Consider the benefits of studying business at Rockingham Community College

What kind of person are you? Precise? Orderly? Organized? Enjoy routine? Good with numbers? A problem solver? Like challenges?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you will probably do well in a business career, and Rockingham Community College can get you started. Give the college two to three years of your time and you can emerge with an exciting career that matches your unique personality.

Here is a list of possible career paths for you to consider: accounting; human resources management; business administration; computer networking or information systems; medical office administration, transcription, billing and coding, or clerical; commercial truck driving; financial services; office systems administration; health-care management; global logistics; entrepreneurship; and word processing.

Let’s look at three:

n Associate of applied science in networking technologies — This degree enables you to work as a desktop support specialist, IT systems administrator, systems analyst, network technician, computer technician, database technician, wireless specialist, telecommunications specialist or IT security technician.

Times are especially good for women and minorities because there is a push, and sometimes incentives, for these people to enter this field.

Since the dot.com bust of the 1990s, jobs have mushroomed. A recent Monster.com search yielded 184 pages of jobs like those listed above, all within a 50-mile radius of Wentworth. True, you might have to prove yourself by taking temporary IT jobs in the beginning, but once you show an employer you have the right skills, permanent job offers typically follow.

Pay usually starts around $25,000 in more remote areas; higher in metropolitan areas. For people hired as field technicians, some companies will provide business hour perks such as car, gas, cell phone, blackberry etc.

Many companies offer incentives for their employees to continue their education. With careful planning, 100 percent of the classes in the RCC Networking Technologies degree will transfer to East Carolina University for an online bachelor’s degree.

National certifications are available as well, including A+, Security+, Microsoft Certified Professional, Cisco Certified Network Associate, or Cisco Certified Network Professional. As with any profession, more education increases your chances of receiving promotions and receiving higher wages.

This is a new full-time, two-year program that begins in the fall.

n Accounting — this is a great field for precision-minded people who like numbers. Graduates with an associate degree can enter the workforce as a bookkeeper, payroll clerk, accounts payable or accounting clerk. Accounting firms, small businesses, banks, governmental institutions, etc. hire individuals with these skills. Many RCC accounting graduates are now working for local CPAs, accounting firms, governmental agencies and local manufacturers.

The best-paying jobs are in the larger metropolitan areas such as Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Starting pay is about $25,000 for top students. With a bachelor’s degree, beginning pay can top $40,000 per year.

The job outlook is great. Most surveys indicate accounting is one of the top-10 career fields with good future growth.

This field is also branching out into some unique specialties: forensic accounting, professional estate executor, and international accounting, for instance. These will require advanced degrees.

The accounting degree at RCC is a full-time, two-year program, which begins every fall semester. Night classes can be completed in as little as three years.

n Associate of applied science in business administration, concentration in human resources management — This is a fun, diverse, exciting field for the decision maker who can listen with objectivity. Graduates can enter the workforce as a human resources specialist, human resources associate or human resources generalist.

This is a three-year evening program that begins every fall semester.

Currently, the job market is steady, especially for those willing to commute to larger metropolitan areas. Local jobs are also available, but may not be as plentiful. Graduates have found employment at The Fresh Market, city of Greensboro, Enviro Plastics, the postal service and more.

Human resources employees have to be mentally and emotionally tough. Their duties might include interviewing and screening job applicants, negotiating employees’ benefits packages, settling disputes and ensuring the company is in compliance with all laws involving employees. This is not a boring field.

Entry-level positions start about $28,000 per year. Pay and employability can increase for those who pass the professional human resources exam.

Management considers human resources employees as strategic partners within their organization. It is perfect for those of you who enjoy people, organization, and creative thinking. It brings a lot of personal satisfaction knowing you can positively impact the careers and development of your fellow employees.

Every program at RCC is designed to be completed within a designated amount of time. If you need remedial courses, fail courses or cannot take all of the courses designed for a particular semester, the time needed to fulfill the requirements for the program may be extended.

For complete information, call 342-4261.

The end result is priceless: A career and job made just for you.

• Lynn Brisson is assistant director of public relations at Rockingham Community College.