If you're reading this article at work, you're like most American workers who spend up to three hours a day online at the office while surfing for personal business or pleasure. A survey last year reported that two-thirds of all employers were so concerned about workers killing time online that they installed surveillance software to monitor employee surfing and to block sites unrelated to company business. Losses in productivity during football season are estimated at up to $435 million weekly as employees track fantasy sports teams.
Not all employers are turning into Web Nazis. Some companies actually pay their employees to spend their days online. Want to surf and become an indispensable asset at the same time? Consider training for one of these five high-demand, well-compensated positions that are built around using the Internet:
Internet Librarian
Love the idea of categorizing metadata, creating indexes, researching hard-to-find information, or building library collections? You could become a taxonomy freak. Internet librarians work for large corporations and educational institutions or sell their services as private consultants. Librarians can help information architects design and maintain huge company Web sites, or they can use databases to assist business or government agencies in tracking essential information.
Prepare by pursuing a library science degree, or combine a computer science degree program with independent librarian studies in taxonomy, hierarchy, and digital publishing. Mid-level salaries are in the $60,000 range-higher with technology employers.
Web Developer
Web developers are surfers extraordinaire. Not only do they test their creations on the Web, they're constantly surfing the Net to see how other professionals are developing sites. Typically, Web developers are also software experts or engineers. You'll need to know how to write code and how to create layouts using HTML, cascading style sheets, Flash, and the latest versions of photo manipulation and photo manipulation and illustration software.
To hop aboard, pursue an undergrad IT degree that covers databases, Internet software applications, or Web site security. Developers belong to one of the fastest-growing fields in the American economy. The Department of Labor predicts a 38 percent rise in software engineering jobs through 2016.
Graphic Designers
Today's graphic designers must develop competency in creating both print and online media. The government predicts that designers who focus on Web or animation niches will find the best job opportunities over the coming decade. Think of all the surfing you'll do. Graphic designers who work for Web development companies, interactive marketing agencies, or digital game design firms practically live on the Internet.
Freelance designers earn a median wage of $60,000, while those who rise to creative director roles reach the six-figure range. You'll need an undergraduate degree in graphic design or communication design to join the 261,000 professionals already working in the field.
Paralegals
Employment of paralegals and legal assistants is predicted to grow a massive 22 percent through 2016. That's because attorneys at legal firms, corporations, and government agencies are already overwhelmed with research responsibilities that can be performed by trained paralegals. Surfing the Internet for data, researching online law libraries, and using Web tools to prepare documents are all part of a paralegal's job.
Often, all you need to get started is to earn an associate's degree in paralegal studies, however you may earn more with a bachelor's degree. If you already hold a degree, you can get into the profession even faster. Wages vary greatly by employer, with top paralegals earning more than $67,000 a year.
Online Marketing Professional
Online marketing pros thrive on surfing. They examine the Internet landscape while evaluating what their client's competitors are doing. They surf for data on market trends and consumer behavior, gather metrics on their online marketing campaigns, and track how their search engine placements and advertisements are performing. Depending on your role, you'll surf for ever-changing statistics on influences that affect pricing, product development, and branding. Or, you'll track consumer feedback.
Get started by completing an undergraduate degree in marketing, advertising, public relations, or business. Already hold a degree? Consider enrolling in an online MBA program with a focus on marketing or eCommerce. Employment for marketing, promotions, or advertising professionals is expected to rise by 12 percent through the decade.
Earnings can be phenomenal, but vary by employer and marketing niche. Median earnings for marketing managers top $98,720. Wages for marketing managers employed by computer systems design firms top $130,000.Many colleges and schools offer year-round degree programs that can help you qualify for one of these positions. And by the way, stop surfing and get back to work.
This article is sponsored by Keller Graduate School of Management
A degree from Keller gives you the credibility to succeed in your career, whether you are the just starting out, already in the work force or contemplating a career change.
