What college degrees are in demand?

The recent economic upheaval in our country has squashed the dreams of many young adults who assumed that upon earning their college degree, they would have no problems finding a job. The problem is that there were certain jobs that experienced higher layoffs during the downturn and that have not fully recovered. For those graduating from college, there may be a way to take your college degree and apply it to the workforce. For those graduating with an education degree, that may mean teaching in rural communities or even foreign countries. You may have thought you’d land your first job in your hometown but with recent budget cuts, that may no longer be feasible. Consider other creative uses for your degree to offset perhaps a lower than expected salary. You may try to build a tutoring business on the side or even work with an online tutoring company.

For those that graduated with a degree in management, consider some of the top national companies that may offer a management training program in exchange for a specified time commitment to stay on the job. The company may not be your first choice but by going through a professional training program, you are learning more skills and making yourself more marketable in the future.

Another area that will see future growth is related to the emphasis on alternative uses of energy and going green. This includes the waste management industry, consultants for corporations and companies to make certain new buildings are compliant with growing federal regulations as well as the oil and gas industries following current concerns with offshore drilling and safety. Of course, an industry that continues to experience high growth is the technology and internet industries. From building new websites to providing security to massive company servers, those with an interest in the internet and technology will see continued demand in an industry that is in constant change.

Should I get that graduate degree?

Today, going on to college has become such a standard practice that it is not considered an option. As a result, employers are now seeing a large number of job candidates who already hold a bachelor’s degree. So, what is the next logical step? Many are now considering continuing on for their master’s degree. So much so, that the number of applications to graduate school increased 8.3 percent alone between 2008 and 2009 according to the annual Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees conducted by the Council of Graduate Schools.

Depending upon your career goals, obtaining a graduate degree may actually be the minimum requirement for working in the field. If you wish to work as a doctor or a psychologist, for example, you will generally need to earn your Ph.D. before you can become licensed and obtain a job in the field. And, if you want to become a certified public accountant, a majority of states require accounting degree seekers to complete 150 credit hours of education at an accredited college or university as a prerequisite to CPA certification. And, while this is not a master’s degree, many 150 credit hour programs lead to a graduate degree such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration), MACC (Master of Accountancy) or MST (Master of Science in Taxation).