The economy sucks. I know, I know, you already knew that. There have been lay-offs, salary freezes and budget cuts and if you didn’t know what a recession was two years ago, you sure do now. But did you know that while some careers are plummeting, others are actually defying the odds and thriving? Yeah, me either.
At the end of last year, U.S. News & World Report compiled a list of America’s best careers for 2010 based upon the Labor Department’s brand-new job growth projections for 2008 to 2018. Included in this list of 50 jobs are careers that offer the best opportunities for employment, earn above-average medium incomes and most importantly, are likely to stick around for a while even when some jobs will not. From plumbers to funeral directors, certain unexpected job areas have managed to flourish. While you may not envision directing funerals anywhere in your near future, Her Campus presents to you our top 10 picks for jobs that aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
1. Biomedical engineer
It only makes sense that humans today are living far longer than we were 10 years ago. Technology can largely be credited for this and so can biomedical engineers as we have them to thank for our asthma inhalers and artificial hearts. By designing and building equipment and devices to improve our quality of life, we’re not only living longer, but better. As a result, according to U.S. News & World Report, biomedical engineers are the top-ranked occupation for expected job growth in the next decade. The hiring of biomedical engineers is predicted to grow by 72 percent by 2018, making this occupation the clear leader of the pack.
How to get there:
- Major in biomedical engineering.
- Stock up on challenging science and math courses.
- Work hard in your English classes—you’ll need to understand and break down. complicated reading material.
- Brush up on your computer skills.
- Score a job or internship at a hospital or rehabilitation center. You’ll get a firsthand feel for the needs of patients as well as a better understanding of the healthcare system.
- Join an engineering club or society at your school.
2. Meteorologist
While weather patterns can be unpredictable, the future of this job isn’t. Environmental conservation has become an increasingly hot button topic in recent years, and experts are needed to understand and explain how this plays out with elements like climate change and air quality. Though they are competitive positions, if you like being in front of the camera, this could be a solid fit for you. Meteorologists aren’t as in demand as biomedical engineers, but job expansion is expected to increase by almost 15 percent.
How to get there:
- The American Meteorological Society suggests choosing an undergraduate major in physics, chemistry, engineering or mathematics, so you can prepare to study atmospheric science in graduate school.
- Sign up for computer courses—the more familiar you are with technology, the better!
- Hone in on your writing skills. Even though meteorology is in the field of science, communication is key for when you’re writing lab reports and research papers.
- Check out the American Meteorological Society
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3. Veterinarian
Animal lovers need not fret, as the outlook for vets is promising—try 19,700 expected jobs by 2018 (that’s an increase of 33 percent). With more than 70 percent of vets operating in small practices, you’ll likely be spending most of your time helping small household pets like your neighbor’s poodle or diagnosing and treating small ailments in addition to administering vaccinations.
How to get there:
- Major in animal sciences, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, chemistry, marine biology or zoology.
- Volunteer or intern at your local animal hospital or animal shelter so you can gain as much hands-on experience as possible.
- With only 28 accredited programs in the U.S., getting into vet school is challenging. Take as many science and math courses as you can to make yourself a competitive applicant.
4. School psychologist
Making a difference in a child’s life can change their world, as well as yours. Whether it’s that fifth grader who’s struggling with her parents’ divorce or a high school senior who needs the extra push to graduate on time, school psychologists can no doubt make a difference and luckily, not only are they wanted, but also needed. The number of clinical, counseling and school psychologists is expected to climb by 11 percent in the coming years as result of increased mental health services for students in schools.
How to get there:
- Major in psychology, education, public health, social work, sociology or special education.
- Talk to your school counselor and ask him/her how they got their start.
- Volunteer to be a peer counselor at your local high school or middle school.
- Take both psychology and statistics courses.
5. Mediator
If you’re the cool-as-a-cucumber friend that everyone flocks to when there’s drama, you may have a future career as a mediator. Mediators are increasingly needed to settle legal disputes, especially for foreclosure situations as we continue to face a housing predicament. Consequently, this had led states to hire mediators to avoid formal foreclosure proceedings. Employment in mediation is expected to grow by 14 percent—well above the average for all career occupations.
How to get there:
- Consider majoring in public policy, law and other related backgrounds.
- Be a good problem solver. As a mediator, you’ll have to settle disputes whether it’s with healthcare or environmental/public policy issues.
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6. Court reporter
They say that newspapers are dying, but court reporters aren’t disappearing any time soon. These reporters carry the responsibility of documenting every word that is spoken during a deposition or courtroom proceeding. One of the perks for a court reporter is that not only can they be self-employed (because who doesn’t want to be their own boss?), but they can also ultimately veer off onto other career paths like working as a webcaster or as a broadcast captioner. U.S. News & World Report labels the outlook for court reporters as “excellent” as the field is intended to expand by 18 percent.
How to get there:
- Major in journalism, health information technology, paralegal studies or prelaw studies.
- Brush up on your law terms!
- Learn to edit transcriptions
- Keep track and maintain files of all your records
7. Accountant
If you’re a number cruncher, this is a job for you. If you love logic and statistics, you’ll love that accountant jobs are expected to grow by 22 percent. People will turn to you when they want their taxes done or financial advice. Complex financial regulations like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 can be partly attributed for the demand of accountants as well as tax increases.
How to get there:
- Major in accounting, applied mathematics, business administration and management, economics, finance or statistics.
- Take all the advanced math classes you can—including calculus.
- Join a business club or society at your school.
- Practice good personal finance by learning how to budget and save money.
8. Public relations specialist
Whether it’s the President or Paris Hilton, whenever there’s a scandal, a public relations specialist is going to get the first phone call. They are the people who spin the stories in a more favorable light and dig the guilty out of holes when something goes wrong. It’s a high-stress level job, but employment of public relations specialists is expected to climb 24 percent by 2018.
How to get there:
- Major in public relations, journalism, English, communications or marketing.
- Work on your speaking and communication skills now—they’ll be helpful for when you have to talk in front of a large group (like at a press conference).
- Get a summer internship in PR.
- Join a speech or debate club.
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9. Multimedia artist
Twenty years ago, if you told your parents you wanted to be a multimedia artist, their first reaction might have been, “What’s that?” In the past, everything was originally drawn by hand, but with the advancement of technology, the special effects we see in mediums like film are computer-generated. These artists make the magic happen on the big screen whether it’s movies, TV, video games or cartoons. Thanks to the increase of effects such as 3-D movies, employment is looking to jump by at least 14 percent.
How to get there:
- Major in animation and special effects, film studies, computer graphics or studio arts.
- Try out different computer courses and experiment with as many computer software programs as you can.
- Volunteer to help with set design or painting for your school’s next play or musical.
- Sign up for art classes.
10. Landscape architect
If you’re creative and are interested in ecology and nature, landscape architecture may be an option in your career path. These architects are in charge of designing outdoor areas that enhance the buildings they surround. Not only do they need to understand buildings and design, but they must also draw knowledge on soil science and horticulture. With growing concerns of land use and resources, landscape architects are in demand and are expected to reach a 20 percent increase.
How to get there:
- Major in architecture, environmental studies, environmental engineering or even landscaping.
- Work or intern at a local landscape architecture firm, garden center or plant nursery.
- Dig in to landscape architecture magazine and journalism, so you can soak up as much information as you can.
HC-ers, are there any careers that made the list and surprised you? Are you planning on pursuing any of the ones listed above? We want to hear about it in the Comments section!
Sources
http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2009/12/28/the-50-best-careers-of-2010.html
Collegeboard.com
Princetonreview.com
http://www.ametsoc.org/pubs/careers.html#toc8