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Career Projections for 2010
If you are making plans for a career change this year, do not despair. There are still some 
promising opportunities and trends on the horizon even if you are not interested in becoming a healthcare provider or school teacher. In her article entitled The 50 Best Careers of 2010, Liz Wolgemuth of US News & World Reports gives readers an insider’s view into this year’s career projections. In another article, Tom Henderson reports on Michigan’s workforce and career development. These issues will be covered in the following.
Making Plans
We all know that the job market has not been this bad for many years. With more than 15 million unemployed, it is obvious that the job market has changed. Job seekers are well aware that jobs can be outsourced, and if there is a way for a company to save money, they will regardless of employee needs. It is imperative that job seekers plan for the future. That means that it will be critical to recession-proof one’s career.
Recession-Proof Careers?
So how does one recession-proof his or her career? What types of jobs will be available going forward? According to Liz Wolgemuth, there are 50 career choices that will result in long-term employment in a growth industry. Having a good strategy starts with a career development plan.
Wolgemuth’s research looked at the “Labor Department’s brand-new job growth projections for 2008 to 2018” and looked for a wide variety of occupations, educational expectations, industries that saw growth, added employment, and offered salaries over the average. When possible, the research included “data on job satisfaction, turnover, and impending retirements.”
The list presented opportunities from five different occupational categories. The categories included science and technology, healthcare, education and civic, business and finance, and creative and service.
Opportunities
Some of the occupations mentioned in the science and technology field included network architect, meteorologist, biomedical engineer, and computer software engineer. The work varies from medical device development to asthma inhalers to video game developer.
Wolgemuth mentioned the healthcare industry and the opportunities available to job seekers and career changers. There are still opportunities available for nurses. Moreover positions as X-ray technician, laboratory technician, and physical therapy assistant were also possibilities.
In addition, there are opportunities for those interested in service for a municipal government. Anyone considering a role in the civic service area may want to think about firefighting, urban planning, or special education.
For job seekers and career changers interested in business and finance, the roles to consider include financial advisor, financial analyst, cost estimator, and logistician. While not glamorous, these positions will be key in controlling investments, managing funds, and containing costs, which are all essential to business success.
Lastly, research looked at the service area as well as the creative field. In the service area, security installers and plumbers are expected to be in demand. The more popular positions and some of the more competitive opportunities are in the creative field. Positions that will be in demand according to Wolgemuth are “technical writers, curators, and film and video editors.”
The above opportunities are not what most would consider greatest career aspirations. However, these opportunities are in growth industries, are projected to produce long-term employment, and are expected to generate above average salaries.
Trends
Another trend according to Tom Henderson of Crain’s Detroit Business, Which way from here?: 'Slow growth' builds Michigan's prospects, is development of a smarter workforce. Henderson speaks with Linda Wiechowski, Walsh College’s chair of the finance and economics department at Walsh College, who projects the state of Michigan will be “helped by a smarter workforce, in large part by those laid off getting retrained for new-economy jobs.” In addition, Wiechowski mentioned that "more and more people are going back to school and training for where the jobs are. Walsh has always had an older student population, but it's gotten older. I'm seeing a lot of that (adults returning to school) in my classes.”
Hopefully the information offered up by Wolgemuth and Henderson gives job seekers and career changers some hope for a future filled with prosperity. The great news is that there are still pockets of growth in numerous industries across the US. It is likely there will be jobs available that pay in excess of the average salary rate. Moreover, many older individuals are going back to school to develop new skills.
Assessments
To ensure success, job seekers and career changers should use a career assessment tool to conduct a personal assessment, and determine the best fit in terms of potential occupations. Next, conduct job related research to determine the availability of positions in the area and determine the requirements needed for positions. Then develop a strategic career plan focused on transitioning into a new role.
Before you make any decisions about making a career move do some extensive research. It would be a good idea to interview perspective employers to get some solid information about the industry, the job, roles and responsibilities, and the working environment. If you have the opportunity to actually tour a workplace, take advantage.
Promise
While the positions discussed in the above may not have been the most glamorous, they are actually still promising opportunities. Jobseekers and career changers willing to make some effort and develop themselves will be able to move into growth industries and work in positions with the potential for long-term prosperity.
References
Marsh, C., Guth, D.M. & Short, P. (2009). Strategic writing, multimedia writing for public
relations, advertising and more. Boston: Pearson.
Tom Henderson. (2009, November). Which way from here?: 'Slow growth' builds Michigan's prospects. Crain’s Detroit Business Retrieved January 18, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand.
Liz Wolgemuth, The Best Careers of 2010, US News & World Reports. http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/12/28/the-50-best-careers-of-2010.html