Best Careers in 2010

Assuming you’re looking to find a new career, there are two directions you might want to consider: computers and health care.

Why health care?

As baby boomers age, the health care system is facing greater demands, creating better career opportunities. Health care careers are varied, offering lots of options. Within this category, you’ll want to take a close look at fields that cater towards geriatrics.

A lot of careers in medical fields require a little more education than other positions. But it’s worth it when you look at the long-term benefits. There are also often possibilities for part-time employment, especially when considering in-home care and medical transcription.

Pharmacist: To become a pharmacist, you need a Pharm.D. degree which takes about four years of study after you finish college, officially. Unofficially, I have two friends that took their PCATS (the test which most pharmacy schools use to determine admissions) after their sophomore year of undergraduate study and did just fine. (There are positions, such as pharmacy technicians, which require less education.) Employment growth for pharmacist positions is expected to be higher than the average of all occupations past 2010.

Why computers?

Every few months, it seems like there is a brand new career path having to do with computers. Software engineering, website design, IT analysis, new media consultants – they are all lucrative career paths, and are all relatively new. In 2010, there will be jobs we are only dreaming of today.

The key to any computer-related profession is flexibility. You have to be able to cope with rapid changes, learn new technologies and often have a willingness to either travel or telecommute. Outsourcing is a major concern for people looking for technical support positions, etc. Flexibility can deal with these concerns: there is still a need for on-site technicians, and you can take the opportunity to travel to a new country to work there, if you choose. Computers also offer lots of opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Software engineer: Most companies want software engineers with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering, or practical experience. It’s also expected to be one of the fastest growing careers through 2014.

Just one last thing for you to think about: take a look at this list of the fastest growing occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Almost all of these careers are in computers or healthcare.

• Computer software engineers, applications
• Computer support specialists
• Computer software engineers, systems software
• Network and computer systems administrators
• Network systems and data communications analysts
• Desktop publishers
• Database administrators
• Personal and home care aides
• Computer systems analysts
• Medical assistants
• Social and human service assistants
• Physician assistants
• Medical records and health information technicians
• Computer and information systems managers
• Home health aides
• Physical therapist aides
• Occupational therapist aides
• Physical therapist assistants
• Audiologists
• Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors
• Computer and information scientists, research
• Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers
• Occupational therapist assistants
• Veterinary technologists and technicians
• Speech-language pathologists
• Mental health and substance abuse social workers
• Dental assistants
• Dental hygienists
• Special education teachers, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school
• Pharmacy technicians