There is often a misunderstanding that the only career choice is a role within the mental health field. The reality is that majoring in psychology allows you entry into many different roles. The options are vast, from therapy and counselors to researchers and education consultants. At the heart of it, it’s a degree for people who are intrigued by how the human mind works.

Psychology Major Overview

Undoubtedly, there is a clinical career path that you can follow with a psychology major if that is your passion. You’ll generally require an advanced degree before being qualified to work with patients. However, that is only one branch of career options for psychology majors.

And even within that branch, there is a wide variety of uses for a psychology degree. You might study how people’s environment and interaction with nature affect their choices. Or, perhaps you might work within a school district supporting students and their families. Other psychologists specialize in supporting new mothers with post-partum depression or cancer patients.

Nonclinical Branches

For those that find human behavior an intriguing riddle but aren’t called to clinical work, you can put your degree to use in a wide variety of fields. Psychology majors support businesses by studying consumer behaviors. Or, they go on to study law, supporting legal defenses.

Regardless of your focus, clinical or otherwise, a major in psychology is a flexible degree where you’ll gain many in-demand skills.

Skills You’ll Gain With a Psychology Major

Depending on your focus track, there are variables in the skills you’ll develop and hone. However, at the root of all psychology degrees is a deep passion for research and analysis that you’ll carry into any career. Consider some of the skills you’ll gain through your studies.

Hard skills: Cognitive and social behavior determinants, psychological research methods, experiment design, clinical reasoning

Soft skills: Critical thinking, interpersonal awareness, presentation skills, active listening skills

Transferable skills: Communication, leadership, creativity, time management, analytical thinking

Common Industries for a Psychology Major

While you can apply the transferable skills you gain from your psychology degree to nearly any industry, some industries are more prevalent employers of psychology graduates, such as business administration, law enforcement, education, marketing, and sales.

After completing coursework that studies how people think and interact with the surrounding environment, you’ll have skills applicable to nearly any industry that requires an understanding of human behaviors. Consider how beneficial those skills are to sales managers, team leaders, and teachers.

You’ll be able to analyze and create a focused response based on data, rather than “gut instincts.” This is incredibly valuable in most fields. For example, first responders and social workers often mitigate stressful situations.

Common Job Titles for a Psychology Major

It would be nearly impossible to list all career options that open up for you as a psychology major. One of the top reasons is that it continues to be in the top six most conferred degrees annually. Outside of clinical psychology, here are a few of the most prevalent roles.

Sales Manager

With extensive studies in communication, psychology students create outstanding sales professionals. The skills that help them connect with customers are the same skills that make them exceptional leaders. Most sales managers will lead a team of sales professionals motivating them to develop their skills, meet internal metrics, and problem-solve challenges.

Career Coach

Many psychology majors follow paths that help them assist others in living their best life possible. Career coaches will work with students or career professionals seeking guidance on career goals, interviewing skills, and development plans.

Researcher

Research is a fantastic career option for psychology majors who love a puzzle. Often found within the marketing field, researchers will seek to find common links among human behavior. They might also have a career working on political campaigns or lobbying for change as they conduct interviews and discover key factors that drive behaviors.

Business Administrator

Graduates can follow their passions to become human resources specialists, leaders of Fortune 500 companies, or the CEO of their own company. They’ll analyze who would make an excellent job fit, what verbiage will motivate their team members, and how their decisions will affect their shareholders.

Will Graduate School Be Beneficial?

For those that are looking for a defined career path, an undergraduate degree in psychology by itself is not as direct as others, such as STEM degrees. You’ll be able to follow your passions, even as they change throughout your career. However, you won’t be directly qualified for a specific role with a bachelor’s degree alone.

Almost half of psychology majors go on to pursue a graduate degree. You’ll find that a psychology major complements further studies in education, law enforcement, business, social work, and more.

Is a Psychology Major Right for You?

If you aren’t sure what your career path will look like, or if you have conflicting passions, a psychology degree might be a great fit. It’s an incredibly versatile degree that can launch a career in many industries.

More Career Paths:

• Job Opportunities for Healthcare Administration and Management Majors
• Great Jobs for Communications Majors
• Great Careers for All Myers-Briggs Personality Types
• Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate Agent License
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for Business Majors
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for English Majors

The post Great Jobs and Career Fields for Psychology Majors appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Regardless of why, if you’re about to join the work-from-home crowd, there are a few things that will help prevent crashing and burning from the stress.

Setting Remote Work Guidelines

Your key to success is creating boundaries and routines for yourself. Sure, you could work in your jammies most days, forgoing a shower and healthy nutrition. But it wouldn’t be long before your productivity, along with your mental and physical health, suffered. Instead, try implementing some of the following tips.

Create a Schedule

Just like you would at the office, train your mind to get into work mode. Even when working a flexible schedule, you need to ensure that you’re creating intentional work boundaries on your day. For some positions, your employer will set those, even if you’re working remotely.

For others, that means sitting down with your calendar and mapping out how you’re going to get your 40 hours in. Otherwise, life will tempt you throughout the week to choose something more fun. “It’s just an hour or two, I can make it up” is a common refrain new flex workers tell themselves—until they find themselves needing to put in a missing 10 hours on a Saturday to meet their work commitments.

Take Your Breaks

Part of keeping a schedule is ensuring that you’re managing your entire day well, including lunch and casual breaks. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’re not entitled to 15-minute breaks every few hours.

Studies have repeatedly shown that breaks are good for productivity and mental health. Bonus points if your break gets you some outside time as well. Along with breaks, create solid boundaries between work and home hours, just as you would if you had to leave the office to commute home.

Create a To-Do List

Even more so than in an office, having a well-planned list of tasks for the day is essential for your productivity. One of the most significant challenges you’ll face at work, regardless of where you work, is staying focused. At the office, your coworkers tend to be the biggest distractions. At home, it’s laundry, dishes, the neighbors, your dog…the list goes on.

Rather than have your attention sucked away, create your to-do list at night before shutting down. That way, when you start work in the morning, you have a solid plan for your morning. You’re much more likely to stay on track when you know what the first step is.

Plan Your Distractions

When creating your schedule, be realistic about when you need to turn your focus away from work. If you’re in a home office with small children around, it’s unrealistic to think that they’ll be content for eight hours until you flip the “Closed” sign on your office door—even if you have in-home childcare. What about your dog that needs to go outside? Or that laundry that could be going while you’re working?

Rather than take an all-or-nothing approach, plan out your schedule to balance your personal commitments as well. If you have school-aged children, that might mean scheduling free time when everyone gets home. You’ll be able to connect, hear about their day, and get them settled for your last hour or two of work.

Utilize Website Blockers

Without fear of a manager or coworker walking by, it’s easier to get sucked into the internet black hole. Figure out what your challenge is. For some of us, that means blocking out social media. For others, it might be current events. Still, others might get pulled in by that delicious-looking dessert recipe.

Since you can’t block the entire internet working from home, your best option is to limit access to sites that pose the most significant threat to your productivity.

Get Dressed

One of the best things you can do is put on real clothes for your mental health and productivity. Sure, an occasional day in your jammies could be pretty relaxing. However, getting yourself “office-ready” helps ensure that you get your brain transitioned over to work mode.

It also ensures any impromptu Zoom meetings don’t result in embarrassment if your camera is turned on accidentally.

Interact With Other People

Do you occasionally feel like a bear coming out of isolation? It’s probably time to join the outside world a bit. For most roles, working from home doesn’t mean you can only work in your home. It’s easy to become isolated working remotely, so be intentional in seeking out people.

Schedule work out of the house regularly—perhaps in a coffee shop or coworking space. If the weather allows it, maybe you can take your laptop to the city park or even the balcony of your apartment building.

If you do have to work at home due to security or technology requirements, such as transcription equipment, make sure that you’re getting out of the house outside of work hours.

Boost Your Productivity for Success

Working from home can be incredibly beneficial for your work-life balance. Creating a thriving work environment means being intentional with your boundaries. Hold yourself accountable for fully showing up for work and shutting down for home time. Doing so ensures that your mental health and your productivity will thrive.

The post How to Work From Home: 7 Tips appeared first on Job-Hunt.

If so, you may be considering becoming an English major. Perhaps you’re curious about what is involved and what career options will open up to you after receiving your degree. Whatever the reasons, it’s helpful to learn that there are plenty of possibilities, and you’ll learn transferable, in-demand skills.

English Major Overview

Rather than simply a degree for aspiring authors, an English major will cover a range of learning, from critical thinking and creative writing to history and research skills. You’ll learn to analyze how the written word relates to historical and current events.

Spending time studying history, you’ll develop your voice as you explore a wide variety of poetry, plays, cinema, and more. If you have a passion for a specialized track, you might focus on specialized pieces, such as British literature.

With a wide variety of courses to choose from, an English major is an excellent choice if you haven’t clearly defined your career path after college. Even if you’re not interested in a career as a writer, you can put your studies to use to move into fields such as education, law, and business.

Skills You’ll Gain as an English Major

With extensive reading and writing throughout your studies, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of language, including its nuances and contexts, along with other marketable skills.

• Hard skills: Throughout your coursework, you’ll learn recognizable skills in proofreading, editing, writing, and tone management.
• Soft skills: As you explore genres and works from different perspectives, you’ll gain cultural literacy, empathy, and understanding through interpretation.
• Transferable skills: With a heavy emphasis on writing papers, you’ll complete your degree equipped with extensive research and organizational skills. Persuasive communication and analytical skills will also be valued in many occupations you may pursue.

Common Industries for English Majors

An English degree is an obvious match for aspiring authors, lining up neatly to their career and life goals. However, outside of being a published author, there are many future options for those pursuing the major. For example:

• Marketing
• Business
• Legal
• Research
• Editing
• Communications
• News & Journalism
• Education & Training
• Advertising & PR
• Nonprofit & Philanthropy

Common Job Titles for an English Major

You’ll most likely find someone with an English major in nearly every company, especially Fortune 500 companies. The following are just a few of the many career paths you might choose to pursue.

Editor

Any company with written content requires editing to ensure grammatical accuracy and brand consistency. You can also pursue a freelance career as an editor, assisting independent authors in accurately conveying their messages. Many editors work for publishing companies helping to ensure all content, whether written or digital, is vetted before publication.

Digital Content Creator

Every company and brand that has an online presence requires content. As a content creator, you’ll be tasked with writing engaging pieces that range from web pages and blog posts to downloadable brochures and magazines. Becoming a digital content creator, you’ll often be able to use your creativity and vision to bring your written word to life.

Journalist

Journalists often require investigative research skills and need to work well under pressure. Depending on the role, you might be tasked with quick turnarounds of current events or longer, well-researched papers detailing health and medical news. Regardless of your position, you’ll be able to unleash your research and creativity side by side.

Teacher

While you will most likely need additional licensing, if you’re passionate about inspiring the next generation, a career in teaching English might be a perfect fit! You can pursue positions within public, private, and online schools working with students to develop their skills and knowledge. You’ll inspire them to expand their horizons and develop their personal voice while developing lesson plans according to state standards.

Lawyer

Enter the field as a legal assistant while pursuing your advanced law degree. Following a legal career requires an exceptional command of the English language, with the ability to complete research, retain complex amounts of details, and professionally convey persuasive arguments.

Does an English Major Appeal to You?

There are many careers that you might pursue once you’ve attained an English degree. This is simply a small sampling, and the sky is truly the limit. When you stop to consider how various professions communicate, you’ll see that a career field focusing on mastering the language is substantially versatile.

Whether your passions lie within the nonprofit sector, traditional businesses, or even entrepreneurship, there will be options to put your English degree to good use. Having well-defined career goals that line up your next five to ten years is a great way to determine if an English major will fully support you and your aspirations.

More Career Paths:

They often utilize the opportunity to find an entry-level role, building their skills while balancing their studies for their remaining two years of education. Business degrees also appeal to military spouses and those whose career goals include being digital nomads for the simple portability that they offer. If you are looking for the most flexible degree that you can earn, you might find that a business major is precisely what you’re seeking.

More Career Paths:

• Job Opportunities for Healthcare Administration and Management Majors
• Great Jobs for Communications Majors
• Great Careers for All Myers-Briggs Personality Types
• Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate Agent License
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for Business Majors
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for Psychology Majors

The post Great Jobs and Career Fields for English Majors appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Why is that, you might wonder? It’s possibly due to the reality that a business degree sets you up for success in almost any career path you might choose. Whether your passions lie with conservation, healthcare, entrepreneurship, or even assisting at-risk youth, you can find a role requiring business acumen.

Business Major Overview

You could earn several different degrees under the umbrella term “business degree.” You might consider focusing your degree on marketing, management, or business administration. What do all of these have in common? Striving to steer an organization toward success.

What you’ll do in your specific role will depend largely on which track you choose. If you’re still trying to figure out what career is right for you, consider business administration. One of the most versatile degrees, you’ll leave your studies understanding all the day-to-day regulatory tasks needed to keep a business afloat.

Business majors are often required to take large amounts of data and analyze it to ensure well-informed decisions. They’ll lead teams and interact on a professional level with other organizations.

Skills You’ll Gain in Business Courses

Working through business courses will help you switch your mindset from a consumer to a producer. Whether you’re producing goods or services, students who earn business degrees will generally have the following skills:

• Communication: It’s vital to have the ability to convey your message professionally. You’ll learn to adjust your tone and content to various settings and contexts, honing active listening skills.
• Leadership: There are many nuances to leadership that you’ll be able to practice within the context of your degree. Empathy and passion, for instance. Leading through example and learning how to have hard conversations are just a few others.
• Technology: Although the programs you work with will vary based on the specific track you follow, you’ll generally be well-versed in team productivity software. Most programs will ensure that you are comfortable handling tasks throughout the Microsoft Suite and working through a variety of database software.
• Organization: One of the essential skills you can learn as a leader is effectively managing your schedule and your projects. Through time management and diligent attention to detail, you’ll discover the value of delegating, as well as following up on projects to ensure timely completion regardless of their scope.

You’ll notice that all of these skills are not specific to any one field and are highly transferable if you decide to follow a different career path in the future. That’s one of the reasons that so many students choose to major in business.

Common Industries for Business Majors

Business majors generally have several specialized tracks they can choose from, making them even more marketable within their fields. Those gaining a degree in business administration—one of the most popular degrees—can consider a future in several areas. For example:

• Healthcare Management
• Marketing
• Retail Leadership
• Finance
• Public Business Administration
• Local or Federal Administration
• Entrepreneurship
• School Administration
• Human Resources
• Nonprofit Management

Common Job Titles for Business Majors

Business majors are found in nearly every organization. You might find yourself pursuing one of these popular career options to get your degree.

Business Operations Manager

Do you have excellent data analysis skills? A terrific head for numbers? Do you enjoy researching and creatively solving problems? If so, you might excel as a business operations manager. Essentially a team leader, however, your team is an entire department or company. This position requires excellent communication and organizational skills.

Project Manager

If you enjoy the challenge of analyzing and organizing tasks but thrive on short-term goals, you might be an excellent fit for a project manager role. A project manager is often dedicated to shorter-term projects, moving on to new challenges as those are completed. They’ll have many of the same skills that an operations manager would have, but they’ll generally have a more specific focus than an organization’s entirety.

Digital Analyst

Companies are inundated with data nowadays. There is an ever-increasing need to assimilate that data into actionable plans. A digital analyst tends to have a more scientific approach to guiding the company. They will mine data to communicate with various departments regarding everything from staff turnover to marketing campaigns.

Financial Manager

If you love numbers, this is an option outside of gaining an accounting degree. A finance manager handles everything from budgeting to reporting. They’ll set goals to keep the company on track to be profitable and report where the company is struggling. Often, they’ll communicate and balance a variety of department needs, such as human resources, marketing, and operations.

Does a Business Major Appeal to You?

This is far from an exhaustive list of careers to which you can apply for a business degree. One of the aspects that many students find most appealing about the major is earning a two-year associate’s degree in business on their way to a four-year degree.

They often utilize the opportunity to find an entry-level role, building their skills while balancing their studies for their remaining two years of education. Business degrees also appeal to military spouses and those whose career goals include being digital nomads for the simple portability that they offer. If you are looking for the most flexible degree that you can earn, you might find that a business major is precisely what you’re seeking.

More Career Paths:

• Job Opportunities for Healthcare Administration and Management Majors
• Great Jobs for Communications Majors
• Great Careers for All Myers-Briggs Personality Types
• Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate Agent License
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for English Majors
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for Psychology Majors

The post Great Jobs and Career Fields for Business Majors appeared first on Job-Hunt.

One fun and helpful way to narrow down the options is to consider what jobs are a great fit for your personality. While this shouldn’t be the only deciding factor in determining your career path, you can use the Myers-Briggs career test to gain a little insight into which roles you might enjoy the most.

What Is the Myers-Briggs Personality Test?

First published in 1962, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) was created by a mother-daughter team looking for ways to help people understand themselves and each other better. The test has grown to have a massive following in the corporate world, with more than 88% of Fortune 500 companies utilizing the insights.

How to Take the Myers-Briggs Test

Are you wondering how your personality would stack up against different job postings? Trying to figure out what your dream job is? You don’t have to wait for a corporate recruiter to send you a link. Taking the Myers-Briggs test can provide you with a new way of assessing compatible roles and might be valuable as a launching point for new job research.

Find the test online at MBTIonline for a small fee or through a certified practitioner who administers the test. The assessment should take around 45 minutes, and you’ll be quickly provided with feedback that many professionals believe you can use to help shape your personal development and well-being.

What Are the Traits Assessed?

After completing the assessment, you’ll be provided with results showing where you land in the following four categories.

• Extroversion (E) or Introversion (I)
• Sensing (S) or Intuitive (N)
• Feeling (F) or Thinking (T)
• Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)

Most of us will have characteristics that fall across the entire spectrum, but our unique personalities and perspectives will lean more toward one side of each category.

Broken down into eight subcategories, they combine to create 16 different personality types, as defined by Myers-Briggs. We’ve listed them below, along with some careers that are considered an excellent fit for each personality.

More: How to Answer “What Makes You Unique?” In a Job Interview

Great Career Matches for Myers-Briggs Personality Types

ISTJ

ISTJ personality types are often organized and thorough. They’ll thrive in analytical roles with consistent outcomes and expectations.

Careers for ISTJ personality types:

• Accountant
• Bookkeeper

ISFJ

Often considered considerate and conscientious, ISFJ personalities thrive in orderly environments where they can embrace their social desire to bring value to others.

Careers for ISFJ personality types:

• Photographer
• Administrative Assistant

INTJ

Organized and decisive, the INTJ personality seeks to find connections and will thrive in analytical roles.

Careers for INTJ personality types:

• Supply Chain Manager
• Advertising Executive

INFJ

Job seekers who identify as INFJ will often be those who seek insight into others, what motivates them, and long to create a better community and individual relationships.

Careers for INFJ personality types:

• Counselor
• Therapist

ISTP

More likely to be natural introverts, the ISTP characteristics lean toward big-picture thinking. They are often the ones analyzing cause and effect and finding efficient solutions.

Careers for ISTP personality types:

• Engineer
• Computer Technician

ISFP

Those with an ISFP personality can quickly push through their natural tendency to be introverted. Being social, they enjoy harmony and avoid conflict.

Careers for ISFP personality types:

• Social Media Manager
• Physical Therapist

INFP

Frequently idealistic and loyal, INFP types tend to be fantastic coaches, as they enjoy working one-on-one with others to help them fulfill their potential.

Careers for INFP personality types:

• Career Coach
• Graphic Designer

INTP

Highly introverted, INTP types shy away from team roles, preferring to analyze and tackle problems methodically by themselves.

Careers for INTP personality types:

• Architect
• Science Professor

ESTP

Thought of as a persuader, the ESTP personality type is often very outgoing and very detail-oriented but struggles with seeing the bigger picture. Tending toward practicality, they aren’t planners but can achieve results quickly.

Careers for ESTP personality types:

• Business-to-Consumer (B2C) Sales
• Customer Service

ESFP

Considered highly adaptable, the ESFP personality type is often outgoing and fun in their day-to-day work life and not afraid to be in the spotlight.

Careers for ESFP personality types:

• Event Planner
• Interior Designer

ENFP

Many entrepreneurs fall under the umbrella of the ENFP personality type. They rely more on intuition rather than traditional rules. You can frequently find them following their passions.

Careers for ENFP personality types:

• Arts Director
• Consultant

ENTP

Also prone to entrepreneurial roles, the ENTP personality is more likely to carefully do market research and develop a solid business plan before starting their venture.

Careers for ENTP personality types:

• Real Estate Agent
• Marketing

ESTJ

Extroverts that land on the higher thinking (T) side of the spectrum, ESTJ types often excel in social roles requiring big-picture thinking. They’re more matter-of-fact than their counterparts with high feeling (F).

Careers for ESTJ personality types:

• Project Manager
• Account Executive

ESFJ

Highly extroverted, the ESFJ personality trait gravitates toward social roles. Generally, this personality will work well in a team environment.

Careers for ESFJ personality types:

• Sales Representative
• Account Manager

ENFJ

Considered high-energy, ENFJ team members are fun to be around and often the catalyst for getting momentum going for projects and new ideas.

Careers for ENFJ personality types:

• Human Resources Manager
• Trainer

ENTJ

Organized, efficient, outgoing, and not afraid to take charge or embrace the spotlight, the ENTJ personality is often seen as a natural-born leader who can rally the team around an organized and efficient approach.

Careers for ENTJ personality types:

• Lawyer
• Executive

How to Use Your Results

If you recently took the test yourself, or have a copy from a previous employer, you can use the information from your Myers-Briggs career test to help you brainstorm your next career goal. It’s essential to remember that this is simply one aspect of your career story. Your experiences, training, and work history will also guide you toward roles you love.

However, if you’re at a crossroads and trying to determine what career path to follow next, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can help jump-start your career explorations.

For more information, check out FlexJobs ultimate guide to changing careers.

The post Great Careers for All Myers-Briggs Personality Types: ENFP, INTJ, and More appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Another consideration is deciding if you’d prefer to work in the private or the public sector. Government jobs have several benefits that can make them very attractive. As with most choices, however, there are also some sacrifices that government employees make. We’ve listed out some of the biggest pros and cons of government jobs for you to consider.

The Pros of Government Jobs

While each role and division of the government will have unique perks, here are some of the most common advantages of working in the public sector vs the private.

Exceptional Benefits

Health insurance coverage for government jobs is often the best workplace policy you can find. Depending on the branch of government you work in, you potentially could have zero personal costs. And depending on the extension of government, there’s a possibility of insurance coverage through your retirement years. Vacation and other compensation categories are also frequently superior to those you can find in the private sector.

Retirement Income

Yes, retirement is a benefit. However, retirement is such a great perk it’s worth mentioning on its own. Most government roles include an impressive pension package. This can be an excellent perk, as consistent retirement is shifting to investment accounts in the private sector.

Work Flexibility

You don’t need to live in Washington, DC, to work for the government. There are flexible government jobs found throughout the U.S. and abroad. And many government roles were remote or offered alternative schedules even before remote work gained popularity.

Work-Life Balance

Of course, you’ll be expected to work hard during your workweek, but outside of your schedule, there is generally little overtime required. Observed Federal holidays are a standard, and vacation accrual is very generous. As more and more people are discovering, work-life balance is often one of the most essential factors in long-term career happiness, so this might weigh heavily in favor of a public sector role.

Making a Difference

If you have a passion for supporting the health and welfare of a specific population or environment, there’s probably a role in government that would support that. From helping to maintain national parks and wildlife to supporting vulnerable youth at the local and national level, there’s a government job for almost any passion you have.

Student Loan Repayments

Many government roles are eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. There are specific criteria for different functions, but you’ll have a portion (or possibly all) of your student debt eliminated if you’re eligible. This can make an enormous impact on your ability to save for retirement and meet the cost of living.

The Cons of Government Jobs

As with any job decision, there are potential downsides to government jobs. Here are a few areas where you’ll probably find the private sector has the upper hand.

Lower Earning Potential

Compared to the private sector, government roles have a salary cap that is frequently lower. While you’ll often start at a comparable salary, the higher-paid positions that your career grows into will give you less financial freedom down the road.

Seniority Carries More Weight

Most government roles are hierarchical in structure, meaning that there is no fast track, even if you are an above-average performer diligently applying yourself. Seniority with the organization carries the most value, and you’ll have to wait until your tenure ages you into a competitive position.

Revolving Leadership

While not all positions are tied to the political cycle, many rules and regulations for government workers are determined by who is holding office. Beyond the high-profile positions, this includes locally elected officials who might have different priorities than the last leader. For employees who seek a consistent long-term mission, this might be challenging.

Government Shutdowns

It’s worth mentioning that the legislature determines government budgets at every level. High-level government shutdowns have halted pay for government employees until new funding has been passed. And yes, there’s a law requiring you to receive your back compensation, but you’ll need to have a nest egg to help you through any interim periods.

What Types of Government Jobs Are There?

Once you’ve weighed the advantages and disadvantages of government jobs, if you determine that a job in the private sector fits your career goals, chances are there’s one for you.

Many people equate government roles solely with Federal jobs, but every local and state public entity also requires support. This ranges from customer service and data entry jobs at courthouses to payroll departments and other administrative support roles. Modern IT jobs are also needed for social media channels and network administrators, to name a few.

Regardless of your career focus, there’s a good chance you can choose a fulfilling career in the public sector.

The post Working in Government: Pros, Cons, and Types of Jobs appeared first on Job-Hunt.

A real estate license can help you become a broker, appraiser, and even a lawyer. If you have great people skills and marketability, your opportunities in the real estate sector are endless.

Real Estate Agent Overview

A real estate agent is a licensed professional that arranges residential and commercial real estate transactions. An agent puts buyers and sellers together and acts as their representative and negotiator for the length of the process. Agents are also responsible for admin work.

The day-to-day operations of an agent depend on whether they’re working from home or in an office, but they’ll typically update and manage their own social media page and website. Agents will create promotional material, a marketing and budget plan, and build their client network.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for real estate agents is 4%, and the median pay ranges from $49,040 to $51,220. The amount you make changes significantly depending on your commission rate and the amount of high-cost houses you sell.

What to Expect From a Real Estate Agent Program

To become a real estate agent, you must get a real estate license. The prerequisites involved in getting your license depend on the state you live in, but you’ll typically have to be 18-19, a permanent U.S. resident (with an SSN), and have a high school diploma or GED. 

Next, you need to pass a pre-licensing course. The length of these courses is also reliant on the state you live in. For example, an Illinois online real estate school requires 60 hours, but it also requires participants to take the remaining 15 hours via classroom, webinar, or distance education.

There are several online and in-person real estate course options, but it’s necessary to go to a respected school that’s approved and recognized by your state’s department of regulation. In Illinois, for example, this would be the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR).

After receiving your education, you can apply to take the exam. Again, a passing grade is different in every state, but you can retake the exam several times until you pass.

Before sending off your application, you’ll need to be sponsored by a broker. Take your time finding the right sponsor because they’ll affect your real estate education. Once the broker feels you’re ready to get your license, the broker will sign off on your paperwork.

In less than a week, you should receive a copy of your real estate license. This gives you the ability to sell real estate. You may need to renew your license every couple of years.

Skills Real Estate Agents Have Gained

There are several in-demand real estate agent skills, like the following:

• Hard skills: Networking, business administration, area knowledge, marketing, basic to advanced tech knowledge, negotiation, architecture, real estate law
• Soft skills: Leadership, empathy, attention to detail, a strong work ethic, confidence, a receptive attitude, a positive outlook, ethics, integrity, problem-solving
• Transferable skills: Collaboration, research, communication, adaptability, time management, teaching, patience, active listening, industry experience

Most real estate skills are transferable to other careers. Since several agents work part-time, especially when they start, you can use a number of these skills in your current profession.

Common Industries for Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents specifically work as a buyer’s or seller’s agent. They can work out of a brokerage or out of their own office but must work under a broker. Real estate agents can apply to become a realtor, which indicates a higher level of commitment to selling real estate.

Agents are able to sell residential and commercial real estate, invest in real estate, and become property managers. To branch out into other industries, like appraising, law, or banking, they’ll need to complete more education either in the form of a license or bachelor’s degree.

Common Job Titles for Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents are present in a wide variety of jobs. If you have your real estate license, there are several careers you can explore in this industry beyond being an agent.

Residential or Commercial Agent

Residential agents buy and sell homes and condos on behalf of their clients. Commercial agents do the same but with business properties and offices. This position includes a lot of networking, building client relationships, administrative work, and internet know-how.

Residential or Commercial Broker

Like agents, brokers assist with the sale, leasing, and purchase of a property, except they get to work independently or manage other agents. They typically specialize in a property type, like investment properties or medical facilities. You need a broker’s license to operate as a broker.

Property Manager or Investor

Real estate investors often purchase real estate for an income-generating purpose. You don’t need a real estate license to sell property, but it can definitely help you make a profit. Investors can either flip their properties or rent them out and act as property managers or landlords.

Real Estate Appraiser

If real estate agents get their appraiser’s license, they can start appraising properties. Almost all houses under contract or people looking to refinance need an appraiser to determine the market value of the real estate. Appraisers have a more consistent 9-to-5 than real estate agents.

Real Estate Attorney

Real estate agents that pass the bar and become real estate attorneys can legally advise the parties involved in a residential or commercial property transaction. Although the education is extensive, 22 states require an attorney in a real estate transaction, so you’ll always find work.

Is the Real Estate Industry Right for You?

Real estate agents are afforded flexible careers, decent career growth, and a salary without a ceiling. Plus, getting a proper real estate agent education can take less than a month. However, if you want a more stable 9-to-5, you’ll need to explore other opportunities, like appraising or law.

About the author…

A growth hacker at heart, Jess Perkins helps SaaS companies rapidly scale their inbound leads through lean marketing strategies. She views content marketing and advertising as the perfect concoction of growth and loves to write about her insights and experiences.

The post Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate Agent License appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Students who pursue a communications degree learn how to analyze the preferences and needs of audiences to develop innovative strategies for conveying messages. Studies involve interdisciplinary coursework in humanities and social sciences subjects, such as literature and sociology.

Preparing to enter a specific job market, students may also choose an area of concentration for their degrees offered by their school’s communications department. These can range from public relations to journalism and include classes in social media, business, digital marketing, broadcast writing, video storytelling, and beyond.

In learning such a wide breadth of subjects as a communications major, graduates are well-positioned to enter many diverse industries with a myriad of skills to offer. If you’re thinking about pursuing a communications degree, we’ve compiled a list of the skills you can bring to the workforce, along with 10 common jobs in need of your expertise.

Hard Skills of a Communications Major

Hard skills are defined as teachable skill sets or abilities that are easy to quantify. Hard skills required by jobs for communications majors often align with areas of degree emphasis and include:

• Qualitative and quantitative research
• Analytical writing
• Persuasive writing
• Sales and promotion
• Media literacy and marketing knowledge
• Event planning
• Graphic and web design
• Social media strategy
• Interviewing
• Presentation and public speaking
• Recruiting
• Networking
• Negotiating

Soft Skills of a Communications Major

Strong communication skills are an invaluable asset in just about any job market because they allow us to share information, develop relationships, actively engage as global citizens, sell products, and more. Additionally, in our increasingly digital age of information, new ways to share information, convey ideas, and find and consume data are constantly evolving and advancing.

General communication skills, also known as soft skills and transferable skills, are more difficult to quantify than hard skills and may be of use in multiple fields. For communications majors, examples of soft skills include:

• Written and oral communication
• Organization
• Project management
• Emotional intelligence
• Conflict resolution
• Leadership
• Decision-making
• High attention to detail
• Tolerant of critical work appraisals
• The ability to plan, organize, and execute projects
• Interpersonal skills
• Critical thinking
• Creativity

What Can You Do With a Degree in Communications?

1. Journalist

Journalists tell stories and share information with the public through content across multiple platforms, including newspapers, websites, magazines, television, podcasts, and radio. The field of journalism can include video journalists, photojournalists, data journalists, and more. Journalists need to identify good stories, research and interview the right sources to help tell their stories, and communicate effectively with those sources and their target audience.

2. Brand Strategist

Brand strategists are responsible for positioning brands in certain ways to their target audience or the public at large. They work directly with organizations and agencies to develop strategies to achieve certain brand objectives. Examples include gaining visibility and controlling the damage done by certain incidents and issues. Skills like media literacy, marketing, digital strategy, visual design, and critical thinking may be helpful to a brand strategist.

3. Social Media Planner

Primarily, the function of a social media planner is to determine the best media platform and timing for a specific marketing or advertising campaign. They also communicate with the platform to purchase or sell spots and project campaign performance based on the channel. Social media planners may use skills in media literacy, time management, marketing, social media strategy, negotiating, and promotion.

4. Public Relations Manager

Public relations (PR) managers are often responsible for creating and maintaining a positive public image of their employer or client. They do so by sharing select information with the media, preparing media kids and press releases, arranging for media coverage and interviews, writing speeches, and more. PR managers may also handle crisis communication and deal with negative publicity. Skills needed by PR managers might include written and oral communication skills, brand strategy expertise, media literacy, and promotion skills.

5. Editorial Assistant

Editorial assistants help in supporting a publication, such as a book, magazine, or newspaper. This role includes many tasks, such as proofreading content, writing publicity or social media copy, fact-checking, and more. Editorial assistants leverage their communication skills each day when reviewing text, presenting ideas, strategizing and visualizing content, and beyond.

6. Human Resources Manager

Focused on making a workforce successful, human resources (HR) professionals are strategic planners responsible for tasks like hiring staff, maintaining worker ethics and morale, overseeing employee benefits, resolving conflicts among colleagues, planning team-building and professional development programs, supporting diversity and inclusion, and more. Due to the high volume of interaction with employees, along with the handling of sensitive topics, HR professionals will frequently draw upon written and oral communication skills, interpersonal communication skills, emotional intelligence, and more.

7. Event Coordinator

Event coordinators are responsible for planning events like meetings, conferences, weddings, and trade shows. To make sure these events are successful, event coordinators need to leverage their communications expertise to carry out detailed planning, effective promotion, and efficient collaboration and interaction with speakers, entertainers, vendors, and attendees.

8. Web Producer

Web producers make sure websites offer the best possible experience for users. Their tasks focus on improving the user experience of a website by creating or editing content, arranging menus and buttons, changing page layouts, and more. Effective websites share information with visitors or encourage visitors to take an action. Graphic and web design, research, content strategy, and presentation skills may be useful for a career as a web producer. 

9. Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives help an organization’s customers via phone, text, email, and video chat. Their duties often include answering questions, resolving complaints or confusion, troubleshooting, keeping records, communicating across different mediums in real time, and more. Thus, these professionals should have strong written and oral communication skills, high levels of emotional intelligence, conflict resolution skills, and good critical thinking skills.

10. Lobbyist

Lobbyists are passionate about creating change through communication. They craft persuasive arguments and facilitate negotiations to influence government officials to enact legislation that benefits their clients and impacts the democratic political process. This work often requires skills in interpersonal communication, public speaking, research, networking, and negotiating.

Find a Flexible Job That Leverages Your Unique Skills

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in media and communication occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations at 14% by 2030. This is due to the increased need to create, edit, translate, and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms.

More Career Paths:

• Job Opportunities for Healthcare Administration and Management Majors
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for Business Majors
• Great Careers for All Myers-Briggs Personality Types
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for Psychology Majors
• Jobs You Can Get With a Real Estate Agent License
• Great Jobs and Career Fields for English Majors

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No matter where you are on your career journey, taking a career aptitude test can help you figure out which careers you might succeed in. However, because there’s no one right answer for what your career path should be, career aptitude tests are only part of your career exploration.

What Are Career Aptitude Tests?

Career aptitude tests, also known as career tests or career quizzes, are designed to help you figure out what career (or careers) you might enjoy. Because a job is so much more than a paycheck, these tests go a step beyond asking, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” A career aptitude test tries to match you to the careers that you’re best suited for and will ultimately enjoy and thrive in.

How Do Career Tests Work?

An aptitude test evaluates your skills and abilities to measure your readiness for “the next steps.” The SAT is a good example. It helps measure how ready you are for college.

Like the SATs, a career aptitude test consists of a series of questions. However, instead of asking you to solve a math problem, career tests ask you how you feel about certain tasks (like performing math every day). The questions and your answers are designed to help you better understand yourself in areas like:

• Motivation
• Personality traits
• Interests
• Strengths
• Skills
• Values

The results help you understand who you are and suggest some careers that best match your likes and dislikes.

What Can a Career Aptitude Test Do For You and Your Career?

Unlike asking friends and family what career you should pursue (which is OK), a career aptitude test is generally an objective assessment of your personality. This objectivity can help you get a clear, unbiased picture of what careers might be best for you.

Likewise, career assessments can help you move forward when you’re stuck deciding what to do next. Students, career changers, and anyone who isn’t sure what they want to do (or do next) can benefit from taking a career test.

How to Use the Results 

It’s important to remember that taking a career aptitude test is not a shortcut to finding the right career or even career success. While these tests can help you find your dream job, the results identify several possible dream jobs. The test will not tell you which career is “the one” or what you’ll ultimately be most successful in.

Career aptitude test results and the career suggestions are a starting point for your career exploration. Just because the test results say you might be good at something (like being a stunt double) doesn’t mean you should necessarily pursue it. 

Eliminate careers you know you wouldn’t like, then give serious examination to the remaining career choices. You can even test-drive a few through volunteering, freelancing, or a part-time job to see if some of these careers really are the best choice for you.

Types of Career Tests

There are many types of career aptitude tests around, and though they may use different methods, they all ultimately measure the same things. You can find them on the internet, offered through schools, and given by career professionals (like psychologists or career coaches). Whichever test you choose, make sure you use one that’s valid and reliable, and remember, the results are only the first step on your journey.

Here are some career aptitude tests to try. Some are free, and some are paid.

1. O*Net Interest Profiler (My Next Move): Free
2. Career Aptitude Test (123test): Free
3. What Career Is Right For Me: Free
4. MyPlan.com (offers various career tests): Free to $19.95
5. CareerFitter.com: Free to $39.95

Pencils Down

Career aptitude tests are a fantastic way to discover more about your personality and motivations and identify careers that may be well-suited to who you are. However, they are only one tool out of many that you can use to help you better understand which jobs and industries you’ll enjoy being in.

The post How Career Aptitude Tests Can Help You Find Your Dream Job appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Maybe that’s old news to you and you’ve spent time optimizing your LinkedIn profile already. But now, you’re looking for other ways to build a robust professional network. Not sure where to focus next? Consider joining a professional organization to take ownership of your career growth. We’ve got the details for you here.

What Is a Professional Organization?

You probably already know that professional organizations are groups formed around specific work-related topics. These include professional associations, unions, guilds, or simply clubs where members discuss their line of work with other people interested in the same subject. Although they are commonly associated with legal and medical professions, professional organizations exist in many fields.

What Does a Professional Organization Do?

Essentially, professional organizations promote education, creating socialization opportunities and special interests among group members. Often, anyone can join a professional organization as long as they are interested in the topic of the association and meet any related criteria. Professional organizations do not typically restrict membership based on employment status.

While there is no overall standard for how often an organization meets or structures their meetings and group, they should have guidelines in their membership information to give you an idea of what to expect.

What Are the Benefits of Joining a Professional Organization?

When you’re looking for ways to expand your professional network, joining a professional organization has several benefits.

The most significant benefit by far is networking opportunities. Professional associations offer the chance to get involved with other people in your field who may currently hold lucrative job opportunities. Additionally, they may provide further information about industry trends, which could be helpful when applying for vacancies or seeking freelance work.

Another great benefit is staying abreast of industry standards and evolving skill sets. Interacting regularly with group members can help improve your proficiency and knowledge in a way that might be unattainable on your own. By joining a professional organization, you’ll be putting yourself in contact with other individuals with similar interests and creating an open dialogue about work. Perhaps they’re studying or focusing on an aspect of the field you hadn’t considered.

Education for your career development is another significant benefit of joining a professional association community. Not only will you be involved with industry-related topics, but you’ll also have an opportunity to connect with other members who could offer further educational opportunities, like seminars or workshops. Without your membership, you might not get notified about these opportunities.

Finally, if you’re looking to join a professional organization, consider the benefits of socialization. While it may seem at first glance that networking is the only benefit to joining up with your professional association community, socializing can help improve your quality of life. Just think about how much you would enjoy spending time with like-minded individuals who speak your jargon!

Where Can I Find a Professional Organization?

If you’re considering joining an association to grow your career and expand your network, start by asking professors and current managers for any recommendations they might have. If people in your sphere can suggest something appropriate, it should be a go-to option. Additionally, search online for associations based on your profession to see what you can find.

Rather than a generic local business group or your alumni association, (though both are great networking options in their own ways), you’ll often find more streamlined career growth by focusing on organizations specific to your particular fields or career paths. Consider one of the following organizations, for example.

• Association for Financial Professionals (AFP): Geared toward treasury and finance professionals, AFP helps boost careers with certifications, training, networking, and cutting-edge ideas to inspire you.
• Association of International Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): AICPA builds connections and networks for its members across the U.S. and internationally through membership with the Global Accounting Association. Offering continued education, town halls, a resource library, and yearly conventions, an AICPA membership should be high on your list if you have any interest in a financial career.
• American Medical Association (AMA): AMA is the largest association with a mission of “promoting the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.” Through membership, physicians at every stage of their professional journey can join to save money on insurance, get daily updates on professional standards, and receive assistance in reducing regulatory burdens.
• American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP): ASAP is the “leading provider of education and training for administrative professionals and executive assistants.” Helping you grow your skill set regardless of where you are in your career journey, ASAP offers a massive library of articles and webinar resources, as well as three annual live events and certification to ignite your career growth.
• Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA): CXPA is a global, nonprofit, member-led organization that creates networking and education opportunities for enthusiastic customer support specialists across any field. Through membership, you’ll have a chance to get certified to develop a customer-centric culture.
• National Association of Sales Professionals (NASP): NASP is the largest sales association globally. Through online courses and group coaching, you can acquire industry-standard certifications that set you apart in a competitive job market.

Is a Professional Organization the Next Best Step?

Regardless of your current career stage, a professional organization is a great place to start when you’re ready to expand your network. It can provide an opportunity for coaching and mentoring with industry professionals, along with certifications that will give you the skills needed to advance in your profession. And as new opportunities arise, these organizations are often some of the first places they become available.

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