by Lila Daniels, FindtheRightSchool.com
In work, as in life, crushes come and go.
Who hasn't been seduced by a hip, downtown office or some stellar-sounding perk? But soon, the bloom is off the rose and there you are, toiling away at a job you barely tolerate. The reason career crushes crash and burn is that they aren't built on anything real. True love is built on hard work. In the job world this often translates to schoolwork and a willingness to start from the ground up.
It was true for Dan Lyons, a freelance television producer. "After getting a bachelor's degree in communications and spending a summer at film school, I spent a lot of time at my first job answering phones," said Lyons. He stuck with it and now has a career that takes him all over the world, working with engaging people from scientists to celebrities.
In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that producers earn a median salary of $61,090. Sounds like a dream, right? Perhaps, but Lyons said the job isn't for everyone. There are long hours and lots of airline travel involved. So, how do you figure out the career that is made for you?
A Career You Can Commit To
Spend some time thinking about all the ways people find deep satisfaction in life --perhaps through their creativity, their connections to others, by traveling to foreign shores, or even just being outdoors. Then, figure out what motivates you beyond the paycheck.
When you're trying to write your own career love story, it never hurts to hear how others fell head over heels. It's equally important to get all the facts before jumping in. Here are a few fairy tale careers and the real facts that go with them, including BLS median salary statistics.
Public Relations
Even before we fell for Samantha Jones' fictional PR career in "Sex and the City," public relations posts have been objects of affection. Some fall for the celebrity angle. Others are drawn to the ever-changing nature of the work. In an interview for "On The Page," Melissa Menta says she feels lucky to have her job. She describes her work as an executive director of public relations this way, "Some days I sit and write and I think strategy and corporate, other days it's celebrity stuff. It doesn't ever get boring."
The Real Facts: To make this career match, you'll need a degree in public relations or communications, some prior experience, and the ability to multi-task big time. What you get is a dynamic job working with powerful, interesting, and even famous people. Specialists in PR earn median salaries of $49,800, while managers make $86,470.
Chef
When asked by the Naples Daily News what inspired him to become a chef, Mark Thomas Beatty replied that he loves food. This is a common ingredient to many chef's career love stories.
The Real Facts: You'll need to blend a stint at culinary school with your passion for food. Long hours on your feet and constant pressure, along with working weekends and holidays, will test your mettle. If you're meant to be a head chef, median salaries are $37,160.
Wedding Consultant
What better way to fall in love with your work than to be around people who are madly in love with each other? Sure, you might run in to a bridezilla every now and again, but how many other job descriptions include wine and cake tastings? Weddings are big business. The Association of Bridal Consultants calls it a $165 billion industry, with 2.4 million weddings in the U.S. every year.
The Real Facts: Many wedding planners start out with hospitality training -- working as caterers or event planners often for a high-end hotel or resort. With experience and industry connections, they branch out on their own. Salaried meeting and event planners earn a median salary of $43,530. Some independent wedding consultants charge between 10 and 20 percent of the overall cost of the wedding, while others charge a flat fee.
Before You Settle Down
You wouldn't get married on the basis of a few dates, so don't even think of committing to a career on a whim. It's important to take your career possibilities for a test drive. Talk to some professionals in the field that interests you. If it still sounds good, start taking some courses on campus or online. Many schools offer internships, perhaps the best way to road test your dreams.
Once you've found the match made for you, be prepared to pay your dues. Take some career advice from Dan Lyons: "While you've got to start somewhere, don't get too good at the grunt work. Do your job well, but show them you've got potential to do more."
Lila Daniels is a freelance writer living in Vermont. She previously worked in higher education publishing and as a high school art teacher.
In work, as in life, crushes come and go.
Who hasn't been seduced by a hip, downtown office or some stellar-sounding perk? But soon, the bloom is off the rose and there you are, toiling away at a job you barely tolerate. The reason career crushes crash and burn is that they aren't built on anything real. True love is built on hard work. In the job world this often translates to schoolwork and a willingness to start from the ground up.
It was true for Dan Lyons, a freelance television producer. "After getting a bachelor's degree in communications and spending a summer at film school, I spent a lot of time at my first job answering phones," said Lyons. He stuck with it and now has a career that takes him all over the world, working with engaging people from scientists to celebrities.
In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that producers earn a median salary of $61,090. Sounds like a dream, right? Perhaps, but Lyons said the job isn't for everyone. There are long hours and lots of airline travel involved. So, how do you figure out the career that is made for you?
A Career You Can Commit To
Spend some time thinking about all the ways people find deep satisfaction in life --perhaps through their creativity, their connections to others, by traveling to foreign shores, or even just being outdoors. Then, figure out what motivates you beyond the paycheck.
When you're trying to write your own career love story, it never hurts to hear how others fell head over heels. It's equally important to get all the facts before jumping in. Here are a few fairy tale careers and the real facts that go with them, including BLS median salary statistics.
Public Relations
Even before we fell for Samantha Jones' fictional PR career in "Sex and the City," public relations posts have been objects of affection. Some fall for the celebrity angle. Others are drawn to the ever-changing nature of the work. In an interview for "On The Page," Melissa Menta says she feels lucky to have her job. She describes her work as an executive director of public relations this way, "Some days I sit and write and I think strategy and corporate, other days it's celebrity stuff. It doesn't ever get boring."
The Real Facts: To make this career match, you'll need a degree in public relations or communications, some prior experience, and the ability to multi-task big time. What you get is a dynamic job working with powerful, interesting, and even famous people. Specialists in PR earn median salaries of $49,800, while managers make $86,470.
Chef
When asked by the Naples Daily News what inspired him to become a chef, Mark Thomas Beatty replied that he loves food. This is a common ingredient to many chef's career love stories.
The Real Facts: You'll need to blend a stint at culinary school with your passion for food. Long hours on your feet and constant pressure, along with working weekends and holidays, will test your mettle. If you're meant to be a head chef, median salaries are $37,160.
Wedding Consultant
What better way to fall in love with your work than to be around people who are madly in love with each other? Sure, you might run in to a bridezilla every now and again, but how many other job descriptions include wine and cake tastings? Weddings are big business. The Association of Bridal Consultants calls it a $165 billion industry, with 2.4 million weddings in the U.S. every year.
The Real Facts: Many wedding planners start out with hospitality training -- working as caterers or event planners often for a high-end hotel or resort. With experience and industry connections, they branch out on their own. Salaried meeting and event planners earn a median salary of $43,530. Some independent wedding consultants charge between 10 and 20 percent of the overall cost of the wedding, while others charge a flat fee.
Before You Settle Down
You wouldn't get married on the basis of a few dates, so don't even think of committing to a career on a whim. It's important to take your career possibilities for a test drive. Talk to some professionals in the field that interests you. If it still sounds good, start taking some courses on campus or online. Many schools offer internships, perhaps the best way to road test your dreams.
Once you've found the match made for you, be prepared to pay your dues. Take some career advice from Dan Lyons: "While you've got to start somewhere, don't get too good at the grunt work. Do your job well, but show them you've got potential to do more."
Lila Daniels is a freelance writer living in Vermont. She previously worked in higher education publishing and as a high school art teacher.
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