8 Jobs That Require Imagination

Get paid to use your creativity and imagination with these great-paying jobs!

Imagine this: getting paid to let your imagination run wild. If you're a creative person with a great imagination, we've got some ideas to help you turn your passion into a profit with one of these eight great-paying careers.

1. Graphic Designer

Here's a profession that really rewards creativity. By becoming a graphic designer, you can use your active imagination to dazzle clients by imagining and executing visual solutions to their communication problems.

Training: Interactive media is a game changer for graphic designers, who often earn a bachelor's in computer aided design, animation, or graphic design and multimedia. Shorter certificate programs can also help you keep pace with the competition.

Pay: Graphic designers earned an annual average salary of $42,400 in 2008. Those specializing in computer systems design earned an average of $47,860.

2. Marketing Professional

Creative brainstorming sessions are the norm for marketers, who are constantly coming up with fresh ways to communicate with consumers.

Training: It's not enough to come up with a brilliant plan. You need to know how to execute it. Marketing/communications programs can help you launch your career. An MBA can help you land a more senior position.

Pay: Marketing managers earned an average of $108,580 per year in 2008.

3. Detective/Forensics

If you enjoy detective stories, why not live the life yourself? Before detectives and forensics specialists can get the bad guy, they have to imagine how he did it.

Training: An active imagination can help law enforcement personnel envision crime-scene scenarios and motivations for different suspects. A lot of legwork is required, but imagination can be the key to cracking a case. A degree in forensics/crime scene, police & law enforcement, or criminal justice can help make that your job description.

Pay: The median annual wage for detectives and criminal investigators in 2008 was $60,910.

4. Business Entrepreneur

Walt Disney once famously said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Creating a successful company requires bold, unconventional thinking. Some people call visionary businesspeople "crazy" - until their idea becomes huge. There are no guarantees in the business world, but every great business starts with that new idea. Do you have what it takes to make an idea come to life?

Training: Get started with an associate's or bachelor's degree in business administration or e-business/e-commerce, and finish with an MBA.

Pay: SimplyHired.com says the average entrepreneur earns $111,000.

5. Video Game Designer

Sharing their own mind-blowing ideas can quickly turn profitable for video game designers since imagining new worlds is what they do for a living.

Training: But imagining that brave new world is just the first step. Getting a degree in video game design or animation can help you share that vision with the rest of us.

Pay: Video game designers new to the job make about $46,000, according to AnimationArena.com.

6. Forensic Accountant

Money laundering is a dirty business that requires smart, creative accountants to visualize how the white collar criminals do what they do.

Training: Math courses are the obvious choice here and you'll get plenty of those while getting a bachelor's degree in accounting or business administration. An associate's degree in accounting can help you land a more entry-level job.

Pay: Accountants and auditors earn $59,430, with the top ten percent clearing over $100,000, according to the Department of Labor.

7. Teacher

An active imagination and a flair for creativity helps teachers connect with students. And the more they inspire the students, the more the students return the favor.

Training: Teachers need an active imagination - and credentials. Thankfully, getting your education degree or teaching certificate has never been easier, thanks to a proliferation of online teaching programs.

Pay: Forbes magazine says new teachers made $49,000 in 2005-06, the most recent year for which data is available.

8. Chef

Among other things, inventiveness is a key to being a great chef. Great dishes won't make as big a splash if the artistic presentation isn't up to par.

Training: Prior experience in the industry may help you get your foot in the door. If you want to get formal training, look into getting a degree in culinary arts.

Pay: Chefs, and head cooks earn an average of $38,770 per year. That average goes up ($44,660 per year) for those in traveler accommodation.

A Job For Every Dad

What kind of dad are you? Find career options that fit your dad skills!

Dads have a unique set of skills. From carpool driver to coach to cook...the modern dad does it all. But how do these skills translate to the work force?Use our handy guide to match your dad-skill with a great career!

For the dad who can get the kids to eat vegetables...

Marketing specialists help determine a company's strategy to bring in business. Duties include: advertising, promoting, and targeting products to the right consumers.
Dad-friendly factors: Many large corporations that employ entire marketing departments offer flex time, on-site child care, and telecommuting options.
Gear up: A bachelor's degree in business or marketing will show clients you've got the knowledge and skills to help their business grow. Once you've gained some experience, you could work as a consultant or marketing manager.
Get paid: According to Jobs-Salary.com, marketing consultants earn an average of $57,851 annually. Dads who advance to the level of marketing manager have even more reason to celebrate: the average annual salary is $108,580, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

For the dad who bandages scraped knees...

Registered nurses (RNs) provide patient care, which includes everything from administering medication to checking vital signs. Job opportunities for RNs should be excellent, but will vary by location and employment setting, according to the Department of Labor.
Dad-friendly factors: Nurses are needed at all hours of the day and night, which means more scheduling options for you. Telephone triage nurses work from home via telephone or computer providing advice or managing cases.
Gear up: Complete a nursing degree or certificate program, then get licensed in your state.
Get paid: The average annual salary for registered nurses is $62,450.

For the dad who still has a spot for his laptop among the toys...

Medical coders assign codes to specific medical services and procedures, which helps insurance companies and health care providers bill for services.
Dad-friendly factors: According to the American Academy of Professional Coders, 39 percent of coders work from home at least part of the time, usually telecommuting for an employer such as a hospital or clinic.
Gear up: An associate's degree in medical billing and coding is the most common way to get started, but there are also one-year certificate and diploma programs.
Get paid: Coders who work for medical and surgical hospitals have an average annual salary of $32,600.

For the dad who can hook up a video game system...

Computer programmers develop, test, and design software and computer programs for everything from cell phones to mainframe computer systems to video game consoles.
Dad-friendly factors: Because computer programmers often work alone, it's the perfect job for telecommuting or even starting your own freelance business.
Gear up: A bachelor's degree in a field such as computer science or information systems will qualify you for most positions.
Get paid: $69,620 is the average annual salary for computer programmers.

For the dad who finger paints like a master...

Graphic designers conceive and create almost everything you see around you - from posters and web sites to the packaged goods you see on the supermarket shelf.
Dad-friendly factors: Many graphic designers work on a freelance basis from their home. Because you're not on a strict 9-to-5 schedule, you can coordinate your work with your family's routine.
Gear up: Get an associate's or bachelor's degree in graphic design.
Get paid: The average annual salary for graphic designers is $42,400.

For the dad who makes sure everyone plays fair...

Paralegals play a pivotal role in the criminal justice system, researching legal matters, putting together reports and other materials for attorneys, and assisting in the preparation of cases.
Dad-friendly factors: A lot of paralegal work involves research that can be done on any computer with an internet connection, which can make telecommuting a viable option. Web conferencing software allows you "attend" meetings while at home with the kids.
Gear up: Get started on your paralegal career with a certificate or associate's degree in paralegal studies.
Get paid: The average paralegal salary is $46,120.

Top 11 Fastest Growing Jobs.

In the two years since the economy began its downward slide, health care has been one of the few industries that continued to rise. Because we're living longer than ever and the baby boomers are aging, demand for health care is growing.

Understandably, many people think of health care as all about doctors and nurses. After all, when you go to the hospital or have your annual check-up, your interaction is usually with a nurse and then a doctor. All the lab tests and other work are done behind the scenes, so these positions get overlooked. The health care industry will continue to grow in the coming decade and the jobs won't just be in the operating room, though many will.According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these 11 jobs in health care will see growth in the coming years. Here are the jobs, their expected growth in the next decade, education requirements and annual mean salary*:

1. Physician assistants perform many of the same tasks of a physician -- such as treating injuries and supervising medical assistants -- but are under a physician's supervision at all times.
2008-2018 increase: 41.3 percent
Education: College degree and relevant experience
Salary: $81,610

2. Medical secretaries perform administrative duties in health-care facilities and rely on their knowledge of medical terminology and procedures.
2008-2018 increase: 27 percent
Education: Varies, but college degrees are increasingly common requirements
Salary: $30,800

3. Physicians and surgeons treat patients for existing medical conditions and also advise them on preventative care. Surgeons concentrate on operations rather than the non-surgical approaches of physicians.
2008-2018 increase: 26 percent
Education: Medical degrees, residencies and licenses
Salary: Surgeons - $206,770, general internists - $176,740

4. Registered nurses address some health problems of patients as well as collect and maintain their medical records.
2008-2018 increase: 23.4 percent
Education: Varies between college degrees requirements and certification, depending on state and employer
Salary: $65,130

5. Counselors work in various health-care facilities to help clients overcome physical or mental health obstacles they are encountering.
2008-2018 increase: 22.6 percent
Education: Varies by state and facility, but college degree and certification are typical
Salary: Mental health - $40,270, rehabilitation - $34,600, substance abuse and behavioral disorder - $39,670

6. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses provide care for injured or ill patients in health-care facilities and private homes.
2008-2018 increase: 21.9 percent
Education: Nursing license from an accredited school or institution, other requirements vary by state
Salary: $40,110

7. Billing and posting clerks and machine operators assess the cost of a patient's health care, draw up the bill and send it to them.
2008-2018 increase: 19.7 percent
Education: Varies by institution, but a high school diploma and basic computer skills are common
Salary: $32,120

8. Social workers provide emotional and mental support to patients who have substance abuse problems or suffer from medical ailments.
2008-2018 increase: 19.5 percent
Education: Bachelor's degrees and often advanced degrees are required, in addition to state-mandated licenses and certifications
Salary: Medical and public health - $47,560, mental health and substance abuse - $39,630

9. Receptionists and information clerks work in health-care facilities and address customer or patient questions or concerns and direct them to the appropriate department or personnel.
2008-2018 increase: 16.1 percent
Education: Minimum requirement of high school diploma, although some employers require more education or relevant experience
Salary: $25,400

10. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians work in medical laboratories to perform tests that help diagnose, treat or prevent illnesses.
2008-2018 increase: 14 percent
Education: Technologists need a bachelor's degree in a related subject and technicians need an associate degree
Salary: Technologists - $54,050, technicians - $44,310

11. Pharmacists dispense medicine to patients based on the diagnoses and prescriptions of physicians and other medical professionals.
2008-2018 increase: 14 percent
Education: A Doctor of Pharmacy degree and license
Salary: $104,260

*All information based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

7 Sites That Will Help You Get Hired

Here are seven sites that stand out for their intelligence, niche, data, or usefulness

When it comes to careers, who doesn't need a little help? It's not just the 14.6 million unemployed, but the millions of employed who are stuck in comatose companies or dead-end jobs. While there are plenty of websites that have useful information for job seekers

today, many people still look to the web largely to find job openings. Here are seven sites that stand out for their intelligence, niche, data, or usefulness, rather than their job listings:

Fistful of Talent: Reading the posts on this blog is like listening to a lunchroom full of human resources professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters talk about their likes, dislikes, and strategies. You'll learn things like how recruiters find candidates online, the kinds of questions they like, or their worries about the recruiting process. Sample tip: "A while ago, [SimplyHired] instituted a LinkedIn button. It used to be hidden under their 'more' options, but now it has a prominent display at the top of your job search results. So if I run a search for a recruiting job and connect my LinkedIn network I can quickly see who I 'know' at all of the companies that return posting results. And guess what? Now there's a Facebook button."

Seeking Alpha: This website graciously transcribes public companies' earnings conference calls. That allows you to brush up on all the crucial, timely details about the company you really want to work for, giving you the kind of insight that can elevate a cover letter or interview. The more you know a company, the more hiring managers will feel your pursuit is a targeted one. And they like to be targeted. If you were, say, applying for a job at J.M. Smucker, you could listen to their most recent conference call and learn that sales of their new premium jam—made of "the best fruit" and 100 percent sugar—are exceeding expectations, and that marketing spending this next fiscal year will match last year's record marketing spending. Whether it seems relevant to the position or not, building a foundation of up-to-date knowledge is critical.

Careers at Alltop: This aggregator of topical RSS feeds puts an army of well-known career bloggers (including U.S. News Outside Voices contributors) right in front of you. Career expert Anita Bruzzese might give you a lesson in how to network without hating it. Career coach Marty Nemko will teach you how to cope with self-loathing. The folks at Careerbuilder's Work Buzz blog will keep you updated on companies that are hiring. While you're there, you might check out other Alltop pages relevant to your work.

CareerDiva: Eve Tahmincioglu describes her site as "the thinking man or woman's career blog." But even if you're not much of thinker, her advice will make you smarter, in part because she has her nose in the news. If you're short on time, just click on the "Getting Hired" tag. You'll find hundreds of posts to help you along, or answer some of the trickier questions of job hunting. For example, if you're wondering how to dress for an interview, you might consider removing or turning around the enormous rock on your finger. You'll look more serious.

Facebook: OK, this is more of an app than a site. But this site allows you to mix work with pleasure and mimic more natural and traditional styles of networking. Presumably, you have hundreds of friends all over the country and most of them have listed their current and past employers in their profiles, or "Info" tabs. If you use an application like that offered by SimplyHired, you'll be able to search for jobs where your friends work and ping them for extra information on the company, or ask for the name of the person who's hiring so you can contact them directly.

Indeed's Job Trends: Wondering what kind of positions are growing in demand? You can search any term to see the growth in percentage of posts that include the term. The kind of words that are showing up in an increasing number of posts: Facebook, iPhone, virtualization, social media. It's an inexact science—take a closer look at the kind of job postings that include the word "Facebook" and you'll find that many are either at Facebook or from staffing companies encouraging job seekers to find them on Facebook. But "virtualization"-riddled job postings are for IT positions, through and through. Bonus trend charts: job postings per capita, job market competition, and industry employment trends.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: This site is a bit of a beast, but it's incredibly useful. To start, hover your mouse over the Employment tab on the left, and click on "Employment Projections" in the drop-down menu. The most straightforward data is in the tables that start at the middle of the page. You can see the list of the projected fastest-growing occupations (physical therapists, biomedical engineers, dental hygienists, etc.) and occupations with the biggest declines (farmers and ranchers, file clerks, telemarketers, etc.). Back on the homepage, you'll see a tab indicating resources for job seekers on the left. Click it. You'll find a library of information on topics such as educational requirements for occupations that interest you. Say you're a restaurant manager and you want to move to California. You can search "occupational employment and wages by area" and find that the greatest number (by far) of foodservice jobs in the state are in Los Angeles, but the highest hourly wages are in Napa.

Top 10 Companies Hiring This Week (September 18-24)

We know that your job search can get quite frustrating these days with more people trying to find a job and less employment opportunities available.

To ease the burden, we've tracked down 10 top companies with the most job openings this week -- from sales jobs to finance jobs, full-time jobs to part-time jobs. We hope you find a job that's perfect for you.

Good luck job hunting!

01. Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.

Top Job Categories:

Finance Jobs

Human Resources Jobs

Information Technology Jobs

Sales Jobs

See All Accenture Jobs

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02. ADP.Com

ADP is one of the world’s largest providers of workforce solutions, with nearly $9 billion in revenue and over 585,000 clients. Strengthened by our solid financial position, market-leading share in our core businesses, reputation for product innovation, and impressive client retention, we offer you a work environment that’s unmatched in our industry. Our strategic plans for global growth add to our vitality. Most of all, ADP derives power from the ability and world-class service of associates like you.

Top Job Categories:

Additional Career Paths Jobs

Client Service Jobs

Implementation Jobs

Sales Jobs

Technology Jobs

See all ADP jobs
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03. Booz & Company

Booz & Company is a leading global management consulting firm, helping the world's top businesses, governments, and other institutions.

Top Job Categories:

Campus Jobs

Experienced Professionals Jobs

Case Prep Jobs

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04. Deloitte Consulting LLP

“Deloitte” is the brand under which tens of thousands of dedicated professionals in independent firms throughout the world collaborate to provide audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services to selected clients.

Top Job Categories:

Consulting Jobs

Audit and ERS Jobs

FAS Jobs

See all Deloitte Jobs
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05. Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction, advisory services and strategic growth markets. We aim to have a positive impact on businesses and markets, as well as on society as a whole.

Top Job Categories:

See All Ernst & Young Jobs

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06. Heinz.Com

Heinz is a $10 billion global company
Heinz products enjoy #1 or #2 market share in more than 50 countries
Heinz sells 650 million bottles of its iconic Ketchup every year
Heinz's top 15 power brands account for more than two-thirds of its annual sales
Heinz employs approximately 32,500 people around the globe
Heinz is a responsible corporate citizen committed to safe practices, environmental stewardship and giving back to the community
Heinz was founded in Sharpsburg
(a suburb of Pittsburgh), Pennsylvania, in 1869 by entrepreneur Henry John Heinz

Top Job Categories:

Marketing Jobs

Human Resources Jobs

Research & Development Jobs

Sales Jobs

Supply Chain Management Jobs

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07. Met Life Inc

MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to millions of individual and institutional customers throughout the United States.

Outside the U.S., MetLife companies have direct insurance operations in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe.

Top Job Categories:

Corporate Services

Customer Relationships

Insurance

Sales Careers

See All Metlife Jobs

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08. PricewaterhouseCoopers

PwC is one of the world’s largest providers of assurance, tax, and business consulting services. We believe that the best outcomes are achieved through close collaboration with our clients and the many stakeholder communities we serve. So every day, 161,000 PwC people in 154 countries work hard to build strong relationships with others and understand the issues and aspirations that drive them.

At PwC, we measure success by our ability to create the value that our clients, our people and the wider investing public are looking for.

Top Job Categories:

Accountant Jobs

Engineer Jobs

Healthcare Jobs

H.R. Jobs

See All PricewaterhouseCoopers Jobs

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09. Standard Chartered Bank

It's our new brand promise. Though in reality, it's our oldest belief. It's what we've been doing for the past 150 years, and our aim for the next. To be here for people. Here for progress. Here for the long run. Here for good.

Top Job Categories:

See All SCB Jobs

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10. Smartronix, Inc.

Smartronix is a global professional solutions provider specializing in NetOps, Cyber Security, Enterprise Software Solutions, Mission Focused Engineering, and Health IT. Smartronix is headquartered in Hollywood, Maryland with operating offices in Virginia (3), North Carolina, Florida (2), Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and Arizona with more than 550 employees throughout the United States and at strategic locations in Germany, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. The company has been recognized as an Employer of Choice by Northern Virginia Family Service and as one of the fifty fastest-growing companies in the Greater Washington D.C. area and one of the top 500 and top 5000 nationally as ranked by Washington Post and Inc 500 media, respectively.

Top Job Categories:

See All Smartronix Jibs

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