Great Careers for 2009

According to the 2009 Robert Half International Salary Guide, careers in business, IT, and law are among the fields expected to yield top careers in the coming year. Learn more about which careers are expected to see the most growth, the highest starting salaries, and the best opportunities.

CIOs were asked which technical skill sets are in the greatest demand in their IT departments. Their response? Administration, support, and management skills are golden. The top responses, according to Robert Half International: are generally considered ample training for administrators. Desktop support professionals in smaller companies may only hold a two-year associate's degree in the field.

The top creative jobs for 2009, according to The Creative Group:

• Graphic designer: $36,000-$49,250
• Desktop publisher: $35,500-$45,000
• Motion graphics specialist: $56,000-$87,500

Remember, those are just starting salaries. While no career training program can guarantee a particular salary, the portfolio-building training you receive while working towards a degree in graphic design, desktop publishing, or animation can help prepare you to enter the field with confidence.

Here are a few special skills in demand in 2009, according to a survey by Office Team:

• Technical aptitude: Including Microsoft Office as well as accounting, payroll, and human resources applications
• Multilingual ability: Communicating with culturally diverse consumer groups is the biggest drive behind bilingual and multilingual hiring
• Continuing education: Hiring managers like to see employees continue their education by securing Certified Professional Secretary (CPS), Microsoft Business Certification, and other training.
  

With specialized training in the form of an associate's degree, you may land a job as a paralegal, legal secretary, legal receptionist, or office clerk. Check out some of the salaries that may be available to graduates with the two-year degree:

• Case Clerk (zero to two years' experience): $32,000-$41,000
• Junior Paralegal (two to three years' experience): $40,500-$49,200
• Legal Receptionist: $26,750-$38,000
• Office Clerk: $27,000-$37,250
  

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