marketing BY: CHEREESE LANGLEY

Nature of work Formulate, direct and coordinate marketing activities and policies to promote products and services, working with advertising and promotion managers. Identify, develop, and evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors. Direct the hiring, training, and performance evaluations of marketing and sales staff and oversee their daily activities Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction. Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, and return-on-investment and profit-loss projections. Coordinate and participate in promotional activities and trade shows, working with developers, advertisers, and production managers, to market products and services.

Education and training Entry level marketing requires a bachelors degree Finish MBA and get the 4 to 5 year experience Masters degree may be required for technical positions. Complete courses in business, marketing, and consumer behavior While in college, learn how to conduct interviews or surveys, and writing reports on their findings.

Qualifications Being able to analyze what products will sell Knowledge of product pricing and business Talent for understanding consumer choices Creativity to generate new marketing strategies and companies Have to be able to pay a lot of attention to detail

Job outlook and future prospects Overall employment of market and survey researchers is projected to grow 28 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations Bachelor's degree holders may face competition for market research jobs, as many positions, especially technical ones, require a master's or doctoral degree Among bachelor's degree holders, those with good quantitative skills, including a strong background in mathematics, statistics, survey design, and computer science, will have the best opportunities There will be fewer job opportunities for survey researchers since it is a relatively smaller occupation and a greater number of candidates qualify for these positions. The best prospects will come from growth in the market research and public opinion polling industry, which employs many survey researchers. Expected to grow 41 percent from 2010 to 2020

Potential earnings now and future The median annual wage for marketing managers was $112,800 in May The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,750, the top 10 percent earned more than $166,400.

Similar job occupations Advertising sales agents Art directors Sales manager

accounting My mom is an accountant.

Nature of work Prepare and examine financial records Ensure financial records are accurate and that taxes are paid and on time Assess financial operations Work to help make sure organizations run efficiently Suggest ways to reduce costs, enhance revenues, and improve profits

Education and training needed Most accountant and auditor positions require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. Certification within a specific field of accounting improves job prospects Some employers prefer to hire applicants with a masters degree Every accounting filing is required by law to be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Needed work experience

qualifications Analytical skills Communication skills Detail oriented Math skills Organizational skills

Job outlook and prospects Employment of accountants and auditors is expected to grow 16 percent from 2010 to There has been an increased focus on accounting in response to corporate scandals and recent financial crises. Stricter laws and regulations, particularly in the financial sector, will likely increase the demand for accounting services as organizations seek to comply with new standards. Accountants and auditors who have earned professional recognition, especially as a Certified Public Accountants (CPA), should have the best prospects. Job applicants who have a master's degree in accounting or a master's degree in business with a concentration in accounting also may have an advantage.

Potential earnings The median annual wage of accountants and auditors was $61,690 in May The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,940 and the top 10 percent earned more than $106,880.

occupations Budget analysis Cost estimators Financial examiners