Distance-Ed: Careers

Careers: Straight Talk About Your Options.

Our careers section doesn’t pull any punches. We deliver a realistic assessment of hundreds of careers-in all areas of the economy. Whether you’re interested in business and finance, law, the arts, teaching, or any number of other careers, this section covers it all-and it’s growing. Here’s an overview of the information you’ll be able to find here on the careers that interest you most:

Of course, only you can decide which career is the best bet for you personally-but our analysis will let you know what you’re in for. Our aim is to provide realistic, exhaustive information on the industries and jobs our audience is most interested in-and help you make the best decision possible for your future career. Topics covered include:

The job description

Find out what the job actually involves. We discuss the skills usually required to do the job; the areas of specialty within specific careers; and the typical job description. We’ll also talk about where people in these careers usually work; whether they’re often salaried or self-employed; and who hires them.

What it pays

Find out how much you’re likely to be paid. We get our salary information from sources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, Salary.com, Indeed.com, and Glassdoor.com. We show a range of salaries, from entry-level to those at the top—so you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll likely make when you graduate, and the most you’re likely to earn throughout your career.

What it takes to break in

We talk in depth about education requirements for specific careers—including all postgraduate, licensing, and certification requirements. The higher the education requirement for a certain job, the bigger the entry-level investment is likely to be—and the higher your student loan debt. Compare this with the typical entry-level and average salaries, and you’ll be able to gauge whether this career makes sense as a financial investment.

Acceptance of online degrees

Online degrees are becoming more and more accepted in a wide range of careers—but some industries and sectors have been slower to accept them than others. Here, we’ll talk realistically about how employers in various areas are likely to regard your online degree—and strategies for getting around any biases that may occur.

Job outlook

We get our job outlook information from the Occupational Outlook Handbook—which gives in- depth, realistic assessments of projected growth in the coming decade. You’ll learn how safe a bet this job will be in a shaky economy—and whether your choice of career is likely to be stable or at risk of drying up before you hit retirement.

The pros and cons

We’ll provide a concise analysis of whether each career is a solid bet in today’s economy-based on the forecasts for the next ten years. Our assessments are based on factors such as the amount of education it takes to land an entry-level job; the level of competition you’re likely to face; the potential for high earnings now or in the future; and the projected job growth.

Our analysis is based on websites such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Department of Education, and other reputable sources-and we provide links to more information whenever it’s applicable.

This section is growing every day—so check back here to find the career you’re most interested in. Our careers section can help you figure out which jobs are a shaky bet—and which are likely to pay off regardless of the economy.