Six Sensational College Degrees for Chatterboxes

You know who you are. You think of yourself as an extrovert, but your family and best friends look at their watches once you start to talk. People at adjacent tables in cafes give you nasty glares that you ignore as you run up your cell phone bill while sipping on a triple-caffeinated latte. You're a chatterbox. You have the gift of gab. Like the white shark Jabberjaw, you hardly come up for air between sentences. Listen up, jabberjaw, you may be able to parlay your favorite attribute into a stellar career.

College Degrees for Jabberjaws

Online schools now offer college degrees and certificate programs that prepare you for well-paying jobs. And you can complete online certification courses while yakking into the phone at home. Let's look at five college degree or certificate programs that can land you in a career where talk is anything but cheap. All salary information is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Public Relations Degree or Certification

If you must talk, why not talk up your company? Call newspapers and broadcast organizations and let them know everything. Pursue an online degree or certification in public relations. Faster-than-average growth in jobs should lead to an overall 18 percent increase through the 2006-2016 decade.

• Median 2008 earnings were 51,280, with a top range of $97,910.

Business or Finance Degree

If people can't stand your chatter, they'll love making money from your advice. Jobs for personal financial advisors are predicted to rise 37 percent between 2006 and 2016. Complete an online undergraduate or graduate finance, accounting, or MBA degree and you'll be ready to speak with savvy and enthusiasm.

• Median 2008 earnings were $69,050, but top advisors drew a six-figure income.

Online Sales Degree

You love talking people into doing what you want. You think you can sell water to fish. Why not complete an online degree in retail sales, or go on to earn an online graduate business degree? Jobs for sales managers are forecast to rise by 12 percent, 2006-2016.

• Median 2008 Salary range for sales managers were $97,260, with top earnings over $140,000

Online Education Degree or Teaching Certification

Teachers get to talk in the classroom all day long. And after school they get to talk with parents. To qualify, you'll need educational career training. Complete a bachelor's degree and then go on to earn an online teaching certification.

• Median 2008 annual earnings were $47,100 for elementary teachers, and $51,180 for secondary school teachers.

Computer Support Degree

Every business needs a chatterbox to keep employee workstations operating in the pink. Talk with different people every day as you configure their networks. Complete an online technical support degree or repair certification to qualify. Jobs are predicted to grow by 13 percent, 2006-2016.

• Median 2008 annual earnings were $43,450, but top-end wages averaged $70,750.

Dental Assisting Degree or Online Certification

This one's a winner. You'll have a captive audience to speak at, and they won't talk back! Complete an online medical-dental assistant degree program and get to gabbing while you earn. And the job outlook is peachy, with growth in openings predicted at 29 percent during the 2006-2016 decade.

• Median 2008 annual earnings were $32,380.

Online college degrees translate into careers. And the flexible scheduling of most online degree or certification programs dovetail nicely with your existing work or family commitments. Many programs can be completed in two years, speeding you off into your new career.

Now that's something to talk about!

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