There’s no doubt, job offers are few and far between in these dreary days of layoffs, cutbacks, and hiring freezes. That’s why we can learn a lot from the  list of the 10 jobs most offered to the class of 2009 as reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers in its Fall 2009 Salary Survey. For one thing, it tells us which industries are still hiring in tough times. But it also gives a heads up for those who may be considering a job or career change, or a return to school to learn a new skill or trade.

So without further ado, check out the top jobs:

1. Teaching
2. Management Trainee
3. Financial/Treasury Analysis
4. Consulting
5. Sales
6. Accounting (public)
7. Accounting (private)
8. Software Design & Development
9. Registered Nursing
10. Project Engineering

All of these “safe” jobs have in common the need for good communication skills, analytical thinking, and working well with others. And, of course, some have specific degree and/or licensing requirements (such as teaching and nursing, for instance).

No matter which field you’re in or considering breaking into, you can also see from the list that a working knowledge of business and finance will come in handy as well. My editor says all the time that she never thought she’d be spending work hours toiling with budgets and spreadsheets, but if you work for a company or organization, that is always a real possibility no matter your job title.

Bottom line: Don’t think you have to work toward getting hired in one of these 10 fields, but do think about what these employers are looking for, and how you can strengthen your resume with those same skills. Chances are other employers will value the same qualities and knowledge.

-Dawn Papandrea

Forget about your political leanings, who you voted for, and whether or not President Obama’s address should have been played for children at school. Regardless of whether or not you bought into the controversy hype, what our nation’s leader had to say about education was just the message that today’s students needed to hear — and from someone other than their parents and teachers!

After watching it again, I also realized much of the address can be applied to adult education and career advancement as well. Take a look:

“And no matter what you want to do with your life, I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it.”

Translation >> Doing well in your career is easier when you’ve got a degree or training to back you up. That goes for landing a job, too, in this tough job market.

“I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.”

Translation >> Kids? Aging parents? Work? Everyone has their own list of responsibilities, but if you’re creative, you can find a way to fit education in. Some people school online, others find programs that run nights and weekends. Lucky for you, there are many school options out there for busy adults.

“Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up.”

Translation >> You’re not too old to take a class or go for a degree. You’re not stuck in your current career. You’re not destined to do the very thing you’re doing right now forever.

“So find an adult that you trust — a parent, a grandparent or teacher, a coach or a counselor — and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.”

Translation >> Get a mentor. Ask for the support of your family and friends. Make friends with fellow classmates and colleagues who are on the same path as you. Exploit online social networking.

When it comes to education, there’s always something more to learn. Yesterday, I learned that a positive message doesn’t have to have an agenda, even if it’s stamped with a presidential seal. Sometimes, it’s just a good message.

-Dawn Papandrea

I love reading articles about college major trends because that’s a good way to gauge which career fields are up-and-coming and eager to hire. Lucky for us, writers at The Chronicle of Higher Education did some legwork in yesterday’s story, “5 College Majors on the Rise.”

Not surprisingly, all of the majors they list have something to do with making ourselves and/or the environment a little healthier, and finding new ways to solve problems. In fact, each field can be classified as “higher” education in some way, since they each have a higher purpose than just simply memorizing facts, performing calculations, or appreciating some type of art.

Take a look…

Sustainability — A few weeks ago, I actually had to look this up — no joke! That’s how new an idea this is when it comes to education and business. If you’re wondering what it is (which is nothing to be ashamed of), I’ll tell you. It’s the concept of making something more “green” or ecofriendly. Many businesses today are sustainable businesses. So college students, be sure to at least take a class on this because it’s the hottest buzzword in the workplace today!

Service Science — This is another buzzword that may not be what you think it is. The article describes it as cultivating “‘deep problem solvers’ who understand the economic, human, and technical dimensions of complex systems.” Yikes! That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? The idea is to improve productivity and encourage innovation in various service industries. In other words, these grads will help find more efficient ways of doing things. That sure is a good skill set to have.

Health informatics — The idea is to take each person’s tons of health data and digitalize it. The Feds are totally behind this initiative, and so a new field has emerged that will demand lots of technological know-how with a health care twist.

Computational science — Math meet science. Science meet math. Together, you’ll solve problems. At least that’s the gist of what computational science is all about. I’m not a techie or a number cruncher so it’s a bit beyond me, honestly, but the article says this: “Companies have used computational analysis to increase the absorbency of disposable diapers and to tweak the shape of potato chips so they drop into packages rather than fly off the conveyor belt.” OK then, moving on…

Public health - If the swine flu epidemic has taught us anything, it’s that public health is an expansive field. Students who merge the biology stuff with the public policy stuff will be huge commodities in our society.

Intrigued by any of these up-and-coming fields? They are definitely worth paying attention to for anyone interested in entering a viable industry. One day, they may even be as commonplace as English literature or psychology, so get studying!

-Dawn Papandrea

Online degree programs seem to have taken the world by storm, offering a flexible and convenient way to achieve your personal and professional goals. Critics of online colleges say that nothing can replace a traditional on-campus experience, while proponents insist that education is beneficial either in or out of the classroom. If you are on the fence deciding whether a virtual program or a brick-and-mortar program is right for you, consider the following as you make your own list of pros and cons:

1. Do you have time for college or grad school? “What do you mean?” you are probably thinking. After all, you’ve seen plenty of online college advertisements featuring students sitting at their laptops in cozy pajamas as they plug away at their degrees. And yes, there is much truth to the notion that online programs can be done at your own pace and schedule. But you do need to make time for your classes on a regular basis. Just as it is necessary to show up to class on a regular basis, you need to show up to your computer on a regular basis to read lectures, post assignments, and participate in virtual chat rooms with your classmates.

2. Are you disciplined? Yes, turning your computer on requires a lot less energy than getting into the car to drive to campus or even rolling out of bed in your dorm room and heading to class. But there is a great deal to be said for getting out of your apartment or house and sitting in a classroom for a few hours a couple of days or nights a week. Do you have the discipline to study on your own each week, even when you are just a room away from TV, dirty laundry, or adorable children? It’s not the hardest thing to work from home, but it does require concentrated effort to work through distractions, and there will be plenty of them when you study at home.

3. Can you work independently? A good online degree program offers plenty of support as you work through course after course, but in truth, nothing is quite the same as sitting down in front of an advisor or grabbing a cup of coffee with a classmate before class. Even the most independent of students find that they crave interaction from time to time, and although online colleges are getting better and better at facilitating virtual classroom environments, they still can’t match the experience of sitting in an actual classroom.

4. Are you in it for the long haul? An undergraduate degree takes four years when enrolled full time; a graduate degree around two. If you are looking for flexible degree options, then there’s a good chance that you are looking to go part time. Even if you take classes during summer or winter sessions to catch up, be prepared to have a lengthier tenure as a part-time student.

There’s no doubt that online programs offer the flexibility and convenience you are looking for, but you need to put in a little work to make sure your return to school remains flexible and convenient. With all of the options that are available to you today, invest a little time in your future and research which online programs will fit best in your life.

–Barbara Bellesi