Posts Tagged ‘ Career ’

What makes one job good and another one bad? Is it true that some jobs are really bad and should be avoided or is it just that some people are better suited to one kind of job while others are to some other kinds? When we evaluate jobs, various factors are taken into account such as the economy and changes in the market trends. Other factors include evaluation on the basis of which jobs have less stress, better job environment and better career prospects along with good paying capability.

Every year the entries in the list of best and worst jobs change. According to the publisher of 2012 Jobs Rated Report of CareerCast, “The jobs that continue to fare very well are those that fare the best in a tough economy – primarily information technology and health care”. Keeping all these factors in mind, we have compiled a list of the best and worst jobs in America.

Top 5 Best Jobs in America

1. Biomedical Engineering is considered to be one of the best jobs in America as it includes various areas of specialization and the job prospects are very bright at about 72%. The average pay ranges between $43,097 – $120,335. It is considered to be the best job of 2012 as there is a growing demand of advanced medical equipment and devices. Graduates need to have in-depth knowledge of both engineering and biology.
2. Information Technology includes jobs like software developers, software architects, computer application engineers, data communications analysts. The job growth rate for these fields is about 24-53% and the average salary ranges between $40,800 – $134,838. There is an increased demand for IT professionals as they are trained to set up networks and check the performance of these systems. There is also demand for programming and systems analysis skills.
3. Nursing is also a very popular field which has a job growth of about 16 – 39% and the average pay ranges between $21,440 – $79,992. This is considered to be one of the best jobs as the demand continues to increase due to increase in elderly population and an expansion of healthcare industry leading to increase in clinics and a consequent increase in nursing staff.
4. Finance jobs related to finance like bankers, auditors, financial analysts, accountants, credit analysts continue to grow with a job growth projection of 41% and average pay of $73,150. These jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with can be either through traditional education or online learning.
5. Forensic Psychology involves jobs like social work and counseling and is one of the best jobs as its job growth projection is about 13% and the average salary is between $36,920 – $138,086. Forensic Psychologists are capable of performing various psychological testing and diagnosis. To work as a professional in this sector, you need to have a doctorate degree. You also need to have license to work as a social worker or a counselor .

5 Worst Jobs in America

1. Lumberjack is considered to be one of the worst jobs as you need to work outdoors irrespective of the weather conditions and the pay is also quite low.
2. The next worst job is that of dairy farmers. This is also a low paying job with tough working conditions. Farmers need to work in the dairy even in the worst weather conditions.
3. Enlisted military personnel are also climbing up the list of worst jobs. This is because it has a lot of stress and physical strain along and the pay is very bad.
4. Oil rig workers are entry level workers who have high stress jobs which are dangerous as they need to work on oil rigs in tough weather conditions. Though this field overall is well-paying, this job position is paid the lowest.
5. Newspaper Reporting is the 5th worse job as it is stressful and low paying. However with the advent of online and mobile reporting, the job conditions are expected to improve and this job might not be in the worst job lists in the next year.

So if you are looking for low stress, high paying jobs that are expected to grow in the following years go for the top 5 jobs.

The agriculture industry is big business in the United States. Despite changes in the industry over the years agribusiness in America still remains a top industry today, with no signs of declining anytime soon. If anything, this industry will continue to grow to meet the rise in demand due to the increase in population. So if you are considering a career in farming or agriculture, now is the perfect time to do so. You can also consider a career with an Online Degree in Agriculture. Keep this in mind if you are a working adult who cannot attend traditional programs or if you live in a remote location with no access to a college campus.

The top 5 reasons to consider a career in agriculture are:

1. Broad professional range: A career in farming or agriculture has no specific specialization. This is a career path that has a wide-ranging area of expertise as well as a number of opportunities and options to pursue. An Online Degree in Agriculture may include biology, agriculture, chemistry, farming management and water supply management.

2. Increasing career opportunities: Today, advancements in technology are changing agribusiness. This industry is expected to see a significant increase in job growth over the next decade and beyond. Employment opportunities are expected to grow fast, especially for certain sectors of the farming industry, according to government statistics — making this profession one to consider.

3. Positive change to the environment and society: This industry will also make a difference that will contribute positively to the environment and to society as a whole. Crop irrigation and soil management requires the use of natural resources all of which will benefit the environment and society. If you care about the environment, now is your chance to make a positive contribution to the world around you.

4. Job stability and security. America and the rest of the world will always need food, so this profession will never become obsolete. Even though advancements in technology are changing some of the ways things are done these days and may decrease the amount of labor that was once needed in the past, there will still be a need for experts in the field. And according to statistics, agribusiness is expected to increase in several areas and sectors. This means that you will need to do extensive research on the industry and choose one of the in-demand specializations in agribusiness or farming to take advantage of these opportunities.

5. Do you have a passion for farm life? If your answer to this question is yes, then you should definitely pursue this profession. A little bit of passion with the right knowledge and training can provide a rewarding and fulfilling career in agriculture.

Be a part of the farming community and get a degree in agriculture to start a lifelong and rewarding career.

No one wants to go through the painful experience of losing a job or being unemployed. For most of us, our jobs mean more than just a way to make a living. They define who we are and how we feel about ourselves, and most importantly, how others see us. This is why being unemployed can be extremely stressful. Take a look at 5 hard-to-ignore truths!

1. Unemployment can change your life

Losing your job allows you to refocus. It provides an opportunity for you to look at your life and make changes where necessary. It also allows you to pay close attention to your career choices and to rethink your professional goals.

2. Losing a job is stressful

There’s no question that losing a job can add a lot of stress to your life. Losing a job can be one of the most stressful things you experience. But it is how you choose to handle the situation that makes all the difference in the world.

3. Unemployment is difficult to face

You can lose your self-confidence, self-esteem and your purpose in life. You might even feel scared at times. But only you can turn a bad situation into a good one. How you choose to handle the situation will determine whether the outcome is good or bad. It’s really all up to you.

4. Our jobs give us purpose in life

Many of us equate jobs with our purpose and without a job , sometimes life can seem meaningless. But it is not the end of the world. You still have time to pick up the pieces and move forward – hopefully to something better.

5. The sooner you get over the loss of a job, the better

Most people go through a period of feeling depressed due to being unemployed, which is normal, but for how long do you continue with it? It is best to focus immediately on finding another job, even if it’s something you are not really excited about. This way you can still have a source of income while you continue to look for something you really like.

No one wants to be unemployed. But how can you prepare for something like this? Is there a way to avoid unemployment?

If you’ve experienced job loss or unemployment I would like to hear from you. Please share your story and tell us how you managed to cope with the stress of unemployment.

The job market looks gloomy right now. The question is, Will it ever pick up? One thing’s for certain though; some industries will recover, while others may not. Have a look at the 8 industries that are thought to be doomed.

Struggling Industries in the United States

These industries are some of the worst hit industries in the United States right now. They have seen a decline in revenue over the past 10 years and the decline is expected to continue that way for some time. It is suggested that you should avoid these industries, at least for now until they show some signs of recovery after the recession.

The industries are deemed doomed due to various reasons like:

• Decline in revenue
• Greater competition
• Technological change
• Lack of innovation
• Not current with market trends

The Top Eight Doomed Industries in America

1. Video Rental
We’ve all seen several video rental stores make drastic changes to stay in business. But how can they compete with the Internet? These days it is so easy to get your favorite movies online, you can even order anything you want on cable TV, so why take a trip to the video rental store?

2. Record Stores
The same goes for record stores. Why go to the store when you can get what you want over the Internet? It is so convenient and so much easier online. This industry could not keep up with the competition and that’s the main reason why it has seen a decline in revenue.

3. Newspaper
Do you still read the newspaper? Most people feel that since they can get the most current news 24/7 online, there is no reason to wait to read it the other day. This is what’s sending the newspaper publishing industry into extinction.

4. Photofinishing
Digital cameras have changed the photo shop industry. No need to wait a few hours or days for the film to be developed anymore.

5. Costume Rental
Why rent a costume when you can buy one at a cheap price and reuse it year after year? Most people choose to buy rather than rent these days because it’s cheaper in the long run.

6. Apparel Manufacturing
Cheap labor overseas keeps the costs down at home. Therefore apparel manufacturing has moved overseas where labor is cheap.

7. Manufactured Home Dealers
This industry will not recover as there are more innovative competitors. The drop in revenue over the past decade is also due to the decrease in the price of traditional homes.

8. Wired Telecommunications Service Carriers
Everyone is going wireless these days, so goodbye to wired telecommunication carriers.

These are the 8 doomed industries to watch out for. They have seen better days, but it’s time for them to say goodbye!

Networking is extremely important when job searching. Social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can help you connect with other career seekers, professionals, and recruiters. If you want to know the top 6 social media sites that can help you gain visibility in your job search, look no further!

However, don’t use these sites as a crutch for not finding a job. There are other avenues that you can take to help manage your career. These social media sites are an additional way to network effectively by posting useful information, links and comments, while getting the word out and might just land you the career of a lifetime.

Using Online Job Search Tools to Connect With Prospective Employers

Check out these top 6 social media sites to gain visibility in your job search and take your career to a whole new level.

1. Twitter – Twitter is a very useful and simple social media site that is increasingly becoming popular every day as a social networking service also. Build a network of professional contacts and get the visibility you want by inviting and joining others.

2. LinkedIn – This is a great online social networking tool for business professionals. Register and you’re good to go. Here you can immediately start making contacts, get recommendations from them and find leads to career success.

3. Google+ – Google+ is fast emerging as the forerunner in social media websites, and is gaining ground on Facebook as it offers greater privacy settings and allows for targeted networking.

4. Facebook – Access is very simple and free. Join and create a social media profile and begin connecting with other professionals and prospective employers.

5. MySpace – This is a great place to socialize while networking. Create your online profile and immediately connect with others and be part of a professional network circle.

6. Hi5 – Can I get a Hi5? Connect with a whole new online community and be a part of a growing community of professionals in over 199 countries and close to 61 million members.

Friends, which of the other social media sites are you using to search jobs? Also we would like to know how do you rate above mentioned sites on scale of 1-6 for their effectiveness & usefulness for new employees?

A career in academia isn’t one that will rake in the big bucks, at least not right away. That is why educators need to have a strong desire to teach, be committed to the profession and love what they do before they see a great financial reward. Most educators pursue their careers in teaching because they truly love the profession. Then if they become rich and famous, so be it. Here’s a brief roundup of the 8 wealthiest academics in the world.

Wealthiest Academics in the World

There are some educators who have become wealthy off their desire to learn, teach and make a difference in the world. They have turned their passion for educating others into a profitable career. Their commitment and dedication to their professions is an inspiration to college students all across the world.

Henry Samueli - Henry Samueli did not start out in the business industry. Samueli earned his doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering from UCLA, but today he is the co-founder, CTO, and senior vice president at the Broadcom Corporation. His net worth is approximately $2 billion. Not bad for an initial $5,000 investment.

Cyril Taylor - Taylor and a few partners started the America Institute for Foreign Study back in 1964. He plays a major role in higher education both locally and internationally. His estimated net worth is over 6 million dollars. He also serves as Chancellor and Founder of Richmond, The American International Univesity in London.

James Stewart - James Stewart is a retired mathematics professor. He became well known for his textbook series which can be found in high schools and universities all across the U.S. Stewart is a multi-millionaire with an estimated net worth at over $20 million.

David Cheriton - Since 1981 professor David Cheriton has taught computer science at Stanford University. However, he is most famous for his investment in technology companies that made him over $1.5 billion. He was ranked by Forbes as the 19th wealthiest Canadian and 692nd in the world.

Robert S. Langer - Langer is one of the top academics in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. He has a number of patents under his belt that have contributed to his fortune. Langer is a prolific inventor and holds more than 760 granted or pending patents. He has also authored more than 1,100 scientific papers and has participated in the founding of multiple technology companies.

Stephen Hawking - Hawking’ career in Cosmology and Theoretical Physics and the popularity of his books has helped make him one of the wealthiest academics today. He is worth around $20 million. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21. Stephen was awarded Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

David Silvers - A great professor and researcher in Dermatology at Columbia University. Silvers owns homes worth over 2 million and makes more than the president of the University. His skin cancer research is a source of inspiration to future professors and researchers.

Adi Shamir - An inspiring educator who worked at MIT as a researcher. He also taught classes at École Normale Supérieure, Paris. Shamir helped in the development of cryptography algorithms that brought him most ofhis wealth. He earned his doctorate degree in the late 70s. After a year postdoc at University of Warwick, Adi Shamir did research at MIT from 1977–1980 before returning to be a member of the faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science at the Weizmann Institute.

This is a great reminder for all teaching enthusiasts out there that one can make money through this profession. There is always room at the top!