Job Searching

Before you apply to college, you need to think about what kind of classes interest you so you know which major to focus on. With so many options out there, however, it can be difficult to make a choice. While it is important to consider your interests and your skills, you also need to be practical. What career will earn you enough money to live the life you want?

What are the Highest Paying Careers?

When you start thinking about attending college, whether you choose a community college or a traditional university, you should have some idea of what kind of career you are interested in. What makes this so challenging is the fact that there is a nearly limitless array of options. With tuition costs continuing to rise, it is worth doing a little research to see if the career path you are on will provide enough income to support your long-term financial goals while helping you manage educational expenses. If you want to make sure that you will have financial security, consider going into one of the highest-paying career fields, including the following:

• Engineering – According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, many engineering occupations continue to offer strong salaries and above-average job growth. Engineers can also increase their earning potential by obtaining additional certifications and licenses such as a Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Computer Science – With technological advances continuing across nearly every industry, careers in computer science remain

No matter where you choose to attend college, you will eventually be faced with the challenge of finding a job. Some schools do a better job of preparing their students for life after college than others, but in the end, it is really up to you to determine the course of your future. The more effort you put into your job search, the easier it will be to find a position that aligns with your skills, interests, and long-term career goals.

Going to community college is not the right choice for everyone, but it does have a number of important benefits. Many students find that community college is significantly more affordable than a traditional four-year university. Class sizes are often smaller, students may receive more one-on-one guidance from faculty and academic advisors, and many colleges now offer expanded career services designed to connect students with employers before graduation.

Still, finding a job after community college can be just as challenging as finding one after attending a university. In this article, you'll find practical tips and updated information to help you successfully launch your career after graduation.

What Are the Top Community College Degrees?

When choosing a degree program, it is important to select something that genuinely interests you. After all, your education should prepare you for a career that you will enjoy for years to come. In addition to following your interests, however, it is equally important to consider current labor market demand and future employment opportunities.

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Going to college represents a piece of the American dream. Students can expand their minds, learn new skills, meet new people, and enjoy intellectual, social, and cultural experiences they might otherwise not have a chance to experience. But it also represents an opportunity for students to improve themselves by preparing for employment after college.

Advantages of attending a community college

The advantages of attending a community college are numerous.

• You can graduate sooner, usually in just two years.
• The skills you acquire are often immediately applicable to the workplace, making you an attractive candidate for fast employment. Community college is much less expensive than four-year institutions, meaning that more of the money you begin to earn goes into your pocket and not towards paying off student loans.
• Many of the most in-demand jobs are those that require only an associate’s degree. An added bonus is that a number of these jobs offer excellent income potential, with starting salaries for many of these in-demand occupations in the $40,000-$50,000 range. Some jobs even offer the potential to earn a six-figure salary with just a community college degree!

The trick is to find something that you are both passionate about and that will allow you to earn a comfortable living. Unfortunately, not everyone’s passion will be in a career area that is growing quickly, or that pays well. However, if you have an interest in a job in the medical field, you are certainly in luck because

Students entering the California Community College system will now have another tool to help them choose a degree program and motivate them to complete that program. Through a new online tool, California students will be able to see how much they can earn with the various degrees offered through their school. The tool was recently unveiled by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.

Introducing Salary Surfer

The new website, dubbed Salary Surfer, allows students to track a person’s potential salary in California for five years after earning a two-year degree. The site uses data from graduates across the state, to compile significant information that can help students choose the best degree program for them. The Huffington Post reports that Salary Surfer shows the median annual incomes for 179 of the most popular community college programs in the state.

The website does not include data on students that transfer to four-year institutions. It does not have information on federal employees or self-employed graduates. Graduates that move out of state are also not included in the salary averages listed at Salary Surfer.

EdSource reports that Salary Surfer is the first online database of its kind in the state. The website tracks average annual salaries for the various programs two years after graduation, and again five years after graduation. Students can see how much they might expect to make in their discipline and compare that to what they were making prior to graduation.

Ready to kick your dead-end job in favor of more lucrative prospects? A community college degree might be just the ticket. Many of the jobs in the U.S. that were hot at the end of the 20^th century are barely simmering today. Now might be the perfect time to make a career change with the help of the two-year school in your area. Check out these jobs gaining ground and alternatives that might put you back on a positive career track once again.

Desktop Publisher

This job was a hot one at the end of the last century, as many small business owners turned to pros to turn out their marketing material and newsletters. However, new and improved software has made the job significantly easier, which makes the job of the desktop publisher less cost-effective today. Some companies are also outsourcing this type of work to save a buck. According to Yahoo Finance, this field is expected to decline by more than 14 percent over the next decade, as businesses turn to other sources for their publishing needs.

Instead of stagnating in the fading world of desktop publishing, Yahoo Finance suggests an alternative career in drafting. Drafting takes you from published designs to manufacturing designs, creating technical drawings and plans for everything from the cardboard holder for your coffee cup to full-size building structures. Many community colleges across the country offer two-year degree