It doesn’t matter if you call it information technology, computer science, computer information systems or any of the other names being used today. It all equates to the same thing: a fast-growing field of opportunity for individuals with the right academic credentials.
Related: 6 Tips For Choosing Your College And Degree Program
Earning an advanced degree can lead your career forward into some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid segments of the IT job market.
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Laura Mingo
Laura Mingo writes about topics of interest to higher education students. In particular, she covers IT careers and new technology as well as the latest trends driving the IT industry. Her aim is to empower university students in pursuit of an online master of information systems. Co-written by Addy Reeds.
Choosing a career in law enforcement is not a casual decision. The nature of the work demands singular dedication. Becoming a police officer is as much a calling as it is a career. Some people follow this path because it is a family tradition. Some want to give back to the community they call home. Others hope to make a difference through public service, and most are interested in the job stability and lifelong benefits that a career in law enforcement can offer. With more than 17,000 state and local policing agencies in the United States, there is room for a diversity of talent. Here are a few career opportunities in law enforcement:
<h4>1. Uniformed Police Officers</h4>
These law officials are the men and women we know and trust to be there to protect and serve us around the clock, without fail. In addition to responding to calls, making arrests, and enforcing public laws, today’s uniformed officers are often tasked with community policing. This approach to law enforcement can be particularly rewarding in terms of meeting people who want to create better, safer neighborhoods. Building relationships within the community, including children as well as adults, can prove invaluable in helping uniformed officers spot potential dangers, identify repeat offenders, and solve local crimes.
<h4>2. Special Jurisdiction Police</h4>
This type of police force has oversight for law enforcement responsibilities in a specific geographic area with precisely defined boundaries. Colleges, universities, and public school districts, as well as secure facilities like nuclear power plants and other possible targets, are examples of where special jurisdiction police may serve. They also work for agencies that offer protection for transportation hubs, including railways and airports.
<h4>3. State Police Officers</h4>
Whether actively patrolling the roads or standing guard against speeders and reckless drivers, state police are primarily responsible for keeping Americans safe on our highways. In addition to managing traffic incidents and accidents, state police officers also help to track down criminals who are on the move, and they provide backup to local police as needed. Most members of the state police force are uniformed officers, although many departments will likely employ a small team of investigators, administrators, and officers on special assignment.
<h4>4. Detectives</h4>
The role of detective is reserved for seasoned law enforcement officers who have the experience to advance into the position of plainclothes investigator. Detectives will often specialize in a certain type of investigation and may be assigned to interagency task forces to collaborate with state and federal agents on high-profile cases.
<h4>5. Specialized Roles</h4>
Uniformed officers can have the opportunity to advance to specialized units, such as the horseback, motorcycle, bike, air or harbor patrol, or the canine corps. Other units can include the SWAT team or emergency response team. Training police cadets, conducting forensic studies, or supporting prison or court operations are other specialized roles within the field of criminal justice.
<h4>6. White-Collar Careers</h4>
Many police departments also place officers into white collar jobs throughout the department. A police force is like any other business and requires the talents of those with finance, technology, public relations, and other similar professional skills.
<h4>Future Outlook For Policing</h4>
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the law enforcement profession continues to experience growth. Many departments are adding staff to meet changing homeland security needs on the local and state level. The role of today’s police force continues to expand in terms of responsibility, with outstanding opportunities for career progression to higher levels of responsibility in roles such as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and major.
An aging workforce approaching retirement is also contributing to job vacancies across the nation. Generous retirement benefits are one great advantage of a law enforcement career. Depending on the locality, officers can retire after as few as twenty years on the force. Many of these individuals go on to pursue second careers that leverage their experience and community connections.
In addition, police recruiters are faced with the challenge of a shrinking pool of qualified, well-educated applicants. The rigorous pre-screening rules out a majority of candidates who cannot meet the physical condition requirements and/or pass the background check. That leaves the doors wide open for healthy and fit, upstanding citizens who want to enter this field. Advanced education in the area of criminal justice can serve as a differentiator for individuals who want to quickly move up the ranks. Policing is an exciting choice for career changers, transitioning veterans, and all other men and women who feel a duty to serve.
<em> Laura Mingo writes in the field of higher education. This article aims to offer career advice for university students in relation to criminal justice and promotes the benefits of advanced study regarding an <a href="http://cjdegreeonline.bu.edu/" rel="noopener">online criminal justice master’s degree</a>.</em>
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It’s been said that you have to spend money to make money. But no one ever said that you had to spend unnecessarily when alternative strategies are available. Here are some business strategies to think about:
<h2>Business Travel</h2>
Face time with customers, suppliers, and financiers is essential for many businesses, but it can get increasingly expensive to send your employees around the country or the world. Loyalty “points” programs can help allay some of the costs. In fact, airlines, hotels, rental car, and other businesses spend $50 billion each year on loyalty programs to get you to fly, buy, stay, and play.
United Airlines recently introduced a unique loyalty program targeted exclusively to small business owners. The “MileagePlus Small Business Network” rewards companies for non-airline purchases from partner companies. Over a dozen vendors have signed on with United, including Apple, Staples, UPS, and Home Depot. The points can then be used for flights on United or for other purchases of United-sponsored merchandise or entertainment.
<h2>Virtual Collaboration</h2>
Many businesses have reduced or even eliminated business travel through the use of online collaboration tools. These tools are changing the way we work by offering a central repository for information, idea sharing, and communication – around the clock and around the globe.
<h4>Project Management</h4>
Web-based tools like Basecamp, @Task, WorkZone, and ProjectSpaces allow for optimal project management of a virtual workforce. Employees can update project status, track their time, work from a shared calendar, and more.
<h4>Instant Messaging & Chat</h4>
IM-ing and chat grew up and entered the business world years ago. However, you don’t have to settle for simple functionality because upgraded tools like AIM Pro and KonoLive now allow for desktop sharing, encrypted communication, and other business-class applications.
<h4>Social Networking</h4>
Today’s most transparent companies are utilizing social networks for sharing news and information to widely distributed employee populations. If you don’t want to use Facebook or <a href="http://www.workitdaily.com/linkedin-guide-essential/">LinkedIn</a>, consider a closed community such as those available from Ning or Yammer. An estimated 85% of the Fortune 500 use Yammer to enhance productivity, facilitate collaboration, and otherwise engage their employees.
<h2>Green Business Strategies</h2>
Going green was a fad that turned into a movement that has since transformed into a way of life and smart business strategy. Consumers feel good about companies that make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. By going green, companies not only benefit from building their brand in positive ways, but they also benefit in terms of cost savings. Take a look at what these industry leaders are doing:
<h4>Hilton Worldwide</h4>
Hilton has instituted a mattress recycling program across all its U.S. hotel chains. The goal is to recycle 85 percent of all mattresses and box springs, eliminating the cost to dispose of approximately 25,000 mattresses per year. The materials will be recycled into tools, construction materials, flooring, oil filters, and carpet padding.
<h4>Darden Restaurants</h4>
Darden has a commitment to incorporate green practices across their operation. Water usage is a particularly important concern as access to clean water becomes increasing scarce in several states and countries. Darden is exploring the latest in lower-flow kitchen and bath technologies to reduce both water and energy usage.
<h4>Boeing</h4>
Boeing has found ways to divert 76 percent of the company’s solid waste from landfills, with four manufacturing sites sending zero solid waste to landfills. Instead of incurring the cost of disposal, Boeing has employed recycling, composting, and energy recovery strategies.
Of course, you don’t have to be a multinational corporation to take steps to save money by doing the right thing. You can choose to use green web hosting services, plant drought-resistant landscapes, reuse grey water for irrigation, install solar panels, and take numerous other actions that will pay off for years to come.
<em>About the author: Laura Mingo writes in the field of higher education. This article aims to offer strategic insights for university students in relation to business management and promotes the benefits of advanced study regarding a <a href="http://msmonline.bu.edu/online-graduate-programs-in-management/master-of-science-in-banking-financial-services-management-2/"> Boston University Master’s in Banking. </a></em>
<span class="credit">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/">Shutterstock</a></span></div>
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Today’s companies face rapidly changing information technology demands. To keep pace with the ongoing developments, new jobs are being created that did not exist ten or twenty years ago. With the information technology field changing so fast, it can be challenging for professionals to know which area to focus on for career development.
<h2>Top Information Technology Jobs In 2013</h2>
Typically, the best paying and most in-demand jobs are highly specialized and require up-to-date skills through advanced education. The following is a brief overview of the top <a href="http://www.workitdaily.com/technology-industry-career/">information technology jobs</a> in 2013 and beyond.
<h4>Geospatial Professionals</h4>
An exciting area for information technology professionals is the opportunity to work in the evolving Geographic Information Systems (GIS) industry. GIS technology utilizes geographic data to communicate trends, relationships, and patterns in a way that is visually pleasing and easily understood.
GIS can be used to track changes in the environment, population growth, crime statistics, weather patterns, or land areas prone to flooding. New applications are continually being developed for use in the public and the private sector. Companies in every industry can leverage GIS to optimize business intelligence. Typical implementations can create significant cost savings, increase efficiencies, empower decision making, improve communication, and boost record keeping through better database management.
Salaries for GIS professionals in the United States range from approximately $32,000 to $84,000 per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of GIS jobs will increase 35% between 2010 and 2020. There are many types of professional development courses that can lead to a career in GIS, including certificate programs and university degree programs in computer information systems, database management, and business intelligence.
<h4>Mobile Applications Developers</h4>
With the use of mobile communications (smartphones and tablets) predicted to exceed the use of personal computers in 2013, businesses are heavily relying on IT professionals in order to connect with customers in a digital world. Most websites and internet advertising initiatives were initially designed for a computer-based user experience. Today, these assets need to be upgraded so they can be accessed efficiently across a range of digital platforms and mobile devices.
Recognizing the high demand for mobile applications developers, experienced information technology professionals are pursuing continuing education opportunities to upgrade their skills and enter this exciting area. Depending on the university and quality of the program, some online master’s degrees in computer information systems and web application development can be completed in as few as 20 months. Mobile applications developers can earn from $85,000 to $123,000 per year.
<h4>Data Security Specialists</h4>
For companies around the world,<b> </b>information systems are under constant threat from hackers, malware, and various types of viruses. There is a strong, ongoing need for specialized information technology professionals to detect and prevent security breaches. <b></b>
Today’s IT security experts can earn from $89,000 to $121,000 to secure information systems including networks, computer systems, databases, and applications. Professionals interested in entering this area of the IT field should pursue credible courses that are designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to learn the latest tools necessary to safeguard data security. Such credible courses can help prepare individuals for careers as information security leaders and IT security analysts.
<h4>Health Informatics Leaders</h4>
Health information technologies, like Electronic Health Records (EHR), are transforming the nation’s health care system. EHR technology is helping to streamline medical information, improve communication, and elevate the quality of patient care.
As part of the Affordable Health Care Act, the U.S. government provided $20 billion in health care information technology funding. Medical practices that have not implemented EHR by 2015 will be penalized. As healthcare organizations across the country work to digitize their delivery systems, opportunities will abound for health informatics professionals. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in health information will grow more than 20% between 2010 and 2020.
Now, more than ever, IT professionals are expected to collect, process, and store medical data in ways that ensure the integrity, security, and privacy of electronic health records. The challenge with the present system is that most patient data is not stored electronically, and even when it is, the various systems for managing data do not interface well with each other.
As the law becomes implemented in more states by more medical practices, there will be an unprecedented demand for health informatics professionals. Professional requirements will range from certification to advanced university degrees in health informatics.
<div class="content-box-blue">Author Bio: Laura Mingo writes in the field of higher education. This article aims to offer career advice for university students in relation to IT and promotes the benefits of advanced study regarding an online <a href="https://cisonline.bu.edu/">master’s in information systems.</a></div>
<span class="credit">Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/">Shutterstock</a></span></div>
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