Q: As a result of consolidation in the financial services industry, I lost my job as a lending officer of a large bank. This is the first time I am looking for a job in 23 years. What suggest-ions do you have?

A: Always treat the job search as a first-time job seeker by having a search strategy, which includes determining the position you want and how you will conduct your search. Finding a job is not quick or easy. The time it takes to find a job depends on the job market, your qualifications and the amount of time you spend on the search.

You may need the help of an executive search firm or employment agency to help you prepare a cover letter and resumé, review your interviewing skills and develop a marketing program to get your resumé to companies seeking people with your qualifications.

The resumé should focus on measurable accomplishments. The resumé needs to be tailored to jobs to which you apply. Use your network, which is the most important job-search tool and should include professional, community and alumni associations. Post your resumé on the appropriate job search engines on the Internet. Less than 25 percent of job openings are publicly advertised and less than 10 percent of people with your level of experience get jobs through advertisements.

As a result of changes in the financial services industry, more than 150,000 jobs will be lost in this sector next year. If you are looking for a job in banking, it may take more than six months to find one.

Q: What are the job opportunities for an individual with an undergraduate degree in geography?

A: Geographers have many job options, such as being employed as an urban planner, cartographer, location analyst, real estate appraiser, land-use specialist, climatologist, travel agent, demographer or international development analyst. Most of these jobs require computer, research and analytical skills. You would have an advantage in the job market if you served as an intern in a city planning agency.

Cartographers produce maps that appear in the news media and also work for book publishers, atlas publishers and government agencies. A geographer with some coursework in meteorology may find work as a climatologist at agencies like The National Weather Service, news media and the Weather Channel.

A geographer who works with demographic data can work for the U. S. Census Bureau to develop population estimates. The Census Bureau actually has a position titled “Geographer.” Individuals with an undergraduate degree in geography who get a master’s or doctoral degree often become educators at colleges and universities.

Q: What education and licenses are needed to become a financial planner?

A: Financial planners usually have an undergraduate degree in business or a master’s degree in business administration and hold Series 7, 63 and/or 66 licenses. These licenses allow an individual to act as a registered representative of a securities firm. The Series 7 license requires sponsorship. Self-employed planners need to have a relationship with a securities firm so that they can buy and sell securities.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is the main licensing organization of the securities industry. Many financial planners start their careers by working for companies in the financial services industry.

Strong mathematics, ana-lytical and problem-solving skills, along with coursework in statistics, economics, finance, risk management, estate planning and accounting are needed when working with clients. Enrolling in continuing-education programs is important because of changes in tax laws.

A license issued by a state licensing board is required if insurance is sold.

Programs in financial planning are offered by many colleges and universities. Personal financial advisers can earn the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) credential from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. Three years of relevant experience and a bachelor’s degree is required before taking the comprehensive examination.

The examination requires knowledge of the financial planning process, insurance and risk management, employee benefits planning, taxes and retirement planning, debt management, planning liability, emergency fund reserves and statistical modeling.

The number of financial planners is expected to increase 41 percent by 2016 according to the U.S. Department of Labor, due to the number of individuals expected to retire during this period and the deregulation of the financial services industry.

In the United States, there are about 175,000 personal financial planners with median annual earnings of $66,000. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,000 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $145,000.

Financial planners receive commissions for financial products they sell, in addition to charging a fee.

Q: I am an attorney interested in teaching law or a related subject at the college level. What are the requirements for teaching? How do I find out if there are any openings at local colleges and universities?

A: Most colleges and universities require full and part-time faculty members to have terminal degrees in their discipline.

For teaching law, the Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) is considered the terminal degree. There are individuals with master of law degrees (LLM), masters in taxation, doctor of juridical science (JSD) and advanced degrees in other disciplines who also teach part-time.

Some colleges and universities require attorneys to be a member of the local bar association if they are teaching law courses.

With a background in law, there are opportunities to teach courses in a wide variety of areas such as business administration, criminal justice, health administration, the environmental sciences and political science.

Openings for part-time faculty positions appear on the Web page of the institution, as advertisements in professional journals and through networking. The most effective way to obtain a part-time faculty position is to write or call the college department in which you are interested in teaching several months before the beginning of a semester, when they have an indication of need and enrollment.

Q: Are there advantages of getting an MBA degree after I have been in industry for over 20 years?

A: Most individuals will have multiple careers where they will use their education and experience in different settings. In tough economic times, it is common for individuals of all ages to return to school and obtain a professional degree such as the master’s of business administration (MBA) degree.

There are over 300,000 individuals pursuing the MBA in any given year in the United States. The degree is offered by many colleges and universities around the world.

The MBA prepares an individual for the changing nature of business and for opportunities to advance in their career. The MBA is considered the terminal degree for the practice of business in both the profit and not-for-profit sectors of the economy.

The MBA degree is not a guarantee for success but can be a key contributor to reaching your career goals.

Edward M. Mazze is Distinguished University Professor of Business Administration at the University of Rhode Island.