By Caroline Zaayer Kaufman
Monster Contributing Writer
So you didn’t study as hard as you should have. Maybe college just wasn’t for you, or maybe youth and fun got in the way of your degree. You’re not the only one. You can’t ignore the importance of a good education, but there’s still hope for landing a good job if you weren’t the best student. With some training and strong commitment, you can still get hired for a great a professional position in many industries.
Here’s a list of top jobs for the not-so-top student, according to PayScale.
1. Software Developer
Median starting pay: $64,400
Software developers -- aka computer programmers or coders -- write code, design and maintain systems, and install software programs. Programming is necessary in almost every industry so you could be working in a wide variety of fields, according to New England College. Developers analyze clients’ needs and create programs to fit those needs. They also update existing systems.
Check out software development jobs.
2. Sales Account Executives
Median starting pay: $45,400
Sales account executives generally work for a company recruiting new clients and maintaining relationships with existing customers, according to Florida Tech University. As an account executive, you might be assigned a specific product to sell or a geographic territory to focus on selling within. You would also be the company’s primary contact for your customers within that territory.
Check out sales jobs.
3. Lecturers/Speakers
Median starting pay: $44,600
There are plenty of fields looking for someone with strong public speaking and presentation skills. There are opportunities for presenting and speaking in a variety of sales industries. Also, with enough real-world experience in a particular field you can turn that knowledge into a job as a teacher or guest speaker at different schools.
Sign Up For Newsletters
Create an account and get career advice sent to your inbox!
Check out speaking jobs.
4. Real Estate Sales Agents
Median starting pay: $43,800
Real estate agents must be certified in nearly every state, and the requirements differ depending where you live, according to Mortgage News Daily. Agents help people with buying and selling property, be it a house, commercial building or an empty field. These agents exist to protect buyers and sellers and navigate the complex laws involved in property sales.
Check out real estate jobs.
5. Social Media Managers
Median starting pay: $40,900
Social media managers can work in any company that wants to use social media as a way to recruit and communicate with customers, prospects or potential employees. This job requires knowledge of marketing through media such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the many other social media platforms out there.
Check out social media manager jobs.
6. Copywriters
Median starting pay: $40,400
Organizations in a wide variety of industries including banking, insurance, agriculture and the non-profit sector need copy writers to communicate their messages, according to Direct Creative. At some point nearly every company needs to produce something in writing -- such as a newsletter, customer-relations document or internal announcement -- and someone with solid writing skills is a must-have to ensure those communications materials are polished and professional.
Check out copywriting jobs.
