Top Three Industries for Jobs

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Whether you’re looking for direction in choosing a career or interested in trying something new, checking out the following industries may be a great place to start.
Saying these careers are recession proof may be a bit of stretch, but all three have continued to experience growth and add staff in the face of a cool economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that these three industries are the top three fastest growing by increase in jobs. Here, three insiders offer advice and a list of free resources to help you get your foot in the door.

Home Health Care Services
As the boomer generation ages, the demand grows for home health care nurses and aides, says Catherine Kreston, the chief people officer for Interim HealthCare in Florida. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts by 2016 this sector will see an increase of nearly 500,000 jobs. Why? Technological advances allow those who may have been relegated to nursing facilities or hospitals to experience the same kind of care at home. Aside from being more comfortable, home care is generally less expensive.

If you enjoy interacting with people, a position in this field may be a good fit. Kreston advises trying on the job for size by starting as a nurse’s aid, which requires minimal training and certification. From there, with additional education and training, it’s simple to advance to a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse.

Learn More About This Field

Eldercare for Dummies
By Rachelle Zukerman
This guide helps you see through the eyes of the elderly and teaches you to assess their needs.

Nursing Made Incredibly Easy
Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
An industry journal published six times a year that offers nurses new and fun approaches for working with patients.

www.nurse.com
Offers nursing news, jobs, continued education and connection to the nursing community

http://www.careersbyweb.com/
Information on careers at Interim Health care

Individual and Family Services
If you are looking for a position that allows you to improve your community, a job in individual and family services may be for you. What exactly is this? Think places that help people improve people’s lives, like the YMCA. In addition to program directors (people who run summer camps and wellness initiatives), career paths at the YMCA and organizations like it include childcare, human resources, finance, and fitness instruction, among others.

As the population grows, these services are in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts we’ll see an increase of over 700,000 jobs in this sector by 2016. “Facilities are constantly being built because communities ask for them,” says Scott Washburn, CEO of the YMCA of Snohomish County in Washington. “We’re seen as a place to help people enhance their quality of life.”

Learn More About This Field

Good to Great and the Social Sectors: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great
By Jim Collins
Based on interviews with over 100 leaders, this book offers advice on working for a non- profit

The NonProfit Times
http://www.nptimes.com/
The leading business publication for nonprofit management

Perspective Journal
http://www.aypymca.org/perspective.htm
Visit online or subscribe to this professional journal published by the YMCA that provides professional development advice as well as insight into the field.

American Humanics
http://www.humanics.org/site/c.omL2KiN4LvH/b.1098773/k.BE7C/Home.htm
This Web site provides information on the best universities that provide degrees in the human services field.

YMCA USA
http://www.ymca.net/
Visit the YMCA’s Web site for career information as well as advice on positioning yourself for the job.

Technical Consulting Services
The field of technical consulting services is vast but can safely be broken down into five main career paths says Rory Nugent, the managing director of Forbes Technical Consulting in Chicago.

Networking: PC technicians, Network Administrators and Network Engineers who are typically more hands on
Programming developers: Experts in writing code and creating applications
Database developers: Experts in usually one system who may be involved in writing code
Business analysts/ Project managers: Business graduates who also have certain knowledge of computer processes
Enterprise Resource Planning: Experts on company wide software that helps manage and coordinates all the functions of that company. An example of this would be learning the software that runs a retail chain

If you enjoy working with computers and thinking through various analytical processes, you’ll easily find a home in one of these sectors.

For the past 10 years the field of technical consulting has grown steadily, Nugent says. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects continued growth by the year 2016 with an increase of over 700,000 jobs. “The world’s becoming more technology driven and these systems need to be continually improved and maintained,” Nugent says.

Learn More About This Field

PC World
This monthly magazine offers a real time look at the latest technologies.

Information Technology Association of America
http://www.itaa.org/
Provides information on industry trends and salary information on recent hires.

The Project Management Institute
http://www.pmi.org/Pages/default.aspx
This Web site provides information on obtaining certification for a career as a project manager.

http://www.itjobs.com/
This Web site offers a database of IT jobs.

Do any of these careers tracks sound enticing? The best place to start your job hunt is your local library. Visit your local library to access industry Web sites, check out periodicals and books to get you on the right track and steps ahead of the competition.