Get Ahead Guide to Career Advancement

Hot Jobs for the New Year What Jobs are Most in Demand in Columbia?

By Rodney Welch

I

f you’re pursuing a career in health care, education, computer or software technology, manufacturing, or marketing and advertising, you’ll likely find a lot of opportunities in the Capital City if you’re willing to put in the work.

What follows is a snapshot of good-paying, solid careers from across the Midlands, generally based on the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce’s August list of “Hot Jobs in the Midlands Workforce Area,” supplemented by interviews with local career experts.

Health Care Professionals

Registered nurses, pharmacy assistants and dental hygienists are all in high demand.

These are just three of the 15 health-care related courses of study offered at Midlands Technical College, and they stay full, says

President Sonny White.

“We’ve got about 600 slots in the various health care programs,” White says, “and well over 2,000 students in the pipeline for those slots.”

White also mentions electronic health information management, which he says is only going to get bigger as medical records move from paper and become more accessible between doctors.

Teachers

The Lexington and Richland County School Districts are among the top Midlands employers, and they’re hiring a lot of elementary and middle school teachers.

Not all of the educational jobs are strictly school-related. The Department of Employment and Workforce list also includes health educators and “self enrichment education teachers.” The latter describes people who generally work in community centers, with either young people or retirees, teaching topics that generally involve either personal enjoyment or cultural enrichment.

Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Professionals

The DEW list cites “public relations specialists,” and Tom Halasz of the University of South Carolina Career Center elaborates further, saying that marketing and advertising firms in general are making a comeback, and have been an increasing presence at USC job fairs.

Since most major firms and agencies have public relations and communications departments, this isn’t a case where one company hires a lot of people so much as it is a lot of businesses each hiring a few.

Training and Development Staff

The same rule, he says, also applies to the field of human resources.

With the economic turnaround, more personnel departments will be adding staff.

December 25-31, 2013

free-times.com

twitter.com/freetimessc

facebook.com/freetimes

get ahead

35

“When we went through the economic downturn,” Halasz says, “quite often the first people they let go are the HR people and the last people to be replaced are the HR people. Training and development is often seen as an extra, and the real savvy organizations realize that training and development is a fundamental activity.”

As companies hire more people, they’ll also naturally be adding the people who do the hiring.

“These are also the people that are going to be processing new hires,” he says, “doing all the paperwork and make sure all the state and federal regulations are abided by in hiring, which is sometimes quite complex.”

Network and Computer Systems Administrators and Technicians

“The information technology area within 30 minutes of Columbia is probably the area with the most vacancies today,” says White. “You don’t even necessarily have to have a two-year degree. Both through our credit programs in information technology and our Quick Jobs programs — which can provide certifications in a short period of time, from a few weeks to a few months — this is the field with the most openings right now.”

Halasz adds that software developers are also in demand, since they “are embedded

36

get ahead

operators and industrial maintenance technicians are in extremely high demand locally.

Midlands Tech just recently opened a new Engineering Technology and Sciences Building to meet the needs of new industries, whether that involves alternative energy, chemical technology or advanced manufacturing.

White points out that the Michelin plant in Lexington needs to fill 200 technician slots so badly that they’re willing to pay for the training of qualified applicants. Those who succeed get a job with a starting salary of $50,000.

in almost every organization now.”

The city could also stand to benefit from the software boom in Charleston.

“They’re developing the critical mass to attract talent, that is individuals as well as companies,” he says, “and there are companies that are just having tremendous expansion down in the Lowcountry.”

Administrative Assistants

Traditionally, administrative assistants answer the phone, schedule appointments, and deal with correspondence, but in a digital age these men and women at the front desk “serve a much, much bigger role” than they did in the past, White says. A high school degree won’t cut it anymore; today’s administrative assistants have to

master several computer programs, know how to access information quickly, work within and sometimes organize an office environment.

Paralegals

Professionals looking for a second career often find what they need by getting trained to work in a law office.

The job offers flexibility beyond the usual 9-to-5 routine, and there are some companies that only require their paralegals to work a few hours a day.

Industrial and Manufacturing Work

Outlook for the Future

For all these high demand jobs, White says the lag time between graduation and work is slim.

In the health care field, almost all of the students are hired before they even graduate.

Favorable economic conditions are likewise affecting hiring prospects all over, Halasz says.

Halasz says company job postings through USC are up 167 percent, compared to 2007.

“We’re on the verge of exceeding the number of employers who come on campus from when the downturn started,” he says.

“We’ve nearly totally recovered.”

CMC (computer numerical controlled)

free-times.com

twitter.com/freetimessc

facebook.com/freetimes

December 25-31, 2013

All Grown Up and Paying for College Financial Aid Advice for Nontraditional Students

By Allison Caldwell

T

here are many reasons why older adults seek a college degree or credential later in life. For some, it’s a step toward returning to the civilian work force after military service or taking time to raise a family. For some, it’s finishing what they started, or starting what they never began. And for still others, it’s pursuing career advancement or maybe a new line of work entirely. In higher education circles, they’re all called nontraditional students, ranging in age from 25 to 60 and older.

Colleges and universities throughout the Midlands and across the country offer practical, creative solutions to serve adult learners in all areas, including financial

December 25-31, 2013

free-times.com

aid. Even if your frat party days are over, chances are good that you can still get help paying for college.

twitter.com/freetimessc

facebook.com/freetimes

Equal Opportunities “Older adult students have the same opportunities for grants (undergraduate) and loans (undergraduate or graduate) as traditional students,” says Ed Miller, director of student financial aid and scholarships at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.

“Age is not a criteria,” Miller continues. “We are willing and able to provide assistance to students, no matter their age or educational level, based on the eligibility criteria of the programs being considered and the availability of funding in those programs.”

The same is true at Columbia College, where Carolyn B. Emeneker, director of evening and graduate admissions, encourages all students to explore options and clearly understand their financial obligations.

“All students are eligible to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA,” she says. “Typically, our nontraditional students are very serious about what they’re doing. They don’t miss class, and they understand the investment of time and money. They are often highly motivated, and realize the opportunities for upward mobility, workplace promotions, and other benefits of continuing education.”

“Each student’s eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid will be different,” says Todd Gavin, spokesperson for Midlands Technical College. “Direct federal loans, subsidized and unsubsidized, are

available to both traditional and nontraditional students.”

Know Your Options Financial aid typically comes in the form of loans, grants or scholarships at the state or federal level. Work-study programs, military discounts and other resources are often available for those who qualify. Funding an education can be daunting for older students, who are often less likely to receive grants or scholarships.

No matter what your financial situation, it’s important to spend time early on to research and clearly understand your options. Interest on student loans begins when you get the money, and repayment is based on income. You don’t have to repay the loan(s) until you graduate, but there’s no reason to wait if you can afford to pay some along the way.

“Frequently people can afford some out of pocket — even as little as $100 a month — to start paying back their loans while still in school,” says Emeneker. “I advise students to borrow only what you need for tuition and books, and set up a payment plan to pay off what you owe to one school before applying at another. If you meet certain academic standards, tuition reimbursement may be available from your employer.”

“Unfortunately, I counsel students of all ages with no clue as to how much they’ve borrowed, or exactly when they’ll have

get ahead

37

Log In and Learn If you’re thinking about returning to school (or attending for the first time) as a nontraditional student, here are a few links to get you started in the search for financial aid.

Midlands Technical College

Find resources including financial aid checklists, FAQs, loan counseling and more at sc.edu/financialaid.

FAFSA

Look for scholarship announcements, employer-sponsored courses and more at midlandstech.edu/cce/finaid.htm.

Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa.ed.gov.

Columbia College

Find financial aid toolkits at collegeboard.org. Also offers resources for college planning and professional development.

Explore options and tuition payment plans for the Women’s College, Evening Admissions or Graduate Admissions at columbiasc.edu/admissions/financial-aid.

to start paying it back,” Emeneker says.

“Financial aid staff is there to help, but each student should be responsible for knowing their own financial situation.”

At Midlands Tech, there is a special financing option for students in the Continuing Education Division. Called Nelnet, the program is an installment payment plan. It is not a loan program, but rather a program designed to help students budget and pay as

38

University of South Carolina

The College Board

they go.

“The application process is fast, and has among the highest acceptance rates in the industry,” Gavin says.

For those who are married and with two income sources, securing need-based aid might be more of a challenge.

“Two incomes suggest a greater availability of personal resources than one income, so there could be limitations,” Miller

says. “However, there are federal and private loans that are not connected with need and the borrower’s resources. These can basically be used to replace the resources that might otherwise be considered available to pay for college.”

Borrowing against a home equity line might also be an option for older students — but not necessarily the best one. It all depends on your unique situation, and your

ability to pay back what you’ve borrowed in a timely manner.

“Rather than a home loan, if you can’t pay cash or afford a monthly payment, you may be able to itemize tuition and fees as a tax deduction,” says Emeneker.

A degree from Webster University gives you the knowledge to do the job; it’s tailored for the real world. That goes for the classes, too. Evening classes are taught by academically qualified faculty who are practitioners in their field and a great place for networking. Webster University is nationally recognized as Military-Friendly. Call or click today!

Columbia Campus Location • 803-699-0900 • webster.edu/columbia Graduate Programs: Master of Business Administration (MBA) • Master of Health Administration (MHA) MA in Counseling • MA in Human Resources Development • MA in Human Resources Management MA in Management and Leadership Undergraduate Completion Programs: BA in Management • BA in Psychology Shaw Air Force Base Campus Location • 803-666-2254 • webster.edu/shaw Graduate Programs: Master of Business Administration (MBA) • MA in Information Technology Management MA in Procurement and Acquisitions Management • Graduate Certificate in Government Contracting

get ahead

EC-2386 Shaw/Col 10x5.indd 1

free-times.com

twitter.com/freetimessc

Be a part of what’s next. facebook.com/freetimes

2/5/13 11:21 AM December 25-31, 2013

December 25-31, 2013

free-times.com

twitter.com/freetimessc

facebook.com/freetimes

get ahead

39