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Sales support and marketing job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected sales support and marketing job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for sales support and marketing are projected over the next decade.
Sales support and marketing salaries have increased 5% for sales support and marketing in the last 5 years.
There are over 199,378 sales support and marketing currently employed in the United States.
There are 136,847 active sales support and marketing job openings in the US.
The average sales support and marketing salary is $46,557.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 199,378 | 0.06% |
| 2020 | 189,138 | 0.06% |
| 2019 | 185,941 | 0.06% |
| 2018 | 174,893 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | 163,448 | 0.05% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,557 | $22.38 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $45,128 | $21.70 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $44,654 | $21.47 | --0.2% |
| 2023 | $44,732 | $21.51 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $44,258 | $21.28 | +0.7% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 320 | 51% |
| 2 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 486 | 36% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 266 | 31% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,128 | 29% |
| 5 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 566 | 29% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 267 | 25% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 714 | 23% |
| 8 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 654 | 22% |
| 9 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 129 | 22% |
| 10 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 212 | 20% |
| 11 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 138 | 20% |
| 12 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 1,162 | 19% |
| 13 | Delaware | 961,939 | 182 | 19% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 373 | 18% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 138 | 18% |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4,454,189 | 764 | 17% |
| 17 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 245 | 17% |
| 18 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 232 | 17% |
| 19 | Alaska | 739,795 | 127 | 17% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 584 | 16% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarasota | 1 | 2% | $44,714 |
| 2 | Concord | 1 | 1% | $57,753 |
| 3 | Orange | 1 | 1% | $55,461 |
| 4 | Roseville | 1 | 1% | $56,640 |
| 5 | Stamford | 1 | 1% | $59,553 |
| 6 | Tempe | 1 | 1% | $44,474 |
| 7 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $55,353 |
| 8 | Minneapolis | 1 | 0% | $52,911 |
| 9 | Richmond | 1 | 0% | $54,593 |
| 10 | Santa Ana | 1 | 0% | $55,443 |
| 11 | Spokane | 1 | 0% | $67,095 |
| 12 | Wichita | 1 | 0% | $43,792 |
University of North Georgia

Webster University
University of Redlands
University of Central Oklahoma

Southern Connecticut State University

Millikin University

Baylor University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo
Emsi
Texas A&M University

Lynn University
York College, CUNY

Case Western Reserve University

University of North Alabama

Bradley University
University of Arizona

Cleveland State University

University of Hawaii-West Oahu
Mary Norman: As a Marketing Assistant often provides important support to the broader marketing department staff, the following skills and competencies are desired and often prioritized in the hiring process:
-Strong communication skills - written and verbal
-Strong time management and organization skills to meet deadlines
-Attention to detail
-Multi-tasking
-Problem solving and strong motivation to drive positive results
-Being comfortable in an ever-changing environment/adaptable and flexible
-Understanding of key marketing concepts
-Customer-centric attitude (internal and external)
-Social Media content development and analysis
-Listening
Mary Norman: -Communication - written and verbal
-Teamwork
-Problem solving
-Adaptability
-Creativity
-Positive attitude
-Motivation / Assertiveness
-Honesty
Mary Norman: -Project management skills
-Knowledge of key marketing tools and analytics:
-Social media tools like Hootsuite, Google analytics, etc.
-Design tools like Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator
-Email and Survey tools like Mailchimp and Survey Monkey
-SEO Tools like Google Ads
-Digital/Social Media Marketing Skills in the following areas:
-Email marketing
-Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEM/SEO)
-Email marketing
-Content marketing - ability to create content for social media and additional formats like blogs, etc.
-Social Media marketing through top platforms: i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.
-Data Analysis - mining insights into customer behavior based on website and social media analytics
-Trendwatching / Consumer insights
Mary Norman: While knowledge of the "hard skills" is very important in getting hired and excelling in a marketing career, soft skills (people skills) often support career progression the most. The following skills are important for career success today:
-Decision making
-Communication
-Adaptablility / Time management
-Teamwork
-Project management / Attention to Detail
-Problem Solving
-Analytical Thinking
-Creativity
-Confidence
-Customer knowledge

Webster University
Communications & Journalism
Sung Eun Park: Companies hiring marketing consultants look for someone with strong communication and leadership skills that can translate to great candidates. In addition, a strong background in data analysis will definitely stand out from other candidates. Unlike many beliefs, people who get jobs as marketing consultant comes from various education backgrounds including advertising and English major. It is an indication that companies are open to people with diverse perspectives that can bring fresh eyes to the team. The resumes showcasing a person with various experiences highlighting strong leadership skills (not just strictly marketing) in a team environment will get noticed.
University of Redlands
School of Business
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: The most common responsibilities of a marketing coordinator include the following: conducting research of the industry, competitors, and customers in preparation of marketing campaigns, working with other departments to produce marketing collaterals, tracking campaign and sales data as well as helping with sales forecast. As a result, strong research, analytical, and communication skills would stand out on the resume.
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: As mentioned above, a marketing coordinator needs to organize efforts among different departments to successfully design and launch campaigns. Therefore, collaborative, organizational (especially time management) and communication skills are most important for this position to keep things on track.
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: Skills in gathering information and generating reports to facilitate decision-making are most important. In addition, employers are looking for experienced people in project management to make sure the marketing plan is executed effectively. Familiarity with data analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, could also help track a campaign's performance. Secondary skills in CRM tools, such as HubSpot, and Content Management Systems, such as WordPress, would be welcome, too, especially for small businesses where marketing coordinators need to wear multiple hats.
Xin Zhao Ph.D.: Ever since marketing became a profession, creativity has been considered one of the most important skills for marketing professionals. Being creative used to have a narrow definition and only apply to design work to make your brand unique and stand out in the market. With AI and automation becoming more prevalent in the marketing field, creativity has a broader meaning. Specifically, AI and automation help businesses streamline data collection and analysis, identify patterns, and highlight insights, which could eliminate some traditional marketing coordinator jobs. However, marketers who can think outside the box would apply their business instinct to make meaningful connections between data and action. They can understand analytics and make a decision that transcends machine intelligence. Therefore, in the long run, creative skills would help you stay in demand for your work and earn the most.
University of Central Oklahoma
Department of Marketing
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Employers are looking for people who are analytical. Much of marketing involved understanding target audiences and marketing. If an applicant can analyze and interpret data, they add value to the employer.
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Communication is important in any job but especially in marketing. These professionals must be able to communicate with customers/clients about product/service benefits and must be able to listen and represent the needs of customers/clients to their own company.
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Data analysis is important. Understanding metrics adds value to your employer as you are able to design attractive marketing campaigns
Stacia Wert-Gray Ph.D.: Currently, employers are looking for candidates who understand social media and search engine optimization. These forms of marketing communication are red hot in today's world because they are relatively inexpensive when compared to traditional media, and they are easier to measure outcomes. Companies are emphasizing return on marketing investment, and traditional media expenditures are not easy to quantify benefits.

Southern Connecticut State University
Marketing Department
Charles Gamble: -Data Analysis
-Google Adwords
-SalesForce.com
-Photoshop
-HTML
-Hubspot, Pardot, Eloqua (or similar MAP)
-WordPress (or similar web platform)

Millikin University
Tabor School of Business
Dr. Carrie Trimble: Pandemic or no, marketing applicants who can show that they've improved an employer's bottom line--often in sales-related positions-- will always be the quickest hired and paid the best because it's easier for employers to see those candidates as revenue-generating.

Baylor University
Hankamer School of Business
Stephanie Mangus Ph.D.: Recruiters are looking for evidence that applicants are hardworking and have a history of achieving and exceeding goals.
Stephanie Mangus Ph.D.: Strong written and verbal communication skills aid employees in serving both constituents inside and outside the organization. Assessing when action is needed, planning a response, and having a positive attitude go a long way in developing a professional reputation.
Stephanie Mangus Ph.D.: In any business role, employees that can analyze data and craft strategy are really important. In a coordinator role, those skills may not be as necessary but will certainly make them stand out and gain attention for additional roles and responsibilities.
Stephanie Mangus Ph.D.: Analytical skills, business acumen, and knowing when to step up.
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
Dr. LaRae Jome Ph.D.: College graduates with a psychology major have a number of valuable skills needed in the workplace, including critical thinking, communication, and empathy. The undergraduate psychology major prepares students for a wide range of jobs, but because, like other liberal arts majors, it does not provide training toward a particular job, psychology graduates will be competing with other graduates for similar entry-level jobs. Gaining internship or research experiences while in school can help students gain experience in specific areas, which can help with getting jobs. For psychology graduates who are interested in social service positions that do not require an advanced degree, the demand for these jobs will likely be high. While these jobs tend to be lower pay, compared to other jobs that require a college degree, there will likely be a great need for assistance in social service programs.
In order to get a job within the field of psychology, college graduates need to pursue a master's degree or doctoral degree and then get licensed to practice counseling or psychology in the state in which they live.
The impact of the pandemic on psychology students who continue on to pursue a master's or doctoral degree may actually be quite positive in terms of job prospects. The pandemic was a difficult time for most people, whether it was living in isolation, losing a job, being afraid of getting sick, or just the fear that comes with not knowing what is going to happen in the future. Many people sought mental health care during the pandemic to help with feelings of anxiety or depression, and the stigma of seeking counseling services is deceasing for many people. Master's level counselors and doctoral-level psychologists are trained to help people with a wide range of emotional issues and it is likely that as we move into a post-pandemic world, there will be an increased need for counseling services.

State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo
School Of Business
Dr. Ian Alam: Companies hire graduates based on the perception of business growth or future growth in customer acquisitions. Currently the perception is that pandemic will die down in the near future. Yet the reality is somewhat different. The COVID cases are going up everywhere in the country and abroad. Therefore, the recent uptick we saw in hiring will fade away very soon. As a result, I expect an enduring negative effect on the graduate employments prospects. However, if our current vaccination program leads to herd immunity, i.e. at least 70% of the population is vaccinated by the end of summer, then the economy will open up further. This will encourage the employers to start the hiring again.
Rob Sentz: The key thing as people begin the search in the labor market is to not be so locked into a specific degree or certification. We try to (a) highlight those areas of work that need people, (b) show the key skills that are needed, and (c) allow people to line up to where their strengths, interests, and skills can really flourish.
All this is to say, that it is hard to pit degree against degree. Can you do well with an English degree? Well, yes. If you understand where to apply your interests, knowledge, and skills to help other people. Should everyone pursue an English degree? Well, no. Start with where you can solve problems and apply what you have learned / the skills you have gained to help other people. And think about how your knowledge and skills relate to key sectors of work that really have a lot of problems that need solving.
Finally, the ability to combine human (soft) skills with technical (hard) skills seems to be the key to thriving in a wicked labor market. People who do well have the ability to manage, communicate, lead, and do technical things like code, market, sell, and so on.
Texas A&M University
Department of Marketing
Janet Turner Parish: Being coachable, adaptable, productive and committed to live long learning.
Students will need to be more open-minded to various career opportunities. They will need to be much more aware of their own strengths when they approach the job market. Aligning one's strengths to the roles that they seek will naturally lead to more satisfaction and productivity.
Dave Baer: Well, the biggest and most obvious trend we're seeing right now is companies are hiring remotely. With the rise of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and abroad, studios have chosen to mothball their brick-and-mortar shops and are opting to hire talent to work remotely. While this may be the norm for the time being, I also think it raises cost issues in terms of the equipment needed to do some jobs. In the animation and VFX world, processing power is essential to successfully completing some tasks. That could lead to more upfront costs incurred by either the employee or the studio in having to purchase new gear for them to use at home. I can only imagine the scenario, "Honey, the new Cray supercomputer is coming today. I need the room upstairs, so we're going to have to move your mother into the basement."
Dave Baer: That all depends on the available position. For animation, they want someone with a strong understanding of how to bring an inanimate object to life and how to apply the twelve principles of animation. For VFX, an understanding of physics, how things work, and they would fall apart. And for games, one must know the game engine a company is using. They should have a set of well-rounded skills in the foundations of modeling, texturing, lighting, and effects. And they should be familiar with and be able to adapt to a company's style.
Dave Baer: For the animation and games field, a Junior position is a good starting point. Those are jobs for new artists or those without a lot of experience. They're "foot-in-the-door" jobs that teach new hires how the studio works, but they're also given most of the 'grunt work', or the jobs that the Art Leads and Senior Artists don't have the time to do. They're given more of the tedious tasks like retopologizing a model, rotoscoping, or modeling small objects that aren't considered "hero assets".
York College, CUNY
Department of Business and Economics
Yong Kyu Lee Ph.D.: Although there may be several trends that we can see in the job market given the pandemic, I would like to shortly point out two. One is communication skills. It is known that employee's communication skills are the one of the many important factors in workplaces because they lead to successful workplace collaboration and cooperation, which influence the quality of productivity and a company's success. As employees are working remotely due to the pandemic, they mainly communicate with each other via various contactless communications (e.g., video communications) instead of face-to-face communication in workplaces. Moreover, remote work is expected to increase. These mean that companies will be more likely to look for candidates who efficiently work with others by effectively using them. The other trend is expertise. Due to the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn, several companies may focus on reducing cost by efficiently allocating resources (e.g., money, people, and so on) and saving money in training employees without a loss of training quality. As searching for and hiring candidates who can demonstrate expertise in the field they work into, companies will try to access to training at low cost with high efficiency.
Yong Kyu Lee Ph.D.: My advice to you is not to take a gap year. It is worth to jump into the job market and apply for jobs that you really want. Even though you might not get hired, this experience will definitely help you prepare for strong job application materials for the following year. However, if it is necessary for you to take a gap year, I recommend you the following:
1) focus on building expertise in the field of interest. One way to improve your expertise is to earn a certificate. Depending on the field of interest, you can pursue different certificates such as digital marketing, google analytics, Microsoft certifications and so on. It will raise your competitiveness in the job market.
2) improve your communication skills. You need to diagnose your strengths and weaknesses in communication. Based on this analysis, you will be able to make a plan to empower your communication competency.
Yong Kyu Lee Ph.D.: When you apply for a job,
1) carefully read the job description posted by the company to understand what kind of candidates they are looking for. It enables you to find a job that fits you.
2) collect information about the company via various sources (e.g., company's websites, social media accounts, and so on) to learn. The better you understand the firm you apply, the higher you have a chance of getting hired.
3) prepare the reasons for why you are the best person for that position. 4) you must have a professional and up-to-date resume or CV.
When you get hired,
1) be ready to actively learn new skills and to improve your current ones at work because an employee's willingness to learn is closely related to a company's growth. Companies love to support these attitudes and behaviors displayed by employees.
2) trust in yourself. You can do more than you think.

Mark Votruba Ph.D.: The erosion of jobs in the service and entertainment industries has definitely been the most dramatic change in the job market resulting from the pandemic. Occupations that can be performed remotely have not suffered greatly, though uncertainties about the macroeconomy are probably having widespread negative effects on new hiring.
Mark Votruba Ph.D.: Data analytics skills are in increasing demand. I see more employers who expect training in tools like Python and R.
Mark Votruba Ph.D.: A job that provides opportunities to learn and grow. A job that values the development of its employees, with supportive older colleagues.

University of North Alabama
University Communications & Marketing
Michelle R. Eubanks: At this point in 2020, patience is key. Theatres, both nationally and internationally, were the first to make the responsible decision to keep audiences safe by canceling their seasons early in the pandemic. Those effects will echo through the industry well past a nationally distributed vaccine, as well as healing from the economic crisis. Live audience events will be among the last pieces of "normal" to return to theatre. Your career will shape itself in uncharted and unexpected ways. Most theaters are just now figuring out a path forward through this "new normal." Theaters are rearranging their spring/summer programming with a better understanding of what it takes to produce art in the current environment. Theaters are rebuilding both their internal administrative structures and production crews in the midst of mass pandemic layoffs and furloughs. Find a city with a strong professional/regional theatre community or even an IATSE union presence. Reach out to those theaters (Production Managers are a good place to start) and ask what you can do to volunteer to help rebuild.
If you're able, find time to focus on building your portfolio. Designers may consider supplementing their websites with renderings and paperwork for complete "unrealized" designs (which can be pitched during interviews to showcase "creative thinking"). Find individual projects that will build technical skills for resumes. Take on commissions or work on your own to construct garments, build furniture, faux finish, learn a new drafting or 3D rendering software. Lighting & sound technicians are in high demand now for practical work on virtual events.
Participate in professional conferences. Almost all major national industry events (like USITT) have moved online and have focused programming on precisely this topic.
Broaden your horizons to consider what career opportunities your skills fit into. Don't beat yourself up if a "traditional" theater career doesn't make itself immediately clear. The industry knows what challenges you're facing and empathizes with whatever your transition from graduation looks like. Keep in contact with all your mentors and industry connections so that you can be ready & available to get involved once the theater is "back on its feet.
Michelle R. Eubanks: Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio. While resumes and CVs are very helpful to prove to those in hiring positions that you're a competent collaborator and team player, our industry is ultimately portfolio-based. Showcasing hands-on competence, craftsmanship, and skilled execution of creative ideas will set any individual a step above the competition. Theaters hire when they see a portfolio filled with quality work that showcases both skill and creativity.
As for certifications-- For carpenters: look at courses/certificates in welding, rigging, OSHA safety practices, etc. Trade certificates will make you an asset in any shop. Lighting & sound technicians: get involved with events. Board op, hang/focus, and other hands-on experience is key, and there's plenty of work happening right now during virtual events. Costumers: pattern making & construction. Scenic designers: professional scenic painting courses, CAD/Vectorworks training for drafting, Cinema 4D or Blender for advanced rendering/visualization.
All theater-makers at every level can/should be using this time to get involved in diversity training, anti-racism seminars, and other initiatives that encourage proactive equity throughout the industry.
Michelle R. Eubanks: A day's work, for now, will look like figuring out what a day's work looks like. Graduates should spend this transitional period reaching out to theaters in their prospective cities to get a sense of what their spring/summer programming looks like. Summer stock positions & acting internships are the traditional avenues for pre/post undergraduates. Students shouldn't feel pressure to expect a "regular" day at work any time soon.
Even long-established industry professionals are currently in a "holdover" state. Be open to opportunities that may be slightly tangential to your area of study (both in and outside official theater work). Expect theater jobs to be focused on "community building" as organizations navigate recovering their seasonal programming and audience bases. Be hands-on, finding opportunities to build technical skills to bolster portfolio work. Stay in close communication with mentors. Stay active & involved in the arts. Stay hopeful.

Mark Johlke: Employee ability and flexibility to work remotely and at a central location. Employers are likely to want to see evidence that applicants have the experience and ability to work remotely with less direct supervision, while also being willing and able to come to a central location, such as an office location, as needed.
Mark Johlke: Our public school system does an increasingly poor job of developing students basic skills, e.g., reading, writing, math. If a high school or college graduate lacks these basic skills then addressing them would be Job One. If s/he has developed these basic skills then a gap year could be best spent developing career-specific SKAs. Many junior colleges and trade schools offer this type of focused training, plus the internet is overflowing with training options.
Mark Johlke: I'm going to continue to focus on the basics. Always keep in mind that you are not owed a job or a living or anything; you have to earn it. You earn it by showing up on time, focusing on learning and performing your new job, being conscientious and adaptable, treating others with courtesy and respect, being trustworthy and honest, and generally being the type of employee that you would want to hire and retain. The value you create for your employer must exceed the cost of having you as an employee.
Matthew Hashim Ph.D.: The primary trend we have seen is the required transition to remote work. MIS folks in particular have adapted quite well, but remote work has placed additional importance on virtual communication and collaboration within teams, organizations, and between consultants and clients. Many are predicting to see an increased level of remote work persisting into a post-pandemic world, as well as a shift in the workforce geographically (not just internationally, but within the US-for example, working for a firm in San Francisco, but living permanently in Reno). Besides that, the job market for MIS has been and should continue to be strong. Potential future growth areas for MIS will likely be related to increased adoption of advanced analytics, machine learning, and other types of data-driven skills. We've had these needs in the past obviously, but all industry folks I have spoken with continually stress the importance of knowing and responding to data, and creating value from data. Another possible trend could be the opportunity for new digital transformations of existing industries, as those firms and industries that could not adapt (or chose not to adapt) to the pandemic will be at a disadvantage during recovery. So those creative and entrepreneurial types that can identify new use cases, opportunities, or methods of creating value from technology will thrive. Of course this also isn't a new phenomenon, but the pandemic has accelerated further losses and industry transitions, unfortunately.
Matthew Hashim Ph.D.: There are three types of skills that currently seem to stand out and are sought after by graduates and employers. First, quantitative skills such as working with data and/or programming have grown in need significantly. Data analytics, data scientists, statisticians, machine learning, are all in incredible demand. Accordingly, advanced skills in Tableau, Power BI, R, database, and other related or specialized software are important. Even advanced analysis with Excel can allow job seekers to impress decision-makers by asking and answering incredible questions of data. In other words, don't discount Excel skills as it gives everyone a starting point for attacking their data. Besides working with data, programming and logic have grown in importance for MIS job-seekers. Not only do those skills translate to software development needs, but they also translate to data analysis and dovetail with advanced analytics work. Second, interest and knowledge of cybersecurity-related skills is also in high demand, especially by governmental agencies and specialized industry firms. Skills in cybersecurity could be managerial in nature (e.g., risk assessment and planning, cyber threat intelligence), or technical (e.g., cyber threat mitigation, incidence response). Third, the ability to communicate effectively as a group on IS-related technology topics, especially in a remote-working world, is critical. Evidence of these types of business communications abilities would certainly differentiate the job-seeker from the crowd, and would also translate to a successful interview.
Matthew Hashim Ph.D.: My main advice here is to be flexible and choose the opportunity that provides the best challenge and opportunity for career growth. We're living among a massive amount of uncertainty, and firms in many cases are trying to reasonably respond to the needs of their employees. That said, there seems to be increased opportunity in cities such as Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and others. Of course there will likely continue to be need for graduates in the historically popular tech hotspots such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Austin. But I would advise against being hyper-focused on one particular city as that could constrain your future.

Robert Whitbred Ph.D.: Let me say predicting job trends with any certainty has historically been difficult. That being said, organizations of all types, including the university I am a part of, have learned to run their operations remotely. I expect most organization will continue to support employees working remotely to some extent. You are now seeing employees of high-tech companies moving from California to much less costly locations without any loss of productivity. Since persons may work for a company from anywhere, companies will recruit employees both nationally and internationally based on skills and not geographic location. There will be opportunities in areas such as tech support and training to both support the technologies needed to work remotely and provide employees with necessary skills. Second, I expect there will continue to be great demand for persons who can create solid digital content of all types along with coding skills. Employers need persons who can create effective user interfaces, communicate effectively through social media, and develop the engaging multimedia experiences today's consumers are demanding.
Robert Whitbred Ph.D.: These are tough times, and people are struggling. The first thing is take care of yourself physically, mentally, and financially. If this is accomplished and you are able to spend time learning new things, identify specific skills related to your field that can be learned for little or no expense. One example is podcasting. Search for 'free podcasting' and you will find numerous free articles, 'how to' instructions and thriving online communities. You will also learn about an open source (free) software called Audacity. A second example is improving your public speaking. Join the local club of Toastmasters International. In these clubs you will give presentations to and receive feedback from supportive members. If you are stuck for ideas, explore the variety of options for free learning in Kahn Academy. Whatever you do, do not give anyone a credit card number. The last thing you need is to create more hardship by falling victim to a scam.
Robert Whitbred Ph.D.: Four things.
-Think medium and long term in addition to short term when making a decision on which initial position to accept. While financial compensation is important, you also want to take into consideration the types of opportunities you will be afforded. It may be better to take a lower paying position that will offer greater opportunity to both fully utilize your existing skills and develop new ones.
-Be aware of what employers, both current and potentially future, will find when looking at your online profile. Posts, pictures, videos, etc. that may have been ok in the past will likely be viewed negatively by companies. You are now a reflection of your employer.
-Always look for opportunities to both support the efforts of others and learn new things. Volunteer for things and convey your enthusiasm and interest in learning.
-Network, network, network. I know you cannot go to any career-oriented workshop without hearing the word network, but it is important. Join professional associations, attend conferences, participate in things such as company sponsored picnics or outings. You will meet people, and opportunities will follow.

Reed Young Ph.D.: I think the impact will be most prominent in the short term (6-12 months). In the long term graduates should be okay as far as public administration jobs if the economy in Hawaii see a rebound to 2019 tourism levels. With the distribution of several approved vaccines during the early part of 2021 resumption of a near normal return to work is expected later in 2021 or early 2022.
Reed Young Ph.D.: Graduates need writing, analytical, technological, along with research methods and critical thinking skills. These are basic skills required to be competitive in the workforce. To be able to identify an opportunity with a technology solution is important in any managerial situation in today's workforce. Graduates need to be thinking how can we make this better in the future while applying the theory of constant impovement or CI is essential for success. Researching what others have found and apply those solutions is important.
Reed Young Ph.D.: A resume needs to speak to the strengths of the individual emphasizing what an individual has accomplished. If an individual can demonstrate that they have applied sound logic and completion of assigned projects or worked well in a team environment that shows the employer a level of comittment. Continunity of employment or schooling is important as employers look for gaps in either area.