices. The tone of the episodes is very conversational and even minimalistic compared to some of the podcasts out there. For a no-frills discussion on what’s happening in marketing today, listen to this one during a coffee break.

15. Cashflow Podcasting

Time to get a little meta—this podcast is about podcasting. Featuring leaders who created podcasts to generate revenue and enhance their brand, these episodes teach listeners how to start, run and optimize a podcast for their marketing needs. If you’ve been wondering about tapping into this fast-growing arena of marketing, give it a listen.

16. #Ask Gary Vee

This podcast is compiled from #AskGaryVee show episodes, keynote speeches on marketing and business, video series segments, interviews and fireside chats, as well as content created just for the podcast. The format of these episodes will vary somewhat as a result, but entrepreneur, CEO, investor, vlogger and public speaker Gary Vaynerchuk often answers questions about business and marketing, which can be very helpful for anyone with similar concerns.

It’s time to subscribe!

Did you find a few marketing podcasts to subscribe to? With so much great content out there, it’s much easier to see what you would most enjoy by browsing a list (and some featured descriptions).

Well, the same is true for other kinds of great marketing content. Instead of wading through a bunch of Google searches, check out our article, “19 Marketing Blogs to Help You Stay Ahead of the Game” to get a few of the best industry blogs on your radar.

15 Human Resources Blogs All Serious HR Professionals Should Know

Keeping up to date on human resources (HR) trends and topics is no small task. You juggle hiring and managing employees, negotiate pay and incentives and handle a laundry list of questions and concerns from employees every day. While the day-to-day tasks tend to take over, you might feel like you’re missing out on the big picture.

Plugging into the news relating to your industry can keep you inspired, in the know, and at the top of your game. Don’t let new policies, trends with software and political debates involving HR catch you by surprise. Human resources blogs are an excellent way to keep yourself informed and entertained as you navigate the industry. We compiled this list of human resources-related blogs to help you find a few new bookmark-worthy sites to check regularly.

15 Human Resources blogs to keep you in the know

1. Monster’s Career Advice blog

This blog from the job-board giant has the largest Twitter following of 2017 compared to other HR blogs, with 200,000 followers and growing. It speaks to both HR departments and job candidates alike with conversational postings. Their regular “Ask Vicki” question-and-answer column provides is a great resource for both HR professionals and job-seekers looking for answers to some of the toughest questions found in the hiring process.

2. HR Bartender

HR Bartender has a fresh twist and the motto, “Work Responsibly.” Author Sharlyn Lauby posts frequently about how to gain and keep quality employees and how to advocate for them. While you might raise an eyebrow at the name of this blog—there’s a good explanation. Lauby describes her time as an HR professional as similar to that of a neighborhood bartender—the “friendly face that’s there when you need them. After a long day at the office, they listen, laugh with you, occasionally offer advice and, when you need it, give you the encouragement to go out and make stuff happen.”

As you might expect, this blog offers plenty of candid and reasonable advice for professionals facing common HR challenges.

3. HRE Online

This blog, from the publishers of Human Resources Executive magazine, dives into ethical issues, politics and statistics. The authors tackle tough topics in the news related to HR professionals almost daily so there’s no shortage of insightful reading to do. It’s also a great place to start, with links to many other HR news sites available as well.

4. Evil HR Lady

Want some reading with comic relief? Read this blog’s satirical approach to answering tough HR questions. Suzanne Lucas writes candid responses to emails she receives, posting an average of five times per week.

5. Talent Culture

If you want to not only hear, but be heard, visit Talent Culture and join the conversation. It is a community of HR professionals exploring everything in the world of work. Community is a big focus for Talent Culture, with regular Twitter chats, podcasts and multiple social media communities where HR professionals can share their thoughts on the issues facing the industry.

6. Workology

Workology is a fantastic resource for HR professionals. This blog features new posts daily from over 20 experts in the field. Workology also features webcasts, podcasts and white-paper resources that may be used for certification credit with human resources professional organizations.

7. Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Given that Society for Human Resource Management’s standing as a premier professional organization for HR professionals, the SHRM blog is a must-follow. It is easy to navigate, with recent and relevant articles posted with photo links on the front page. You can also browse specific topics such as politics, communication, management tips and labor-relation cases in court.

8. HR Morning

HR Morning covers anything and everything in the latest HR news, updating readers a minimum of biweekly. The front page organizes the website with the top article and the latest news next to it for quick navigation. This site contains HR event updates and a page devoted to developments within the field of employment law (such as discrimination, Family Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act).

9. HR Examiner

Are you an auditory learner? Or someone with a lengthy commute? This website contains an HR radio with podcasts lasting approximately 30 minutes. Checking here will keep you up-to-date on latest technology with HR and important figures in the HR world.

10. Impraise blog

Trends and tips abound in this easy-to-read, well-rounded human resources blog. They have fast summary reads such as “5 Biggest HR Trends of 2017,” creative solutions for connecting with employees such as “Translating People Analytics into Human Stories” and popular specific-case articles such as “Why Adobe Got Rid of Performance Reviews.”

11. Cake HR blog

The Cake HR blog is an offshoot of an intriguing human resources mobile application of the same name. Most, but not all, of this blog’s focus is on the importance of HR productivity, and the ways technology can be used to improve or guide HR processes.

12. Entrepreneur HR blog

Entrepreneur Magazine's HR blog is a fine balance of articles that will keep you following links. This blog not only has tips but inspiration articles to improve the quality of everyone’s work lives.

13. HR Zone

HR Zone is an excellent, thought-provoking blog that covers important topics ranging from news to trends. They’re not afraid to tackle the tough topics like workforce diversity issues, the gender pay gap and how HR professionals handle mental health issues in the workplace.

14. Get Five

Get Five—formerly known as The Five O’Clock Club—is an HR organization with a blog dedicated to a variety of pressing and important HR and career topics. Maybe you need advice for how to handle negotiating relocation benefits or dealing with the unpleasant work of letting an employee go—no matter the HR issue, you should be able to find well-written articles tackling the subject here.

15. Spark Hire HR Blog

Spark Hire is a video interview software platform—and its accompanying blog does an excellent job of covering recruiting, hiring and interview-related topics. This blog features plenty of expert advice for HR professions—especially if you’re looking to make the most of video conferencing technology.

Never stop learning

The world of human resources is always evolving. Keeping a pulse on news and trends in the industry is an essential role for any HR professional, and these blogs will give you a great start. But a broad understanding of the issues and news facing the field only goes so far if you're looking to climb the corporate ladder. If you're serious about advancing your career, you might also want to consider advancing your education. If you'd like to learn more, visit Rasmussen College's Human Resources Management Master's degree page.

Business Management vs. Accounting: Which Degree is Right for You?

The world of business seems large, foreign and intimidating. You know you want to go into business, but when you pursue your options for school, you’re overwhelmed with choices. With so many Business degrees to choose from, it can be hard figuring out what best fits your interests and goals.

If you have recently been debating, comparing or even just wondering about the differences between earning a degree in Business Management versus Accounting, then you’re in the right place. We’ve sorted through the facts to provide you a look at the similarities and differences between Business Management and Accounting—helping you earn the right degree for you.

Business management vs. accounting: Job opportunities

One of your first questions may be, “What can I do with a Business Management or Accounting degree?” Knowing what your end options are can help you narrow down your decision.

We used real-time data analysis software to analyze over 224,000 accounting jobs and two million management jobs.¹ We gathered up some of the top job titles for each field to help you get a more in-depth look at what you can do with each degree.

Top Job Titles
Top business management job titles	Top accounting job titles
Sales manager	Accountant
Account manager	Staff accountant
Store manager	Accounting manager
Marketing manager	Tax accountant
Project manager	Cost accountant

Business management vs. accounting: Career growth and salaries

Now that you know some of the top job titles for each field, you may be curious about the general career stability for each. Whether you pursue a degree in Accounting or Business, no choice is a bad choice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for accountants and auditors is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016–2026. For management analysts, a 12 percent growth in employment is expected.Both of these are faster than the national average of seven percent for all jobs. This means that you can expect excellent job stability no matter which field you choose.

And while stability is one motivating factor, you also want a job that can support your family. We’re here to tell you good news. In 2016, the median wage for accountants was $68,150, with the lowest 10 percent earning $42,140 and the top earners bringing in $120,910.² The average management analyst salary was $81,330, with the lowest 10 percent earning $46,560 and the top earning $149,720.² Remember that it will likely take a few years’ experience to build up to those higher-earning numbers, but now you have an idea of what to expect going into either field.

For those still earning an hourly paycheck, annual salaries like these are something to get excited about. However, before you focus too heavily on pay, you will need to develop the skills that employers are looking for in candidates.

Business management vs. accounting: Skills needed to succeed

After analyzing job listings from the past year we were able to uncover a list of skills needed for these two careers. Understanding the skills needed to work as a management or accounting professional might help you envision what to expect when you’re in the job.

Top Skills
In-demand management skills	In-demand accounting skills
Business analyst	Accounting
Project management	Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office	Account reconciliation
Business process	General ledger
Budgeting	Financial statements
SQL	Budgeting
Customer service	Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Data analysis	Financial reporting
Process improvement	Microsoft Office
Scheduling	Auditing (internal and external)

The difference in skills required among managers and accountants stems from their varied responsibilities. These career paths may share some similar skill sets, but at their core, the functions of their positions are very different.

And while specific skills and abilities will always vary by positions, becoming aware of the different skills needed for these roles can help you determine if your career ambitions best fit with a position in business management or accounting.

Business management vs. accounting: Education requirements

You know all the basic facts surrounding job titles, growth, salary and what skills you may need. The last piece of information that you may be wondering about is how long it will take you to obtain either a Business Management or Accounting degree.

The good news is that neither field requires graduate school, so you won’t have to be in school for any longer than necessary. However, almost all jobs in business management and accounting require a Bachelor’s degree.

In our job analysis we found that 91 percent of job openings for management analyst positions required a Bachelor’s degree.¹ For accountants, this number rose to 98 percent of employers seeking candidates with Bachelor’s degrees.¹ And while four years may seem like a long commitment, the amount of schooling does balance out some with the potential for higher-than-average salaries.

Business management vs. accounting: Your choice

If you’re thinking that’s a lot of information to consider, you’re right. Making a career choice is never easy, but knowing the facts can help narrow down your choices. Regardless of how you do it, there are plenty of options available to you in both business and accounting.

Choosing a degree doesn’t have to be difficult. Now that you have the facts, it’s time to make a decision. If you are still on the fence, you can learn more about what you can do with a Business Management degree or learn more about what jobs you can get with a Finance degree.

RELATED ARTICLES:

¹Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 224,551 accounting jobs, 2,386,782 management jobs and 225,760 management analyst jobs Nov. 1, 2016- Oct. 31, 2017).
²Salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries and employment conditions in your area may vary.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published in December 2013. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2018.

6 Qualities of an Accountant That You Might Already Have

When it comes to turning chaos into order, you’re the person to turn to. You manage your own schedule along with most of your family’s. You interpret the hysterical cries of your children into rational requests. You’ve always loved making sense of things. With all that in mind, it makes sense for an orderly career like accounting to stick out as a potential career option.

If you’re considering an accounting career, you might have some assumptions about the field and the people in it. Is it really something accessible to the average person? Or is this career more the domain of single people in downtown apartments with quiet dogs, meticulous work-out routines and frustratingly perfect hair? So maybe that’s a little specific—but your larger curiosity remains.

While it’s true becoming an accountant will take hard work, that doesn’t mean the career is out of your reach. In fact, many of the fundamental qualities that make for great accountants are fairly common—and with affordable online and self-paced options for students, the path to this career may be more accessible than you think.

Don’t let preconceived ideas about this field hold you back. Keep reading to find out six qualities of an accountant that you might already have.

6 Everyday qualities of an accountant you just might possess

Sure, there’s plenty of formal training and knowledge you’ll need to accumulate to start an accounting career—but there’s also plenty of innate traits that will help along the way.

1. You thrive behind the scenes

When your child’s school performs “Jack and the Beanstalk,” you don’t mind being the parent to paint six feet of cardboard vines and leaves. Let the other parents bring cookies and sell tickets. You know what needs to be done and don’t mind that it offers little time in the limelight.

There aren’t many famous accountants known for doing their job well. Often accounting “fame” is followed by handcuffs as those in the spotlight have likely broken a law or two. When you do your job well, however, you can rest assured that you’ve done good work, even if others might not always recognize it. If you enjoy making others look good, and don’t mind passing on the praise, then accounting might be the field for you. You are the gears behind the clock, making sure everything is as it should be.

2. You are detail-oriented and meticulous

If you’re one of those people who rarely has a problem keeping track of your usernames and passwords, you could consider that another sign you’d make a good accountant. In the accounting field, one number or overlooked guideline can be the difference between balanced accounts or a long night of figuring out what went wrong.

As an accountant, you’ll need to know how to find what you need from a multitude of similar-looking budget documents—practically a financial word search at times—and follow detailed instructions or regulations on a regular basis. You like doing things right the first time and know even the smallest details can have a big impact—there’s no mixing up teaspoons with tablespoons when baking in your kitchen.

3. You see numbers and money differently

Some people lose all perspective when working with money—they see $40,000 on a balance sheet, shrug and move on. To an accountant, that figure is an important piece of a broader financial story. That $40,000 is not just a chunk of money going out the door. They see that it could be the start of a new advertising push that may lead to expanded sales, and if things go well, expanded operations that need planning for.

You bring this financial perspective to your personal life. Your spouse might only see money as potential purchases, but you keep the big picture in mind. Your monthly budget might be color coded—and yes, you might be the only one who makes sense of it. But without you, your family would have three trampolines and no money for a vacation.

You don’t let the emotion of money get in the way of managing it wisely, which could serve you well as an accountant. When asked for input on the feasibility of an expensive-yet-exciting new initiative, accountants are turned to for objective and sober analysis.

4. You are tech savvy

Here’s something that might surprise you: Accountants aren’t a bunch of math whizzes. Yes, there’s plenty of math involved, but it’s not advanced trigonometry. For the most part they add, subtract, multiply and divide—and much of that is handled by software. That’s part of why a comfort level with technology, particularly Microsoft Excel®, can be such a valuable foundation.

If you know your way around a computer and aren’t afraid to dive into learning common accounting functions and formulas, you’ll be off to a great start.

5. You have a strong sense of integrity

When you were a teenager working at the local drive-thru, did you split the tip jar evenly every time? Even when no one was watching?

Trust is a huge part of accounting. If you decide to start your own CPA business, you will need to win clients by proving that you can manage their finances with transparency. You will have access to sensitive financial information, and this privilege comes with great responsibility.

If you have a passion about making sure that people do not take advantage of their privilege, then auditing, a thriving branch of accounting, may be the field for you. As an auditor, you would double-check a company’s financial records and look for mistakes or discrepancies. This position is the perfect combination of investigator and bookkeeper.

6. You have a solid work ethic

Do you work more during the holiday seasons, preparing food, wrapping gifts and readying your house for a steady stream of guests? Do you rise to the occasion when the lawn is turning into a forest, mowing the grass and pulling weeds until the job is done?

Accounting can be a very demanding job. Though some positions can be less strenuous, many accounting positions at large firms have a busy season, typically tax season, in which employees can work very long hours until the work is complete.

While many accountants definitely experience their fair share of long grinding weeks, the hard work does come with a financial upside. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2018 median annual salary for accountants is $70,500 with a projected 10 percent increase in employment by 2026.¹

Use your skills to become an accountant

Even though the path to becoming an accountant can be hard work and might take a couple of years, you’re used to putting your head down and overcoming whatever struggles you encounter. And as you can see, you may already be better equipped for the job than you once thought.

You’ve made mess into method for years. Why not make a career out of it? If you’re curious to learn more, head over to our article “Your Step-by-Step Guide on How to Become an Accountant” for more information on your path to this rewarding career.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed July, 2019] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Microsoft Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

The Top Social Media Networks for Businesses

How do I attract more customers? As a business owner chances are you have asked yourself this question many times. A recent Citibank survey found that 40 percent of small business owners intend to use social media networks to market and expand their business in 2012. It’s understandable if you are a little hesitant about getting started; to help calm some nerves, here are a few of the top social media networks for businesses to use.

Facebook

With over 845 million users, Facebook is a huge community of potential customers that you need to be able to connect with. Start by creating a business page to share your story and begin building your brand online. Make sure to set up your notifications to email you when someone has engaged with your brand. This way you can monitor and join in the conversations with your fans.

Tip: A Facebook profile is must have for any business, its user base is too large for you to ignore.

Google+

Even though Google’s social network hasn’t created much buzz doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Google+ could be considered the most powerful yet underutilized social media network to date. Jump on it early; as it grows you’ll start seeing the benefits.

Tip: Google’s Search plus Your World feature offers a tremendous opportunity for customer referrals through personalized search results.

Twitter

Twitter is a great tool for instantly engaging with your customers. Are you running a limited time special? Send a tweet. It is a unique type of social network that can help you connect with customers instantaneously. Be sociable, interesting, and genuine when connecting with your followers as well as following them back.

Tip: With the use of smart phones Twitter conversations often take place in real-time. So if possible be ready to respond right away.

Deciding which key social media networks to participate in is a big step. I would recommend developing a social media guideline to focus your online business activities. Building your online presence will take time, just like building your business did. Tools like Hootsuite will help you make the best use of your time.

Many businesses are starting to see the advantages that utilizing these social media networks offer. Don’t let these advantages go to your competition, get started now.

Strategy TuneUp - Best Practices for Sustainable Growth Event at the Bloomington Campus

Rasmussen College is hosting a Strategy “Tune Up” Event on June 1, 2012, covering the latest ideas and best practices for business expansion and strategic management. This workshop introduces a self-diagnostic tool that businesses can use to examine current positioning and growth risks. Dr. Steve Callender is the President of Effective Learning for Growth, a consulting company in Minneapolis, Minnesota that generates measureable business results through a variety of different services. He has been working in business strategy since the early 1990s. A variety of organizations will lead this interactive breakfast and seminar targeted toward educating small- to medium-sized business owners and executives on the best practices for sustainable growth.

Effective Learning for Growth applies proven processes for clients looking to:

Increase sales
Improve strategy
Increase profitability
Keep loyal customers
Set up new business
Develop leadership
Grow for success
Recover from layoffs

As a business owner, the economic changes probably have you thinking about the best strategy for taking the next steps forward—back to growth. Attending this event could help you gain insight that may prove helpful for progressing your business. Callender will be covering both short and long term growth strategies, examining risks factors, as well as a number of different strategy management principles that can have a positive impact on your business.

Event Details:
When: Friday, June 1, 2012 at 7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Where: Rasmussen College
4400 West 78th Street Sixth Floor
Bloomington, MN 55435

To Register:
http://strategybest.eventbrite.com/

The Top 15 Strangest Accounting Job Titles You May Know Nothing About

From chief imagination officer to director of first impressions, without a doubt, job titles are designed to tell people what we do. But what happens when you have no idea what a job title actually means?
Different professions seem to have a unique ability to create these confusing job titles. Accounting professionals particularly have a way of creating titles that are both generic and yet incredibly specific, leaving us to wonder what it is they actually do. If you have interest in learning a little bit more about the accounting career field, here are 15 strangest sounding job titles that you may know nothing about:

Accounting Job Titles

1. Bursar

A senior professional financial administrator within a school or university.

2. Comptroller

A management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.

3. Forensic Accountant

An experienced auditor, accountant, and investigator of legal and financial documents who is hired to look into possible suspicions or fraudulent activity within a company.

4. Gift Assurance Officer

Responsible for ensuring that gifts, both endowed and non-endowed, are used according to the contributors’ wishes and complies with the instructions, requests, and legislative regulations.

5. Revenue Cycle Manager

Supports the implementation of billing applications and training while providing analysis of key company performance data.

6. Actuary

A professional who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty while providing expert assessments of financial security systems.

7. Cash Management Officer

Is responsible for identifying and analyzing cash management products while also supporting the sales process to business customers and prospective clients.

8. Claims Adjuster

Typically investigates insurance claims to determine the extent of the company's liability.

9. Fraud Detection Supervisor

Investigates fraud alerts or claims in order to determine what action needs to be taken.

10. Risk Management Supervisor

Assists in the risk management functions related to account problems, delinquencies, etc.

11. Sales Estimator

Evaluates the process for business cost quotes to ensure a proper assessment of the cost effectiveness of a product or service.

12. Tax Analyst

A professional involved in the process of tax compliance and research of transactions for businesses or individuals.

13. Fixed Assets Accountant

Someone responsible for recording and tracking acquired fixed assets while recording depreciation and the disposition of those assets for a business.

14. Business Valuation Accountant

Someone who performs financial assessments of a business to uncover revenues, expenses, and other trends in order to assign an overall value of the company.

15. Pricing Analyst

A professional who gathers and analyzes data to assist in the decision-making process for product purchasing, manufacturing, and sales.

These are just some of the strangest accounting jobs that you may have known nothing about. Accounting professionals have a wealth of career options available to them upon completing their degree in accounting. Whether you tell your friends and family what your job title means or what you do is up to you.

Fast Growing Business Management Degree Careers

It’s not a secret the U.S. economy is still slowly recovering from the recession which is causing some job growth to stall. Because of this, more adults are going back to school in order to develop the skills that are in demand. In order to find the job you always wanted, maybe you have been considering going back to school. Earning a business degree will certainly be able to open up doors to a great career. As the economy slowly recovers, finding careers that are growing faster than average has value. Here are some fast growing business management degree careers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics to consider for a future in business management.

Business Management Career Outlook

Advertising/Promotions Manager

As an Advertising and Promotions Manager you will be working to promote and generate interest in a product or service within a company’s marketing department.
Expected Growth 14%

Management Analyst

In this position, professionals will be consulting businesses on ways to improve organizational efficiencies.
Expected Growth: 22%

Personal Financial Advisor

With a career as a Personal Financial Advisor, you can expect to be working with individuals to give them financial advice and help with investments, taxes, and insurance decisions.
Expected Growth: 32%

Insurance Sales Agent

This career allows you to work on a sales team and connect with customers to purchase a company’s products or services.
Expected Growth: 22%

Without a doubt, business management degree careers will allow you to have a wide range of occupational opportunities as the economy recovers. If you are considering going back to school, check out these business management study tips to help give yourself the confidence to earn your degree. With a degree in business management, you’ll be able to break into the career field and find the excellent opportunities for your future.

Top Five Jobs for College Graduates with a Finance Degree

Did you know that more than half of college graduates find their chosen career path within the first year after graduating? Finding your first job is a key part of starting off your professional career on the right foot. If you are considering completing a bachelor’s degree or are already studying finance you need to be aware of these jobs.

Jobs for College Graduates with a Finance Degree

1. Financial Analysts

Those in this position help guide a business or individuals in making sound investment decisions. Employment opportunities in this field are expected to grow 23% through 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

2. Accountants / Auditors

In either one of these positions you may prepare and/or examine financial records ensuring that they are accurate in addition to overseeing the financial operations of an organization. Demand for this position is expected to increase given the recent attention of needing stronger financial regulations.

3. Personal Financial Advisors

In this position you may give advice to customers to help them with investments, taxes, and insurance choices. This field is projected to have 32% growth to 2020; much faster than the average career.

4. Loan Officers

When entering this career field you can expect to be working on overseeing the loan processes for individuals and business customers. Typically these professionals are employed by banks, and other related financial institutions.

5. Finance Representatives

Here you may be responsible for a variety of tasks in relation to the sales process of a company’s financial products. As the demand for investment and banking services/products increases this should lead to a strong employment opportunities for graduates.

Without a doubt there are strong employment opportunities for those graduates entering the workforce with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Personal Branding for College Students

Do you view yourself as a brand? Martha Stewart, Oprah, and Lebron James sure do, and so should you. Personal branding is the process in which people and/or their careers are marketed as a physical brand. Your brand says a lot about you as a person and a professional. As a college student, it’s important to begin building a personal brand early in your career.

An important first step is to determine what you want your personal brand to say about you. Your brand should be unique to you, but you should also keep it professional to help you promote yourself as you embark on your career.

Rasmussen College HR Generalist and Corporate Recruiter, Allison Maybury, explains exactly why you should take your personal brand seriously.

“As a Recruiter, it is important to hire individuals who not only possess the skill sets for an opportunity, but also one who will fit culturally within the organization. The development of a personal brand can help the company make that assessment. Therefore, it is not only important to build and protect your personal brand, but continue to develop it and learn how to project your brand in the interview process.”

A recent Microsoft reputation study found that 70% of human resource professionals have rejected job candidates based on information they found online. That statistic alone should tell you that developing and monitoring your personal brand profile is extremely important, especially as you begin your professional career.

Your personal branding should develop and be expanded throughout your time in college. As you enter the workforce, it’s important to begin promoting and protecting it. Use the following personal brand development guidelines to help you build, protect, and use your brand to your advantage as you start your new career:

As you start to discover and create your brand, it is important to present and maintain it online and offline. On your social media profiles, like Facebook and LinkedIn, you should delete anything that could negatively impact how people view your brand while inputting information that will help you build it. You can also adjust your privacy settings on any social profile to limit who can see your profile.

Also consider buying your brand name as a website. Taking ownership of www.insert-your-name.com (if it’s available) is a great way to protect and build your brand name online. Use tools like Google Alerts to easily monitor your brand name on the Internet.

16 Entrepreneur Quotes That Will Inspire You

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur in search of some inspiration? Becoming a successful entrepreneur is something that doesn’t happen overnight. Almost all business owners struggle with starting and building their business from the ground up, but by learning about entrepreneurship, you discover how to bring your ideas to life, prepare for success, and understand how to build and manage a growing business.

Like many things in life, getting started can be the hardest part. These 16 quotes from entrepreneurs other well-known business mavens who’ve seen their fair share of success may inspire you to stand up and start moving your business forward.

Quotes for Entrepreneurs

1. “As long as you’re going to be thinking anyway, think big. ” - Donald Trump

2. "The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake – you can’t learn anything from
being perfect. ” - Adam Osborne, founder of Osborne Computer Corporation

3. I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from
non-successful ones is perseverance. ” - Steve Jobs

4. “In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. ” - Bill Cosby

5. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ” - Walt Disney

6. “Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure. ” - Napoleon Hill, bestselling author

7. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. ” - Thomas Edison

8. “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. ” - Vidal Sassoon, businessman

9. “Action is the foundational key to all success. ” - Pablo Picasso

10. “My experience has shown me that the people who are exceptionally good in business aren't so because of what they know, but because of their insatiable need to know more. ” - Michael Gerber, author and businessman

11. “The best way to predict the future is to create it. ” - Peter Drucker, writer and management consultant

12. “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that’s why I succeed. ” - Michael Jordan

13. “Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success. ” - Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter

14. “When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure. ” - Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetic

15. Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off his goal. ” - E. Joseph Cossman, author

16. “The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it. ” - Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies

Keep these quotes in mind as you work to start your business and remember: go after it with everything you’ve got and regret nothing.

Event Recap: Online Word of Mouth in Bismarck, ND

Online marketing is a hot topic in Bismarck. Just ask the thirty business men and women who attended the workshop “Online Word of Mouth” hosted by the Rasmussen College Bismarck, North Dakota campus. The presentation was hosted on Tuesday, July 20, 2012 and contained both philosophical and practical advice from speaker Josh Braaten, Senior Online Marketing Manager for Rasmussen College. He helped attendees apply age-old concepts of word of mouth to their online marketing endeavors.

Braaten began the presentation by asking the audience to think of a time where they’ve received excellent customer service or have used a remarkable product. Great products and services generate buzz and create new business through word of mouth.

It’s this insight most businesses miss when they create their online marketing strategies. Instead of approaching online marketing disciplines like search engine optimization (SEO) and social media by diving into the deep end of tactics, Braaten encouraged the audience to think about what they already know about creating word of mouth buzz, and then to leverage that knowledge with no-cost or low cost online tools.

For example, a business may want to add a simple survey tool such as Kiss Insights to its product or service pages on its website. The tool allows customers to voice which improvements they’d like to see. Entrepreneurs who embrace the discipline of asking customers their thoughts, then fixing what’s wrong are on the path to creating word of mouth buzz.

Lastly, Braaten stressed the importance of engaging, entertaining, and educating customers through content created and shared through blogs and social media. Content enables businesses not only to be found more often online, but also to build a relationship rooted in trust and credibility with new customers.

The slides from the presentation are embedded below. Feel free to reference them in your business’s future online marketing planning sessions.

Were you at the event? What did you learn? Share your thoughts in the comments below or post a comment on the Rasmussen College Bismarck campus Facebook page.

Online Word-of-Mouth from Rasmussen College

Why You Should Consider an Organizational Leadership Degree Program

Over the past few years, the world of business has gone through some incredible changes and seen many new innovations. Because of this there are more career advancement options and business professionals who are beginning to explore the possibility of pursuing new leadership opportunities within their organizations and progress in their careers.

If you are contemplating the different ways to advance your career, you may have considered completing your bachelor’s degree. Completing an organizational leadership degree program could allow you to prove to upper management you are qualified, driven, and committed to making a positive impact within your organization.

Becoming a Leader in Your Organization

Business leaders are made, not just born. Some individuals are blessed with innate leadership qualities; however, for the most part anyone can learn to become an effective leader through practicing consistent efforts and continued learning.

As John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

By learning more about human resources and organizational leadership skills, such as hiring, problem solving, employee development, and other management leadership principles, you will soon be prepared to help direct an organization into the future.

An organizational leadership bachelor’s degree program prepares you with the skills and knowledge you will need to use within the rapidly changing business environments. The modern courses are designed to prepare you for advancing your career as a leader. These bachelor level courses include:

Organizational Behavior Analysis
Contemporary Leadership Challenges
Strategic Human Resources Management
Managing a Diverse Workforce
Workforce Performance and Talent Management

Through the variety of leadership and human resources courses you will gain a solid understanding of what it truly takes to lead a business.

Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “You don't lead by hitting people over the head - that's assault, not leadership.” Businesses today need qualified leaders that are experienced, educated, and prepared to help direct them into the future. Do you think you have what is takes to be a good leader?

If you have a goal of advancing your career and are looking for ways to become a leader at your job, you need to go above and beyond your current job duties, in addition to expanding your knowledge of how to lead and influence change.

No longer can you afford to be a face in the crowd. It’s time to step forward and lead yourself toward accomplishing your goals, dreams, and ambitions in your career, as well as your life.

Educating Future Managers with Hot Dogs

Whether you realize it or not, growing up you learned how to do many new things by associating the activity with something fun and simple. Think about it, how much easier was it to learn how to count with your fingers? Now, college students are also using that same type of applied learning in the classroom.

“I created a fictitious town in which students open, manage and build competing hot dog stands as a way to apply what they are learning in the classroom into “real-world” situations, ” said Adam Samuelson, Rasmussen College Program Coordinator.

In Samuelson’s Principles of Management course students get an opportunity to learn, gain experience and apply what they are learning in a simulated business environment; called Rasmussenville.

“They complete pretty much all of the pre-business planning activities, including determining a business name, location and ways to attempt to grow the business. The objective is to successfully manage their business by making strategic decisions to sell as many hot dogs as possible, beat the competition and expand their business.”

Samuelson says this applied learning model gives students the opportunity to fully understand business concepts and how they are applied in real business situations.

By using something as simple as hot dogs, students get to experience key business decisions without real world risk; this goes a long way in preparing you for their future career.

The experience of not only learning, but being able to apply what you are being taught will be a great advantage toward finding your career . Courses with learning activities such as the “hot dog model” can be beneficial as you continue your education.

Why a Marketing Degree is Good for Career Growth Potential

Career growth potential is something that must be considered when you are selecting a college degree and a professional field to work in. During your search for the best career field to enter into, you will find certain fields tend to provide greater career growth opportunities than others.

A professional career may last 30, 40 or even 50 years in length; which is why entering into a field that has a future like marketing is a good idea. Exploring a career in marketing is a good idea for those interested in building a career that offers future growth opportunities throughout your career.

The Marketing Career Outlook

Within an organization marketing professionals may be considered some of the team’s most important members. These individuals are vital for driving business activities toward reaching company goals.

These individuals may work in many different positions completing a variety of different tasks within companies in almost any industry. In marketing, it’s always important to be preparing for the future of marketing. The field of marketing is one that continues to evolve at a rapid rate.

Jobs

Much of the recent changes in jobs and tasks can be attributed to the use of the internet over the past decade. While marketing, advertising, and promotional positions have been around for a while and are highly desirable, many new positions are being created every day as the world of marketing continues to evolve around the use technology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for marketing professionals is expected to grow 14 percent through the year 2020. That means more than 29,000 projected new employment opportunities. There are also many other similar occupations within a variety of industries to consider for a marketing degree holder.

Pay

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates annual wage for a marketing manager in the 25^th percentile at approximately $83,000. Salaries for marketing professionals may vary depending on the industries selected to work in within a given field.

Starting Your Career

Typically a Bachelor’s degree is required for entering into a position within the marketing career field. Because the field of marketing is rapidly evolving without a degree, providing you that solid foundation of knowledge can help you find your first job and move from the classroom into corporate America.

Maintaining Your Career

If there ever was a career field that required continual learning it would be marketing. Principles, ideas, and best practices are constantly evolving, and you need to remain agile to keep up with them in order to take advantage of career growth opportunities. Just consider, 10 years ago the idea of social media marketing didn’t even exist, and now it is a major component of a business’s marketing strategy and has a huge job market.

Finding Career Growth Opportunities

According to Dr. Michael Miller, the Dean of the School of Business at Rasmussen College, “Marketing provides great opportunities for skilled practitioners that can make a difference and impact business results.” He continues to say that, “Working in marketing provides individuals with opportunities to improve their organization’s results and stand out in highly visible roles, which can enhance their future career opportunities.”

With hard work, dedication, and not being afraid to fail, marketing professionals are continually striving to find new career growth opportunities.

Create Your Future

As you question whether or not earning a marketing degree is good for your future growth, it’s important to consider the pros and cons entering into this competitive yet incredibly rewarding career field. Competition for these marketing careers is good’ competition means they are in demand, and demand means potential growth.

By earning a marketing degree you put your career aspirations on your own shoulders, and with a high level of self confidence and drive, you may just have what it takes to build a career that make others jealous of your own success. Are you beginning to see why a marketing degree is important?

If you have that drive and commitment to building a successful career, stop waiting for a great opportunity to fall into your lap. The most successful people in this world develop their own opportunities.

What I Learned in Business

While working in business for many years, I picked up tips along the way that made my career more successful than it otherwise would have been. Some of these I learned later in my career rather than earlier, so I thought I would share the results of my experience now. Here are 10 tips for those of you at the beginning of your careers or who are about to embark on a new career:

1. Make sure your boss is the first to be informed of issues and concerns.

If there is a problem you caused or something went wrong in your area of responsibility, inform your boss as soon as possible. Don’t hope no one will find out. You never want to have your boss hear about a problem in your department from someone outside the department. This would cause great embarrassment for your boss and would prevent your boss from being able to mitigate the situation, and eventually, this could hurt your relationship or your standing with your boss.

2. Take responsibilities for mistakes.

If your action or lack of action resulted in a problem, don’t try to shift blame to someone else or to some external circumstance. People, including your boss, will be more forgiving if you take full responsibility. They may not like the negative result of your mistake, but they will respect you more for owning up and your reputation will not take as big a hit.

3. Only speak well of others.

If you have a negative encounter with a colleague or someone from another department, or if you find out something negative about another person at your place of employment, do not share that information with colleagues or even with your boss, unless you discover something is illegal or can have serious consequences for your department or business. Relaying negative information or opinions, even in confidence to a trusted colleague, can poison your relationship with the person you are accusing if they ever find out you were the conveyor of that information.

4. Improve your communication skills

If you wish to progress in your career, your ability to speak correctly and write well can be a major contributing factor. You will be able to reach certain levels in an organization only if your communication skills are up to par. You can improve your writing ability by obtaining books on writing for business. To improve your public speaking or presentation abilities, join Toastmasters. This organization will help you practice to speak extemporaneously and teach you how to avoid speech inhibitors such as “you know” and “uh”.

5. Follow good email etiquette

Keep your emails short and to the point.
Never send an email in anger; wait until you have cooled down and can be more rational.
If you receive an email from someone in the organization and others are copied on the distribution list, do not automatically reply to all - determine whether you absolutely need to send it to the whole copy list or whether it will be better to reply to the email’s author only.
Emotive words in an email carry more power than in conversation, so if you feel strongly about something consider whether having a one-on-one conversation might be more effective and sound less confrontational.

6. Dress professionally.

Many businesses and organizations have adopted a casual dress code for every day. Exceptions are organizations where a uniform is required such as the military, police, hospitals, etc. However, even if your place of employment is fully casual, the better your casual wardrobe, the better you will be perceived. This perception on the part of others may well be unconscious, so try to look as professional as you can given the dress code parameters in your organization. However, you don’t want to overdress either – wearing a suit when everyone else is wearing jeans may mark you as a snob or as someone who is flagrantly vain.

7. Volunteer for assignments

Yes, we’re all busy, but volunteering occasionally will raise your profile in any organization, and when there is an opening for a position that would be a promotion, people who go the extra mile will more likely be considered first. However, make sure the assignment you volunteer for is within the range of you skills and capabilities.

8. Don’t always be the last to arrive and the first to leave

This is pretty much self-explanatory. Different organizations have different expectations on work hours, but unless you are on a time-clock system, always arriving late or leaving early or as soon as the clock reaches the official ending time will not help in your quest to advance or be perceived as a dedicated employee.

9. Find out as much as you can about what is going on in your company.

In articles that offer suggestions on how to make a good impression when interviewing for a job, one of the suggestions often listed is the applicant should find out as much as possible about the company before the interview. That is true, but it shouldn’t stop there. Once you have been hired and are working in your assigned position, the more you find out and know about other areas of your organization, the better you will be perceived. When an opportunity arises that meets your skills in an area different from yours, if you have shown a wide interest in the organization over all, your chances of being considered will increase.

10. Make your boss look good.

You may be thinking “Why make my boss look good? Shouldn’t I try to make myself look good instead?” Yes, of course, doing a good job will result in people having a high opinion of you, but if you also do things that help your boss look good in front of the boss’ superiors or in front of other departments, guess who will also benefit? You! Bosses tend to reward staff members who help them. They will speak well of them in front of other bosses in the organization, and they can sometimes take an employee along if they get promoted, which may result not only in your boss’ promotion, but yours as well.

Facebook Pages That Can Help You Advance Your HR Career

There are countless ways to positively impact and advance your HR career, but given you have a full plate of work and family obligations, how do you know what will provide the greatest amount of opportunities you need to move forward?

You may consider building a stronger professional network, connecting with a mentor or even completing your degree in order to stand out in your current position. All of these can help, but tackling all three at once may be exhausting. What if there was a low-risk way to positively impact your career that fits into your schedule?

The World Wide Web and social networking sites allow us to access information and connect with professionals from around the world all from your computer and on your time. And since you most likely already use Facebook for personal reasons, integrating a few career focused activities should come naturally and is a good place to start.

To help you start moving down the path toward career advancement, here is an alphabetized list of some of the best HR Facebook pages for you to “Like”. These were selected based off of the following criteria:

The page is updated regularly

It focuses on education and not self promotion
It offers timely content you can truly learn from
It has a high level of community involvement

So check out these pages and start advancing your career in HR.

About.com Human Resources

Facebook Likes: More than 1,000

This page provides accurate human resources-related information that is thoughtful and forward thinking for anyone interested in imagining new ways coworkers can work together effectively.

Why to Click Like:

The About.com Human Resources page will present you with a solid mix of informational topics where no matter what your experience level is you can immediately begin to implement into your daily work activities. Such as these 10 exercises you can do to develop your own creative thinking skills at work.

HR.com

Facebook Likes: More than 2,600

This page helps connect human resources professionals in an effort to share knowledge, experience and resources that help people manage and build companies.

Why to Click Like:

Here you will gain access to a large amount of shared knowledge and resources for you to learn more about industry best practices and trend. They also deliver lots of live webinars on a variety of topics including the best practices for 2013.

HR Bartender

Facebook Likes: More than 5,800

This HR Facebook page provides you with workplace expertise and advice from the HR Bartender blog.

Why to Click Like:

Here you will expand your knowledge of human resources through down to earth examples, while learning how to manage your ever important work-life balance.

HR Fishbowl

Facebook Likes: More than 160

This page has developed a place for HR professionals to connect and debate human resources related issues (the use of social media in HR specifically).

Why to Click Like:

The HR Fishbowl will allow you to understand the true value of working in HR. It’s about caring for and strengthening the workplace through relationships, a simplified process and social media.

Human Resources IQ

Facebook Likes: More than 5,700

This page educates their community of followers with information about HR, training, recruiting and workforce management, in general.

Why to Click Like:

They provide a variety of content from articles to video, podcasts, webinars and more, so no matter what your learning style you will be able to expand your knowledge of working in HR.

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Facebook Likes: More than 47,000

SHRM is a worldwide HR professional organization, and their Facebook page allows professionals to connect with others interested in networking and expanding their knowledge of working in human resources.

Why to Click Like:

SHRM is the largest professional HR association in the world. They provide opportunities to learn about the latest findings in HR while connecting with others in the field in order to expand your professional network.

TLNT

Facebook Likes: More than 1,200

This page shares information from an online publication about the business of HR, which includes insights from industry leaders in human resources management.

Why to Click Like:

Here you have the opportunity to learn about HR related topics being presented in some interesting ways, such as topics involving tuna fish, bullying and even the how replacement refs can teach you about HR.

U.S. Department of Labor

Facebook Likes: More than 16,000

This page is a source of information from the Dept. of Labor for sharing workforce-related benefits and rights of the workforce community.

Why to Click Like:

Follow this page to stay on top of newly released job reports in addition to learning more about employment causes, labor issues and much more.

You will also stay on top of current events, trends and regulations that can impact America’s workforce as a whole.

If you know of a Facebook pages in HR not on this list that provides amazing insights and has helped you further develop your skills as a professional please let us know!

Why a Career in Finance Will Make Your Friends Jealous

Have you ever bumped into someone from your childhood and started to catch up, only to hear about how well his or her career is going? And all the while were you thinking to yourself that your job isn't nearly as interesting, impressive or worthwhile?

It doesn’t feel so great when we envy others' accomplishments. If you no longer wish to feel like this, what's stopping you from finding a career you are proud to discuss during these accidental rendezvous with old friends?

If you're ready to take pride in a new career, the financial field may be exactly what you need. Let me tell you why pursuing a career in finance will make your friends jealous of your success.

Why your friends will be jealous?

An Awesome Career Outlook

While the movies often portray finance professionals as greedy suit-and-tie-clad drones (like in the movie Wall Street), this typically isn't the case. There is much more to working in finance than being the next Gordon Gekko. Rather, there are financial career opportunities in every industry – no tie and cut-throat attitude required.

What's more, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the employment for the financial industry is projected to grow 23 percent through the year 2020. As this industry experiences faster than average job growth (more than any other industry), you can expect to see a lot of stability in future job opportunities in the field. Can your friends say that about the industry they're in?

Important Jobs and Duties

Just as you can work in many different industries, those with an education in finance can also work in a wide variety of specialized areas within the finance field. Many finance graduates begin building their career in the field by becoming a financial analyst. Those working in this position may end up guiding individuals or businesses leaders through investment decisions or studying trends to discover financial opportunities.

Other similar occupations you may find yourself in as a finance professional may include:

Budget Analyst: Typically works with a company’s top managers while organizing, preparing and monitoring the organizations finances.
Financial Manager: Tasks may include analyzing market trends to find expansion opportunities for an organization.
Insurance Underwriter: May evaluate a client’s insurance risks in order to determine coverage amounts and premiums.
Personal Financial Advisor: Provide financial advice on taxes, insurance decisions and investment opportunities for individuals.

Salary Potential

In May 2010, the overall median annual salary of financial analysts was about $74,000 (the top 10 percent was more than $140,000!). In fact, the average salary for all occupations in the U.S. in 2011 was about $42,000 less than that of the financial analyst’s annual average wage.

To help you compare income levels throughout the U.S. the visualization below shows the annual average wages for financial analysts by state; check it out to find averages in your area for this position.

If the career outlook, job duties and salary potential for this field aren’t enough to make your friends jealous, then the opportunity to dress like The President everyday definitely will. Know you will typically need to complete your bachelor’s degree in finance or a similar area of study to work in this field, but upon graduation you will be poised to begin building a career you will be proud to discuss at your next high school reunion.

Accounting Salaries You and Your Family Can Bank On

If you are considering making a mid-life career change, then you know you will need to look at the career opportunities and salaries differently than you did when you first graduated from high school.

Now with a family to care for, you need to weigh your options much more carefully.

As you begin looking into which career field to pursue, you will need to check whether or not it will provide you and your family with the following essentials:

Availability of Career Opportunities
Job Stability
Comfortable Annual Salaries

Luckily, a career in accounting allows you to simply mark "select all". And here is why.

Accounting Jobs Opportunities

Not only are accounting positions projected to grow by over 190,000 through 2020, but there were also over 26,000 job openings posted online in the U.S. within the past year!

To highlight the most in-demand accounting jobs, the graph below shows the most listed occupations from online job boards and the amount of job openings available:

Source: Burning Glass

The positions and openings shown are from organizations that are looking for candidates with a two or four-year degree with anywhere from zero to more than seven years of experience. And overall about 50 percent or about 13,000 of the positions listed online in this field from the past year required zero to less than four years of work experience.

If that isn’t a large amount of accounting career path opportunities then I am not sure what is.

Career opportunities: Check.

Job Stability in Accounting

Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Well then it may seem that a career in accounting is a good idea, unless of course you would rather be a mortician.

Aside from what Ben Franklin believed to be certain, because of recent industry scandals there is a growing amount of laws and regulations being created that the need for more accounting professionals is growing. The marketplace created such a high level of demand that the BLS is projecting a 16 percent job growth rate over the next eight years. Because of this demand, an accounting career truly can offer you and your family the opportunity for greater job stability.

Still not convinced? Accounting is also considered one of the most secure jobs in America, according to Forbes.

Job Stability: Check.

Accounting Salaries

As an adult, there’s a good chance you look at job salary differently than when you were younger. No longer is it “all about the Benjamin’s”, it’s about supporting your family, living within your means and planning for your future retirement.

The graph below shows the same top occupations in the industry from the previous graph but this time I wanted to highlight the annual salaries for you to review. The amounts shown are for the 10^th percentile of earners; meaning they represent what you may roughly expect for any entry level position in the accounting field.

Source: BLS

Yes, your salary can vary based on your title, tasks and many other things (here are some strange accounting job titles), but the salaries for accounting professionals are strong – the median hourly salary for all occupations in the U.S. in 2011 was just $16.57, while for accounting professionals it was $30.22.

Comfortable annual salary: Check.

By pursuing a career in accounting, the job opportunities and salaries you could take advantage of can certainly help you continue to be able to provide for yourself and your family. If you still need to earn your accounting degree that is okay, it’s never too late to get started.

Just remember this, “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today,” Benjamin Franklin.

How to Find Entry-Level Business Analyst Jobs for Tech Savvy Professionals

If you had to choose one thing that has most impacted the way in which businesses create products, interact with customers and manage operations over the past 20 years, what would it be?

If your immediate thought was technology, you’re right.

Technology has, is and will continue to affect business for the foreseeable future, because of this, the demand for tech savvy business professionals is expected to grow—adding over 150,000 jobs across all industries through 2020. That is 22 percent growth!

If you consider yourself a tech savvy individual and you’re looking for a career using those skills, just know that opportunities are out there. Take, for example, the role of a business analyst.

As a business analyst, you will get a chance to use your passion for technology to work in a fast–paced, innovative career field that helps organizations streamline their business operations to help maximize efficiencies and profitability.

Because it’s an emerging field, the path to finding entry level business analyst jobs is still somewhat undefined. But it‘s important to have a clear understanding of the educational qualifications employers want you to have, the job titles to be aware of in your search and industries in which you can work.

Let’s start at the beginning.

To Become an Employee You Should Get Your Degree

Advancements in technology and organizational need have created both demand and opportunity for those looking to pursue a career as a business analyst. As you become interested in taking advantage of these opportunities, you should first consider what type of type of educational requirements are needed to get into this line of work. Below is a pie chart breaking down the percentage of more than 100,000 job listings classified as within management analyst and the educational requirements employers are looking for in potential candidates.

As you can see, more than 80 percent of employers are interested in candidates with at least a Bachelor’s degree. So as you look for ways to enter into this emerging field know that a four-year degree is typically required

Job Titles for Finding Business Analyst Positions

There is no question that technology and the use of the internet have changed the way we look for jobs. And while there are still many different ways to look for employment, the most common method is through online job boards like Monster, CareerBuilder or LinkedIn. But, in order to search for entry level business analyst type positions online you must first be aware of what titles organizations are using in their job postings.

By analyzing more than 59,000 job postings over the past 12 months we found that the job titles shown here were the most commonly listed in online job boards within the management (business) analyst field. Understanding that these job titles are the most commonly used allows you to expand your search criteria to include the variations listed here. So when you are ready this will allow you to better locate and start you career in an entry level business analyst position.

Industries with Opportunities

Along with knowing which job titles are most used on job boards, you should also be aware of which industries are looking to hire technology-driven individuals with business analytics skills. The chart below illustrates which industries have the highest demand for candidates with the necessary skills set. Now, you can target your job search based on the popularity of your skills in the sector you’re hoping to work.

While this chart highlights many of the industries that are looking to hire business analyst professionals, the biggest takeaway is that by having the skills set, knowledge and passion for technology, this field can provide you with a multitude of different career opportunities regardless of industry.

And, in case you were wondering about salary, employees in the business analyst career field can typically expect a median annual wage of $37.58 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Earning a business analyst degree will allow you to pursue a career in a promising field and utilize your business skills and passion for technology to make an impact on today’s rapidly evolving business world.

Human Resources Salaries: One Reason Why You Should Get Into Management

There are many different reasons why people pursue a management position.

Some people are trying to avoid doing any real work; others enjoy telling people what to do; and still others just want an office with a window view.

But, jokes aside, a higher salary is often a major contributing factor when folks are looking to move up the corporate ladder.

While salary may not have initially been on your list of reasons to work in HR when you began your career, as it progresses and your family grows, often so does your interest in moving from an entry-level position into management.

Human Resources Salaries

If you are still fairly new to the human resources field then you know that it’s important to start gaining experience in an entry-level position and salary. The average salary for a human resources assistant is $18.43 an hour or $38,330 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Meanwhile, experienced human resources managers earn an estimated average salary of $52.21 an hour or $108,600 annually. Obviously, this is an attractive salary that any up-and-coming professional would like to earn.

But in order to take advantage of the expected 13 percent growth in this field and, ultimately move into management, it’s important to first understand what requirements employers want to see in new management recruits.

Human Resources Manager Requirements

There are several factors employers look for in candidates when hiring or promoting them to a human resources management position.

Let’s focus on the two biggest: education and experience.

A Bachelor’s degree is typically required for a management position. And when I say “typically” I mean that over 90 percent of online job listings over the past year required at least this level of education, according to Burning Glass, a comprehensive database providing statistics and insights about the current job market.

And while a degree may not always be required for entry-level positions, more and more employers are require it for moving into management. This often helps employers ensure that they are hiring or promoting a person who is well-rounded, educated and prepared for the position.

Experience is also a huge factor in moving into management. Of the online job listings mentioned above, almost 75 percent of the positions required more than four years of experience in an HR position in order to become a manager.

The bottom line is this: These statistics show us that employers are looking to hire managers with a wide range of knowledge and skills that are often only developed through both secondary education and hands-on experience.

Those candidates that take the necessary steps to prepare themselves for a career move into management will ultimately be the ones taking advantage of those lucrative human resources salaries. They’ll also be the ones who build a successful career in the field.

So ask yourself: What are you missing?

If it’s a human resources degree, then you should start looking at how you can get it completed right away in order to be ready to move into management when opportunity knocks.

Marketing Skills: 10 Must-Haves for Future Marketers

As you examine your career outlook, do you feel prepared to succeed? Have you acquired the skills that employers are looking for in an up-and-coming marketing professional?

The sooner you develop your knowledge and skills in this area, the sooner an employer may invest in you.

But, as you consider pursuing a career, you may be confused about which marketing skills you should try to develop. You might be wondering about the best way to build a career. And above all, you could be looking for that perfect opportunity for you and your family.

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Highlighted below are the top ten skills employers are looking for when hiring entry-level marketing professionals. After reviewing these skills and showing you how to best develop them, we’ll also offer some advice on how you can showcase them to future employers.

Marketing Skills Employers Want

An analysis of more than 1,000 online job postings requiring less than a year of experience identified the most commonly sought after skills for entry-level marketing positions.*

Some of the marketing skills on this list you may have expected, others maybe not. Frankly, you may not understand the meaning of some of the skills listed here … yet. But, for someone interested in launching into a career in marketing, it’s critical to understand that these are the skills employers are seeking today. By developing them now, you will be able to take advantage of emerging opportunities and career options in the future.

Opportunities for Skills Development

One way to hone your skills is by earning a degree in marketing. From the job data* we know that 83 percent of entry-level marketing jobs required candidates to hold a Bachelor’s degree.

Employers often require a degree because they want to ensure that you already have acquired many of the skills needed for the job. In college the variety of courses you take – especially within a marketing program – can assist you in turning these desired skills into your marketing career strengths.

In addition, many marketing-related skills can be developed outside of a classroom. For example, to gain hands-on learning experience in blogging and online marketing, try setting up a blog of your own and spreading the word about it online.

You could also participate in local marketing groups or meet up events to begin networking and to expand your knowledge about current trends in the marketplace.

The opportunities for putting your skills into practice truly are abundant. By beginning to gain this knowledge and experience now you will have the skills, knowledge and connections needed to to step into your new career.

How to Showcase Your Skills

As employers often require a degree as a way to prove that you have developed your marketing skills, it is also equally important for you to understand how you can showcase them to employers as opposed to just promising proficiency.

For example, how would you showcase your social media “skills” to prospective employers? It wouldn’t work to say “I use Facebook every day,” because so do 618 million other people. But you could, for example, show them how you managed social media accounts for a local small business. This would demonstrate your ability to complete social media tasks in a business environment.

You could also showcase your skills by referring them to a blog you created, sending examples of surveys you developed or even speaking in-depth about Twitter philosophy and etiquette. The Internet is a great forum for providing future marketing professionals with a multitude of no-cost or low-cost opportunities for developing and exhibiting your skills.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in marketing, it’s important to remember that acquiring these skills doesn’t happen overnight. But by focusing on these ten marketing skills you can be well on your way to becoming a successful marketer.

*BurningGlass.com is a comprehensive database providing statistics and insights about the current labor market.