Good news! All is not lost on the job front. Though people may be streaming out of Wall Street with hankies pressed to their eyes, there are still jobs that can earn you the status that stockbrokers once attained. After checking out US News and World Report‘s “Best Careers 2008” I have compiled the most interesting, and soon to be most lucrative, up and coming careers.
Clergy:
As a member of the clergy, you get to be a jack (or jill)-of-all-trades: a counselor, an inspirational speaker, an administrator and a teacher. You get to make friends with the people in your congregation and you get to fundraise for worthy causes. Then, of course, there’s the whole spiritual guidance thing. It’s a pretty respectable position. Just make sure you’re ready to lead when times are rough and people look to you as an example.
Training Required: It varies. There are online courses where you can become a minister in a couple of days, or you can go get your PhD in Biblical Studies.
Pay Scale (annual): $51,000
Ghost Writer:
Becoming a ghostwriter gives you the chance to show off your fabulous storytelling skills and … get none of the credit. Yes, unfortunately you don’t get to steal the spotlight, but there are plus sides. Like the good pay, flexible schedule, and the intrinsic satisfaction of knowing it was your talent with words that caused Oprah to pick your book for her book club. But being a ghostwriter doesn’t come easily; the job requires that you be: 1) a good writer (duh), 2) a really good interviewer, and 3) flexible creatively; you have to be able to write in a voice that your client will approve of as his/her own.
Training: No professional training is necessary, but you can gain experience through academia, writers’ groups and practice. Also, reading lots of books can help.
Pay Scale (annual):$61,000
Genetic Counselor:
Would you want to know if you had the gene for Parkinson’s? Or breast cancer? It’s a difficult decision, but that’s what genetic counselors are here for. They help people explore how their genome will affect them. And with new developments in technology, genetic counselors are no longer limited to the prenatal phase, they get to counsel people throughout the lifespan. The downside is that at the moment there is relatively little room for promotion. The upside is that most genetic counselors find their work more satisfying that other health care professionals because they aren’t expected to cure their patients, merely advise and support them.
Training: Genetic counselors come from a variety of backgrounds (including biology, genetics, nursing, psychology, and public health), but they must complete a master’s degree and pass an exam given by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.
Pay Scale (annual):$71,000
Ok, so there are many more interesting careers I could include here, but that would require lots more Web space. Instead, be sure to check out US News and World Report’s “Best Careers 2008” for a list of 31 careers with bright futures. On the Web site they have summaries of each job, a glimpse into the daily life of that professional and resources for where you can learn more. So there is hope for a career once you’re out of college. At least you have 31 suggestions.
