Hottest careers for blacks - job opportunities

Ebony, Nov, 1993

SALES AND MARKETING

As long as companies attempt to develop strategies to sell and market goods and services around the globe, this career field will continue to flourish. Sales and marketing professionals must be innovative and have a strong grasp of global marketing skills. Jobs are most plentiful for sales majors in pharmaceutical, finance, insurance and retail companies. Marketing majors may find opportunities working with advertising, survey, telemarketing and research departments. The expansion of the global economy, foreign competition and developments in telecommunications have added spice to this enterprising field. And sales and marketing graduates continue to post high gains with average starting salaries ranging between $24,638 and $27,132. Advancements into the corporate ranks can lead to salaries in the $55,00 range.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The world of business is in a state of flux. As the emphasis on the market economy changes, so do the job opportunities. Management information system graduates, and economics and finance graduates have posted the greatest gain in starting salaries in recent months. "I think management information system (MIS) will continue to be a major growth area in the future," says Derryl Reed, past president of the National Association of Black MBAs. "More companies are automating and updating their systems and trying to operate more efficiently." MIS specialists help install computer systems and software packages and bring organizations up to date in technology. Those who advance to the master's degree level in business are also seeing a wreath of opportunities in the field. Management information graduates averaged salaries of about $29,465. Economics and finance graduates earned starting salaries of $26,979, and business administration graduates averaged $24,456. In particular, MBA grads with technical undergraduate degrees and one to two years of previous work experience are expected to garner the best salaries in the following years with average salaries of about $53,345.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

With President Clinton's new anti-crime initiative expected to put more than 50,000 new police officers on the streets and the nation's demand for more secure prisons, opportunities continue to grow in this field. "Where other industries are retrenching, unfortunately law enforcement is growing due to the times we're living in," says Joseph M. Wright, executive director of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. The good news is that jobs in every facet of the field -- including police officers, correctional officers and prison guards, detectives, supervisors, even the Secret Service, FBI and other federal agent positions -- are expected to increase at a rate of about 5 percent annually. An associate degree is recommended for entry-level positions at the local level. A bachelor's degree may be required at the federal level, although military experience may be an acceptable substitute. The average starting salary for police officers is between $25,000 and $30,000. (The range is higher in larger cities.) For police captains, with an average of 10 years of experience, the average salary is about $50,000.