Matching Passions, Right Major: Jobs Near Birmingham

When deciding a college major, following your passion is important, but so is the ability to find a job and make a living.

The personal finance news and forecasting website Kiplinger recently analyzed 128 popular college majors, then narrowed the list down to 10 majors that probably aren’t going to translate into big salaries — or positions at all.

To determine the list, Kiplinger looked at typical starting and mid-career salaries, online job postings for candidates with those majors, as well as long-term growth expectations for related applications.

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Anthony Carnevale, director of Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, doesn’t recommend rejecting passions altogether, though.

“If you’re not interested in a subject, if your values don’t align with your occupation, you’re not going to be any good at it,” Carnevale told Kiplinger. “The important thing is that people be mindful that their field of study matters and that when you get out of college, you’re going to have to get a job.”

In reverse order, here’s Kiplinger’s list, along with suggested alternative majors, along with some job listings from the Patch Jobs Board. More information about salaries, job opportunities and projected job growth is found on Kiplinger.

10. Graphic Design: Newspapers, magazines and other print publications, where graphic design majors typically found jobs, are facing major cutbacks. Instead, consider majoring in multimedia and Web design. Not only is Web design one of the fastest growing job sectors, working in the field provides an opportunity to break into the hot technology sector.

• Web Designer: Strong organizational and communications skills are needed for this job, along with the ability to prioritize and deliver quality work on time for multiple projects. Applicants should be proficient using Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator.

9. Art: There’s a reason for the term “starving artists.” Demand for the work of fine artists — and that includes painters, sculptors and illustrators — depends largely on discretionary income, as well as fleeting tastes. Instead, consider majoring in advertising, where the salaries are more lucratives and jobs for marketing specialists and analysts are in demand.

• Entry Level Marketing & Advertising Positions – 10 Positions Open: “We are Michigan’s fastest growing sales and marketing organization We are now recruiting new individuals to work as authorized representatives in a variety of roles from customer service to sales and marketing to entry level management.” Some international and national travel may be involved.

8. Education: Not only are teachers notoriously undervalued when it comes to the work they do to shape future generations, job growth in the education field is waning. Instead, consider advanced degrees to qualify for administrative positions, or specializing within the major. As an example, Kiplinger said English literature majors who become teachers earn more, and can apply their skills to more lucrative jobs, like technical writer.

• Technical Writer Associate: This position with the University of Michigan-Dearborn requires an understanding of federal regulations, state and local laws, and institutional policies as they pertain to clinical research. A background in clinical research, research administration, research ethics or research trianing is desired.

7. Drama: Unless you’ve got a boatload of talent — like, say, Meryl Streep — you won’t earn much following this passion. Producers and directors have more earning potential than actros, but job growth is only projected at 8.8 percent through 2024, Kiplinger said. Instead, consider a major in communications, where skills translate to jobs in advertising public relations and similar fields.

• Marketing & Communications Manager: Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield Township is seeking a marketing and communications manager to take responsibility for social media management and engagement, email marketing and communications, storytelling, copywriting and blog management.

6. Interior design: When the housing bubble burst, so did job opportunity in this field. Though the housing market is improving, it’s still cyclical. Instead, consider majoring in landscape architecture. That field has suffered job losses, too, but most of the lost jobs should be recovered by 2024, Kiplinger said.

• Landscape Construction Laborers needed ASAP: “We are an extremely busy high-end landscape construction company in need of experienced laborers to help out with our jobs. This is physical work, so you must be willing to put in great efforts and long hours. We have various projects going on all over Oakland County and need additional people to start as soon as possible. We are only looking for dedicated individuals who are hardworking and not lazy and are ready for anything we throw at you.”

5. Radio and television: Over the past decade, jobs for announcers, disc jockeys and talk radio hosts declined 8.4 percent and the pay was low — about $29,900 a year. Broadcast news analysts earn about twice that, but there are only about 7,500 positions in the field. Instead, consider a major in film production, where starting and mid-career salaries are about $40,000 and $72,300, respectively.

• Videographer: This job in Farmington is for a videographer to produce a short dance production video with a final video runtime of about one minute for television and online.

4. Animal science: Scientists who research farm animals and food production typically need a doctorate, but earn less than $63,400 a year. Agricultural technicians don’t need as much education, but salaries are about $34,800 a year. Instead, consider majoring in food science, where a bachelor’s degree can translate to $59,000 a year as a food scientist. Consumer demand for healthier, safer food means 13.7 percent more jobs by 2024.

• Food Services Manager, Education and Standards: This job at Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak allows the candidate to apply up-to-date techniques of nutrition and food services management, hospitality, food production, sanitation and safety; organize, manage, and coordinate all functions pertaining to education of staff and compliance to standards of all regulatory oversight agencies; serve as department safety and compliance officer; maintain close cooperation and communication with all units within Nutrition and Retail Services, hospital departments and hospitals within the system; and romote and maintain a positive work environment.

3. Child and family science: Jobs — teacher’s assistant, preschool or child-care teacher, family social worker and social service assistant — for these majors were the lowest-paying of the 128 majors analyzed by Kiplinger, ranging from a median of $42,120 family social workers to $17,000 for child-care workers. Instead, consider majoring in nursing, one of the best opportunities for lucrative pay.

• RN / Recovery Room Registered Nurse: “MedStaff has an opportunity or a Recovery Room Travel Nurse. For over 21 years, MedStaff has been placing travel nurses and healthcare professionals across the USA, offering the best travel nursing jobs. Our recruiters aid you by identifying personal and professional goals followed up with advice, guidance, and support.”

2. Music: Performers earn about $41,700 a year. Directors may earn a bit more, with a median annual income of around $43,100, but job growth is stagnant, with only about t 6,000 new jobs expected by 2024. Instead, consider adding a music education or second major, such as physics, and study the science of producing sound. Physics majors earn about $57,200 at the start of their careers, and $105,100 by mid-point.

• Staff Physicist: This position at Beaumont Health System comes with executive level pay, and requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, along with leadership and technical management abilities.

1. Culinary arts: Kiplinger’s analysis ranked starting salaries for those studying culinary arts as the second-lowest in the 128 majors analyzed. Chefs with five or more years of experience can expect to earn less than $40,500 a year. Skip college and get a job in food service right away — a college degree isn’t always required — or study something like business administration, where you can run the business side of the restaurant. Starting salaries ar around $45,500 a year and $73,100 by mid-career.

• Sous Chef / Kitchen Manager: “If you believe that a restaurant can deliver the highest quality products and service possible, while still maintaining profitability, then you may be the right fit for our organization! If you desire to work within a structured environment, and thrive on the energy that comes along with a high volume operation’s service, then this may be the right opportunity for you.”

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• Click on the PATCH JOBS BOARD at the top of the Birmingham Patch page.
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