Are you searching for a career field that is challenging, interesting, and needs qualified workers? Before you decide which path to choose, take a few minutes to consider five of the most in-demand careers areas. These areas are, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), going to experience high growth and demand for workers over the next ten years.

1. Education and health services

The BLS estimates that between now and the year 2014, fully 30% of all jobs created in the U.S. will come from the healthcare and educational services arena. Examples of specific careers that are included in this employment sector are:

* Registered nurse

* Medical assistant

* Radiology technician

* Medical imaging

* Social services

* Childcare

* Teaching

* Educational support

Healthcare in particular is already experiencing an extreme shortage of qualified workers, and the problem will only get worse as time goes by. Anyone who chooses a career in healthcare is likely to have excellent employment opportunities well into the future.

2. Professional and business services

This area encompasses many career choices that cover a wide range of professional and business functions. Among the careers that fall into this category are:

* Business administration

* Employment services

* Computer systems design

* System administration

* Cyber security

* Management consulting

* Technical consulting

The main driver for this sector is the increasing complexity of doing business in the modern world. The integration of business and technology will continue to explode, creating many opportunities for people who want to manage or support such integration efforts.

3. Information

We live in the age of information, and the demand is increasing for workers who can develop, run and support the information economy. Careers in this category include:

* Software publishing

* Internet publishing

* Internet broadcasting

* Internet service providers

* Web search portals

* Data processing and analysis

* Telecommunications technicians

* Wireless services

* Broadband internet services

The information sector is not about to shrink, as our world becomes increasingly information-dependent. A good option to consider is any career that contributes to the development, operation and innovation of information technology and services.

4. Leisure and hospitality

The combination of population growth and increasing affluence means U.S. demand for leisure and hospitality services will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. A wide variety of careers fit into this category, including:

* Recreation planning

* Fitness training

* Gambling and other amusement-related positions

* Food services

* Hotel management

* Travel planning

Leisure and hospitality is one category that holds a great deal of promise for anyone who chooses to pursue career options in its many fields and disciplines.

5. Trade, transportation and utilities

This category as a whole will show strong growth over the next ten years, but it is a bit of a mixed bag when you take a closer look. Some specific segments within this category are projected to decline in demand over time, so it is important to understand which careers hold the most promise. Careers that are projected to increase in demand include:

* Truck transportation services

* Warehousing services

* On-demand transport

* Retail services

* Water engineers

* Water and sewage operations

* Waste remediation management

As business continues to focus on improving efficiency through better management of inventory and transportation activities, the role of the trucking industry and inventory control/storage management will increase. The emphasis will continue to be on just in time manufacture, transportation and delivery of goods.

Putting it all together

Choosing a career field that will be in demand in the years to come is an important process. There are many sources of information on projected demand for different industries and career fields, so you should do some research and consult multiple resources. Be cautious, though, about the resources that you select because some are reputable and others are not. In general, projections and information from government and business organizations are more likely to be accurate than projections and information from a job search engine or a web site promoting the sale of its career building products and services.

When it comes to selecting a career, it is well worth the time and effort it takes to research, gather information and talk to career experts across a variety of industries.

Copyright by LOCALJOBS.COM

Author: Brian Bowman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People International in Greenville, South Carolina, I receive telephone calls from people who are considering a career change. For some, transitioning to a new career is easier than others. Some professionals already possess a foundation of skills to make the transition easier. Ill give an example. An unemployed network engineer and hobby electrician decides to become an electrical contractor for new construction. His transition might be easier because he needs minimal training to enter the new field. But others require training, or additional schooling, which can sometimes be costly.

Strategy for Changing Careers

Its best to take a strategic approach when changing careers. The first step is identifying a career of interest to you. Then, visit jobsites like Careerbuilder.com,Monster.com, and Hotjobs.com and search for job postings by keywords or titles relating to your newly desired career field. Next, read through the job postings identified, analyze them, and try to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities employers are searching for in this field. Once youve researched your chosen career, deepen your knowledge through class work or mentoring with a friend whom you respect and whose experience might relate to that field. In order to advance in your field of choice, an undergraduate or advanced degree may be necessary.

Speak to a Recrutier

Another way to make an effective career change is to contact someone like myself a recruiter or headhunter who specializes in your desired field. The purpose of your call is to gather information about your chosen profession. For example, at Find Great People International, we have recruiters specializing in manufacturing, information technology, health care, apparel, finance and accounting, and professional temporary staffing. It may be helpful to jot down a list of questions before your call. When I speak to someone about changing careers, the individual usually acknowledges they do not possess the skills or experience to do the job yet — but they are eager to break in. I evaluate their skills, based on a series of questions. Sometimes theyll have a foundation for the new career and thats a starting point.

Education: a Positvie Step

Schooling or training is a wise first step for many who shift careers, provided they have the money to pay for it. There are times when I recommend a national training center with locations throughout the U.S. Or, since I specialize in the IT field, Ill suggest a technical training institute, or a technical college that offers supplemental training. Some certifications and trainings in the computer field can range between $8,000-10,000. This may seem steep, but the truth is most places of employment will not hire you without some sort of training.

Step Into Your Field in a Better Job Market

There is a third, bolder angle, which works better in a more robust job market. Simply investigate companies in your field of interest, contact them directly, and ask them if they are hiring entry level. If you are lucky enough to speak to a hiring authority, or someone in a position to be helpful, use the time to sell yourself on the transferable characteristics you possess as an employee.

Transferable Characteristics as an Employee:

• complete projects on-time and within budget
• work well with people
• reliable and dependable
• follow-through skills
• computer skills

Highlight Former Profession

Do not overlook the generic qualities of your former profession, when presenting yourself to a potential employer in a new field. These include verbal and non-verbal aspects of communication, and are considered portable skills. If you feel you are lacking in some of these key areas, then think about acquiring these skills through training. I have often recommended something like Dale Carnegies course, How to Win Friends and Influence People. If the cost for this course is prohibitive, then consider acquiring some books or audio tapes which help to build these skills.

To maximize success in your new field, I suggest that during the education or retraining process, you become a member of a professional organization. Plug yourself into an association, either local or statewide, related to your specific industry niche. Go to the monthly meetings. Get to know people. Start selling yourself by way of relationships and friendships. By the time youve finished your education, youll have a network of people who will be aware of your skills and availability.

Select any one of the three methods Im recommending, or combine aspects of all three. Youll be well on your way to landing a new position. Your new field might not open up to you right away, but if you are persistent about it, you should be successful.

Author: Steven Hall
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Why Career Advice Is So Important

Choosing a career presents a nerve-racking decision, as it can have a life-long impact on you. Do not fret, as you can gain a clearer outlook into your future by thorough career planning.

Having a clear vision of the future can guide you by helping you set career goals and helping you on your way towards attaining them. Whether you are starting out on a new career or looking to change your current career, you will benefit enormously from taking sound advice.

Don’t Spend Most of Your Life Doing …

Chances are that you will be spending a great deal of time at your job, about 40 hours a week. Career advice and career profiling can guide you to a job that is enjoyable for you and matches your interests.

There are many reasons people change their careers and career advice can help them along the way. Some frequently cited reasons are:

Stuck in a dead end job.

Lost interest in current line of work.

Gained a new interest in a different career option.

A Job For Life … Not Anymore

In today’s world, there is increased job rotation … also with the down turns in the economy, many people can be laid-off.
Good career advice for unemployed persons would be to consider a career change. Some of the fastest growing occupations are Medical Assistant, Network Systems Analyst, Physician Assistant, etc. Occupations that are struggling to gain workers can be a suitable option for currently unemployed individuals.

People often back off from changing careers if they are unsure of the effort it might take to start a new career and learn a new trade. If you are one of these people, career advice from professionals can help you make a knowledgeable decision.

How To Identify Your Career Choices

When choosing a new career field, career advice and career planning can help you figure out your career choices. When embarking on a new career, you need to take into account your previous education and work experience.

You should start thinking about the skills you currently possess and how they can be beneficial in each of the new career options available to you.

Have You Considered a Career Test?

Valuable career advice can come from career tests as they can help in identifying suitable job options. Career tests include tests such as personality profiling, leadership skills, motivation, management style, etc.

The results of such tests can give you the career advice that can direct you to a suitable career, by matching your interests with career options.

Many career tests are offered online. They may be free or available for a small fee. Many experts provide the career advice to employment seekers to take some time to plan their career and set their goals. Knowing your career goals can provide you with valuable guidance.

Remember that career planning and goal setting is an on-going process, changing as you continue on your career.

The web can be a great source to find valuable career advice. It can provide you with many resources to research new career choices and find out information on a particular career field such as average salary, work environment, job responsibilities, etc.

Use Resumes That Give You an Advantage

Whether you are starting a career, changing careers or looking for a different job in your present career, the best career advice is to have a great, eye-catching resume.

You may be thinking about using your old resume, maybe the one you made after graduating from college. However, you will have to make changes to that resume to make it relevant to your present situation.

Upgrade your resume with the additional skills and experiences you have acquired. People going through a career change, need to present the skills they have acquired through the years in a way that makes it relevant to the new career jobs for which they are applying.

You may not have all the standard education for that career, so you need to convince potential employers that your previous education and work experience have given you the skills that make you a suitable candidate to transition into that job.

Career planning involves gaining information that can ease your transition to a new career. This information can help get you out of your current dreary jobs and into a dynamic and interesting career.

Act Now… and Take Control of Your Career

It’s never too late to think of making a career change… seek professional career advice and give yourself the best chance of achieving your career goals.

Author: Roger Clark
Article Source: EzineArticles.com