How to write an article about becoming a {Career Type}

How to pursue a specific career path is one of the most common article themes on Noodle. When done well—which yours will be, if you follow this guide—these types of articles are immensely helpful to readers.

In this guide to writing articles about careers, we explain:

• How to define your audience
• The questions your audience is asking
• How to use those questions to structure your article
• How to answer those questions thoroughly and effectively
• How to write strong headlines, introductions, and conclusions
• The best formatting strategies to make articles easy to read
• Tips on selecting the right images
• Additional Noodle resources for writers

Writing isn't easy, but the good news is that there's no right or wrong way to do it. The below should serve as a guide—not a bible—and, while there's truth to the fact that the best authors of career-specific articles are those who have lived these careers, this article theme is one that any writer (willing to do the research) can tackle.

FYI: In order to self-publish articles on Noodle, you need to create a profile.

Now, let's get started.

Know your audience before you start writing.

By identifying the most likely readers of your article—and why they need articles like yours—you'll establish a compass you can revisit if and when you hit a writer's block or veer off track. Some articles may have multiple audiences. If you cannot identify an audience, there's a good chance your article isn't worth writing. Very few articles are universally relatable, so avoid using "everyone" as your reader.

Why are people searching for this topic?

• To learn about becoming a {Career Type}
• To learn about career advancement as a {Career Type}
• To learn about licensure for {Career Type}s

Who are the audiences for this article?

• Students looking for colleges or graduate schools
• Parents looking for colleges or graduate schools
• Professionals looking to make a career change

What questions should this article answer?

These are the questions readers would most like to see answered in this article. Use these questions to guide your writing, and review them once you have finished writing your first draft to make sure you have addressed them all (some may be redundant or irrelevant, in which case it is fine not to address them).

• What is the typical timeline for becoming a {Career Type}?
• What kinds of licenses are required for {Career Type}s?
• What does the career path of a {Career Type} look like?
• Which {Career Type} career path is the best for you?
• How much does a {Career Type} make?
• What kinds of jobs do {Career Type}s do?
• How many years does it take to get a degree so you can work towards becoming a {Career Type}?
• What kind of continuing education does a {Career Type} require?
• What degrees will help prepare you to become a {Career Type}?
• Who are the accrediting authorities for {Career Type}s?
• What experience do you need before you can become a {Career Type}?
• What are the education requisites to stay licensed to be a {Career Type}?
• What kinds of training and experience count towards the further education of {Career Type}s?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages that a {Career Type} has over a {Similar Career Type}?
• What types of companies/roles should someone work in before becoming a {Career Type}?
• How often must {Career Type}s renew their licenses?
• Where can you find good resources for becoming a {Career Type}?
• Where can you find guidance on the major responsibilities of a {Career Type}?
• Who are the best people to talk to about becoming a {Career Type}?
• What responsibilities do {Career Type}s have?
• Why shouldn't you become a {Career Type}?

Use search terms to guide subheadings.

The below subheadings are guided by the most common search terms for articles about careers. This means most readers who find your article will be looking for answers to specific questions. By using common search terms as subheadings, you'll make it easy for readers to skim your article for the information they need.

We strongly recommend using the below subheadings for articles about careers—with only minor tweaks, when necessary—to ensure you're on track to produce the most helpful stuff possible. As with headlines, keep all subheadings clear and direct. Again, most readers skim articles for the information they need, and quirky subheadings can get lost in translation.

Common search terms for articles about careers:

• Pros and cons of becoming a {Career Type}
• Kinds of {Career Type} careers
• Educational commitment to become a {Career Type}
• Licensure and accreditation for becoming a {Career Type}
• Resources for becoming a {Career Type}
• Typical advancement path for a {Career Type}
• Further accreditation or education for {Career Type}

Why keywords matter (and which ones to use).

What is a keyword?

A keyword is a word or phrase that people are likely to use when they search for the article you are writing. When someone wants to learn how to become a bilingual teacher, for example, they are likely to include some of these words and phrases in their search: ESL, graduate degree, early childhood education, licensure, etc.

Why are keywords important?

Including key terms in your article improves the chances Google will rank your article higher, making it more likely that a reader will see it on the first page of search results and click through to it (a process called organic search in the SEO world, as opposed to paid search, i.e. advertising). If you think it is weird to refer to a process that is entirely digital as "organic," you are probably not alone.

What are the best keywords for your article?

There are many ways to identify the best keywords for your article. One of our favorite websites for keyword research is called SEOBook, which also has a keyword density tool to see if you're using too many (also known as "keyword stuffing," which Google and other search engines penalize websites for), or too few keywords.

How to source reliable data and research.

Unless you're writing an article based entirely on personal experience, you'll need research to back up your statements.

For information about education, reliable sources include:

• College and university websites
• Accreditation organizations
• Professional associations
• Major media (e.g. US News and World Report, The Chronicle of Higher Education)
• White papers

When researching job markets and earnings data, reliable sources include:

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Salary.com
• Glassdoor.com
• Payscale.com
• Indeed.com
• Ziprecruiter.com

P.S. Noodle does not write about or recommend for-profit universities and colleges, and we suggest you do the same.

The best subheadings for articles about careers.

Do you feel like a writer yet? Because it's time to get down and dirty (with words). For each of the below subheadings, we've listed the kinds of questions your article should answer. There's a good chance we missed questions that you feel are important to cover, and others we've listed that aren't totally relevant. Feel free to edit as necessary. We've also included a suggested word count, which should serve as a guide and not a prescription (focus more on addressing key points).

Subhead 1: Pros and cons of becoming a {Career Type}

To make pros and cons easy to read, format them using bold text, bullets, and lists—like this article, about becoming an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, does. Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~175 words):

• What are the advantages and disadvantages that a {Career Type} has over a {Similar Career Type}? This can be tricky, and a better way to approach it might be by defining the similarities and differences between two similar career types.
• What responsibilities do {Career Type}s have? Use job postings to determine basic responsibilities.
• Why shouldn't you become a {Career Type}? Infer what sort of personality will mesh well in this career. If, for example, this career requires many hours working alone, it will not be a match for extroverted people.

Subhead 2: Kinds of {Career Type} careers

Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~200 words):

• How much does a {Career Type} earn? Cite averages, and include any factors that can influence earnings (like years of experience, and where you live).
• What kinds of jobs do {Career Type}s do? Say something interesting about general {Career Type} careers, and then break them out in a list format (again, bullets and bold copy are great).
• What kinds of companies do {Career Type}s work for? Job search sites are a great way to figure this out.

Subhead 3: Educational commitment to become a {Career Type}

Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~375 words):

• What is the typical timeline for becoming a {Career Type}? Break this out into steps, if possible, starting with undergraduate requirements. If there are multiple paths, explain why.
• How many years does it take to get a degree so you can work towards becoming a {Career Type}? Don't forget to include factors that influence how long it takes (for example, whether you study full-time or part-time).
• What degrees prepare you to become a {Career Type}? A great way to find this information is by looking at job postings for these careers, and determining whether employers favor certain degrees.

Subhead 4: Licensure and accreditation to become a {Career Type}

Depending on the career path, the below might not be relevant. If that is the case, skip this section. Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~150 words):

• What kinds of licenses are required for {Career Type}s?
• Who are the accrediting authorities for {Career Type} executives?
• How often must {Career Type} executives renew their licenses?

Subhead 5: Resources for becoming a {Career Type}

Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~175 words):

• Where can you find good resources for becoming a {Career Type}? Include general websites, specific links to articles, books, podcasts, and anything else that makes sense. It's generally best to present these in a list format, with one sentence explaining why each resource is worthwhile.
• Where can you find guidance on the major responsibilities of a {Career Type}? Job descriptions, corporate career pages, and college/university program pages are a good start.
• Who are the best people to talk to about becoming a {Career Type}? Offer both general advice (the titles of people who you'd recommend) as well as specifics (groups, websites, clubs, etc).

Subhead 6: Typical career path for a {Career Type}

Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~225 words):

• What does the career path of a {Career Type} look like? If the career path is linear, consider formatting it with bullets or numbers.
• What experience do you need before you can become a {Career Type}? Be sure to consider both traditional and non-traditional routes.
• What types of roles/companies should someone work in before becoming a {Career Type}? Be as specific as possible. A great starting place is Linkedin, where you can explore the backgrounds of leaders in this industry.

Subhead 7: Further accreditation or education for {Career Type}

Questions this section should answer (suggested length ~300 words):

• What kind of continuing education does a {Career Type} require? Include both required continuing education as well as optional ways to promote lifelong learning.
• What are the education requisites to stay licensed to be a {Career Type}? If applicable.
• What kinds of training and experience count towards the further education of {Career Type}s? Again, only if applicable.

What makes introductions and conclusions strong?

• Bold the most important key terms in the first 200 words of your article, so readers can quickly identify what's to come.
• Communicate the purpose of the article clearly, but with a least a little flair.
• Transition the introduction to the body of the article in a smooth and articulate way.
• Transition the body of the article to the conclusion by tying up loose ends, giving the reader something to think about, and inspiring action.

Strategies for writing effective headlines.

• Good headlines are specific, unique, easy to understand, and communicate "the spirit" of the article.
• Headlines with numbers tend to generate higher engagement, because our brains are attracted to logic and order. Use numerals ("5") instead of spelling numbers out ("five").
• Tell readers what's in it for them. Why should they click your headline? Use words like: tips, tricks, secrets, ideas, strategies, lessons, and mistakes. Be specific, so they know what to expect.
• An article that teaches you how to do something is good, but an article that teaches you how to do something in a set period of time is better. Many readers—especially those reading about years-long things, like getting an education—are incentivized by timelines. "Get this degree in 2 years or less" is an example.

What kinds of headlines are popular for articles about careers?

While your gut might tell you to avoid popular headlines, remember that prospective students are looking for very specific information to help make the right choices about when, where, and why to go to school. If the below headlines feel a little "meh" for you, consider making small tweaks to add style, without abandoning the basic concept or sacrificing clarity. If you do decide to write a totally different headline, be sure the message is as direct as the headlines below.

• Career Path to the {Career Type}
• The Best Way to Become a {Career Type}
• Educational Requirements for Becoming a {Career Type}

The best ways to format your article.

Use bullets and bolded copy to so your article is easy to read.

Bolded copy, bullets, and numbers make articles easier to skim so, without forcing it, use them whenever possible.

Common ways to use bullets and numbers in articles include:

• Step-by-step guides
• Listing skills, requirements, considerations
• Comparing careers, schools, degrees
• Breaking down the pros and cons
• Sharing recommended resources

Use external links to show the depth of your research.

Hyperlink all data, direct quotes, and any fact or opinion that is disputable/controversial enough to require substantiation. Linking is a great way to show search engines your topical authority. Relevant external links are good for your audience and search engines expect to see them in trustworthy articles.

External links "confer topical authority" (although not universally) and should cite reliable sources. As a general rule: mainstream news sources (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education), college and university websites, and government websites are always good, while sites shilling a product or service are not.

Use internal links to recirculate traffic and to build authority.

Have you written similar articles for Noodle in the past? If they make sense in this article, link to them. Internal links circulate readers across Noodle and increase our authority as a trusted source of information. These are both things we want to encourage. Check out this page for a full list of articles you can link to.

Don't forget about school links.

In the first mention of a college or university, we hyperlink to the school's Noodle page (all of which can be found here). After that, we link to the school's own website.

Know why anchor text matters.

The content of your anchor text—the highlighted, clickable words that link to another page—is important. Whenever possible, your anchor text should describe the content. For example, in the sentence "Social workers' average salary is $52,000, according to Payscale" the anchor text should be "Social workers' average salary," not "$52,000" or "Payscale." As a general rule, the shorter the better with anchor text.

Tell readers how to find you.

If you feel so inclined, include a short, 2-3 sentence author bio in italics at the bottom of your article, summarizing your experience and expertise, pointing readers to your website and social media handles, and telling them how to contact you (email, usually, if you're into that).

How to select compelling images.

When it comes to publishing articles about careers and education, certain kinds of images are grossly overused. It's not always possible to find an image that perfectly matches your article theme, but if you follow the tips below you'll be in a good spot.

General tips on selecting good images:

• Think about how the photo will look when it's a teeny tiny thumbnail on somebody's phone. If you can't figure out what the image is when it's super small, it's not a good image.
• Never use images that are offensive, insensitive, or sexually explicit… because this isn't Tumblr.
• Avoid images whose subjects are too off-center. Article photos are automatically resized to 1200 by 630 pixels, so if the subject is too off-center (say, in the corner of the photo) it won't crop well.
• Have a sense of humor.

Avoid images that:

• Trigger thirst
• Look like awkward family portraits
• Abuse mood lighting
• Lean into what influencers do
• Could be found in a picture frame on the clearance rack at Target or on the front of a Hallmark card
• Are predictable (see also: pencils, books, glasses, children, and graduation caps)

Embrace images that are unexpected, like:

• Libraries
• Crosswalks
• Backpacks
• Neon signs
• Bikes
• Legos
• Street art
• Stairs
• Eye contact

Resources for Noodle writers

If, at any point, you have questions about how to write your article, feel free to email editor@noodle.com or check out the below:

• How to Write Articles Students Want to Read
• Step-by-Step Article Templates to Beat Writer's Block
• 7 Articles Everyone Writes—And How to Make Yours Stand Out From the Rest
• Noodle Articles FAQ
• A complete list of every college and university in the United States

Finally, if you have lots to say about any of the aforementioned subheading suggestions, consider writing an article that is 100% dedicated to everything there is to know about that subject.

Done and published?

Share your article with everyone you know (seriously) and tag Noodle on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, so we can re-share it with our followers.