Exploring Careers Newsletter
September 2022 - Careers for the People Person
About This Newsletter
I am excited to use this newsletter to spotlight a new set of careers this year. Each month will have a different career theme, with attention focused on three or four specific jobs within that industry or interest. Hopefully, there will be a few that you’ve never heard of or even considered before!
Career #1: Event Manager – you are in control of every detail!
What They Do: As the manager, you must think logically, strategically, and creatively about different aspects of events. You may work on events in a particular industry; popular niches for event managers include scientific, arts, cultural, wedding, religious, musical, political, commercial, and social. The work is ideal for people who are self-starters, as event planners need to take charge and demonstrate follow-through to pull events together on a tight timeline. Planners may be working on multiple events at once, or planning all year long for an annual gala.
Good event planners are also detail-oriented, organized people. Successful event managers anticipate the unexpected, because they know from experience that there will be at least one surprise the day of the event!
Average Salary: $79,000-$130,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Related College Majors: Hospitality, Tourism, Communications, Marketing, Management
Colleges with Event Management: Texas A&M University, Texas State University, Oklahoma State University, Auburn University, James Madison University
Resources to Learn More:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/meeting-convention-and-event-planners.htm
https://www.socialtables.com/blog/event-planning/event-planning-careers/Career #2: Financial Advisor – Do you like the thought of reading investment journals and studying market trends? Can you see yourself helping others make informed decisions? You may want to look at a career as a financial advisor!
What They Do: Financial advisors determine investment portfolios for their clients. They take into account a range of information, including economic trends, regulatory changes, and their client’s comfort level with risky decisions. A major part of a financial advisor’s job is making clients feel comfortable. They must establish trust with clients and respond well to their questions and concerns.
Average Salary: $100,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree
Related College Majors: Finance, Business, Accounting, Economics
Colleges with Financial Planning: Texas Tech University, Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, Baylor University, Oklahoma State University, Suffolk University (MA)
Resources to Learn More:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/personal-financial-advisors.htm
- https://www.thebalancecareers.com/financial-advisor-career-information-526017
Career #3: Speech Therapist – helping people put their thoughts into words!
What They Do: Speech Therapists (also called speech-language pathologists) work in a specialized area but their jobs are far from narrow in scope! Their patients can be in any age-range, and they can be employed in schools, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, or even private practice. They may assist patients who have problems with speech, such as being unable to speak at all or speaking with difficulty, or with rhythm and fluency, such as stuttering. They may work with those who are unable to understand language or with people who have voice disorders, such as inappropriate pitch or a harsh voice. Some speech-language pathologists specialize in specific age groups, such as children or the elderly. Others focus on treatment programs for specific communication or swallowing problems, such as those resulting from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or physiological issues.
Average Salary: $80,000
Education Level: Master’s degree
Related College Majors: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Speech-Language Pathology; Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Colleges with Speech-Language Pathology: Texas Christian University, University of North Texas, Texas Woman’s University, Stephen F. Austin State University, University of Oklahoma, Emerson College (MA)
Resources to Learn More:
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
- https://www.asha.org/students/about-speech-language-pathology-careers/
- https://www.thebalancecareers.com/speech-pathologist-526069
Career #4: Publicist – if you won the Senior Superlative for Most Talkative, this career might be for you!
What They Do: The publicist is often the middleman between the high-profile personality and members of the media. He usually wants his client to receive positive acclaim, but many publicists surveyed noted the old adage that “the only bad publicity is no publicity.” Politicians and captains of industry require a little more specific spin on their press-they want to be seen as forward-looking and confident-but other professions are less picky, as in the case of the rock star who reveals the sordid details of his seamy nightlife to cultivate a rough image.
Publicists also perform damage control, attempting to counteract any undesirable press coverage the client receives. This position as the “last line of defense” distinguishes the adequate publicist from the extraordinary one. Good publicists can turn scandal into opportunity and create valuable name recognition for their clients. Publicists don’t only work for the famous. Sometimes they work for a little-known person or industry and create reasons for them to receive press coverage. If you’re talking about a specific person or company, the publicist has done their job!
Average Salary: around $60,000
Education Level: Bachelor’s degree
Related College Majors: Public Relations, Communications, Advertising, Media, Marketing
Colleges with Public Relations: University of Houston, Texas A&M University, University of Texas, Florida State University, Boston University, American University, Syracuse University
Resources to Learn More:
- https://www.thebalancecareers.com/become-a-publicist-2316059
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm
From Your College and Career Counselor
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! My name is Alicia Schulze and I am the College and Career Counselor from Collin College serving both Prosper and Rock Hill High Schools. I work with students on anything and everything related to college and career planning. Students can find me at Prosper High on Mondays & Wednesdays, at Rock Hill on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and I alternate Fridays. I can be reached at amschulze@collin.edu or aschulze@prosper-isd.net