Day at Work Videos

Description: Registered Nurses (RNs) monitor, record and report symptoms and changes in patients' conditions. RNs record patients' medical symptoms and vital signs then interpret symptoms and test results to help make a diagnosis.
Knowledge Required: Biology, anatomy, psychology, and chemistry
Skills: Nurses work with many different people each day so social skills are an important aspect of this job, as are problem-solving skills.
Career Path: Three degrees are necessary: 1) Associate's Degree, 2) Bachelor's Degree, 3) Nursing diploma program.
Best Cities for this Job: California has many of the top cities for nursing jobs, including Oakland, Fremont, and Hayward.
Median Annual Income: National: $62,800 CA: 83,040
Future Growth: The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for nurses to be way above average for all occupations through 2014. It's projected that more than 587,000 jobs will be created from 2006 to 2016.

Overview: Melissa Fleis went from working at a retailer to becoming a designer on Project Runway to owning her own clothing line. Find out how following your dreams can lead you to unexpected opportunities in our latest Day at Work!
Description: Fashion designers create new clothing and accessories, helping to guide the process from start to finish.
Median Annual Income: $72,720 per year

Description: Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, radio and television jingles, film scores, and popular songs. They transcribe ideas into musical notation, using harmony, rhythm, melody, and tonal structure. Some use computer software to compose and edit their music.
Knowledge Required: Music theory, music interpretation, composition, conducting, performing
Skills: Musicians must be knowledgeable about a broad range of musical styles. Having a broader range of interest, knowledge, and training can help expand employment opportunities and musical abilities.
Career Path: Musicians need extensive and prolonged training and practice to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to interpret music at a professional level. Formal training may be obtained through private study with an accomplished musician, in a college or university music program, or in a music conservatory.
Best Cities for this Job: Composers will do well in large metropolitan areas with a concentration of entertainment such as LA, New York City, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Median Annual Income: National: $41,270 CA: $71,190
Future Growth: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the employment of composers to grow 8 percent over the 2008-18 decade.
From the Field: "I think to be a film composer, personality is almost as important as musical talent. Write as much music as possible and go see lots of movies." - Nathan Barr, Film Composer

Description: Animators create art that is used to tell a story or communicate a message. An animator can work as a freelance artist or work for a larger production company.
Knowledge Required: Fine art, writing, business, film, communication, graphic design
Skills: Communication and storytelling skills, as well as familiarity with digital media and animation software, will increase opportunities for employment.
Career Path: Many colleges and universities offer programs leading to a bachelor's or master's degree in fine arts, with courses or concentrations in animation. Independent schools of art and design offer postsecondary training that is focused more on studio work. While in school it is important to build a portfolio and pursue internships.
Best Cities for this Job: Metropolitan areas with concentrations of business in the creative field such as Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
Median Annual Income: National: $58,250 CA: $70,420
Future Growth: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 12 percent increase in job opportunities in this field, due to an increasing reliance on artists to create digital or multimedia artwork.
From the Field: "I get to create worlds, which is really exciting. So the characters in it, what they look like, what their spaces are like." -Katherine Woodman-Maynard, Animator, The Post-Nup Show.
Associated Curriculum: Digital Media Arts: Introduction to Visual arts and Digital Design, Unit 3

Overview: Kim Kissling is a San Francisco/Bay Area based food stylist and a two-time award winner from the Internatonal Association of Culinary Professionals. In this Day at Work video, she talks about a hands-on approach to food styling.

Description: Furniture designers and makers craft cabinets, tables, and other furniture in work environments varying from small, artisan shops to industrial factory settings.
Knowledge Required: Furniture designers and makers use a variety of power tools and woodworking machines. In addition to cutting and shaping the wood, they also verify dimensions and use fasteners and adhesives to connect the pieces. They must have knowledge of measurements, geometric concepts, and design.
Skills: Physical strength and stamina, math, mechanical skills, problem solving, attention to detail
Career Path: Taking courses at a community college or technical school can provide needed training in wood technology, furniture manufacturing, and production management. Furniture designers and makers should also take classes that focus in computer applications and mathematics. In order to become a fully trained woodworker, an individual may need 3 or more years of on-the-job training. Competency with automated equipment and computer-controlled machinery is becoming more and more essential.
Best Cities for this Job: Los Angeles, Baltimore, Memphis, Virginia Beach, Camden
Median Annual Income: National: $27,360; CA: $26,630
Future Growth: Due to an increasing population, growing wealth, and continuing renovation and repair projects, this field is projected to grow 18 percent by 2020. Because much of the industry will increase its use of automated systems, more workers will be required to operate and maintain equipment.
From the Field: “The thing I love the most is just the act of creation—of having an idea, taking just a concept or a sketch, and making it this tangible object that could bring tears to someone’s eyes. ” – Jared Rusten
Did You Know?: Ancient Egyptians invented the art of veneering and developed varnishes for finishing woodworking projects.