Friday, July 24, 2009

Annotated Bibliography and References

Advertising Educational Foundation. (2009). Guide to careers in advertising. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.aef.com/industry/careers/1422

This website was designed by the Advertising Educational Foundation in order to educate individuals not only on the careers in advertising, but the foundation, development, and essentials of the industry itself. Users are provided with a background of the advertising industry, as well as an overview on its development. Each career path within advertising comes with a fairly detailed overview on what the position entails, which entry level positions are available, if there is room for advancement, and which key skills are needed to pursue the position. Aside from that, the foundation also provides individuals with tips on how to get started, and the basic essentials that you will need in order to do so, such as an exceptional resume, cover letter, and portfolio. There are also helpful tips for the interviewing process for the various positions that some individuals may find useful when the time comes. This site also included career links, career stories, and career advice from the pros. Overall this website is a good resource for someone wishing to pursue a career in advertising, however it should not be the only resource that they use.

Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations. (2009). The HR profession. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.cchra.ca/Web/profession/content.aspx?f=29817

This respected council decided to create a website in order to properly communicate and interact with their users. This website includes a variety of topics including the HR profession defined, careers in human resources, and the human resources profession internationally. The careers section of the website defines which general positions are available in this field, which new positions are starting to come up in human resources, and what general education one requires in order to start a career within human resources. The site also recommends the level of education you require in order to qualify for the CHRP (Certified Human Resources Professionals) designation. This certification is highly respected in the human resource field, and may lead you to senior level positions. The council’s website touches on why human resources is needed in the business world, as well as why people chose to pursue a career within HR. It also provides the user with information regarding how to obtain your CHRP certification, information you need to write your national exams, and information on recertification. This website seems to be fairly resourceful and useful; however it seems to be more for those who have almost completed their HR education, rather than those considering it.

Careers in Accounting.(2009). Welcome to careers in accounting. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from
http://careers-in-accounting.com/

At a glance this website seems to be related to the one used for careers in marketing, however it is obviously tailored to a different field. The website begins with an introduction to accounting, what it entails, and why it is so important and crucial to not only the business world, but to the world as a whole. It then goes on to explain how one goes about pursuing a career, and which beginning steps you will most likely take, such as joining a public accounting firm. A list of career options can be viewed by selecting it from the website’s tool bar. These various positions come with a brief overview of the responsibilities and duties of the individual pursuing them, as well as a link at the bottom that takes you to the website`s home page in order for you to perform a job search to find a position for the particular job you were reading about. Similar to the marketing website, careers in accounting provides the user with a typical salary scale, and a list of key skills that are generally required for the positions.


Careers in Marketing. (2009). Careers in marketing. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from .
http://www.careers-in-marketing.com

This website was specifically designed for those wishing to look into and potentially pursue a career in the marketing field. This site provides the user with many useful resources such as different areas of marketing there is to consider, recommended books on marketing that may aid them in their research, and other resources such as a variety of associations and websites that are linked to marketing careers. Each strand of marketing (e.g. market research, product management, retail, etc.) is accompanied by an overview of the career. This analysis includes the responsibilities of the individual and key tasks that the jobs entail. The site also includes numerous facts and trends about the various careers, as well as a typical salary guideline for the user to consider. Additionally, careers in marketing includes a set of key skills that are generally required for the positions, as well as a requirement level of these skills which ranges from low-high. This website is a great resource to start off with when considering pursuing a career in this field, however it should only be used as a starting basis, as more thorough research should be conducted before making an educated decision whether or not these positions are the ones for you.


Carlson, D., Whittle, R., Shupe, A., Freeman, J. (2009). Dane Carlson`s business opportunities weblog. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.business-opportunities.biz

This is a subscription website created by Dane Carlson, an avid entrepreneur who developed the site with the sheer purpose of creating an accurate list of business opportunities, instead of the “junk” ones that are usually found on the Internet. There are two horizontal tool bars placed on the top of the site that direct you to all of the links that the site has to offer. There were various main links that I found to be quite useful. First off, there is a classified section for those who wish to place a job advertisement on the website. These classifieds are five dollars each and they run on the website for duration of 30 days. The site also includes a business opportunities directory, which places the different job ads into various categories. Additionally, various companies are listed, with a description underneath and which positions they are currently looking for. For the most part, there is a link to their website at the end where users can feel free to explore and learn more about the company. I feel that Dane has created a very useful and resourceful website; I feel that users would be more apt to use it once they have graduated and are looking for a career to pursue.


References:

Advertising Educational Foundation. (2009). Guide to careers in advertising. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.aef.com/industry/careers/1422

Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations. (2009). The HR profession. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.cchra.ca/Web/profession/content.aspx?f=29817

Careers in Accounting.(2009). Welcome to careers in accounting. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from
http://careers-in-accounting.com/

Careers in Marketing. (2009). Careers in marketing. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from .
http://www.careers-in-marketing.com

Carlson, D., Whittle, R., Shupe, A., Freeman, J. (2009). Dane Carlson`s business opportunities weblog. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://www.business-opportunities.biz



Careers in Accounting


``Accounting jobs offers stimulating and challenging work that is constantly evolving. `` (Careers in accounting, 2009). Currently there is a short supply of accountants. This career is stable as ``Accounting jobs are plentiful even in the current weak economy and the money for well trained accountants is good. Taxes, audits, bookkeeping will always need to be done. With the various financial scandals in recent years, the field has expanded. `` (Careers in accounting, 2009). Some career options in this field include the following:

  • Auditor


  • Budget analyst


  • Financial accountant


  • Management accountant


  • Tax accountant


These careers can take you to a variety of industries including public accounting firms, government agencies, and large corporations. You may even choose to run a solo accounting firm. Mathematical and analytical skills are a must when pursuing any career in accounting. Annual salaries range from $55,000 - over one million! If you enjoy working with numbers, and putting forth a high degree of dedication to your career, accounting may just be the right field for you to pursue!



Careers in Advertising

Advertising careers are very rewarding in nature, and require a vast amount of creativity and dedication to the job. Most individuals who wish to pursue a career in advertising do so by joining an advertising agency. Advertising careers can fall under six main categories: account management, account planning, creative, media, market research, and interactive marketing.

Account Management:
``The responsibility of the account manager is to be the client’s representative at the agency, and the agency’s representative at the client’s organization. It is his or her job to get the best possible work from the agency for the client-but at a profitable return for the agency` (Guide to careers in advertising, 2009). This position usually starts at entry level, with high potential of moving up to senior levels. It is recommended that candidates should have a bachelor`s degree or a master in business administration. A degree in advertising or marketing is not a prerequisite, however it is recommended.

Account Planning:
The account planner is generally used for strategic thinking on the consumer, and how the agency can turn that knowledge into a marketing phenomenon. This is a fairly new position, and may not be used in all agencies. ``However, most account planners have academic backgrounds in Liberal Arts, and certainly exposure to such subjects as psychology, sociology, and cultural anthropology is beneficial. `` (Guides to careers in advertising, 2009).

Creative:
The creative team is responsible for the ideas and concepts behind the advertisements. The team generally consists of copywriters and art directors. A successful candidate for this position must have strong visual, drawing, and design skills.

Media:
Media personnel are there to ensure that the advertisement reaches the right people at the right time in the right place. They also wish to do this with the lowest possible cost to the client as possible, while still gaining the most coverage that they can. The most common career in this area of advertising is a media planner. Analyzing data and applying computer skills are a definite requirement for this position.

Market Research:
The responsibility of market researchers is to determine what their target market`s needs and wants are, and then tailor specific products and advertisements in order to meet their needs. These individuals are generally experts on consumer behaviour, and must be strong in analyzing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data.

Interactive Marketing:
Interactive marketing is directly related to the agency`s website. Personnel are responsible for creating a website that will engage consumers for an extended period of time, and allow them to interact with the agency. Careers in this area are best suited for computer designers and programmers.

Careers in Human Resources


A career in human resources can lead you in so many interesting directions. If you excel in person to person interaction, and want a rewarding career where you can make a difference, then this area of business is one you should look into. Human resources include a variety of career opportunities such as:




  • Employee relations specialist

  • Training officer

  • Compensation and benefits coordinator

  • Payroll administrator

  • Personnel officer

  • Recruiter

  • Health and safety administrator

  • Industrial relations director

An education in human resources can be obtained through a university degree or a college diploma; however "About 70 per cent of current Certified Human Resources Professionals (CHRPs) have a university education. As of January 1, 2011, CHRP Candidates – those who have passed the National Knowledge Exam® (NKE) - will require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in order to register for the National Professional Practice Assessment® (NPPA) and qualify for the CHRP designation." (Canadian council of human resources associations, 2009). It is recommended that if you wish to pursue a higher level career in the future, that you do so by achieving your university or college degree.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Careers in Marketing


Those students majoring in marketing have a variety of career opportunities that they can pursue. Marketing can be branched off into several strands including market research, product and brand management, and retailing.

Market Research:
The purpose of a market researcher is to determine why people buy the things they do, and what motivates them to do so. They are responsible for studying consumer behaviour, as well as data in order to get a more concise understanding on how to properly market a product to the target audience. "Market researchers use tools such as statistical analysis packages, surveys, mystery shopping, focus groups, and new product tests to help achieve success for a product" (Careers in marketing, 2009). This exciting career can lead you to practice inside a corporation, a large firm, an ad agency, as a solo practitioner, and so much more! With salaries ranging from $44,000 - $70,000 a year for a "market analyst" to $95,000-$300,000 for a "market research director" the world of market research always leaves you room to advance. "The field is booming...there is no doubt that this field has a bright future" (careers in marketing, 2009)

Product and Brand Management:
Product managers are responsible for positioning a particular product or brand in a consumer's mind using various tactics to understand consumer behaviour. They are responsible for the marketing and development of the product, and are "the vortex of company life because their decisions directly affect the success of a business."(Careers in marketing, 2009). The skills can be applied in such industries as the technology sector, the food industry, and consumer electronics. If you are able to effectively apply your market research techniques and statistical skills, as well as excel in your interaction and communication skills, this career is waiting for you. Salaries range from $40,000- $130,000+ a year. Reveal your creativity and become the person responsible for strengthening a product!

Retailing:
Being a retailer can take you down various paths, and presents you with many options to pursue. "Retail is one of the largest, most dynamic parts of the world economy." (Careers in marketing, 2009). Even with the recent economic downturn, many retail sectors thrive, with positions available in all levels. If you wish to pursue your technological side, you could also branch off into the world of online retailing. Careers in the retailing sector include: management trainee, store, district, or regional manager, buyer, and sales representative. Salaries range from $20,000-$200,000+ a year, with many opportunities to ascend within the industry. Be ready for a fast-paced career with the ability to interact with numerous people.

Career Opportunities for Business Students

This site is designed with the purpose of informing business students of the career opportunities that are available to them once they have graduated from their program. This information is not only beneficial for future students wishing to see where their potential business diploma or degree can lead them down the road, but also for current students who wish to review their options before their graduation date. This information is also useful for students who may wish to major in a certain area of business, such as human resources. Some of the main topics that will be covered are which areas of business you can specialize in, and which career opportunities are available to these different areas. Subtopics will include what you will need in order to obtain the proper qualifications and education for these various careers, as well as how long it will take to obtain them.