We're at war with a merciless, unpredictable enemy: The world economy. With giants like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Lehman, AIG, Wachovia, and Washington Mutual dropping like flies, no company is safe. Budget cuts are right around the corner. Can your job withstand the crisis?
The way you position yourself in the market will determine whether you are one of those workers left standing. Highly qualified workers in essential positions need not fear the coming cuts. These MVPs either work in indispensable industries or play an indispensable role in their organization. In either case, they have the up-to-date career training to bring real value to their employers.
Here's a look at the most valuable jobs in a tight economy and the education you need to land the MVP spot.
Always in Demand: The Public Sector
Government jobs are one step removed from the economic fray. And many sectors are so crucial to public welfare that they can't be cut when times get tough. For example:
Criminal Justice Careers
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Crime doesn't take a holiday when the economy goes downhill. If anything, financial desperation feeds more crime and more demand for criminal justice officials.
Police officer: Law enforcement officers keep the peace in their communities, patrolling the streets and implementing policies to ensure public safety. They learn their trade at an accredited police academy, but some choose to attend a college criminal justice program as well. An associate degree in criminal justice offers an advantage over the standard 12-week training program. The two-year associate degree includes applied training in crime scene investigation, criminology, civil law and more. Police patrol officers earned an average salary of $50,670 in 2007. In high-risk urban areas such as Oakland, California, police earn entry-level salaries in the $70,000 to $80,000 range.
Paralegal: Paralegals tend to benefit from tightening budgets, as law firms transfer more and more responsibilities from high-cost attorneys to their assistants. In the past decade, paralegals have seen their job description expand from administrative assistant to legal researcher and client advocate. Paralegals today perform a full range of legal functions, short of actually arguing a case in court. This accelerated responsibility, along with perennial demand for legal representation, makes for a rock solid career choice when times get tough.
Start your paralegal career with an associate degree in paralegal studies. The two-year program trains students in legal research and procedure, legal terminology, and writing. Paralegals earned an average of $47,600 in 2007.
Education Careers
Teacher: K-12 teachers are responsible for shaping our nation's future. They mold young minds, preparing students to become capable and educated world citizens. An economic downturn only intensifies the need for a new generation of talented high school and college graduates.
The minimum qualification for a teacher license is a bachelor's degree and a one-year approved teacher training program. But for best career results, teachers should plan to complete a two-year master's degree in education as well. This degree is widely available online, and many teachers complete the program during their first several years on the job. The online format allows teachers to recession-proof their careers while they work, building the education they need to stay competitive. Teacher salaries averaged $52,450.
The Medical Field
Health care workers are also unlikely to see their patient numbers decrease when times get tough. From registered nurses to technicians, medical workers can expect the same wildfire job growth they have been enjoying since the baby boomers hit retirement age.
Medical Assistant: Medical assisting ranks as the eighth fastest-growing career in the nation, with 35 percent job growth predicted through 2016. It's not likely that recession would be severe enough to reverse job creation of this scale. Medical assistants coordinate the administrative and clinical tasks that keep a doctor's office running smoothly.
Although some assistants break into the field with a one-year certificate most go on to a second year of college coursework in order to earn the more prestigious associate degree in medical assisting. This degree combines basic science and medical education with practical training in transcription, recordkeeping, insurance processing and more. Medical assistants earned a mean salary of $28,270 in 2007.
Too Important to Lose
The road to economic recovery is in the hands of business leaders and technological innovators. These private sector roles are buffeted by the downturn, but are so important to the upswing that they can expect to end up on top.
Business Careers
Sales Representative: A company's sales force has a direct impact on the bottom line, reaching out to customers and ensuring a steady stream of revenue. In times of financial crisis, a company's moneymakers are the last to go. Sales representatives rely on their numbers, not necessarily a degree, to attest their value. But a solid background in business can help sales reps hit their targets. A bachelor's degree in business offers the financial, strategic and marketing background to help the sales force close deals, even in a tough business climate. Overall, sales salaries averaged $60,190 in 2007, but the specific numbers vary widely based on sales commissions.
Environmental Careers
The environmental crisis has been dominating headlines since well before the mortgage crisis began. Recession has only intensified concerns over energy supply and global warming, driving historic demand for qualified scientists and policy makers. Innovative environmental research could drive new economic growth.
Environmental Field Scientist. Environmental scientists collect and analyze field data, monitoring water, air and soil quality. A bachelor's degree in earth science or biology is sufficient qualification for some jobs, but the best opportunities go to graduates with a Master of Science degree or higher. Popular fields include environmental science, hydrology or life science. Environmental scientists earn about $63,870 a year.
Demand for trained workers in essential fields won't die out, even in a tough economy. In many cases, these are the same workers who will lead us back into recovery. Competition for these jobs will intensify, however, as more and more people shift into high-demand fields. Education will help you build your value in the market place. With the right degree, you can not only secure your own future, but also help restore our ailing economy.
