Emerging Career Fields
Keeping your eye on trends is a smart career management practice.
New technology, business practices, laws or changes in the
global economy create needs for new or evolving occupations
and career specialties. Often these are specialties that build
on more general experience within a career, like a move into
a homeland security role for a police officer. On the other
hand, some of these emerging careers creatively link together
two or more fields of expertise, such as nursing and computer
science.
For students, these emerging careers offer a chance to be
on the leading edge of their fields. For adults, a shift within
their career field to a new specialty often injects a dose
of freshness and energy applied in a new professional direction.
So what are the most exciting new careers on today's horizon?
Three emerging industries are identified by Career
Voyages, a website collaboration of the U.S. Department
of Labor and U.S. Department of Education:
1. Biotechnology: The areas of research and development,
quality control and assurance, manufacturing and production,
agriculture, and bioinformatics all offer in-demand occupations
in biotechnology. In bioinformatics, one of the newest sectors,
specialists organize and mine huge amounts of biomedical data,
such as research related to the study of the human genome,
clinical trials, or diseases.
2. Nanotechnology: This field includes research and
development of practical commercial applications using particles
of matter the size of atoms.
3. Geospatial technology: This emerging field encompasses
photogrammetry, remote sensing, and geographic information
systems (GIS). The most widely known application is the GPS
(global positioning systems) that are familiar to many of
us in our vehicles and cell phones.
Some additional career fields that promise long-term growth
include:
1. Genetic counseling: This specialty combines a love
for science with a desire to educate people. Genetic counselors
provide information on inherited conditions and diseases and
offer emotional support for individuals and families making
difficult decisions.
2. Computer forensics: Experts gather electronic evidence
for legal cases or administrative purposes. This field has
several specialty areas including firewall forensics, database
forensics and mobile device forensics.
3. Cybersecurity: Jobs in this sector focus on anti-virus
software and secure encryption for confidential information.
Others study computer files that look normal but include hidden
information, like a security map of an airport.
4. Homeland security and emergency and disaster management:
This is a broad field with growing opportunities. Whether
earning a certificate or degree, courses cover topics such
as the history of terrorism and the mind-set of terrorists,
the nature and science of weapons of mass destruction, disaster
response, telecommunications, investigation of terrorism incidents,
and the process of gathering intelligence and developing sources.
Graduates work in the financial sector, for the government,
in insurance, and for consulting companies.
5. Life Care Planning: Particularly for elderly patients,
life care planners, case workers and patient advocates will
see a rise in demand for their services. This includes conducting
assessments, research, navigating the health care system,
and planning and managing services.
The article "Hot
Jobs, Emerging Careers" on MinorityNurse.com highlights
four specialties for nurses:
1. Nursing Informatics: A field that combines nursing,
computer science and information science to manage and communicate
data, information and knowledge in nursing practice to improve
patient care and communication among diverse medical staff
members.
2. Fitness Nursing: These nurses help patients regain
strength and health through exercise, nutrition and educational
programs.
3. Holistic Nursing: Using a combination of both traditional
and alternative health care treatments, these nurses help
patients regain health or deal with chronic conditions.
4. Gerontological Nursing: Specializing in working
with elderly patients, these nurse help individuals who have
diseases or chronic pain, and other health issues related
to aging.
Finally, a recent article in U.S. News & World Report
discusses "30
Best Careers for 2009" given the changed economy.
Depending on the experience and education needed, these emerging
careers may present opportunities for adults to consider immediately,
or may help with a more long-term plan to prepare for a change
into the new field or job. For students, knowing about these
career possibilities can help formulate an educational path
that will provide focus for college major and internship decisions.
Either way, these individuals will be on the leading edge
of a growing professional field.
For additional information, visit:
New
and Emerging Occupations
Careers
in Homeland Security: Many Jobs, One Mission
© Copyright 2009, Career Vision. Article may be reprinted
with permission.
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