Writing has been mans greatest asset for centuries. Through written communication, future generations have been able to communicate with the past. Written records have helped inform us of important events, and have kept knowledge alive. Without writing, it is hard to imagine civilization would be as advanced as it is today. Writing as a form of communication is one of the biggest skills that separates man from other animals. Though animals don’t have any formal language, they in many was have the ability to communicate with each other. What animals lack which makes us that much more advanced than them is written communication. Such an important human asset easily translates into one of the top-careers.

When you think of writing, do you think of your favorite poet or novelist? This is not uncommon. Many people believe that to be a successful writer means having the skill and imagination famous novelists as such as Stephen King or Ernest Hemingway. This is not so. Good writing skill offers you many avenues to great careers. Professions such as Editor, Journalist, Lawyer, or even Teacher, require very proficient writing skills. Here are a few suggestions on how you can turn excellent writing into a top-career.

Imagine you were going on a job interview. The way you would want to present yourself to an employer is professional. You would make sure your resume was perfect, lacking grammar and spelling errors. You would use more appropriate verbal language than you would use with your friends, and you would present yourself in a clean and neat way. A successful career in writing requires these same preparations. To succeed as a writer requires excellent spelling, grammar, punctuation, and presentation. If you as a writer lack these attributes, people will not want to read what you have written nor be able to comprehend clearly what you are trying to say. Think of writing as a doorway to someone else’s mind. Just as with spoken communication, you are trying to relay a message as clearly and concise as possible. When was the last time you picked up a paper and read language that was sloppy and ambiguous? Good writing is what gets the message across clearly to the audience.

So how can you improve your writing? One way is to take English courses while in college, or studying English as a major. These courses help make you the most proficient writer you can be. Another way is to read what others have written. The more time you spend reading, the more you subconsciously pick up on how written language should appear.

Writing is one of the most important skills you can learn. Most top-careers require proficient writing as a prerequisite of a job. This includes office work, business, Law, and Education. Good writing can also land you a job as a freelance writer. Freelance writing allows you to write about what interests you, and work for many companies simultaneously, giving you a good job and a degree of independence. Good writing is an essential key for those who wish to write books or novels. With the right imagination and written skill, you can make a great living through your work, both fiction and nonfiction.

So when considering what career you are interested in, remember there is no substitute for excellent writing skills. Proficient writing will open many doors for you for years to come.

In an economy that feels more and more stagnant what options do you have for landing a secure or top career? Many of us may find there are fewer options to pursue something that is going to be both rewarding and fulfilling. While waiting for the US economy to bounce back many people have decided to go back to school and earn a degree in a field that may seem rewarding, such as doctor or lawyer. Unfortunately not all of us have the time or money to dedicate to these career pathways. So what can be done and how can someone struggling find a career that is going to offer them a life-long opportunity to succeed and prosper? One option a person can consider is a police officer.

Many local police forces do not demand too much of an applicant when looking for candidates to serve on their force. The requirements are usual that the candidate have a high school diploma or its equivalent, no criminal record, residency in the county or city where they wish to work, and be in good health. Some police forces require a bit more. For example, to serve as a member of the NYPD you must possess a minimum of 60 college credits. Each police force has its own requirements but the basic requirements are the same throughout.

Now what are the benefits of joining the force and why may it be considered a top career? After all a career where you potentially put your life on the line may not seem worthwhile if you aren’t making top dollar. To begin, many forces start payment the minute a candidate begins attending the academy. Once the candidate graduates the academy he or she is given a starting salary ranging between $35,000-$45,000. This greatly increases after 5 years to anywhere between $85,000-$95,000. This accounts for overtime. Other benefits of the job include health benefits, a pension, and retirement after 20 years of service with half pay. This means that a member who begins serving at 25 can retire with full benefits and half pay by the time he or she is 45, giving the member the opportunity to pursue other career options upon retirement.

So for anyone finding difficulty in the current job market may want to consider joining his or her local police force. You will get great pay and benefits, serve your community, and gain valuable life experience while doing so.

When you were a child what did you dream of becoming when you grew up? Many people probably wanted to be astronauts or veterinarians since such things are not only seen as top careers but are also very exciting jobs to have. I doubt that any of us said we wanted to be a janitor or sanitation worker. But why not? Though theses jobs are viewed as undesirable they are in fact very secure jobs which offer great perks and benefits. For instance, a sanitation worker has a starting salary of about $31,000 a year. That isn’t too shabby considering the job doesn’t require much to qualify and isn’t overly demanding. Before you stick your nose up at the thought of being a sanitation worker why not take a moment to see what benefits the job offers. It isn’t a bad career to have.

To qualify for a sanitation position a candidate must first pass a written civil exam. Upon taking and passing the exam, a candidate is placed on a list and ranked based on his or her score. Aside from passing the written exam a candidate must also pass a physical exam. This is important because a job as a sanitation worker requires a degree of physical labor necessary to carry out the required tasks. A candidate must also undergo a medical physical and background check to ensure he or she meets the standards needed to work a civil job. To qualify for a job as a sanitation worker a candidate must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. A candidate must also have a commercial drivers license at the time of appointment.

The starting salary for a sanitation worker is $31,000. However a persons salary can increase to a maximum of $67,141 after 5 ½ years. That isn’t to shabby considering other jobs offered to those with only a high school diploma tend to be minimum wage. Sanitation workers may make more than the quoted number due to job specification and overtime.

Finding a good job is tough but not impossible once you open your mind. As a sanitation worker you will receive all the benefits of a government job including healthcare, pension, vacation, and sick days. You will also have a job that is secure and pays very well.

Are you looking for a career that is secure and interesting? Why not consider becoming a paralegal. Paralegals are an essential part of law firms and are crucial in assisting lawyers with their case work. As the law becomes more specialized, paralegal work becomes more in demand. A paralegal’s job requirements are very similar to that of a lawyer. The only exception between lawyers and paralegals is that a paralegal is forbidden from performing job functions that are in the scope of practice of a lawyer including legal billing and giving legal advice. Here are a few perks of becoming a paralegal.

One of the most important functions of a paralegal is assisting attorneys in collecting legal data to assist in the closing of cases. The job can even be used as a stepping stone for future attorneys. A paralegal assists a lawyer in collecting facts of cases, help attorney’s consider all arguments for a case, and research relevant statutes for a case. For these reasons a paralegal can be seen as a crucial part of a legal firm. To help with the tasks demanded by lawyers of paralegals, a paralegal uses software databases that has a collection of useful resources for a paralegal.

Paralegals are needed in many different areas of legal work including litigation, labor, and immigration. For this reason, paralegals tend to specialize in a particular area of law in order to optimize their work knowledge and performance. To become a paralegal you need certification but those who are currently working on an Associates or Baccalaureate degree can opt to take courses which work toward a paralegal certification. After you receive a BA in your chosen field, you can opt to get a certification to be a paralegal. Some colleges also offer degrees in paralegal studies, allowing you to earn a paralegal certification while in college. You do not always need to earn a paralegal certification or a degree however. Many law firms may decide to offer you training for their firm. This may be because an employer may want to train you a certain way for his or her firm. Either way you go will be well worth it.

So if you’re looking for a career that is both challenging and secure why not consider being a paralegal. It is a position that is continually expanding and in high demand.

It might be surprising to find out that one of the top careers in the United States is a translator/interpreter. While these professionals are rarely seen by the general public, they are absolutely vital. However, there is a small difference between a translator and an interpreter. A translator must be letter perfect in grammar and spelling because they are converting text from one language to another. Since it will be read (instead of heard) by people at a later time, it must be technically correct. Interpreters, however, translate oral languages from one to the other. In many cases, an interpreter must be able to not only speak two or more languages but they must learn to sign in those languages for deaf people.

Getting into a top career like this is surprisingly easy. The key is knowledge of one or more foreign languages. But being a good translator/interpreter requires that you also have a working knowledge of the culture. In my case, I grew up in an ethnic Italian home and learned Calabrasian Italian before I learned English. Our home was in San Diego, less than 10 miles from the Mexican border, and I have spent most of my life in Latin America. While I do not work professionally as a translator or interpreter, the type of language experience is what it takes to become successful in this field. Understanding why people say things in certain ways gives a translator an unique outlook that shows in the translation.

The amount of formal education you will need will depend on where you are working. Many translators/interpreters work on a freelance basis, under contract with foreign businesses and even governments to help their representatives while in the country. Others work in government service but these jobs usually require at least a Bachelor´s degree. When you are applying for a Government job and you have extensive real world experience speaking this language as a native would, you should be sure to make it known on your application and during the interview process.

While having a degree is not required for many jobs, being certified by both the American Translators Association, the State or Federal government and the National Association of the Deaf. The United States State Department even gives certification in unique languages such as Navajo and Haitian Creole. Finally, there are many online Colleges and Universities that offer excellent language programs and PC tutorials such as Rosetta Stone (which is used by the US State Dept.) are great ways to add on a new language very quickly.

According to CNN Money, the top careers in the nation is physical therapy assistant. This job is expected to grow by nearly 45% during this decade and the average salary is $46,000 per year. Physical Therapy Assistant (PTAs) usually work in hospitals and clinics, clean, comfortable environments, but some PTAs do home care for people who cannot travel comfortably. This work is in extended care and PTAs will seldom find themselves working in Trauma. The job usually requires only 40 hours per week and most jobs have excellent benefits. The job requires implementing treatment programs designed by specialists in such disparate fields as physical therapy, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, and pediatrics. The assist patients who have back injuries, strokes, head injuries, cerebral palsy, arthritis, and sports injuries. The help patients improve mobility, alleviate pain and learn how to compensate when they have permanent injuries, such as amputees.

They must measure the motor function in each patient, gauge coordination and balance. The patients muscle strength and endurance must be recorded along with the range of motion in all affected joints. They regularly use infrared and ultraviolet light, whirlpool baths and ultrasonic machines. The treatment plan is usually designed by a physical therapist, who might be working with other specialists on this particular patient. The importance of people skills cannot be stressed enough. PTAs work in a literally hands on situation with patients on a daily basis and people skills are an essential component.

One part of the job that most do not like is paperwork. There are usually a great number of administrative jobs that are the responsibility of the physical therapy assistant. This leaves the physical therapist more time to focus on patient evaluation and planning treatment programs. There are many classes available online the can increase your knowledge if you are currently working as a physical therapy assistant and if you are considering giving this field a look, you can be sure that it is one of the fastest growing, top careers in the United States today.

The world has been in a huge economic slump for nearly 5 years now and the United States has been devastated because so many people have lost their jobs and long term financial security is based on how well you earn and how consistent your earnings are. If you are constantly going from job to job you cannot be truly financially secure. The fact is however that if you take the time to do the research with such companies as SimplyHired.com, Monster.com and many others you can locate the top careers in the US and make your job recession resistant. According to Carolyn Hughes, head of Human Resources at SimplyHired states that the company has more than 5 million job openings and Monster.com has more than 1 million postings, stores more than 100 million resumes and helps more than 60 million job seekers per month.

There are more than 1 million attorneys in the United States and every one of them has at least one paralegal and some of the larger law firms have dozens. Paralegals can be certified by passing a year long course of study and when they graduate they can make as much as $50,000 a year. They are responsible for assisting attorneys in preparing for trial, do research for and occasionally even draft appeal briefs, draft contracts, establish trust funds and sometimes even act as investigators in cases when taking affidavits.

Accounting is another one of the top careers in the United States as businesses are growing again and tax laws are constantly changing. Accountants do bookkeeping, financial investment planning, investigating financial crimes and preparing taxes. The earning potential is $67,000 and the National Association of Colleges and Employees states that college grads with accounting degrees get more job offers before graduation than any other career field.

According to the US Bureau of Vital Statistics the nursing field is expected to grow by 22 percent during the next 5 years. The nurses job duties will depend on which part of the medical industry that you work in but an entry level registered nurse (RN) has an earning potential of $70,000 a year. Some nurses will earn more however. A trauma nurse or surgical nurse can earn more than $90,000 a year with excellent benefits but must deal with significantly high stress levels.

Entry level police officers will earn between $40,000 and $75,000 a year, depending on duties and jurisdiction and because law and order is one of our largest priorities the job is essentially recession proof. In most cases you will need at least an Associate’s Degree and Federal police agencies require a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology. Some Federal agencies, such as the FBI, which requires all of its agents to have degrees in Accounting, require other degrees as well and all police officer jobs require high level of physical conditioning.

Taking the time to do the research to find the best careers while you are still in your freshman year of college will assure that when you do start working you will have a career that will not disappear in trying economic times.

One of the fastest growing career fields in the world, and especially in the United States, is in the medical industry. Nurse practitioners for instance, a career that is possible with an Master´s Degree, will earn $80,000 a year or more and according to several independent and one government study this will be one of the top careers in the future with a 23% growth rate. Medical Assistants, who preform duties much like nurse practitioners but work much closer to the doctor, has been said to be the number 2 best job in America because of the rising demand for health-care and aging Baby Boomer Generation.

Physicians Assistants begin earning more than $90,000 a year and has an expected job growth of 39%. Many people do not think that nurses earn a great deal of money but it really depends on the type of nurse. Trauma nurses earn significantly more than floor or extended care nurses but must deal with a great deal more stress and sometimes brutal working hours. Nurse anesthetists however have a base salary of nearly $190,000, which is higher than most Primary Care Physicians, and only need a Master´s Degree, be a Registered Nurse and have at least 12-months of actual nursing experience.

But the financial sector is also poised to see tremendous growth as the global economy grows and Web 2.0 really takes hold. Certified Public Accountant (CPA´s) earn nearly $75,000 and demand is expected to increase by 18% in the next ten years making careers in accounting very attractive. Financial advisers on the other hand can do even better and earn an average of $100,000 a year while Actuaries earn at least $130,000 a year and can earn as much as $300,000 a year. Many of the top executives of major corporations earn in excess of $1 million a year and have most of their expenses paid for by the company. The most success in financial services comes from people who have Master´s Degree and all of the advanced positions require at least one degree. You can work in the financial services sector with a Bachelor´s Degree but it will be in middle management. Many people finish undergraduate studies and take jobs at this level while taking advantage of distance learning opportunities that allow them to study for a Master´s Degree at their own pace.