Rabu, 04 Agustus 2010

Beyond Payday: 5 Jobs With Great Perks

by Natalie Morris, FindtheRightSchool.com


Unless you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and a trust fund in your back pocket, you need to consider compensation and benefits when choosing a job. But make sure to look beyond the basics of paychecks, health benefits, and a 401(k) to careers providing unique perks that can improve your quality of life. These five careers, available in almost every community, incorporate significant perks that make them worth a look.

Sales Representative

Sales representatives offer the classic example of on-the-job perks, although they can vary widely based on industry and level of responsibility. A life in sales requires regular communication with current and potential customers about products, pricing, and logistics, so you can expect common perks to include a cell phone, laptop computer, car allowance, and frequent flyer miles. Many companies offer incentives to their sales reps for excellent results, including bonuses, special gifts, or complimentary vacations.

You need to know: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), median annual earnings for a sales representative working directly for a wholesaler or manufacturer was $61,470 in 2008, rising to $79,260 for people selling technical and scientific products. Although no specific education is required for sales reps, a bachelor's degree or even an M.B.A. can increase your opportunities for career growth.

Registered Nurse

If your career checklist includes flexibility (check), helping people (check), and excellent compensation (check), becoming a registered nurse (RN) could prove extremely rewarding. As part of a health care team, RNs provide medical treatment to sick or injured patients in a wide variety of settings. Largely due to both an aging population and an aging nursing workforce, the BLS expects the demand for RNs to increase very quickly in coming years. In fact, they expect 587,000 new jobs for registered nurses by 2016, among the largest of any career group. So what kind of on-the-job perks can you expect as an RN? High demand means that hospitals and other health-care companies have to work harder to attract and keep their good nurses. In many cases, companies will offer perks like signing bonuses, flexible work schedules, and education assistance.

You need to know: RN salaries have become increasingly competitive, too, with a mean annual wage of $65,130, according to the BLS's 2008 report. Your career training options for becoming a registered nurse include pursuing an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree in nursing.

Public Relations Managers

Just working in the often glamorous field of public relations may seem like a perk. As a public relations manager, you would work closely with executives and clients to create a positive public image for a company or product. Schmoozing with media contacts, attending social events, and the opportunity to mix-and-mingle with high-profile execs could boost your social life and your career. Since wining and dining clients comes with the territory, company expense accounts are a typical perk for PR managers.

You need to know: The BLS reports that the mean annual wage for such jobs was $101,220 in May 2008. Not surprisingly, competition is high in the public relations field and if you have experience and a bachelor's degree in public relations, communications, or other related fields, you'll have a distinct advantage over your peers.

Hotel Manager

Love to experience new people and places? Working in hotel management can open up a whole world of travel possibilities. Hotel managers are responsible for ensuring that their guests enjoy all aspects of a visit and that their property is run with an eye on profit. If you're looking for the most perks, pursue jobs with high-end hotels and resorts whose benefits can include bonuses, tuition assistance, meals, laundry services, and more. One unique plus of this career is free or highly discounted hotel rooms throughout the United States and even internationally, a practice especially common for those working in a large hospitality chain.

You need to know: Career training programs are provided by many hotels and resorts, but candidates should have an associate's or bachelor's degree in hospitality or hotel management plus industry experience before applying. The BLS reports that in May 2008 salaried hotel managers earned a mean annual wage of $52,550.

Elementary Teacher

You earned your way through high school as a babysitter, you love the thought of making an impact on the next generation, and you've been thinking about becoming an elementary teacher. But you're scared off by talk about low salaries for teachers and other educators. Think again. Teachers enjoy one of the best perks out there: time! While teachers put in hundreds of extra hours outside the classroom, many school districts include approximately eight weeks off during the summer, not to mention holidays and other breaks during the school year.

You Need to Know: While the May 2008 BLS report showed a mean annual wage of $52,240 for elementary teachers, remember that the earnings per day worked could be higher than for other jobs at this salary level. Teaching in a public school requires a bachelor's degree in education or a bachelor's degree and completion of a teacher credential program.

Communities across the country will always have a need for salespeople, registered nurses, public relations managers, hotel managers, and teachers. Consider jobs that appeal to you most and then research your new career possibilities online.


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