List of great careers
In the midst of the worst job market in three decades, you might think the only thing people care about when it comes to their career is having a job and keeping it. But when Money and PayScale.com, a leading online provider of employee-compensation data, surveyed 35,000 people online about what makes a great job, they rated intellectual challenge, a passion for the work, and flexibility just as highly as security. Perhaps the financial crisis has made many of us realize that we’re going to be on the job a few extra years, so we might as well be doing work we can enjoy.
No.10 --> Sales DirectorMedian salary (experienced): $140,000
Top pay: $239,000
Job growth (10-year forecast): 10%
Sector: Sales and Marketing
What they do:
Set and meet sales goals, generate new accounts, and mentor and train new recruits.
Why it's great:
A successful sales director--especially one who can weather an economic downturn-- will always be sought after. "I feel secure since I'm bringing money into the company," says Holly Anderson, a sales director in St. Helena, Calif. Sales directors often move into high-level management.
Drawbacks:
Sales down? You're vulnerable to getting the ax. Commission-based pay can fluctuate dramatically. Expect to be on the road about 50% of the time.
Pre-reqs:
10 years of sales experience and a year or two in management. A proven track record beats an advanced degree.
No.9 --> Intelligence AnalystMedian salary (experienced): $82,500
Top pay: $115,000
Job growth (10-year forecast): 15%
Sector: Government
What they do:
Gather and analyze data related to international policy and military strategy, most often for the government or defense contractors.
Why it's great:
Like adventure? Data might be collected from satellite images, wiretaps, Internet chatter, and military and spy reports. Given the country's continued vigilance about national security, demand should remain high. "The best part is helping our country," says Nate Copeland, an intelligence analyst in Herndon, Va.
Drawbacks:
High stress; you often can't talk about your job outside of work.
Pre-reqs:
Security clearance, of course. Foreign languages and often military experience are a huge plus.
No.8 --> Computer/Network Security ConsultantMedian salary (experienced): $99,700
Top pay: $152,000
Job growth (10-year forecast): 27%
Sector: Information Technology
What they do:
Protect computer systems and networks against hackers, spyware, and viruses. "I consider myself a cybercrime fighter," says Gregory Evans, an independent computer security consultant in Atlanta.
Why it's great:
No company or government agency can afford to have a serious breach in the security of its computer system. New technologies and an unending supply of creative hackers around the world keep the field challenging. Consultants can often work from home. And top-level pros command big paychecks.
Drawbacks:
Talk about stress. If a system is infiltrated by a virus or hacker, it could mean lights out for the security consultant's career. "This is a job you can't afford to ever fail in," says Evans.
Pre-reqs:
Mostly major geekdom, since the skills can be self-taught. Still, a computer science degree comes in handy. An information systems security professional certification (CISSP) is increasingly favored. Experience is key for better-paying positions: Most companies won't hire a consultant with less than five years of experience.
No.7 --> Physical TherapistMedian salary (experienced): $74,300
Top pay: $98,100
Job growth (10-year forecast): 27%
Sector: Healthcare
What they do:
Restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion to people who have been sidelined by injury, illness, or disease.
Not that stability and growth don’t matter, of course. We put the heaviest weight on those factors when we began crunching the numbers to come up with our list of the 50 best jobs. But to make the final cut, a job had to get high quality-of-life marks too. Whether you’re thinking of switching careers, are job hunting, or want to nudge a child in the right professional direction, this list should give you plenty of fodder for discussion.
Why it's great:
Unlike many health-care professionals, physical therapists generally see great progress in their patients. "I don't just treat the symptoms-- I give people the tools to get better," says Jennifer Gamboa, an orthopedic physical therapist in Arlington, Va. Plus, there's no overnight or shift work. Medical advances that allow a growing number of people with injuries and disabilities to survive are spurring demand, says Marc Goldstein, senior director of research at the American Physical Therapists Association. And hey, baby boomers' knees aren't getting any younger: An aging population means more chronic conditions that need physical therapy treatment.
Drawbacks:
The impact of health reform on the profession is a wild card. Can be physically demanding.
Pre-reqs:
A master's degree, plus certification and state licensing. Many employers prefer a doctor of physical therapy degree.
No.6 --> Certified Public AccountantMedian salary (experienced): $74,200
Top pay: $138,000
Job growth (10-year forecast): 18%
Sector: Financial
What they do:
Crunch the numbers, whether it's for financial analysis or tax preparation.
Why it's great:
Businesses began stocking the payroll with CPAs after major accounting scandals earlier this decade, and a host of new corporate accounting rules going into effect soon should ratchet up demand further. Government agencies are also hiring CPAs, to monitor how well companies are complying with the new regs. Add inevitable changes to personal income tax rules and you have a pretty recession-proof profession. "Unless Congress does away with taxes, we'll always have work," says CPA Lisa Featherngill of Winston- Salem, N.C. Some 33,000 independent CPAs also work for themselves, typically as tax preparers.
Drawbacks:
Deadlines are nonnegotiable; if you're in tax preparation, kiss your personal life goodbye between mid-February and April 15.
Pre-reqs:
A certification exam and, typically, 150 hours of business and accounting classes and work experience
Please read the track. The remaining 5 sequence...
Ref.Thank you:
by Donna Rosato,Beth Braverman and
Alexis Jeffries, Money Magazine
provided by http://money.cnn.com/magazines
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