Career Profile: Marketing Manager

Marketing managers oversee the marking process.  They gather information and analyze the products or services they want to sell.  They research trends in buying and selling, develop ideas for new products, and work with advertising managers to figure out how to sell a product or service.  Marketing managers also develop a budget for the marketing process or campaign, research who wants the product, and gather opinions about the product to help develop and refine their marketing plan.

Helpful high school courses for a career as a marketing manager include:

• Accounting
• Banking & Finance
• Computer Applications
• Economics
• Introduction to Business
• Marketing
• Probability & Statistics
• Psychology
• Sociology

There are also opportunities to get real-life experience in the marketing field through completing internships or mentorships.  If you are interested in a career as a marketing manager, you also might want to join DECA or BPA to understand the business world.  These kinds of extracurricular activities also look great on both college and job applications!

Becoming a marketing manager might be the right pathway for you if...

• You enjoy working with people and on a team
• You like problem-solving and making decisions
• You enjoy working on computers
• You have an interest in advertising or selling products or services

In Minnesota, there are plenty of colleges and universities that offer degrees in marketing.  Some 4-year colleges and universities that have marketing programs include:

• Metropolitan State University
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• St. Cloud State University
• Winona State University
• Augsburg College
• Hamline University
• University of St. Thomas
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
• University of Minnesota, Crookston
• University of Minnesota, Duluth

Information gathered from www.mncis.intocareers.org.

Career Profile: Forester

Foresters mange, use, and help protect forests and other natural resources.  They can either work for private timber companies or state and federal governments.  Foresters who work for private timber companies acquire timber from private landowners.  They appraise the value of the timber, settle on a price, and then draw up a contract for that timber.  They serve as a liaison between the workers and landowners.  Foresters who work for state and federal governments manage public forests and parks.  They also work to plan and carry out conservation programs, control floods and fires, and develop plans for harvesting timber.  They can also conduct educational programs for the public.  Foresters consider the environmental impact of their work, comply with regulations, supervise the planting and growing of new trees, and write environmental reports and recommendations.

 

Helpful high school courses for a career in forestry include:

• Computer Applications
• Forestry
• Horticulture
• Keyboarding
• Natural Resources Management
• Plant & Soil Science

You might also want to look into completing a mentorship or internship with a forester to get a better idea of what they do.

 

Forestry might be the field for you if...

• You like math and science, working with people and things, and communicating with others
• You like to keep physically active and work with your hands
• You enjoy being outdoors
• You work well independently and as a team

Some Minnesota colleges and universities that offer programs in forestry include the University of Minnesota (Bachelor of Science in Forest and Natural Resource Management), Hennepin Technical College (Associate of Applied Science in Urban Forestry Technology), and Itasca Community College (Associate of Applied Science in Natural Resources - Forestry).

 

You can find out much more information on the field of forestry by clicking on this link.

 

Information gathered from www.mncis.intocareers.org.

Career Profile: Interior Designer

Interior designers plan and design spaces, as well as furnish interiors.  They work in many types of settings, including private homes, public buildings, and commercial buildings, but some even design the interiors of boats and airplanes!  Interior designers work meet with clients to learn about what they want for the space and what their budget and style is.  They need to be knowledgeable about building codes when planning for additions, remodels, and redesigns.  Interior designers draw sketches, use computers to design spaces, and create detailed plans with an estimate of costs and materials.

Helpful high school courses for a career in interior design include:

• Art
• Computer-aided design (CAD)
• Drawing or painting
• Interior design

Because many interior designers are self-employed, you may also want to take accounting, entrepreneurship, or introduction to business while in high school as well.  It also is a great idea to get a feel for what the job actually entails, so you may want to consider doing an internship or mentorship in interior design too!

Interior design might be the field for you if...

• You are artistic and are drawn to patterns, colors, designs, and like to use art as a form of self-expression
• You like starting up and carrying out projects and making decisions
• You like to see the results of your work
• You enjoy working independently
• You like building relationships with others, as developing a relationship with your clients is a key element to being an interior designer
• You like to find the solutions to different problems.

Information gathered from www.mncis.intocareers.org.

Career Profile: Forensic Science Technician

Forensic science technicians gather and analyze evidence to help solve crimes.  There are two types of forensic science technicians: crime scene investigators and laboratory analyzers.  Crime scene investigators determine what and how much evidence to collect, as well as take photos and make sketches of crime scenes.  Evidence may include bloodstains, drugs, pieces of clothing, weapons, fibers, and hair.  Laboratory analyzers examine the evidence collected by crime scene investigators to recreate the crime scene.  They help to determine relationships among the evidence to identify a crime suspect.  Laboratory analyzers also prepare reports of their findings, and may testify in courts.

High school courses that might be helpful if you're interested in a career in forensic science include:

• A strong background in math and science (and take as many advanced classes as you can in these subjects!)
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Computer Applications
• Criminology

You might make a good forensic science technician if...

• You like to work with ideas and critical thinking
• You enjoy solving problems
• You like to search for facts
• You like working with your hands
• You are detail-oriented

Information gathered from www.mncis.intocareers.org.

Career Profile: Electrician

Electricians work to assemble, install, maintain, or repair electrical systems.  They read blueprints, install and test circuits, inspect equipment, and write cost estimates for clients.

High school courses that might be helpful for a future career as an electrician include:

• Carpentry
• Construction
• Electricity
• Electronics
• Industrial arts
• Physical education

Many electricians are self-employed or start their own business as well.  If this appeals to you, additional coursework in accounting, entrepreneurship, or business might be beneficial as well.  You also may want to look into doing a mentorship or internship with an electrician in the area to get some hands on experience, too!

You might make a good electrician if...

• You like to work with your hands.
• You enjoy being outdoors.
• You like to work with physical materials.
• You value independence and being treated fairly.
• You like to see results from your work.
• You want steady employment and steady pay.

 For a list of colleges in the state of Minnesota that offer electrician programs, click here!


Information gathered from www.mncis.intocareers.org.