3 Career Choices3 Career Choices

By Alex Gluberman

Graphic Designer

Tasks• Create designs, concepts, and sample

layouts• Develop graphics and layouts for

product illustrations, company logos, and Internet websites.

• Use computer software to generate new images.

Knowledge

• Design techniques and tools• Communications and media• Sales and Marketing

Skills & Abilities

Skills• Active listening • Speaking• Coordination• Writing• Critical thinking

Abilities•Originality•Visualization•Fluency of ideas•Category flexibility•Oral expression and comprehension•Near vision

Interests & Related Occupations

• Artistic • Realistic • Enterprising

Related occupations include Director, and Art Director

Wages & Job Outlook

• Median annual cash compensation for entry-level designers was $35,000 in 2008.

• Staff-level graphic designers earned a median of $45,000.

• Senior designers, who may supervise junior staff or have some decision-making authority that reflects their knowledge of graphic design, earned a median of $60,000.

• Employment of graphic designers is expected to grow 13 percent, as fast as the average for all occupations from 2008 to 2018

Education & Training

• A bachelor's degree in graphic design is usually required for most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions.

• Bachelor's degree programs in fine arts or graphic design are offered at many colleges, universities, and private design schools. 

Physical Therapist

Tasks• Record prognosis, treatment, response,

and progress in a patients chart or in a computer

• Perform and document an initial exam• Test and measure patient's strength,

motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and record data

Knowledge

• Medicine and Dentistry • Therapy and Counseling• Education and Training• Psychology 

Skills & Abilities

Skills• Active Listening • Reading

Comprehension• Critical Thinking • Time Management

Abilities•Deductive Reasoning•Oral Comprehension •Inductive Reasoning •Written Comprehension

Interests & Related Occupations

• Social• Investigative• Realistic

Related occupations are Athletic Trainers and Social Workers.

Wages & Job Outlook

•  Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations.

• Median annual wages of physical therapists were $72,790 in May 2008.

• The middle 50 percent earned between $60,300 and $85,540.

• The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,350.

Education & Training

• Physical therapist education programs include foundational science courses, such as biology, anatomy, physiology, cellular histology, exercise physiology, neuroscience, biomechanics, pharmacology, pathology, and radiology.

• Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Psychologist

Tasks• Identify psychological, emotional, or

behavioral issues• Discuss the treatment of problems with

clients• Interact with clients to assist them in

gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.

Knowledge

• Psychology • Therapy and Counseling• Sociology and Anthropology

Skills & Abilities

Skills• Active Listening • Critical Thinking• Reading

Comprehension• Judgment and Decision

Making

Abilities•Problem Sensitivity •Oral Expression •Oral Comprehension •Deductive Reasoning •Inductive Reasoning

Interests & Related Occupations

• Investigative• Social • Artistic

Related occupations are Counseling Psychologist and Occupational Therapist

Wages & Job Outlook

• Median annual wages of wage and salary were $77,010 in May 2008.

• The middle 50 percent earned between $54,100 and $115,720.

• The lowest 10 percent earned less than $38,690, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $149,120.

• Employment of psychologists is expected to grow 12 percent from 2008 to 2018, about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Education & Training

•  A doctoral degree usually is required for independent practice as a psychologist.

• Psychologists with a Ph.D. or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) qualify for a wide range of teaching, research, clinical, and counseling positions in universities, healthcare services, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, and government.