X Close
On one hand, you have the image of someone in an executive-level sales career. Picture a woman in a business suit, making far above the average American’s salary, sitting behind a desk from 8 to 5—and occasionally sitting business class on yet another flight to close a multi-million-dollar deal. On the other hand, you have the image of an artist. Picture a man with paint splattered on his pants and under his fingernails, selling his work online and in local galleries, keeping odd hours—creating when the mood strikes—and free from the trappings of a typical office job. With these images in mind, you might wonder why we group business and the arts into one category. Which two careers could be more different?
But that’s not the whole picture of today’s business and arts career options. Thanks to technological innovations that have transformed the way employees work, there are more similarities in these career paths than there has ever been before. For example, it’s increasingly important for people in both fields to be excellent written and verbal communicators, good at paying attention to details and deadlines, and able to translate the desires of clients and superiors into a product that makes everyone happy. Additionally, a large percentage of today’s ever-growing opportunities to work remotely are accessible to people in business and the arts.
Still trying to figure out if a career in business or the arts could be right for you? Here are a few things to consider:
Do you like to keep your options open? Business and arts degrees provide some of the most open-ended possibilities in higher education. While this may mean there is less of a clear path to a career than with some other fields of study, it also means you’ll be qualified for and able to translate your skills and knowledge into a variety of options. If you’re not entirely sure yet what you want to do with your life, this wealth of possibilities might appeal to you.
Do you have a thick skin when it comes to your work? People who work in the arts need to understand that their careers won’t always be powered by creative muses. To enjoy and succeed in an arts career, you will need to anticipate changes and criticism from your employer or clients—and not take it too personally. Today, art is business as well, and a critique of your project is almost never a critique of your talent.
Do you have dreams of being an entrepreneur? While formal education isn’t technically necessary to start your own small (or big!) business, many successful entrepreneurs are those with a business education behind them. With a solid understanding of the principles of business, you’ll be able to determine a plan for your business, anticipate any challenges or hurdles you may come across, and quickly pivot if your plan isn’t going as hoped.
Are you persistent? Creating—paintings, digital graphics, connections between businesses, and more—takes time. For artists, the process of bringing that vision from imagination into the real world can be long, painstaking, and frustrating. For businesspeople, the process of making a sale can also be, well, long, painstaking, and frustrating. You can’t give up on a project you’re working on in either career field.
Are you good with people? Contrary to the economics courses that are the basis of many a business education, a career in business is about a lot more than numbers. To be successful, you’ll first and foremost be building relationships: with colleagues, clients, potential customers, vendors and suppliers, and more. These strong relationships will become the foundation necessary to talk numbers and ensure all parties are happy.
What Are Some of My Career Options in the Fields of Business and the Arts?
If you think a career in business or the arts is right for you, there is no shortage of ways to get there—and no shortage of careers that might be a great fit. Colleges, universities, career colleges, and technical schools around the country offer degree- and non-degree-granting programs, on campus and online, that can get you on the right path.
Accounting
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, the typical entry-level job requires a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $69,350 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing faster than average from 2016 to 2026
Would I need to keep up with on-the-job training? No
Accountants work full-time to ensure that financial records are accurate, assess financial operations and ensure organizations run efficiently, and make sure that organizations and individuals pay their taxes correctly and on time. Often, accountants can expect a busy season that usually falls when taxes are due or when an organization is creating its budget for the next year.
As an accountant, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Accountants and Auditors, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm
Bookkeeping
Do I need to go back to school? Most people in these roles have some college but no degree
How much money could I make? $39,240 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Little or no change from 2016 to 2026
Would I need to keep up with on-the-job training? No
The Bureau of Labor Statistics groups bookkeepers with bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, and says that people in these careers “record financial transactions, update statements, and check financial records for accuracy,” ultimately producing the financial records for organizations.
As a bookkeeper, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bookkeeping, Accounting And Auditing Clerks, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/bookkeeping-accounting-and-auditing-clerks.htm
Human Resource Specialist
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you’ll probably need a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $60,350 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing as fast as average from 2016 to 2026
Would I need to keep up with on-the-job training? No
Human resource specialists are largely responsible for coordinating the hiring processes for corporations. They recruit, screen, interview, and place workers in a variety of roles, and also handle compensation and benefits, training, and employee relations and office conduct.
As a human resources specialist, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Human Resources Specialists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm
Sales Manager
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $121,060 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing as fast as average from 2016 to 2026
Would I need to keep up with on-the-job training? No
Sales managers are in charge of teams of salespeople for organizations of all sizes. They may work to create sales strategies, keep up with competitors and market trends, and create training programs for their sales representatives. It is common for sales managers to travel for work.
As a sales manager, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sales Managers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/sales-managers.htm
Cosmetologist
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you will need to graduate from cosmetology school
How much money could I make? $30,490 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing about as fast as average from 2016 to 2026
Would I need to keep up with on-the-job training? Many employers would recommend it
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says cosmetologists, along with hairdressers and hairstylists, “provide beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling hair, and massaging and treating scalp. May apply makeup, dress wigs, perform hair removal, and provide nail and skin care services.” They may work in across industries including personal care, the motion picture and television industry, or in health and personal care retail stores.
As a cosmetologist, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Hairdressers, Hairstylists and Cosmetologists, https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes395012.htm
Illustrator
Do I need to go back to school? Not necessarily, depending on your portfolio
How much money could I make? $57,520 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing faster than average from 2016 to 2026
Would I need to keep up with on-the-job training? No
Illustrators create original artwork and designs to sell independently, for books, movies, and television, for corporations, and for other individuals.
As an illustrator, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fine Artisist including Painters, Sculptors and Illustrators, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes271013.htm
Film and/or Video Editor
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $58,210 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing faster than average from 2016 to 2026
On-the-job training? No
The Bureau of Labor statistics lumps film and video editors in with camera operators and describes their job duties as “manipulating moving images that entertain or inform an audience.” In actuality, the duties of editors and camera operators are quite different, as a film editor can drastically impact the final product of a motion picture, both visually and artistically. They typically work in offices or studios.
As a video editor, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Film and Video Editors and Camera Operators, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/film-and-video-editors-and-camera-operators.htm
Fashion Designer
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $67,420 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing slightly slower than average from 2016 to 2026
On-the-job training? No
Fashion designers sketch designs and select fabric and patterns to create original clothing, accessories, and footwear. Some fashion designers specialize in clothing, footwear, or accessory design; others create designs in all three fashion categories.
As a fashion designer, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Fashion Designers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/fashion-designers.htm
Graphic Designer
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $48,700 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing slightly slower than average from 2016 to 2026
On-the-job training? No
Graphic designers use technology or traditional methods to create visual concepts that “inspire, inform, and captivate consumers,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They may work for corporations, agencies, or for themselves—one-fifth of graphics designers were self-employed in 2016.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Graphic Designers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/graphic-designers.htm
Multimedia Artist and/or Animator
Do I need to go back to school? Yes, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree
How much money could I make? $70,530 was the average salary in 2017
What’s the demand like for this job? Growing as fast as average from 2016 to 2026
On-the-job training? No
Multimedia artists and animators work to create visual effects for TV, movies, video games, and other media. They usually choose one specific discipline in which to work. They may work for corporations in offices, or for themselves from home.
As a multimedia artist or animator, I would spend my days doing things like:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Multimedia Artists and Animators, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/multimedia-artists-and-animators.htm
Sidebar
Did you know? “Employment of business and financial operations occupations is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 773,800 new jobs.”
Did you know? Accountants and auditors are among the top 15 careers projected to create the most new jobs between 2016 and 2026.
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!