Does higher education mean a higher salary?

Everyone knows that there is a large correlation between educational level and salary. However, having a higher education does not always mean that you are able to find a higher paying job and many factors should be considered before deciding to pursue a higher educational degree.

The average income of a college graduate is $49,303 where the average income in the United Sates overall is $32,104, a large gap illustrating how education can improve your job opportunities and income. The salary for careers that only require a high school diploma or GED is between $17,700 and $33,300, on the other end of the spectrum, salary for careers that require a Ph.D., M.D., or law degree is between $53,500 and $166,400+. This illustrates what an enormous income gap there can be between someone who has a higher degree and someone who only has a GED; but this is only the potential gap, and while the actual gap is large, it is much smaller then the potential.

Is having a better opportunity to find a high paying job worth all the work involved in getting a higher education? Not only does it take a lot of work but it also costs money, and even puts many in debt. Career assessment and job aptitude tests are very useful tools that should be included in this decision; they can be very useful in helping find which career you could do well in and would enjoy, therefor impacting your decision on higher education. Knowing what you career you would like to pursue is extremely helpful when deciding whether of not to pursue higher education and can prevent many from making the wrong decision and can even motivate some to make the right one.

Though a higher educational degree will give someone a much greater opportunity in finding a higher paying career, it does not guarantee that they will be able find one. There is a large difference between the average income for a college graduate and the average income for someone in the United States, which shows that it would be worth it to obtain a higher degree. However, there are more factors to consider the as the job market is constantly changing and unemployment is high; which has created a whole new set of problems for recent college graduates that are looking for work. But there are still many jobs that are growing and are expected to continue to to so over the next few years.

The decision to pursue higher education should never be taken lightly. Career assessment and job aptitude tests can be very useful when making this life changing decision. Overall, although salary does improve with higher education it does not guarantee it.

Cold Hard Facts About Money

There are some interesting facts about money that may make you think twice before holding that dollar bill with your lips. Nine out of ten US dollar bills have traces of E. Coli, Staphylococcus and cocaine. Chinese banknotes are even worse with 178,000 bacteria colonies on each one and cocaine residue on one out of 10. There is $1,999,897,000,000 in circulation now and that’s a lot of bacteria.

With all of this bacteria, cash has a short lifespan. Only 21 months for a dollar bill, 16 months for a five dollar bill, 18 months for a 10, 24 months for a 20 dollar bill, 55 months for a fifty and 89 months for a 100.

Right now there are six denominations of bills circulating, but there have been twice that many. The $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000 and $100,000 bills are no longer in circulation. There are $1.5 billion in two dollar bills in circulation, but they are no longer being printed.

Have you ever wondered what happened to your old jeans? You may be spending them everyday. Every day the US prints $629 million. In one year about 2.7 billion are ones and 1.8 are hundreds. Fives, 10s, 20s and 50s are around 370 million each. US currency bills are made from 75 percent linen and 25 percent cotton, and very bill contains a little recycled denim.

It is not always easy to detect counterfeit money. There is $200 million worth of counterfeit money circulating in the US. $45 million was printed in North Korea and eight out of 10 of those bills were printed on a personal computer.

ATM machines are a convenient way to collect the cash you need. They seem to have an unlimited supply, but they actually only contain 1,500 bills and only about 40 new ones are added each day. The fees for using them are about $640 million a year for the bank.

One more interesting piece of information about money is about the penny. Every year congress considers discontinuing the penny, after all it costs 1.2 cents to manufacture and the US loses $45 million per year on pennies and nickels. There are 150 billion in circulation and people seem to like it that way. Every year congress decides to continue making the penny.

I order to earn your share of money in circulation now, take a free career aptitude test that will give you the right guidance for selecting employment. A career aptitude test may help you decide what you want to do with the rest of your life. If you already have a job or career but you think it’s really not for you, then you need a career assessment test. Career assessment and an aptitude test will help you determine your strengths and weaknesses and make it easier for you to find an interesting and enjoyable future.

How Much do Americans Save?

Highest Paying Jobs in America

It comes as no surprise that nearly all of America’s top paying jobs fall in the medical field. Seemingly impervious to a failing economy the medical field continues to grow and even flourish in America today. Although the medical field offers some of the most stable and high paying positions there are also some options in the math and technology fields that can bring in big bucks. Do you have what it takes to work in one of these top paying jobs? Take your free career aptitude test to find out if your skills and talents meet the unique needs for one of these high paying positions.

Are you good at math? Do you have strong organizational and analytical skills? You might consider a career as a Certified Public Accountant and get paid up to $138,000 per year. There’s always a need for accountants, and a good one is sure to get frequent work in handling a business’ financial needs. Along the same lines are the Senior Financial Analyst and Intelligence Analyst positions. These careers also require strong organizational and analytical skills, and offer salaries in the $110,000 per year range.

If you prefer working with computers primarily you might consider working in the IT field. As a Software Developer you can work on new computer programs, utilizing your skills in working with technology, problem-solving and bringing in somewhere around $116,000 per year. If you are an expert with technology and are also well suited for the field of management you can find a lucrative a career as an IT Project Manager making around $140,000 per year!

Not surprisingly the medical field pays big bucks. If your career assessment test reveals talents with math, science, anatomy, etc…you might consider a career in the medical field. As a General Physician or Specialized Physician (Gynecologist or Obstetrician, for example) you could be making a salary in the $200,000-300,000 per year range. To further specialize in the medical field as a Nurse Anesthesiologist or an Anesthesiologist you could expect an income up to $400,000 per year.

If you are gifted in math, science and problem-solving skills and also like to work with people, you might prefer a career in the mental health field. Consider a career as a Physical or Occupational therapist, making around $100,000 per year or a Clinical Psychologist at approximately $172,000 per year.

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Nailing a Job Interview

Applying for a job is only half the battle. Next comes the interview where the candidate is asked to put their best foot forward. The key to nailing a job interview is personal presentation, well articulated speech, and overall qualification. Hopefully you have taken advantage of tools at your disposal such as a career assessment test or career aptitude test.

These tests can help you find a job that is right for you and for which you are most qualified. Using the results of such tools can help you find the position in which you can be most successful. When it comes to an interview with an employer you truly desire to work for, you are much more likely to do well and make a strong impression.

Arrive at least ten minutes prior to your interview time. Always be friendly and polite to the people you come into contact with. In the first sixty seconds an interviewer will make decisions about your self-confidence and the presentation you make of yourself. Everything from your clothes to your mannerisms add up to an employer’s decision about whether or not you are hired. Dress in adherence to the company’s dress code. Whatever that may be, make sure the clothes are wrinkle free and clean.

Do not attract unnecessary attention to your appearance by wearing excessive jewelry or perfume. It is best to cover any tattoos and remove body piercings. These can lead to assumptions, albeit false assumptions, about your personality and even your standards.

Before your sixty seconds begin do not entertain yourself by listening to music or talking or texting on your phone. The employer should see that you are completely devoted to the interview during that time period. It should also be noted that many employers require a phone interview before scheduling a face-to-face meeting. If this is the case you should be polite and confident, as well as in a quiet place.

During the interview it may be easy to begin answering a question before the interviewer has finished. While it is best not to delay too much before addressing the question, it is common courtesy to allow the other person to finish their thought. Along with your resume, describe your current job title and the duties involved. Also be prepared to explain your specific qualifications and skills that make you the best candidate for the job you are vying for. Be as detailed as possible when responding to question concerning your behavior in certain situations. The interviewer needs to understand exactly why you consider yourself to have each quality you have stated.

Although it may be tempting to negotiate salary during the interview wait until you have officially been given the job before addressing issues of compensation. Aside from salary, ask questions about the position. Let the employer know you are interested in the job and what it involves.

Finally, ask for the job. Think of this as “closing the sale” of your skills to the employer. Your determination and persistence could be the key to your being hired. Also remember that the better you know yourself, the better you can sell yourself as a job candidate. Take advantage of free career aptitude tests and assessment tests.