Locate and evaluate a minimum of five career fields for Communication Studies majors. Provide a brief summary of each and determine which career path interests you. In your response be sure to include the salary ranges, potential growth, required credentials, and experience.
The reason why have chosen communication studies is because it brings in both the creative and the technical aspects of communication. Communication is a versatile learning curve with a wide-open spectrum of possibilities. To enhance your personal life, your job or a job that may fit you better in your field of study. From mass communication, to learning about the theory of education, political, media, language and speech. A very interesting site that I found statistic research fro educational trends in communication studies is from the on line website ( www.3.saintmarys.edu/ ) speaks about the demand in degrees for communication students. Anything that has to do with communication, such a degree will help in helping you with the skills you need. Jobs such as video editors, news directors, producers, actors, sales managers, marketing specialists, foreign relations officer, international broadcasting, speech writer, public administrator, legal reporter, Journalist, travel agent, lawyer, and sales representative. There is a long list of possible jobs but the most important part of communication studies degree is the lack of on-line experience. Speaking, using critical thinking, the day-to-day uses of persuasion through communication, accurate reporting, good listening skills and the ability to clarify and respond. After such a degree one must really put into practice on a daily basis all that has been learned in our capstone for this year. Experience In many cases is more important than degrees, so working as an intern in many cases may be a great first step. Communication is meant to be interactive and working with real people is the skills we need to make it in life, personally and professionally.
Having searched the BLS, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, I learned that the OES website can search up to 800 occupations that are related to my field of interest and experience. By searching the occupational outlook handbook I have looked up five that I really like and a few that I’m currently pursuing myself. They are; writer, artists, massages therapist, fitness worker, and photographer
1.
Career: writer (authors, writers, and editors) Searched under www.bls.gov/oco/oco320.htm)
Working as a writer is someone who can write original prose material, such as poems, short stories, plays, and speeches. Also skills as a writer can work in the field of songwriting, screenwriting and written material that is produced for television broadcast.
Salary: median annual wages is 53,070 in May of 2008.
Potential growth: the average is 57, 509. Besides the money aspect of this job, the moving up the ladder in this field is not always easy. It means that one must take on larger projects to move up and also getting published is a notable publication. Some statistics is that by 2018 303,300 jobs are to be average.
Required credentials: required training is bachelor’s degree. A job in this field does also expect you to be well written and sophisticated with web or multimedia experience.
Experience: It does say that it has a 128 percent high unemployment rate. Experience needed to be a writer is also someone who can organize materials, plan arrangements, develop story lines such as theme, plot, character and story line. Some writers do specialize in certain forms of writing such as grant writing, essays, magazines, novels, and biographies. Besides a BA degree one must have skills in using desktop and or electronic publishing software, scanners and electronic communications equipment. Depending on the job as a writer, sometimes quality of writing, unique perspective and potential is more at stake than the degree at hand.
2.
Career: Artist (visual communication)
A person who is an artist is someone who expresses with visual communication.
Jobs as artists are both salaried jobs as well as freelance jobs. An artist is someone who communicates ideas, thoughts, and feelings. Ways to express this is through painting, and drawing. Artists can also be visual artist such as graphic designers. The communication degrees comes into practice because the artist needs to understand the overall visual direction needed and oversee design, layout and production of materials. This can be in pottery, building, printing, sketching, sculpting, woodworking, or working with clothes. Much of how an artist gets his or her work out is by displaying it in a gallery, or museum or in private home. Other types of artists can be cartoonists, and painting restorers.
Salary: for art directors is: 84,200, fine artists: 23,600
Potential growth: Many times as an artist, they must have another job, while they are trying to get their art off the ground. Also when an artist displays in a gallery there potential for growth comes from the profit of art sold. The work sold is what is through direct sale.
Required credentials: Many colleges offer degrees such as BA or MA degrees in fine arts. Or one can go to art school where most art schools award degrees in Art. Evidence of talent is important also in an artist’s portfolio
Experience: Experience means that artists should begin working on there own works of art, or work with others in a field of career. And or go to an art school.
3.
Career: massage therapist (communication skills needed)
The nature of work as a massage therapist is one who treats painful ailments, and helps to decompress overworked muscles, reducing stress in promoting. Being a massage therapist specialize in 80 different types of massages. Some are called, Swedish massage, deep-tissue, reflexology, acupressure and neuromuscular massage. Massage therapists work at home, at fitness centers, hospitals, studios, and private offices.
Salary: the median hourly wages is $16.78 an hour as of May 2008. The highest 10 percent earned more than $33.47
Potential growth: the growth in massage therapy is not that large in growth, since it all depends on the nature of the work, the location and the increase in clientele. A good way for an entrepreneurial spirit is to have ones own business and have own clients.
Required credentials: Depending on the state you are in will determine the training standards needed. A high school diploma is needed required for admission. Also programs of study is needed in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and the study of motion and body mechanics. Workers must also obtain a license after graduating from a training program prior to practicing massage. The National Certification Examination (MBLex) needs to be taken for ones credentials to be valid
Experience: Attending a massage therapy school is needed and a high school diploma. Other qualifications needed are strong communication skills, and qualities that help with building trust with clients. For a massage therapist to find work one must be good in networking with others.
4.
Career: Photographer (Media Communication related)
Jobs in photography can be for art, design. Photography is about telling a story, and it is about painting a picture in detail. Having a creative eye is very important in this field. Even if you have all the highest technology and Photoshop skills, it will not present a great image for an audience unless you have the talent, skill of detail. Photographers use digital cameras and take pictures of nature or whatever the assignment is with the current job. Photography also plays a role in advertising, since the media uses digital images to tell a story. Photographers also may specialize in a specific medium such as, industrial art, portrait photography, or fine art.
Salary: median wages is 29,440 and the highest 10 percent earned is more than 62,430
Potential growth: The potential for growth is not that easy. Again this depends on the job and or the network build up as a photographer or the work sold. Many photographers these days because of the competition is to go out freelance and find jobs and opportunities that way. Because technology is such a fast growing network, finding related work and skills will help the prospect of making a living.
Required credentials: As a professional photographer an entry-level position in photojournalism is required or a degree in photography. Also there are some that have only completed vocational schools as entry-level positions
Experience: Photographers must have gone to school, or have freelanced with there own work and have a portfolio to present to potential companies. Also personal investment must considered in printing images and learning about the technical skills needed for commercial art. Having a business sense about ones own work is also very important because how you communicate with your art must be constructed as well as the networking with others to work. Knowledge of the dark room is important if you are to be a high-end photographer and not someone who is just doing it as a hobby.
5.
Career: Fitness Workers
Many job in this field are part time, but can increase if clients are also being seen in their homes. Fitness workers help to motivate others in group exercise and activities. They can work in health spas, hospitals, universities, studios and yoga. Personal trainers work with people to help them find exercises that will help them reach their goals in fitness. They also keep track of their clients and there needs for weight control and exercise session groups. They must have knowledge of health as it pertains to the body; also go through school and learning about physical training, weight control, nutrition and basic anatomy. Also someone who works in a gym must know the equipment that is in the gym and how to properly use it. Specifics can be found on (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos296.htm)
Salary: fitness and recreational jobs, 30,610, civic and social organizations, 25,110
Potential growth:
Required credentials: Depending on where you choose to work and what the employer is asking will determine if a degree in the specific field is required such as education in exercise science or physical education. Sometimes just the credentials as personal trainer are required.
Experience: Training at a school for physical fitness.
Along with the jobs posted that relate to communication studies, some great websites to search for jobs are: monster jobs search, net-temps, salary.com, USAjobs. Also some related websites that offer jobs related to a communication degree are: CBS, http://www.wtvh.com, NBC WSTM/SWTQ http://www.wstm.com, Lockheed Martin http://www.lockheedjobs.com/,
References
Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, Communication Studies Career
Opportunities, retrieved on March 17, 2011, www3.saintmarys.edu
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, (2010) Office of Occupational Statistics and
Employment Projections, Washington, DC. Retrieved on March 17, 2011
From www.bls.gov/oco
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