If you’re looking at future careers and trying to decide which direction might be best for you, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
skills and interests, career stability and projected growth, and finally, the up and coming careers (careers of the future).
The Best Career for You
First let’s talk about the best career for you. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry experts look to predict the top careers for the future, this is not the ideal place to start your career search. Your career is an important cog in the wheel of your lifestyle. Careers afford us the things we need and want, but can also add or detract from our lives with the effects they have on time, happiness, and even health.
This is why you shouldn’t choose a career based on projected salary or job growth, but should start with your interests, skills, and talents. These will lead you in the right direction to obtain the lifestyle you desire. Enjoying your work, being inspired each day, is the key to succeeding in your field, which in turn leads to financial and personal benefits.
What Does “The Best Future Careers” Mean to You?
With the recent economic crisis, many wonder what jobs are “good” jobs. You may no longer be thinking about which jobs offer top pay or swift advancement, but rather, which industries will be hiring in the future. What we’re talking about here are recession-proof jobs.
For example, one thing we can count on is that health care jobs are sure to continue to exist. Treatment will always be needed for the sick and injured and with a large aging population and people living longer due to modern medicine and equipment, health care professionals are and will be in more demand than ever.
Education is another steady field since school is compulsory and government-funded. In addition, those looking to compete in the job market often return to college (community college and graduate schools) in order to beef up their resumes. Educational institutions will always need qualified educators and those who support them to fill positions.
Careers in the government are also wide-ranging and often secure. Layoffs from government positions occur less frequently than those in the private sector and they usually have fantastic benefits.
There are many career options within each of these industries, so rather than narrowing your career down to a “safe” career, you can still target a career that meets your interests and talents.
Careers of the Future
When we talk about careers of the future, we’re talking about those that are only beginning to employ people or those that don’t even exist yet. These are important to consider as many of the jobs that exist today, didn’t exist just a short while ago. How do you prepare for jobs that don’t exist? First you take the direction you’ve already chosen for yourself and then study the industry. Read industry magazines, websites, blogs and see how things are changing in your field.
For instance, information technology jobs certainly have a place in our future, but how are these jobs evolving? Many jobs have been outsourced in IT, but high-level professionals are expected to be more in demand. This means you may require more business education in order to meet the needs of employers. High-paying positions in IT will require constant skill advancement as jobs focus more on architecture, project management, and IT strategy.
We’re hearing a lot about green jobs these days. Green-collar jobs range from engineering clean energy systems to solar panel installation. Your career choice may require advanced degrees or just a certification from a technical course. Many colleges have created green programs and majors, in order to meet the demand from students and to prepare for future careers within many industries.
Here we have just two examples of industries that may have top careers for the future. The important thing to know about up-and-coming jobs is that the only way to prepare for them is to use education as your springboard. Education is the best entry to any career and as things change, education is the best way to maintain your job and advance within your field. You can’t prepare for the unknown; you can only build a solid foundation and continue to make wise choices for expansion.
Future Careers Waiting for You
So whether you eventually end up being a nurse, a teacher, or engineering artificial intelligence, you can bet that a constant mixture of passion plus education is the perfect recipe for career success in both the near and distant future.
Lynn Mattoon is a Content Editor & Career Writer for Healthcarejobsite.com and Techcareers.com, Beyond.com career communities.
