Many schools offer marketing and sales courses for people looking to get ahead in business and retail. Vocational schools will generally offer a certificate of completion or undergraduate degrees, such as the associate degree with an emphasis on business. Courses in the field can be quite diverse, and can include instruction in areas of business administration, accounting, business law, communications, consumer behavior, economics, finance, foreign language (if applicable), marketing and market research, mathematics, public affairs and speaking, political science, sales, statistics, technical writing, and visual arts.

While many employers appreciate candidates who have achieved their bachelor or master degrees, there are many organizations that are satisfied with entry-level vocational credentials, such as certificates in retail management, or certification in public relations.

If you are interested in preparing for employment in the field, it is important that you have reached a high level of maturity. The best candidates for careers in marketing and sales should be ambitious, creative, adaptable to change, and possess leadership skills.

Though degree programs are primarily focused on the business aspects of the trade, additional courses can help you gain the skills to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, occupational growth in marketing and sales is expected to be faster than the average career. Graduates can anticipate improved opportunities to attain gainful and rewarding employment. While there are a variety of earning potentials, entry-level salaries start out at around $33,000 and may go up to $100,000 or more annually.

If you are ready to enter this diverse and lucrative field, contact schools in your area offering training in marketing and sales today!

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on our website.

Copyright 2008 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

By Peter Franklin

Many people are afraid of the dreaded SAT’s, the longest, most comprehensive test most high school students will ever take. If they do poorly, they fear they will never be able to go to college. Although the test scores are a very bad judge of your actual intelligence or ability to succeed in life, your SAT scores unfortunately have a disproportionate impact on your college options. The good news is that it is easy for which to prepare.

Most colleges take your SAT scores into consideration. Many indicate that they will not accept students who score below a certain level on the test. Colleges know that it is not a measure of your I.Q. or a real measure of how likely you are to succeed; however it is a measure of the level of one’s discipline to study and, frankly, an easy screening method for applicants.

It takes a lot of preparation time to review all the material that will be on the SAT and, most importantly, to familiarize yourself with the way the test is given. If you don’t understand the format, the test can be very confusing and intimidating. Below is a list of steps you can take to prepare for the SAT.

1. Take practice SAT’s

There is no better preparation than taking practice SAT’s and carefully reviewing your mistakes. You can find practice tests at book stores and online. For every time you take a practice test, your goal should be for your test score to improve by several points.

2. Brush up on Old Math

Much of the math on the SAT’s is from earlier level high school material, so even if you’re good at math, you might not remember it. You need to re-read your old geometry and algebra books to do well in this section of the test.

3. Practice Your Vocabulary

Most of the verbal section of the SAT is based on vocabulary. The SAT frequently presents unusual words that sound like simpler words but have different meanings. If you have a limited vocabulary, it is very hard to expand it in a matter of weeks, but it can be helpful to try.

4. Become a Writer

Writing is a skill that only gets better with practice. Try writing a few SAT-style essays every day and you will soon be able to do them quickly and without being nervous.

5. Be Well Rested and Fed

Make sure you get a lot of sleep the night before the test. In the morning, eat a huge breakfast of something that won’t bother your stomach. Definitely get to the test location with plenty of time to spare.

6. Don’t Guess

If you read a multiple choice question on the SAT and have no idea of the answer and are unable to eliminate any of the choices as incorrect answers, your odds of guessing and getting it right are low. You are better off skipping the question altogether. Skipping a question will negatively impact your score less than getting the answer wrong.

Having said that, if you have a multiple choice question and are able to narrow down the correct answer between one choice or another, that would be worth making an educated guess since then your odds are much better at getting it correct.

The SAT is a long, dull test, so don’t be nervous. Also, try to take the SAT early so you have time to take it again if you are not happy with your score. Regardless how many times you take the SAT, colleges accept your highest score for their consideration of admittance to their school.