For all of our holiday traditions, it takes hard work to make them happen year after year. We’re not just talking about baking those special cookies, reading holiday books with kids, finding the perfect gift for someone, or taking a little one to meet Santa.

Throughout the holidays, you’ll be coming into contact with people in careers that are super busy this time of year. But some of these fields need workers, and if you’re considering a career change, see how holiday activities and traditions might lead you to one of these five professions.

Event planner
From the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to seasonal tree lightings and parades in other metro areas and small towns, event planners are needed to coordinate all the details and volunteers. Programs such as hospitality management give folks the education to work as an event planner, which also are in demand for company parties and social events tied to the holidays.

Advertising manager
If your child keeps telling you about the toy they’ve seen on TV and just have to have, you have experienced the power of advertising. Toy makers ramp up the marketing this time of year, so that their products become the must-have item, and professionals with advertising expertise and training from advertising programs help generate buzz for companies.

Financial adviser
Before the year comes to an end, many folks touch base with their financial advisor or planner to make contributions to 401(k) and other steps that can help lower their taxes. The know-how you get from a financial planning school prepares you to help individuals and families seeking to save as the year comes to an end.

Nonprofit director
If you’re volunteering with a charitable group or donating money, cans, clothes, toys, or other items to those in need during the holidays, the spirit of giving could take you into a new career. The nonprofit industry is seeking people who are passionate about a cause, who can use their knowledge of business, marketing, finance, technology, and other areas to help a nonprofit group reach more people, all throughout the year.

Photographer
Family and pet photos are the focal point of all of those holiday cards, and it’s wonderful to see kids grow up and people share photos during the holidays.

Phil Bekker, a faculty member in the photographic imaging department at The Art Institute of Atlanta, says there can be enormous satisfaction in being involved in a creative field like photography. To be successful, though, a key skill that a photographer needs is people skills, which will endear them to potential clients. He adds that a personal style sets a photographer apart from others and makes them more in demand that other photographers.

For many holiday cards, those amazing portrait shots require a photographer with the training to get the right shot, and that includes one with all family members smiling!

-Lori Johnston

Take a look at the college degree held by Ginni Rometty, who will take over as IBM’s first-ever female CEO and president on Jan. 2, 2012, and you’ll see someone who committed in college to a career in technology. She earned her bachelor’s of science degree with high honors in computer science and electrical engineering from Northwestern University.

Technology is a job sector where more women are needed, and Rometty’s promotion reflects that companies are seeking female leaders with technical experience.

If you’re interested in working in the technology industry, don’t be intimidated by pursuing fields such as computer science while browsing college websites and course catalogs. While the technology field needs people in all types of roles, from human resources to public relations, leaders like Rometty reveal that focusing on science and technology from the onset can be rewarding.

But females are discouraged from technical education pursuits, Caroline Simard, vice president of research at the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, recently told the New York Times. She said:

“Research shows that the majority of people have an implicit bias that associates science and technology with gender, so from a very young age, girls are not encouraged to pursue these careers. Women like Ginni Rometty are a powerful antidote against the stereotype.”

While IBM is a top global company, there are small- and mid-sized technology firms in your own town that need leaders, and by focusing on a technical education in computer science, software engineering, or other tech fields, you could position yourself to take on a leadership role and further help break the glass ceiling.

-Lori Johnston

A new program offers scholarships for police officers shines light on schools that are working to accommodate public servants and shift workers.

Herzing University recently announced  that the  International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) has joined its Badge-to-Grad Scholarship Program, which offers members and their families a discounted tuition rate. Among the school’s offerings are programs in criminal justice, homeland security, paramedic, and fire science.  IUPA members will also have access to master’s, bachelor’s and associate degree and diploma programs in the technology, business, healthcare and design fields.

This is great news for those in the law enforcement field, but it’s encouraging for all working adults as well. It shows that more and more institutions of higher learning are recognizing that people who are already part of the workforce can benefit from returning to the classroom. As such, it’s easier than ever to find degree programs that can be completed at your own pace, online, or during night/weekend schedules.

It’s also a good reminder that there might be opportunities to go to school at a discounted rate, or even have your tuition reimbursed, depending on your industry and employer. It’s up to you to find out about such programs so the entire school expense doesn’t have to fall on you.

Have you ever taken courses or completed a program that was funded by your employer or an organization? Tell us about it.

-Dawn Papandrea

Today’s guest post comes from Laura Laing, the author of Math for Grownups, a humorous look at the ways we use math in everyday situations. Her weekly feature, Math at Work Mondays, appears on her blog www.mathforgrownups.com.

If even the thought of math makes your hands sweat, you may have chosen to pursue a career that requires no calculating at all. In that case, have a seat before reading further: as a grownup in any job, you will do math.

But there is some good news. No matter what you’ve been told or thought since you were first learning your multiplication tables, you can do math. And if you’re passionate about your career, you probably won’t even notice it. I promise.

Take a look at these examples:

1. Preschool teacher: Math for preschool teachers is all about teaching kids to count, right? Not so. If you’re serious about your work, you will probably be reading professional publications, which include educational studies. That means that a basic understanding of statistics will come in handy.  And then there’s the day-to-day stuff — like dividing kids into groups (factoring), assessing their academic abilities (percents) and even planning lessons (time management).

2. Wildlife manager: Whether working in a national forest or on a fish hatchery, wildlife managers use calculations regularly. When treating fish for parasites, a fish farmer needs to carefully calculate the amount of chemicals to be added to the water. And forest rangers use math to map out trails and even manage park visitors.

3. Graphic designer: Sure, you may have a great design sense, but artistry will only take you so far. Graphic designers use proportions to be sure that their pages are laid out in pleasing and effective ways. And the golden rectangle — a particularly proportioned shape — is the basis of most conventional layout designs. This pretty little thing is created with the constant 1.6180339887.

4.  Pastry chef: Turns out, much of baking is described with ratios or the comparison of two numbers. The basic ratio for bread is 5 parts flour to 3 parts water (5:3) with pinches of yeast and salt. Then there are all of the other calculations, including conversions, temperature and baking/rising/resting times.

5.  Entrepreneur: Trust me, when you own your own business, basic math will be your best friend. Finding the return on investment (ROI), project fees, percent of profit, payroll figures — all of these will help determine your success or failure. It’s a good idea to feel at least a little comfortable with numbers when your money is on the line.

Tell us how you use math in your everyday life.

It’s a puzzling predicament: people can’t find jobs, and employers can’t find people to hire. It’s called a “skills gap,” and it basically means that workers don’t have what it takes to get hired or to get the job done.

Some say the answer is to get more people go to college. This is certainly an important piece of the puzzle, since post-secondary training can impart the kinds of skills needed to succeed in today’s jobs. But just making sure more people get certificates or degrees isn’t the answer. The key is to get the right kind of training, the kind that is needed to keep our changing economy afloat.

The good news is that there are already some national and state-wide initiatives in place to help workers get up to speed.

Developed by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) are employer-matched, portable accounts that workers use to finance their education and training. The Lifelong Learning Accounts Act of 2011 is still in the first step of the federal legislative process (if it passes, workers can get tax benefits from their LiLA), but several states have already launched these 401(k)-like programs for their workers. Maine was the first state to launch a state-based LiLA program, and Illinois was the first state to pass legislation for a pilot in the health care sector that provides matching dollars for LiLA contributions. Washington state has also adopted a LiLA program, and California has passed legislation to establish a LiLA program in 2014.

Michigan is bridging the skills gap with its very own “No Worker Left Behind” initiative, which provides unemployed or low-wage workers with up to $10,000 in free tuition for community college, university, or other approved training. Workers must pursue a degree or occupational certificate in a high-demand occupation or emerging industry (e.g., advanced manufacturing, health care, biotechnology, renewable energy) or in an entrepreneurship program. In an increasingly knowledge-based economy, Michigan is taking serious steps to get its workers up to snuff.

Exciting things are taking place at the federal level, too. The Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit, is spearheading a national campaign specifically designed to close the skills gap. Through Skills for America’s Future, a nonpartisan initiative, employers are connecting with community colleges in order to train students for 21^st century jobs. In one of its most recent endeavors, Skills for America’s Future joined forces with the National Association of Manufacturers to give students the training and industry credentials they need to make it in today’s advanced manufacturing workplaces.

If you don’t live in an area that’s offering special skill-building opportunities like these, all is not lost. It just means you have to be especially proactive and take your career preparation in your own hands. Going to college is an important step, but what you do there is more important than just showing up or getting a piece of paper at the end. And one of the best experiences to incorporate into your education is an internship or apprenticeship. Internships offer a great opportunity to determine and hone the kinds of skills employers really need. That way, once you have your coveted piece of paper in hand, you’ll already have real-world experience and demonstrable skills.

With opportunities like these in place, we’re hoping the “skills gap” goes the way of the dinosaur.

-Robyn Tellefsen

What do you love most about summer? For me, it’s the long hours of daylight, lazy days at the beach, and more time with my family. It might surprise you to learn that the very things you love about summer can help you discover a new career passion. If you’re a quintessential summer lover, don’t miss these opportunities to marry your love of the warmer months with your work.

Resort Activities Director
If you love a good vacation – and who doesn’t? – a career in leisure could be your ticket to success. Bring your passion for water sports, cookouts, and luaus to work, along with some planning prowess, and you can get paid to organize and enjoy your favorite summer activities. It’s like working in a land of permanent vacation.
Sign me up: In addition to strong leadership, organization, and communication skills, many of these wellness workers have a bachelor’s degree in parks and rec­reation or a similar field, and some hold a master’s degree.
Summer lover salary: $25,270

Toy Designer
Summer is a time for fun and games, laughter and leisure. And wouldn’t it be great to find work in your play? From card games to board games to Matchbox cars, toys rely on skilled artists to bring them to life. When you bring your big ideas and creative skills to the table as a toy designer, you can count on fun all year long.
Sign me up: A bachelor’s degree in toy design or industrial design is a great way to demonstrate your drawing, sculpting, and computer design skills.
Summer lover salary: $61,890

Chef
If you enjoy spending summer nights hosting dinner parties for all your friends (no worries about going out on a school night!), sink your teeth into a career in the culinary industry. Chefs are kings of creativity, using knowledge of food as well as artistic license to develop and prepare mouth-watering, crowd-pleasing concoctions. Become a year-round chef and savor the flavors of summer.
Sign me up: Culinary school is the place to go to become a well-seasoned chef; a bachelor’s degree and oodles of kitchen experience can help you make it to the top.
Summer lover salary: $44,780

Solar Photovoltaic Installer
Summer is all about the sun – and what better place to harness the power of the sun than the solar industry itself? Solar PV installers get to work with their hands in the great outdoors, enjoy the warm sunshine all day long, and know that the work they do is helping save the planet. Plus, they get to climb on roofs. What’s more summery than that?
Sign me up: A background in construction is valuable in this trade, as is roofing experience and knowledge of electricity. An associate degree in renewable energy technology can be especially helpful.
Summer lover salary: $33,980

Teacher
Teaching is the ultimate career for summer lovers – because teachers don’t have to work in the summer! Don’t think you’re getting a free pass, though. As any teacher will attest, you will work your butt off for 10 months to get those precious two months of freedom. It’s a hard-earned reward, but if you love the summer (and teaching), it can be worth it.
Sign me up: You need a bachelor’s degree in education and a state license to teach, though some states will let you work with a bachelor’s degree in another field.
Summer lover salary: $54,330

What’s your favorite summer career?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Criminal justice careers aren’t as glamorous as they look on TV. In real life, crimes go unsolved, operations get botched, and there’s more paper getting pushed around than perps.

But sometimes the puzzle pieces fall perfectly into place and the outcome is even more exciting than an episode of “CSI” – like the recent bin Laden raid.

If watching the news these days makes you want to jump into the field of justice, you’re in luck. The successful operation in Pakistan and the years of hard work leading up to it reveal clues about what you need to succeed in a criminal justice career.

Patience. On TV, the cops get the bad guys and justice is served. Mission accomplished. In real life… not so much. Think about all the people involved in the hunt for bin Laden – the NSA, the CIA, the DOD, etc., etc. From intelligence officers to military strategists to ground combatants, this mission took more of a toll than anyone thought possible. Ten years is a long time to wait for justice to be served.

Critical thinking. Which brings us to an essential question, particularly if you’re considering a criminal justice career: What is justice? No, it’s not a trick question – and there’s no easy answer. A great deal of criminal justice work requires that you analyze a variety of scenarios and solutions, since dealing with naturally unpredictable human beings is not a black-and-white affair. While many Americans are celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden, for example, a friend of mine who works as a New York City police officer for counterterrorism doesn’t see the killing of bin Laden as a good thing, given the prospect of an al Qaeda retaliation. In real life, killing the bad guy doesn’t necessarily solve all the problems. How will you handle that reality?

Perseverance. In just about any career, you’ve got to start at the bottom, and criminal justice is no exception. So if you’ve got your heart set on becoming a detective or working undercover, plan on spending some time as a patrol officer first. You’ll need law enforcement experience as well as a degree in criminal justice or a related field if you want to advance to the coveted professions, particularly those at the federal level. I guarantee that those behind the final bin Laden operation were not rookies.

Technological know-how. As InformationWeek editor John Foley put it, “A bullet killed Osama bin Laden, but U.S. intelligence is what did him in.” You need to know your way around a computer in just about any criminal justice career, and the techie stakes are especially high when you’re working in intelligence or counterterrorism. New surveillance technologies and IT architectures facilitate information sharing, and you’ve got to be savvy enough to utilize the technology effectively. When you enroll in a criminal justice degree program, you can get hands-on training with relevant technology to help you stay competitive in the field.

If you’re just getting started in a criminal justice career, chances are you won’t be involved in such a high-profile operation as the Osama bin Laden mission. Still, you can be a pivotal player in safeguarding the freedom of your community and your country. Do you have what it takes to succeed in a criminal justice career?

-Robyn Tellefsen

Week after week, I hear my son’s karate instructor preach an interesting message: “Good manners open doors in life.” I like that mantra, how about you?

He goes on to explain that if a plumber he hires is rude to him or a family member, he’ll figuratively karate-chop that guy right out of his home — his business lost forever! When he is treated the right way, however, he’ll go out of his way to recommend that professional to everyone he knows. Which makes me wonder: Do companies factor in the use of manners — or in more corporate terms, professionalism — when they make hiring decisions? When one considers the lost revenue and lost productivity potential, perhaps they should.

What I’m driving at is that although we hear about cutthroat office politics, sucking up, and “playing the game” as ways to get ahead (and depending on some corporate cultures, that may very well be the case), doing these things aren’t necessarily good long-term strategies for success. At least not my definition of success. Instead, being genuinely kind, making connections with others, keeping your skills up to date, and being the proverbial team player who goes above and beyond the job description — those are the qualities that will get you noticed. People will be more willing to go to bat for you, remember you when a job opportunity comes up, or be loyal to you and/or your place of business (no matter if you’re a hair stylist or a tax accountant!).

Perhaps somewhere in some business school, this idea is being taught, because it really is so basic, yet so overlooked. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been impressed by superior customer service in the last year. So listen up career educators: Aspiring professionals would benefit greatly from a lesson in Workplace Manners 101.

A girl could hope, right? After all, there was a time when no one cared about ethics, but huge corporate scandals influenced a whole new curriculum. Not too long ago, students were taught how to climb the corporate ladder… today, they are learning about personal branding. And social media is reinforcing the concept of marketing and the powerful voice of the people.

So here’s the challenge: Thank someone at your job today. Walk over to a co-worker and ask if you can assist on a project he or she is working on. Tell someone in a higher position that you admire his or her work. Send someone on your Facebook a birthday wish, even if you haven’t spoken in a long time. Type up a reference for a LinkedIn connection without being asked. In other words, make it your mission to stay on people’s radar — in a good way — and hopefully, the door to your next career journey will open.

-Dawn Papandrea

There are some jobs you can get right out of high school, but according to recent data from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, a whopping 63 percent of jobs in the U.S. require some type of postsecondary education. That’s more than double the percentage required in the mid-1970s.

It follows, then, that higher education leads to greater chances of getting off the unemployment line and getting into a job.

How do community colleges fit into the equation? A few ways:

• Affordability. Community college tuition is much lower than private or even public four-year college tuition, which of course makes a huge difference for low-income students.
• Availability. Community colleges are found in your local community, which can significantly shorten your commute and simplify your life.
• Academic Accessibility. Admission to community colleges is typically open to anyone who has completed high school.
• Adult-Friendliness. Most community college students are adults with work and family responsibilities, and community colleges tailor programs to that population.

“For years I have said that community colleges are one of America’s best-kept secrets,” said Jill Biden at the White House Summit on Community Colleges in October. “Well, with the President of the United States shining a light on us, I think that secret is out.” Obama’s American Graduation Initiative calls for an additional five million community college graduates by 2020.

It’s a lofty goal for sure, and students are flocking to community colleges in droves. But none of it matters if they’re not graduating.

That was the specific problem addressed at the Community College Summit held last week, the first of four regional meetings planned to identify promising practices for increasing completion rates at community colleges. Community colleges are committed to creating policies and programs to encourage more adult students to finish school and earn a degree or certificate.

Best Practices
At Tennessee Technology Centers, degree acceleration is the name of the game. At these schools, students sign up for a program rather than individual classes, and they move through the program as a cohort, which increases the level of accountability and support. Plus, programs lasting a year or less decrease dropout rates and help students get into the workforce and draw a decent salary sooner.

And at the “reverse job fair” at Central New Mexico Community College, local small businesses are asked to come to the school and talk about the kinds of jobs needed in their company. Armed with the knowledge of employer needs, the school develops targeted, short-term programs so students can get skilled jobs in these companies. Talk about a college career connection!

The next three Community College Summits will focus on successful transfer programs; partnerships between community colleges and employers; and exemplary programs for veterans, military members, and families.

-Robyn Tellefsen

It’s not easy to get a job these days, even when there are jobs to be had. Case in point: A friend of mine is a nurse manager in the psych ward of a major hospital, and she hasn’t been able to find anyone who’s qualified to be her assistant nurse manager. But that’s another story.

So what does it take to become a viable candidate for a solid, well-paying job? In the IT industry, the answer is clear: certification.

That’s the word from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and its recent “Employer Perception of IT Training and Certification” report, which is based on an online survey of business and IT executives who have made a recent IT hiring decision, and an online survey of HR professionals.

Get Certified, Get Hired
According to CompTIA’s research, 86 percent of hiring managers indicate IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process. The jobs are out there, but roughly eight in ten HR executives say it’s challenging to find candidates with the right IT skill set. As companies struggle to fill positions, they’re looking for validated skills. Just like my nurse friend, IT managers can’t afford to hire an employee who can’t contribute right away.

That’s where certification comes in. Nearly two-thirds of IT managers (64 percent) indicate that IT certifications have extremely high or high value in validating skills and expertise. Employers regard certified professionals as possessing a proven ability to understand new or complex technologies and engage in more insightful problem solving, both of which lead to higher productivity. And we all know that productivity is the name of the game no matter where you work.

Certification will be sought beyond 2011, of course. Eight in 10 HR professionals (80 percent) believe IT certifications will grow in usefulness and importance over the next two years, reports CompTIA.

Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money, Mo’ Money
Not only can IT certification give you a leg up in the job hunt, it can also translate to a higher salary. According to the 2010 IT Skills and Salary Report from Global Knowledge and TechRepublic, professionals who had earned an IT certification during the last five years earned an average of $5,242 more than their counterparts ($85,628 vs. $80,386).

But not all IT certifications are created equal. According to the report, the top five technical certifications by average salary are:

1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) – $99,928
2. Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) – $93,953
3. VMware Certified Professional (VCP) – $91,271
4. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) – $89,864
5. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) – $86,454

Don’t underestimate the role of IT certification in the hiring process. If employers are relying on professional certifications to aid them in their hiring decisions, give ‘em what they want (and score a sweet salary in the process!).

–Robyn Tellefsen