Graduates see diverse career field

It used to be that not attending a college or University wasn't entirely out of the question, but in today's competitive job market, college is stressed to the utmost degree. Higher forms of education are being called for as prerequisites for even entry-level positions. The current hiring trends seem to favor younger, ambitious and able applicants - but older and more experienced candidates aren't disqualified. It seems the job market is more diverse and demanding than ever before.  

There are many aspects to consider before applying for a job. Training, job outlook, employee benefits and retirement plans play an important role in determining where you want to work, and ultimately, what your major might be.

There is an extensive database of career aptitude tests, which are meant to help you find what fields you would enjoy most.

However, whatever your passion may be, it is important to understand job settings. Do you prefer to work alone or with a group? Would you rather work a 40 hour week or a 70 hour week? Do you see yourself working at home?

These factors play a part in determining a fitting job. There's that old adage that finding a job often becomes a job itself. The job hunt, interview process and follow-up are very time consuming.

 For students at the University, working in New York is most appealing. However, Forbes.com lists states with the highest growing employment rates. The most popular areas include Texas, California and Washington, D.C. This is one time when myth meets reality; urban cities usually hire more applicants. Jobs are more abundant in correlation with city populations. Also, the perks associated with certain job fields are an incentive to work in big city companies. Those looking to further their education past the undergraduate level can work for companies who will pay for their higher learning. This is an incentive to stay with the company and ultimately a way to recruit more applicants.  

According to U.S. News & World Report's Web site, the top field for hiring employees is healthcare. Jobs in the field include physicians, medical technicians and medical assistants. These are only a few positions in an ever-growing field. Yearly salaries range from $25,000 to $360,000. Due to the sensitive nature of patient interaction, the healthcare field often requires an extensive amount of experience and schooling. Medical school is a common requirement for physicians.

Technology is also a growing field for job employment. In the past 10 years alone, there has been a boom in computer-based fields. Compared to healthcare, computer based fields don't require eight to 12 years of education. There are many strong entry-level jobs in some of the top companies. Average salary for "computer and information systems managers range from less than $60,810 for the lowest paid 10 percent, to more than $145,600 for the highest paid 10 percent," according to collegegrad.com.

Business careers have a good rate of employment. Companies often look for diverse and trained individuals who will represent their organization. Salaries range from $50,000 entry-level to more than $110,000.

Other growing industries include government, education and arts and science. Political science majors will be interested to know that positions in government-based offices are expanding daily.

As for newspapers and media outlets, which are always popular, writers are in high demand. Writers, artists and musicians often find that they can work in areas without the need for higher education. The average salary for a writer is $54,500 while the starting pay is set around $35,000, according to the Princeton Review.

For entry-level jobs without experience, the top three employers are Enterprise, Americorps and IRS. These companies are willing to hire new applicants based on personality and ability. Earnings for most positions can be found on payscale.com.

Making a decision about your career is important, so visit usajobs.gov for statistics and economy information.