Climb The Salary Ladder

While their starting salaries may be modest, these 5 careers have serious long-term earning potential.
By Tony Moton

Are you worried that your starting salary in a new career will be too low?
Take heart: with some luck and hard work, you won't have to stay there for long.
"It's not like you can work hard, put your nose to the grindstone ... and get an automatic pay increase anymore," says Kevin Grossman, president of HRmarketer.com, a leading human resources services firm. "You have to take ownership of your career," Grossman says.
Grossman suggests that workers invest time and energy in planning how they want to move up the salary ladder, including gaining the necessary training and developing cross-functional and leadership skills.
Check out our salary growth plan for these five careers with high earning potential.

Career #1: Marketing Research AnalystStarting Salary: $38,431*Potential Salary: $88,761**
Marketing research analysts help companies figure out how people think and use their knowledge to boost sales. If you have an inquiring mind, this just might be the job for you.
How To Climb The Salary Ladder
1. Start by earning a bachelor's degree. Business, marketing, and consumer behavior programs can give you the knowledge necessary to take those first crucial steps up the ladder, according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
2. Gain experience assisting marketing supervisors and show how great you are at collaborating with others. This will help lead you to independent research projects, where the increased job responsibilities could bring increased salary potential.
3. Once you've established yourself as an experienced marketing research analyst, additional degree work, such as a master's degree, or certification from the Marketing Research Association, can help you advance to even higher paying jobs in the field. Supervisory and teaching positions are among the most well-paid analyst positions to set your sights on.
Are you ready to take the first step towards a lucrative marketing career?Search for local and online Marketing degree programs now.

Career #2: Nurse Starting Salary: $53,272Potential Salary: $100,536
In terms of hiring numbers, registered nurses (RNs) occupy the most positions in the health care field with 2.6 million jobs. That figure will increase by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. More than half of the jobs are in hospitals, but job candidates are needed everywhere, particularly in less-populated rural areas.
How To Climb The Salary Ladder
1. In general, you have three routes into entry-level RN positions: a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree, and a diploma from an approved nursing program.
2. Most nurses begin their careers in hospitals, but you can change settings and work in an office or clinic as a way to earn a promotion into more responsibility and pay. On the management level, you can progress from being a head nurse or assistant unit manager to a senior administrator.
3. With a master's degree, you will have a better chance of reaching a management position - and the salary that goes along with it. You might also think about becoming a nurse practitioner, either working independently or collaboratively with physicians while focusing on primary care services.
Search for online and local Nursing schools now.

Career #3: Financial Analyst Starting Salary: $35,474Potential Salary: $100,293
Businesses and individuals rely on financial analysts to guide them along the path of sound investment decisions. If you're looking to enter a field that offers increased financial rewards throughout your career, this is the job for you.
How To Climb The Salary Ladder
1. Get your foot in the door with an entry-level position by earning a bachelor's degree. Applicable areas of study include accounting/finance, business, statistics, and economics.
2. To climb up the career ladder, look into certifications. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, sponsored by the CFA Institute, helps analysts who want to specialize in certain areas, such as risk management.
3. If you want to reach the upper salary levels of this position, you will need to get promoted into a position where you're responsible for larger or more important products. Consider supervising teams of analysts or becoming a portfolio/fund manager.
Get started on your Business education now.Search for top online and local Business schools!

Career #4: ParalegalStarting Salary: $35,394Potential Salary: $93,000
Also called legal assistants, paralegals provide attorneys with support in the preparation of hearings, trials, and legal documents. Key responsibilities include researching and analyzing statutes and judicial rulings.
How To Climb The Salary Ladder
1. An associate's degree in paralegal studies is considered the most common starting point. If you already have a degree, you can probably get started with a paralegal certificate.
2. Once you have gained some paralegal work experience, improve your salary potential by earning certification. The National Association of Legal Assistants offers a two-day exam, and once you've passed it, your job marketability and salary are likely to receive a boost.
3. Proven leadership responsibility is one of the best ways you can put yourself on track for advancement in large firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments. Position yourself for advancement by demonstrating that you can handle more responsibility and manage others.
Search for Paralegal and Legal schools now.

Career #5: Computer Systems AnalystStarting Salary: $42,079Potential Salary: $125,759
Businesses utilize analysts to direct and troubleshoot their computer and information technology (IT) systems. They also might either design new computer systems or develop ways to improve and expand existing systems.
How To Climb The Salary Ladder
1. Employers generally prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in a technical field like computer science, information science, applied mathematics, or engineering.
2. Once you've broken into the field, show you can keep up with computer technology - and position yourself for promotions - by taking additional training courses provided by your employer, outside vendors, and schools.
3. As a lead analyst, your experience and leadership skills can put you in line for a promotion to information systems manager or an executive position, such as chief information officer. Six-figure salaries are not uncommon at this point in your career.

Controlling Anger, Before it Controls You

What is Anger?

The Nature of Anger Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger. Like other emotions, it is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. Anger can be caused by both external and internal events. You could be angry at a specific person (Such as a coworker or supervisor) or event (a traffic jam, a canceled flight), or your anger could be caused by worrying or brooding about your personal problems. Memories of traumatic or enraging events can also trigger angry feelings.

Expressing Anger The instinctive, natural way to express anger is to respond aggressively. Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and to defend ourselves when we are attacked. A certain amount of anger, therefore, is necessary to our survival. On the other hand, we can't physically lash out at every person or object that irritates or annoys us; laws, social norms, and common sense place limits on how far our anger can take us.

Anger Management

The goal of anger management is to reduce both your emotional feelings and the physiological arousal that anger causes. You can't get rid of, or avoid, the things or the people that enrage you, nor can you change them, but you can learn to control your reactions.

Are You Too Angry?

There are psychological tests that measure the intensity of angry feelings, how prone to anger you are, and how well you handle it. But chances are good that if you do have a problem with anger, you already know it. If you find yourself acting in ways that seem out of control and frightening, you might need help finding better ways to deal with this emotion.

Why Are Some People More Angry Than Others?

According to Jerry Deffenbacher, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in anger management, some people really are more "hotheaded" than others are; they get angry more easily and more intensely than the average person does. There are also those who don't show their anger in loud spectacular ways but are chronically irritable and grumpy. Easily angered people don't always curse and throw things; sometimes they withdraw socially, sulk, or get physically ill. People who are easily angered generally have what some psychologists call a low tolerance for frustration, meaning simply that they feel that they should not have to be subjected to frustration, inconvenience, or annoyance. They can't take things in stride, and they're particularly infuriated if the situation seems somehow unjust: for example, being corrected for a minor mistake.

What makes these people this way? A number of things. One cause may be genetic or physiological: There is evidence that some children are born irritable, touchy, and easily angered, and that these signs are present from a very early age. Another may be sociocultural. Anger is often regarded as negative; we're taught that it's all right to express anxiety, depression, or other emotions but not to express anger. As a result, we don't learn how to handle it or channel it constructively. Research has also found that family background plays a role. Typically, people who are easily angered come from families that are disruptive, chaotic, and not skilled at emotional communications.

Is It Good To "Let it All Hang Out?

" Psychologists now say that this is a dangerous myth. Some people use this theory as a license to hurt others. Research has found that "letting it rip" with anger actually escalates anger and aggression and does nothing to help you (or the person you're angry with) resolve the situation. It's best to find out what it is that triggers your anger, and then to develop strategies to keep those triggers from tipping you over the edge.

Strategies;

1. Relaxation

Simple relaxation tools, such as deep breathing and relaxing imagery, can help calm down angry feelings. There are books and courses that can teach you relaxation techniques, and once you learn the techniques, you can call upon them in any situation. If you are involved in a relationship where both partners are hot-tempered, it might be a good idea for both of you to learn these techniques. Some simple steps you can try:

* Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won't relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your "gut."

* Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as "relax," "take it easy." Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply.

* Use imagery; visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination.

* Nonstrenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer.

Practice these techniques daily. Learn to use them automatically when you're in a tense situation.

Cognitive Restructuring

Simply put, this means changing the way you think. Angry people tend to curse, swear, or speak in highly colorful terms that reflect their inner thoughts. When you're angry, your thinking can get very exaggerated and overly dramatic. Try replacing these thoughts with more rational ones. For instance, instead of telling yourself, "oh, it's awful, it's terrible, everything's ruined," tell yourself, "it's frustrating, and it's understandable that I'm upset about it, but it's not the end of the world and getting angry is not going to fix it anyhow."

Be careful of words like "never" or "always" when talking about yourself or someone else. "This !&*%@ machine never works," or "you're always forgetting things" are not just inaccurate, they also serve to make you feel that your anger is justified and that there's no way to solve the problem. They also alienate and humiliate people who might otherwise be willing to work with you on a solution.

Remind yourself that getting angry is not going to fix anything, that it won't make you feel better (and may actually make you feel worse). Logic defeats anger, because anger, even when it's justified, can quickly become irrational. So use cold hard logic on yourself. Remind yourself that the world is "not out to get you," you're just experiencing some of the rough spots of daily life. Do this each time you feel anger getting the best of you, and it'll help you get a more balanced perspective. Angry people tend to demand things: fairness, appreciation, agreement, willingness to do things their way. Everyone wants these things, and we are all hurt and disappointed when we don't get them, but angry people demand them, and when their demands aren't met, their disappointment becomes anger. As part of their cognitive restructuring, angry people need to become aware of their demanding nature and translate their expectations into desires. In other words, saying, "I would like" something is healthier than saying, "I demand" or "I must have" something. When you're unable to get what you want, you will experience the normal reactions—frustration, disappointment, hurt—but not anger. Some angry people use this anger as a way to avoid feeling hurt, but that doesn't mean the hurt goes away.

Problem Solving

Sometimes, our anger and frustration are caused by very real and inescapable problems in our lives. Not all anger is misplaced, and often it's a healthy, natural response to these difficulties. There is also a cultural belief that every problem has a solution, and it adds to our frustration to find out that this isn't always the case. The best attitude to bring to such a situation, then, is not to focus on finding the solution, but rather on how you handle and face the problem. Make a plan, and check your progress along the way. Resolve to give it your best, but also not to punish yourself if an answer doesn't come right away. If you can approach it with your best intentions and efforts and make a serious attempt to face it head-on, you will be less likely to lose patience and fall into all-or-nothing thinking, even if the problem does not get solved right away.

Better Communication

Angry people tend to jump to—and act on—conclusions, and some of those conclusions can be very inaccurate. The first thing to do if you're in a heated discussion is slow down and think through your responses. Don't say the first thing that comes into your head, but slow down and think carefully about what you want to say. At the same time, listen carefully to what the other person is saying and take your time before answering. Listen, too, to what is underlying the anger. For instance, you like a certain amount of freedom and personal space, and your "significant other" wants more connection and closeness. If he or she starts complaining about your activities, don't retaliate by painting your partner as a jailer, a warden, or an albatross around your neck. It's natural to get defensive when you're criticized, but don't fight back. Instead, listen to what's underlying the words: the message that this person might feel neglected and unloved. It may take a lot of patient questioning on your part, and it may require some breathing space, but don't let your anger—or a partner's—let a discussion spin out of control. Keeping your cool can keep the situation from becoming a disastrous one.

Using Humor

"Silly humor" can help defuse rage in a number of ways. For one thing, it can help you get a more balanced perspective. When you get angry and call someone a name or refer to them in some imaginative phrase, stop and picture what that word would literally look like. If you're at work and you think of a coworker as a "dirtbag" or a "single-cell life form," for example, picture a large bag full of dirt (or an amoeba) sitting at your colleague's desk, talking on the phone, going to meetings. Do this whenever a name comes into your head about another person. If you can, draw a picture of what the actual thing might look like. This will take a lot of the edge off your fury; and humor can always be relied on to help unknot a tense situation. The underlying message of highly angry people, Dr. Deffenbacher says, is "things oughta go my way!" Angry people tend to feel that they are morally right, that any blocking or changing of their plans is an unbearable indignity and that they should NOT have to suffer this way. Maybe other people do, but not them!

When you feel that urge, he suggests, picture yourself as a god or goddess, a supreme ruler, who owns the streets and stores and office space, striding alone and having your way in all situations while others defer to you. The more detail you can get into your imaginary scenes, the more chances you have to realize that maybe you are being unreasonable; you'll also realize how unimportant the things you're angry about really are. There are two cautions in using humor. First, don't try to just "laugh off" your problems; rather, use humor to help yourself face them more constructively. Second, don't give in to harsh, sarcastic humor; that's just another form of unhealthy anger expression. What these techniques have in common is a refusal to take yourself too seriously. Anger is a serious emotion, but it's often accompanied by ideas that, if examined, can make you laugh.

Changing Your Environment

Sometimes it's our immediate surroundings that give us cause for irritation and fury. Problems and responsibilities can weigh on you and make you feel angry at the "trap" you seem to have fallen into and all the people and things that form that trap. Give yourself a break. Make sure you have some "personal time" scheduled for times of the day that you know are particularly stressful. One example is the working mother who has a standing rule that when she comes home from work, for the first 15 minutes "nobody talks to Mom unless the house is on fire." After this brief quiet time, she feels better prepared to handle demands from her kids without blowing up at them. Some Other Tips for Easing Up on Yourself Timing: If you and your spouse tend to fight when you discuss things at night—perhaps you're tired, or distracted, or maybe it's just habit—try changing the times when you talk about important matters so these talks don't turn into arguments. Avoidance: If your child's chaotic room makes you furious every time you walk by it, shut the door. Don't make yourself look at what infuriates you. Don't say, "well, my child should clean up the room so I won't have to be angry!" That's not the point. The point is to keep yourself calm. Finding alternatives: If your daily commute through traffic leaves you in a state of rage and frustration, give yourself a project—learn or map out a different route, one that's less congested or more scenic. Or find another alternative, such as a bus or commuter train