If you’re a junior or senior in high school, one question certainly creeps into every conversation you have: “So what do you plan to do after graduation?”
Don’t even try to say “Go to school” without planning to explain your choice of major and justifying how you’ll make a “decent” living.
Deciding a major is an ominous task that leads to sleepless nights and sideways glances from relatives. But what if you could select a major that nearly guaranteed you a job? What are the careers that weather the ups and downs of the economy—and earn positive nods from your grandma? Here are some to consider.
Information technology
Tell middle-aged relatives you plan to work in computers, and they’ll pat you on the back. The majority of the population thinks computers seem complicated, which gives you an edge.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says IT careers make up five of the 20 fastest growing occupations. IT professionals don’t just fix PCs. Gaming programmers, software engineers, systems analysts, database administrators, graphic designers and network analysts are just a few of the careers under this umbrella.
The great advantage of this field is that you can earn a living with a technical school certification, two-year associate’s degree, or a four-year bachelor’s degree. Everyone from your automobile mechanic and family physician to managers at mall stores needs IT specialists.
“Without people with computer training, I’d be lost,” says editor Angela Hoy, who owns a Web site for writers. “I need an e-commerce company, an ISP, tons of special software and the geniuses who repair my laptop, desktops and server when they go down.”
Health care
Nine of the 10 highest-paying occupations are in health care. Aging
baby boomers with a desire to stay young drive the health care
industry. Associate’s degrees enable you to work in dental hygiene, radiology, occupational therapy, nursing, pharmacology and home health services. Bachelor’s degrees offer more options, especially in nursing. Graduate degrees lead to big-money careers and include not just doctors, but also researchers and administrators.
A growing percentage of people are seeking facial enhancement, laser
eye surgery and weight loss, generating a wealth of job potential.
Health care providers also aid those in prisons, schools, shelters and
disaster centers.
Nineteen percent of the jobs created by 2014 will be in health care.
Whether you love people or adore the seclusion of research, a medical
profession exists for you.
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