Author: Michelle Burton (Page 13 of 26)

      Leadership Development Degree Careers

      April 18, 2011 /

      Leadership Development Career

      A leadership development degree (MBA) can prepare you for a variety of management careers. The curriculum for this degree is designed to help you develop decision-making skills conflict and management skills, and of course, leadership skills. Common career paths include:

      • Project Management
      • Human Resources Management
      • Financial Management
      • Non-Profit Management
      • Management Consulting

      Project managers are responsible for assembling and managing teams assigned to a specific project. They also plan and organize projects.

      Human resource managers manage employee pay and benefits, development and training, hiring, and employee relations.

      Financial managers handle accounting, financial analysis, investment portfolios, and financial reports. They are also responsible for financial legislation and regulation, and cash management of companies.

      Non-profit managers manage the operations and development of non-profit organizations. They might work for an environmental agency, human rights organizations, health care facilities, and many others.

      Management consultants help companies by providing advice and expertise aimed at improving business performance, maximizing growth, and creating value. They work for human resource departments, information technology firms, marketing firms, supply-chain firms, and many others.

      In addition to a variety of job options, leadership development graduates can look forward to job growth and stability. Depending on the position, job growth is expected to average from 8-20 percent between now and 2018. Entry-level leadership development professionals earn around $50,000-$60,000 per year. MBA holders with experience can expect to earn from $92,390-$128,330+ per year.

      An MBA with a focus in leadership development is the way to go if you want to work at a top firm. Although it is not required for entry into the field, many employers prefer an MBA. Nearly 30 percent of all professionals in this field hold an MBA, while nearly 40 percent hold a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degree holders usually start out it entry-level or assistant positions.

      Earning Your Leadership Development Degree

      To earn an MBA with a focus in leadership development, you will have to enroll in a program at an accredited college or university. The following accrediting agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education:

      • The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
      • The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
      • The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
      • The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)

      The following recognized agencies offer regional accreditation:

      • Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
      • New England Association of Schools and Colleges
      • North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
      • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
      • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
      • Western Association of Schools and Colleges

      To find the best programs, try searching though college directories such as Petersons.com, Princetonreview.com or U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges.

      Your Career, Your Compensation, Your Education

      When Should You Hire a Tax Accountant?

      April 14, 2011 /

      Mistake on Taxes

      If you’re single with a regular job and you have few to no assets, using a tax software program like TurboTax or H&R Block At Home is probably the best way to prepare taxes. You can even prepare them yourself without the help of a tax software program if you have the time. On the other hand, if you have a business (small or large), assets such as real estate, dependents, investments, loans, and you make donations often, then you should consider hirin a tax accountant.

      Tax accountants provide services to corporations and individuals. They complete complex tax returns, offer tax advice, and assess tax liability. A tax accountant can also help businesses figure out the best regions to set up shop in order to minimize tax liabilities, and they can even help choose certain products that can help businesses or individuals save money on taxes. Most tax accountants are certified public accountants (CPAs), so they are well versed in all state and federal tax laws.

      When hiring a tax accountant, it is important to know the difference between a tax preparer and tax accountant. A tax preparer, such as an employee at an H&R Block, has taken income tax preparation courses and completed training through H&R Block. They are not licensed accountants and they don’t need a degree in accounting to work at H&R Block. Tax accountants, specifically CPAs, must satisfy a number of state requirements to sit for the CPA licensing exam. One major requirement is a degree in accounting from an accredited college or university.

      Each state’s requirements vary slightly but in general, most state boards require no less than 150 semester credits with a specified number of accounting courses and business courses. To give you an idea of the level of difficulty of accredited accounting programs, less than half of the students accepted into a bachelor’s degree program in accounting will graduate.

      Tax Accountant

      So, the first thing to look for when hiring a tax accountant is a CPA license. It is illegal for anyone to use the CPA designation without a valid license. This means, if a tax accountant says he’s a CPA, he’s probably telling the truth. You can also verify whether a license is valid or not by doing a license lookup through your state board of accountancy website. You can locate your state board of accountancy by visiting the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA). Just scroll through the directory find your state.

      The next thing to consider is how long a tax accountant has been in business. Someone who has been preparing tax returns for several years is your best bet. The next thing to consider is whether the tax accountant will represent you before the IRS. A worthy tax accountant will defend your return if you are audited. A tax accountant that answers “no” is probably not the best choice.

      To locate a tax accountant, try finding one through a referral first. There’s nothing better than a friend or family member that has firsthand experience with a potential tax accountant. If you can’t find a referral, try your local telephone directory. Call up to five accountants and interview each one. Most professional CPAs will set up a free consultation without hesitation. If they don’t, then it’s probably safe to cross them off your list.

      Your Business

      What are the Best Careers in Biology?

      April 12, 2011 /

      Biologist

      A degree in biology or biological sciences can lead to a career in the health care industry, allied health, the environmental industry, animal care & research, plant biology, education, government, mathematics, engineering, the legal field, and the art industry. Some of the best positions in each industry include:

      ·Health Care: Physician, Podiatrist, Dentist, Optometrist, Podiatrist

      ·Allied Health: Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech Therapist

      ·Environmental: Agricultural Scientist, Conservation Biologist, Environmental Scientist, Forest Ranger

      ·Animal Care & Research: Gamekeeper,  Marine Biologist, Marine Mammal Trainer, Zookeeper

      ·Plant Biology: Botanist, Ethnobotanist, Horticulturalist, Landscaper

      ·Education: Professor, Biology Teacher

      ·Government: City or Community Health Official, Bioterrorism Expert, National Health Professional (FDA, CDC)

      ·Math/Engineering: Bioinformatics, Biomechanical Engineer, Epidemiologist, Biometrician/Statistician, Nanotechnologist, Medical Physics

      ·Legal: Forensics & Criminal Investigator, Biotechnology Patent Lawyer

      ·Art: Medical Illustration, Bio-Animation and Films, Molecular Visualization

      These are not the only career fields for biology degree holders. With a bachelor’s degree in biology or biological sciences, you can also become a bioethicist, clinical lab scientist, dietician, drug testing/quality control expert, food safety expert, genetic counseling, pharmaceutical researcher, pharmacist’s assistant or zymurgist (beer/winemaker).

      Most biology degree careers pay extremely well. In fact, many of them pay well over the national average. The average American earns $46,326 per year and dual earner households average $67,348. Biomechanical engineer, for example, earn $74,920-$114,740 per year and botanists average $72,792 per year.

      If you’re interested in a career in biology, you should enroll in a biology degree program at an accredited university. The accrediting agency must be recognized by the Department of Education, so visit U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs for listings.

      According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

      A Ph.D. is usually necessary for independent research, particularly in academia, as well as for advancement to administrative positions. A bachelor’s or master’s degree is sufficient for some jobs in applied research, product development, management, or inspection; it also may be sufficient to work as a research technician or a teacher. Many with a bachelor’s degree in biology enter medical, dental, veterinary, or other health profession schools, or find jobs as high school science teachers.

      If you’re considering an Ph.D., your program will consist of classroom and fieldwork, laboratory research, and a thesis or dissertation. This requires 5-6 years of full-time study. For master’s degrees, two years of intense study is required. Undergraduate biology degree programs require courses in chemistry and biology, mathematics, physics, engineering, and computer science.

      For more information about biology degree careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

      Your Career, Your Education

      What Does it Take to Become a Registered Nurse?

      April 7, 2011 /

      Nurse

      One of the fastest growing careers in the health care industry today is nursing. Job growth overall in this field is expected to average 19 percent between now and 2018. Registered nurses, however, will enjoy 22 percent job growth by 2018. This means, the talent pool of 2,618,700 registered nurses will grow to 3,200,200 by 2018.

      Job growth isn’t the only benefit to becoming a registered nurse. These professionals earn anywhere from $40,250 per year for an entry-level position up to $83,440 or more. The average salary for a registered nurse is around $60,000 per year.

      Ninety percent of all registered nurses hold an associate degree or higher. Of the 90 percent, 55 percent hold a bachelor’s degree. It is important to note that most hospitals, private practices, and other healthcare facilities prefer a bachelor’s degree. So, to get started on a career as a registered nurse, you must enroll in a nursing certificate program or Bachelor of Science degree program in nursing (BSN). After completing your program, you must obtain the registered nurse (RN) designation. Each state has it’s own requirements, but in general, you must pass several exams to receive the RN designation.

      Your nursing program should prepare you for the exams, so be sure to study the curriculum before enrolling in any given program. You should also make sure the program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. These are the top accrediting agencies for nurses and they are recognized by U.S. Department of Education website (ED.gov).

      Accredited nursing programs require 128 units of study consisting of core curriculum requirements in the areas of communications, math, science, humanities, literature, history, social science, and fine and performing arts.

       Pre-licensure requirements include:

      • -Pharmacology
      • -Introduction to Pathophysiology
      • -Nutrition
      • -Maintenance
      • -Restorative Health
      • -Nursing Therapeutics
      • -Clinical labs I and II

      These are lower division requirements. Upper division requirements consist of nursing research, family health, principles & methods of practice, senior care, and 5-7 lab courses. Require support courses are required including human anatomy, microbiology, survey of human physiology, and general psychology.

      To locate the best accredited nursing degree programs, visit college review sites such as Petersons.com and Princetonreview.com.

      Your Career, Your Education

      Business Administration Degree Jobs

      April 5, 2011 /

      Attractive Business People

      If you have plans to earn a business administration degree, you can expect to have your pick of lucrative management positions in just about any industry after graduating. Graduates with a degree in business administration qualify for management positions in private businesses, education, government, retail, technology and more. Just a few of the types of positions open to graduates include:

      • -Accountant
      • -Administrative Services Manager
      • -Banker
      • -Business Manager
      • -City Manager
      • -Controller
      • -Financial Examiner
      • -Human Resources Manager
      • -Management Analyst
      • -Marketing Manager
      • -Project Manager
      • -Public Relations Specialists
      • -School Administrator

      To meet the demands of these positions, a bachelor’s degree is required. To earn more, however, you should consider earning an MBA. Here are the figures:

      • -Around 40% of all professionals in business administration related careers have at least a bachelor’s degree
      • -More than 25% have a master’s degree
      • -Nearly 5% have a doctoral or first professional degree

      Many master’s degree holders obtain positions as CEO’s and other high level positions. Business administration professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher can expect to earn median wages of around $68,050 per year up to $145,600+. 

      To get started on a career in business administration, you should enroll in a business administration degree program at an accredited university. The top focus areas are accounting, project management, global management, small business and entrepreneurship or human resource management.

      Many professionals in the field obtain a bachelor’s degree through a traditional business administration program at a college, university, business, or trade school. Others may obtain employment as an assistant or other entry-level position in the field while completing their business administration degree online.

      Whichever path you decide to take, just make sure the accreditation is by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Just a few recognized agencies include:

      • -The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
      • -The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
      • -Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
      • -Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
      • -Distance Education Training Council (DETC)
      • -Council on Occupational Education (COE)
      • -Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)

       Regional Accrediting Agencies include:

      • -Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
      • -New England Association of Schools and Colleges
      • -North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
      • -Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
      • -Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
      • -Western Association of Schools and Colleges

      Accreditation is important, but curriculum is as well. The best programs typically require the same courses, and they offer competitive internship programs as well. The core curriculum at top schools often account for 40% of the degree requirement. Required courses should include:

      • -Accounting
      • -Analytical Applications
      • -Business Computing Skills
      • -Business Strategy
      • -Corporate Finance
      • -Economics
      • -Finance
      • -Financial Statement Analysis
      • -Human Resources
      • -Legal & Ethical Environment of Business
      • -Management Communication
      • -Manufacturing and Production
      • -Marketing Management
      • -Operations Management
      • -Organizational Behavior
      • -Principles of Marketing
      • -Statistics
      • -Strategic Management
      • -Technology and Information Systems

      Most business administration students continue on to graduate school. The standard course curriculum will prepare you for that. If you’re interested in acceptance into an MBA program, consider earning a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), a Bachelor of Science in Business (BSBA), or a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS).

      If you would like more information about business administration careers, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov.

      Your Business, Your Compensation, Your Education

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