Everyone has a pipe dream. Whether it is artist or astronaut, young people are being taught that in today’s modern society almost anything is attainable. Aspirations to be a rock star, actor or pro athlete are becoming increasingly prosaic as young people are expanding their ambitions. Today’s youth recognize that a career is not merely a salary but a means of fulfillment and a defining facet of their adult lives.
Students will not settle for less. They want a fulfilling and stimulating job with respectable pay and career longevity. These highly desirable jobs pay well, attract huge interest and can be extremely competitive; this all serves to only bolster their appeal.

Working at Google

Working at Google has become somewhat of an institution. Awarded Fortune’s Number 1 Company to Work for in 2007, stories about the food, atmosphere and offices in the Googleplex are legendary. Google are renowned for hiring straight out of college and recruiting the best of the best. According to CNN.com: “Engineers can spend 20% of time on independent projects. No wonder Google gets 1,300 résumés a day.” Google is valued at over $100billion and employs over 100,000 employees worldwide. Fortunately, since Google is such a large company they have positions in various departments.

Getting into Google:

• According to wikihow: “Qualify your degree by what you want to do. If your love is game design and you wish to enter that industry as a game programmer, you’ll need a Computer Science degree. If you want to work for IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Google, etc… A Computer Science degree will be favored. If you’re looking to work for a non-technical corporation building mostly business applications, consider a degree in MIS (Management Information Systems) or one of the many business technical degrees now offered. This type of degree is best for most, because it provides management and general business skills and doesn’t focus on a lot of information that will not be useful to most.”

• In college constantly develop and hone your skills. Take extra classes and keep up to date with employment trends. Take extracurricular activities that can benefit your future career. Communication skills are crucial in almost every profession today, in an interview with infoworld.com Judy Gilbert, staffing program director at Google says: “We look for folks that can work in groups — that’s critical to what we do in all departments, not just engineering.”

• Intern or work part time. Try to arrange employment with a company that specializes in your desired field of work. Doing so will not only give you a chance to develop a portfolio or practice your trade but it will look good on your resume and will enable you to build a professional network. Judy Gilbert says: “We look for people who have a track record of achievement; they’ve gone above and beyond in some way. It might mean that they’ve worked on open source projects, which shows that’s how they want to spend some of their free time.”

Fashion Designer

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics “Median annual earnings for salaried fashion designers were $62,610 in May 2006.” This glamorous career thrives on creativity and talent but the key to this getting this job is networking, determination and an impressive portfolio.

• Enroll in a fashion institute: There are many fashion colleges or colleges that have various fashion design courses Before enrolling be aware that many require a basic portfolio so it’s best to begin drawing or take art classes in High School. Fashion Design courses can vary in length, according to Fashion-Schools.org: “Fashion students at Westwood College’s Denver campus and four California campuses can earn an Associate’s degree in just 20 months and a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising in as little as three years.” According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics; Employers usually seek designers with a 2- or 4-year degree who are knowledgeable about textiles fabrics, ornamentation, and fashion trends.”

• Research. In school make a list of designers, photographers and brands and be constantly aware of changing trends. Familiarize yourself with every aspect of the industry, including areas that may seem unrelated to your field such as marketing, business and history. Develop a working knowledge of design-related software programs such as Adobe Photo shop and Illustrator. In such a competitive market research and information will set you apart from your competitors.

• Keep sketching, designing, creating and hustling. Budding designers should continuously evolve their own style and always be searching for original ideas. They should always be sketching and creating designs and most importantly; networking. Interning or getting a part time job is always beneficial in building a resume. Take every opportunity and remember to self-promote.

Journalist

The face of journalism is changing rapidly. The dominance of blogging and online journalism has led many to believe that print journalism is on the decline. The New York Times reported that several large newspapers have experiences a drop in readership ranging from 3% to 10%. However, many newspapers have found their online readership has increased.

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in English, Communications or Journalism is a must. Many newspapers or magazines will not accept candidates who do not have a Bachelor’s degree. Any further degrees will also benefit hugely. In addition to helping your writing and analytical skills employers will be impressed at your commitment to your academic studies. Many academics are also published authors and contribute to newspapers and so continuing in education will enable you to learn from your superiors and create a base of contacts.

• An aspiring journalist should always be seeking to learn more. According to Bill Kovach, Senior Counselor of the Project for Excellence in Journalism on journalism.org: “A curious mind and a broad liberal arts education are by far the best qualifications for a career in journalism.” Education is not always academic. You should keep yourself culturally informed by reading newspapers, books, and blogs and watching news on television. You should also be aware of the practices and code of journalism, especially the practice of ethics.

• Specialize: After, or during college you should decide what branch of journalism you will pursue. Broadcast journalism, print journalism, music sports journalism and photojournalism have specific requirements and you should investigate which field suits you and research it fully. Build upon the basic skills you learned in college but learning as much as you can about your chosen field. Whatever your specialty you need to be confident and knowledgeable enough to offer concise and accurate information.

• Experience: As in all areas experience is key. Throughout your college career you can contribute to student newspapers and seek other outside work. Inquire in your local newspaper about part-time or internship positions. Bill Kovach says: “You can begin to develop your skill in the “craft” of journalism by working on a college newspaper or radio station; a television station that features a college report; or working as a college correspondent for a local, regional or national news organization. As for experience while still in school and immediately after graduation, think about immersing yourself in a local experience. Working in a community in which you must look the people in the eye about whom you report before and AFTER you have reported on them can provide very important lessons.”

Concert Promoter

At some stage, everyone wants to be in the music industry. If, after relinquishing dreams of being a drummer or pop star, you still want to work in music concert promoter is one of the most exciting jobs in the industry. David Baskerville, author of Music Business Handbook and Career Guide states: “anyone who considers entering the field of concert promotion should have an aptitude for juggling a thousand details and managing all aspects of the production.” Besides having a passion and ear for music, concert promoters also need:

• Get the right qualifications. Concert Promoters generally need a degree in marketing, business or communications. Market research is a pivotal component of the jobs and you need to know the exact demographics of the area where the concert may be. You should have reasonable math skills and be extremely organized. Enroll in a business school or a school that offers business courses and learn the basics of management. Some schools, such as the University of Miami offer a music business degree, which teaches students about all aspects of the music industry. Knowing how to compose contracts and read business jargon is imperative as you will be dealing with this on a daily basis as a concert promoter.

• Schmooze: Although concert promotion is a business and marketing based job it relies heavily on communications, networking and savoir-faire. Getting to know local bands and becoming a part of their management is the perfect way to gain experience. It may even lead to you organizing your own concert. Get to know your competitors, clients and audience; who you know and how you interact with people has always been a defining aspect of the music industry and these contacts will be beneficial when you are seeking a job. Furthermore, having good relationships and support will help you when you need to arrange legal matters and funding.

To some these jobs may not be the ideal but for those looking to break into these seemingly impenetrable industries knowledge is essential. Many want to pursue a career that interests them but do not know where to start. A recurring requirement in countless jobs is confident interpersonal skills. If these jobs do not suit you then use the advice and make it applicable to you.