Magical Career Opportunities: Harry Potter Mania's Not for Children Only
by Chloë Dowley
Whether you waited in line all night for your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows or you're sick of the Potter-mania, you--like the rest of us--see children's literature in a fresh light because of the Harry Potter books. Once relegated to the kids' corner of bookstores and to Sunday matinee films, young people's fiction and related industries are experiencing a renaissance, thanks in large part to J.K. Rowling's series.
Regardless of public controversies over the boy wizard and his friends, consumer money talks. Revenues at Scholastic and Warner Brothers are sky-high. But there's no reason that more of us can't benefit from the market created by the gang at Hogwarts. With the proper education (and I'm not talking about potions and spells), witches, wizards, and muggles alike can get in on creative career opportunities in Potter-inspired fields.
Be the Next J.K. Rowling
Once a starving single mom, Rowling is now the richest woman in England thanks to the amazingly popular world she created in the Potter series. As Rowling steps out of the limelight she will leave a void to in the children's section of Borders, giving aspiring fantasy authors a chance to make themselves known. If you have an active imagination and enjoy putting your thoughts on paper, maybe you should consider honing your skills with some professional training.
A liberal arts degree is a great way to learn how to do research and to express yourself more eloquently in writing. Associate's and bachelor's degrees in liberal arts are available from schools nationwide, and many offer online writing courses as well. As a student in a liberal arts degree program you could expect to take courses in disciplines varying from anthropology and political science to economics and literature. How else could you learn about magical beliefs, inter-school rivalries, the relative value of owls, or the fantasy genre? The research and writing you'll do to get your liberal arts degree could be just the motivation to take your ideas from notebook scrawlings to typed manuscripts.
Make Big Screen Wizardry
For those of us who aren't up to ingesting 700-plus pages of a book, the Harry Potter movies are an entertaining way to get a taste of the fun. Fans obviously agree, as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix broke box office records in its first few days of release. Bringing flying brooms, dragons, and dueling magicians to the big screen requires the work of highly skilled professionals, however, and the popularity of fantasy films is good news for anyone interested in a career in digital graphic design or animation.
If you'd like to see your name in the credits of the movie version of The Deathly Hallows, you'll need to get to work. Degrees in graphic design and animation can help prepare you for a creative career in this field, with training that focuses on using the latest computer software to make your imagination come to life. Although certificates and associate's degrees are available in graphic design and animation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most entry-level jobs in this field require at least a bachelor's degree.
Build the Hype
Harry, Ron and Hermione might never have risen to stardom without the efforts of hard-working marketing, and public relations professionals. Get involved in this industry, and you could help spread the word for the next big fad. Advertising and public relations specialists sell ad space for radio, TV, internet, billboards, or printed publications. Professionals in this field are responsible for an array of activities, including conceptualizing and designing advertising campaigns and creating a positive public image for clients--be they humans, wizards, or movies.
In addition to the great people skills, creativity and ability to problem-solve that you may already bring to an advertising or PR job, it's wise to get some career training under your belt to prepare yourself for success. Some occupations in this field (such as assistant art directors or assistant copywriters) are available to individuals with 2-year degrees. If you'd like to work as a media-planner or as a public relations specialist, you'd probably benefit from a bachelor's degree in public relations or marketing.
Find Your Own Hogwarts
Thanks to online degree programs, getting a career-directed education is more convenient than ever before. While you won't find a professor quite as wise as Dumbledore or a campus with a Quidditch court, you will find a wide array of schools from which to choose. Earning your degree won't be as easy as waving a magic wand, but if you keep your career goals in mind you may find yourself enjoying the process. Harry Potter's fate has been written. Yours is up to you.
by Chloë Dowley
Whether you waited in line all night for your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows or you're sick of the Potter-mania, you--like the rest of us--see children's literature in a fresh light because of the Harry Potter books. Once relegated to the kids' corner of bookstores and to Sunday matinee films, young people's fiction and related industries are experiencing a renaissance, thanks in large part to J.K. Rowling's series.
Regardless of public controversies over the boy wizard and his friends, consumer money talks. Revenues at Scholastic and Warner Brothers are sky-high. But there's no reason that more of us can't benefit from the market created by the gang at Hogwarts. With the proper education (and I'm not talking about potions and spells), witches, wizards, and muggles alike can get in on creative career opportunities in Potter-inspired fields.
Be the Next J.K. Rowling
Once a starving single mom, Rowling is now the richest woman in England thanks to the amazingly popular world she created in the Potter series. As Rowling steps out of the limelight she will leave a void to in the children's section of Borders, giving aspiring fantasy authors a chance to make themselves known. If you have an active imagination and enjoy putting your thoughts on paper, maybe you should consider honing your skills with some professional training.
A liberal arts degree is a great way to learn how to do research and to express yourself more eloquently in writing. Associate's and bachelor's degrees in liberal arts are available from schools nationwide, and many offer online writing courses as well. As a student in a liberal arts degree program you could expect to take courses in disciplines varying from anthropology and political science to economics and literature. How else could you learn about magical beliefs, inter-school rivalries, the relative value of owls, or the fantasy genre? The research and writing you'll do to get your liberal arts degree could be just the motivation to take your ideas from notebook scrawlings to typed manuscripts.
Make Big Screen Wizardry
For those of us who aren't up to ingesting 700-plus pages of a book, the Harry Potter movies are an entertaining way to get a taste of the fun. Fans obviously agree, as Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix broke box office records in its first few days of release. Bringing flying brooms, dragons, and dueling magicians to the big screen requires the work of highly skilled professionals, however, and the popularity of fantasy films is good news for anyone interested in a career in digital graphic design or animation.
If you'd like to see your name in the credits of the movie version of The Deathly Hallows, you'll need to get to work. Degrees in graphic design and animation can help prepare you for a creative career in this field, with training that focuses on using the latest computer software to make your imagination come to life. Although certificates and associate's degrees are available in graphic design and animation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most entry-level jobs in this field require at least a bachelor's degree.
Build the Hype
Harry, Ron and Hermione might never have risen to stardom without the efforts of hard-working marketing, and public relations professionals. Get involved in this industry, and you could help spread the word for the next big fad. Advertising and public relations specialists sell ad space for radio, TV, internet, billboards, or printed publications. Professionals in this field are responsible for an array of activities, including conceptualizing and designing advertising campaigns and creating a positive public image for clients--be they humans, wizards, or movies.
In addition to the great people skills, creativity and ability to problem-solve that you may already bring to an advertising or PR job, it's wise to get some career training under your belt to prepare yourself for success. Some occupations in this field (such as assistant art directors or assistant copywriters) are available to individuals with 2-year degrees. If you'd like to work as a media-planner or as a public relations specialist, you'd probably benefit from a bachelor's degree in public relations or marketing.
Find Your Own Hogwarts
Thanks to online degree programs, getting a career-directed education is more convenient than ever before. While you won't find a professor quite as wise as Dumbledore or a campus with a Quidditch court, you will find a wide array of schools from which to choose. Earning your degree won't be as easy as waving a magic wand, but if you keep your career goals in mind you may find yourself enjoying the process. Harry Potter's fate has been written. Yours is up to you.
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