Looking for a career that can withstand a tough job market? Read on. While it might seem like nobody is hiring, look a little closer. With a little career training, you could find yourself fending off the recruiters fighting for your talents.
Meet the need with career training
Imagine having the kind of valuable skill that employers look for on a resume. Instead of worrying about what you bring to the table in a job interview, you can point to your education and ability. That's the kind of confidence that comes with a degree or certificate program in a high-demand career.
Offer: Search for Schools
Some of the jobs below are in demand because of increasingly sophisticated technology. Others are in demand because an industry is growing faster than students can train. No matter what the reason, targeted degree and certificate programs mean you can immediately benefit from the time you spend in school.
Career shortage: engineers
Engineers top the list of the hardest jobs to fill in the nation. "Companies are looking to replace more than half of their engineers over the next eight years, because baby boomers are retiring," Larry Jacobson, executive director of the National Society of Professional Engineers, told MSNBC.
Due in part to the level of specialized training and the amount of expertise required, engineering jobs are sometimes difficult to fill. "We have whole generations of people loving liberal arts, not going into science and math," said Jacobson. Look for a bachelor's degree in a specific engineering field -- civil engineering, for example, which earned workers mean annual wages of $78,560 in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Career shortage: nurses
An aging population, advancing health care techniques and potential gains from recent and future health care legislation all means big expected gains for this satisfying profession. Nurses are one of the fastest growing professions available, with about 587,000 new jobs for registered nurses expected to enter the field through 2016.
An associate degree, bachelor's degree and diploma in nursing are the three ways into the field. Start your career as a registered nurse with an associate degree, then earn a bachelor's degree and eventually a master's degree to specialize or move into management. Registered nurses nationwide earned mean annual wages of $65,130 in 2008, the BLS reports.
Career shortage: network architects
This IT job is in high demand. Network architects, also known as network systems and data communications analysts, use their specialized knowledge of high-tech networks to design, test and evaluate systems. Whenever a business relies on a network of computers, trained architects are working behind the scenes to make that network more efficient and cost-effective.
A bachelor's degree in information science, computer science or management information systems (MIS) is generally required for network architects. Higher positions such as those in management may require an M.B.A. degree with a focus in technology. The BLS reports that network systems and data communications analysts earned mean annual wages of $73,830 in 2008; not bad for a career in high demand.
Career shortage: veterinary technicians
Surprised? This career is a step out of the ordinary health care work. You'll work exclusively with animals and their owners, taking down case histories, developing x-rays and performing basic clinical duties. The growing veterinary industry is a major reason behind the projected job growth; about 29,000 new jobs through 2016.
Unlike many in-demand careers, a bachelor's degree is not the minimum educational requirement. Veterinary technicians typically need only a specialized two-year associate degree to enter the field. More challenging technologist careers generally require a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology. Together, veterinary technologists and technicians earned mean annual wages of $29,850 in 2008, the BLS reports.
Career shortage: medical assistants
This health care career is in high demand from physicians and other medical professionals. As a medical assistant, you'll work in the offices of doctors, performing administrative and clinical tasks under their supervision. You might check-in a patient and help them fill out paperwork, schedule appointments and call patients, or you could work in the exam room, taking blood pressure and recording vital signs.
A whopping 148,000 new careers for medical assistants are expected to enter the field through 2016, the BLS notes, making this a career with real future growth. A one- or two-year degree in medical assisting is generally all you need to enter the field, which paid workers mean annual wages of $29,060 in 2008. Working as a medical assistant gives you more information about the health care industry; some assistants choose to go on to more education to become nurses, paramedics, or other related medical professionals.
Career training for jobs in demand
While no educational program can guarantee a particular career or salary, hiring managers in the fields above typically prefer or require prior education among applicants. With the recommended training, you'll be able to enter the field with the skill and confidence you need to excel. Filling these job shortages can mean a reliable career, but it can also mean working your way into a career you truly love.
