A bachelor’s degree in finance can get you a job as a financial analyst at an investment bank, at an insurance company or for a mutual fund. (Thinkstock)
When you’re a college student stressing over midterms and counting down the days until winter break, the idea of a 9-to-5 job might sound appealing. Some degrees, though, will get you a job after graduation faster than others.
Earlier this year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers surveyed 260 employers for its Job Outlook 2015 report. Employers told NACE they’re most likely to hire graduates with bachelor’s degrees in these five majors:
Finance
Accounting
Computer science
Mechanical engineering
Business administration/management
If you’re pursuing or considering these areas of study, take a look at the entry-level jobs you should go for when you graduate — and how to set yourself apart when you apply.
1. Financial analyst
A bachelor’s degree in finance can get you a job as a financial analyst at an investment bank, at an insurance company or for a mutual fund. As a sell-side analyst, you’ll track how companies perform and report your findings to their investors. Buy-side analysts help businesses and large nonprofit institutions decide how to invest their money.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for financial analysts to grow 16% by 2022, faster than the national average of 11%. You’ll have many options when you apply for financial analyst positions, and they’ll pay well too: The median annual salary was $76,950 in 2012 (the last year for which data is available), compared with $34,750 for all workers. But you’re likely to work long hours to earn that salary. One-third of financial analysts reported working more than 40 hours a week in 2012, according to the BLS.
2. Accountant
You’ll have a wide range of tasks and work environments to choose from as an accountant. Public accounting requires you to prepare tax returns for individuals and businesses, whereas forensic accounting lets you conduct investigations into potential financial misconduct.
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You’ll probably work longer hours at certain times of the year, such as during the runup to tax day, April 15, or when a company’s fiscal year is about to end. The BLS reports that accountants’ median pay was $63,550 in 2012 — nearly double the median overall, but more than $10,000 less than what financial analysts earn.
3. Software developer
One of the hottest jobs in the labor market is software development, which commanded a median salary of $93,350 in 2012, according to the BLS. With a bachelor’s degree in computer science, you’ll likely be recruited by startups and more established technology companies with generous benefits packages and employee perks.
Salaries can vary widely based on geography. The BLS reports an applications software developer in California earned a mean annual wage of $119,970 in mid-2014, while a developer in Louisiana earned a mean wage of $75,980 a year.
In general, the more programming languages you have expertise in — such as JavaScript, Ruby or Python — the more attractive you’ll be to employers. The BLS’ job outlook for software developers calls for 22% growth by 2022; that’s double the average for all occupations.
4. Mechanical engineer
With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, you’ll have the opportunity to design, test and supervise the manufacture of machines, engines, generators and other devices. You’ll earn between $49,322 and $95,945 a year depending on where you live, according to salary-data website PayScale.
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The BLS doesn’t expect the number of jobs for mechanical engineers to grow as much as for other occupations on this list: 5% more positions are forecast to be available by 2022, about half the national average.
5. Management consultant
Business administration and management is one of the most flexible disciplines out there. Understanding business principles will set you up for a job in a big corporation or a small shop. You can also use your expertise to help a rotating roster of businesses get the best work from their employees as a management consultant. That position will give you the chance to boost revenue and efficiency at struggling companies.
RELATED: The top 10 schools to study business for 2015-16
Management analysts earned a median annual salary of $78,600 in 2012, and the industry is expected to grow 19% by 2022. If you’re the type of person who might get bored working in the same office every day, consulting will let you travel and meet new clients so you’ll always have a new challenge.
Expert tips to help you land in-demand jobs
Make an impression at your internship or co-op
Many science and technology-related college majors, such as engineering, require students to participate in full-time internships or co-ops, which are paid positions that also appear as credit-carrying courses on students’ transcripts. Take full advantage of these opportunities while you have them; working full-time for a local engineering firm while you’re in school, for example, is invaluable experience that will give you a chance to explore specific career options within your major.
“When a student has six or eight months’ experience in a co-op, and then a summer internship maybe the year prior to their co-op, they have nearly a year-plus of experience that’s extremely attractive to our employers,” says Dawn Cairns-Weaver, associate director of the Center for Career and Professional Development at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.
Potential employers will see you’ve already developed key workplace skills such as collaborating with colleagues, managing your time and solving problems in a real-world setting, Cairns-Weaver says.
Practice your virtual interviewing skills
When it’s time to interview for jobs during or after your senior year, keep in mind that many tech companies conduct job interviews over the phone or on video. Software development jobs might also require candidates to complete coding exercises in real time, Cairns-Weaver says.
RELATED: 7 horribly awkward interview mistakes (and how to bounce back from them)
Get comfortable with your computer’s video chat functions before the interview and test your audio and video settings by calling a friend first. Ask your professors or former supervisors to present you with practice coding exercises so you’re not too nervous to complete them thoughtfully during a job interview.
“It is an opportunity lost if you’re not practiced and well-rehearsed,” Cairns-Weaver says.
The takeaway
Even if you haven’t figured out your dream job yet, with one of these top degrees you’ll probably have your pick of companies and positions. By making the best of the professional development opportunities you’re offered while you’re in school and preparing as thoroughly as you can for your interview, you’ll be more likely to find the best fit for you.
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Brianna McGurran writes for NerdWallet, a website that helps consumers make smarter financial decisions. NerdWallet is a USA Today content partner, providing general news, commentary and coverage from around the Web. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
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Filed under: CAREER PATH Tagged: accounting, engineer, entry-level job search, finance, interview tips, job search, NerdWallet, software developer