Jobs With Top Growth In 2013

By Yahoo

Will 2013 be a good year for careers? Two experts weigh in...

By Terence Loose

Thinking it might be time to go back to school to pursue a new career? That's great, but if you're someone who needs to continue to pay a mortgage or rent - not to mention eat - you probably want to make sure you pick a field that has good job growth potential.
"Gone are the days when you didn't have to make sure that you studied something that will lead to a job. School is a big financial commitment, so you need to be relatively sure you'll get a return on investment," says Vicki Lynn, senior vice president of client talent strategy and employer branding at Universum, a global recruitment and branding strategy company.
With that in mind, we asked both Susan Heathfield, a management consultant and writer of About.com's Guide to Human Resources, and Lynn to weigh in with their expert opinions about which careers will be hot in 2013, and beyond. Read on to learn where they say the jobs will be in the future.

Hot Job #1: Accountant

Okay, when you think of a hot career, you probably don't picture an accountant. But you should, say Heathfield and Lynn. Both see this career as being in demand for years to come. In fact, Lynn, who regularly works for Fortune 500 companies, says accountants are always being heavily recruited by them, and small companies alike.
Why It's Hot: "The IRS just published a 156-page instruction book which provides new instructions for taxes," says Heathfield. "I don't have time to read 156 pages of IRS regulations, but I expect my accountant to. The point is, people like accountants are going to be critical for the next four or five years because of all the changes in tax code."
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Data from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates growth for this career, as well. Because of corporate scandals and the recent financial crisis, there has been a renewed emphasis on accounting practices, reports the Department of Labor. That, along with stricter laws and regulations, will increase the demand for accounting services. In fact, the Department projects employment of accountants and auditors to grow by 16 percent, or 190,700 jobs, from 2010 to 2020.
Education Options: If you're interested in pursuing a career in accounting, you will probably need at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field, according to the Department of Labor. Some employers might even prefer that you hold a master's in accounting or business administration, with a concentration in accounting.

Hot Job #2: Software Developer

Your computer, your phone, your new car - possibly even your vacuum. These are just a few of today's gadgets that rely on computer software to run, and software developers are the people who design it. Because software is such an indispensable part of our daily existence, both Lynn and Heathfield say software developers will have job opportunities for a long time.
Why It's Hot: "The demand for people with software developer skills is everywhere," says Lynn. "The big markets are, of course, the high-tech areas like San Francisco, New York, and Boston, but I would say just about everywhere is looking for these people."
Why? Because any company that wants to go online and interface or connect with new customers, build e-commerce sites, or just run their businesses more smoothly will need these workers, she says. And in today's web-centric world, that's pretty much every company.
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The U.S. Department of Labor has identified a trend, too, projecting a 30 percent growth rate for software developers from 2010 to 2020. The Department of Labor attributes this growth to the need to create new applications for mobile technology, the increased use of computer systems in health care, and a general concern for cybersecurity.
Education Options: Ready to get inside the cyber world? You'll need a bachelor's degree in computer science, the most common credential held by computer software developers, says the Department of Labor. It is also considered acceptable to earn a bachelor's degree in software engineering, mathematics, or another related field, while for some positions, employers might prefer you have a master's degree.

Hot Job #3: Personal Financial Advisor

Are you a responsible person who people seem to trust and come to for advice? You might choose to monetize that trait by pursuing the career of personal financial advisor. It's an occupation our experts believe will be in demand this year - and for many years into the future.
Why It's Hot: "The retirement money and plans of baby boomers are becoming available and they are doing retirement planning and estate planning for any assets to go to their children. So I think helping them manage and plan for these things will be a big focus for the next 10 to 20 years," says Heathfield.
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Maybe that's why employment for this profession is expected to grow much faster than average at 32 percent, from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Just as Heathfield points out, the Department of Labor sees the primary driver of that growth as the baby boomer population, who will be seeking advice from personal financial planners before and during retirement.
Education Options: You typically need a bachelor's degree to pursue a career as a personal financial advisor. And while the Department notes that employers don't usually demand a specific area of study, it also reports that a degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, mathematics, or law would each be good preparation.

Hot Job #4: Public Relations Specialist

Twitter is not just for your hip younger cousin anymore. In fact, companies as old school as Cadillac, Pepsi, and Amway all have Twitter feeds. Heck, even the AARP tweets. And it's all in the name of public relations, which is one reason public relations specialist, as long as it's with a focus on social media, is a winner in the eyes of Lynn and Heathfield.
Why It's Hot: "Social media PR is a phenomenon that's red hot right now," says Lynn. "It seems like every company is getting on the bandwagon of creating a Facebook page and a Twitter feed. But those require an incredible amount of maintenance; they need to be kept active and monitored constantly. There's a whole new type of organization within companies for this. I even see companies creating positions for social media strategists."
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The U.S. Department of Labor has also reported an increased use of social media, which they believe is driving the demand for public relations specialists. In fact, they see the profession growing by 23 percent from 2010 to 2020. So maybe you should ask your younger cousin about that tweeting thing after all.
Education Options: If you want to prepare to pursue a career as a public relations specialist, the Department of Labor says that a bachelor's degree is usually required - though a particular field of study is not specified. The Department does say, however, that employers will typically want you to have a bachelor's in public relations, communications, English, journalism, or business.

Hot Job #5: Nursing

You want a hot area of study? Both experts agree that because of the hands-on nature of nursing - meaning it can't be off-shored - this career will be red hot for years to come.
Why It's Hot: "With an aging population due to the baby boomer generation retiring, nurses will take on more medical tasks as doctors get busier," says Heathfield.
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In addition to the increasing health needs of baby boomers, the U.S. Department of Labor also attributes the career's growing popularity to technological advances and a greater emphasis on preventive care. Just how popular will this career be? From 2010 to 2020, the profession of registered nursing is projected to increase by 26 percent, the Department of Labor says.
Education Options: According to the Department, you can pursue various paths toward the career of registered nurse. These include an associate's degree in nursing (ADN), or a diploma from an approved nursing program. You'll also need to be licensed, notes the Department.

Best Careers In Health Care For Job Security

Source: Yahoo

With job growth projected to increase across the industry, choosing to work in health care could be a smart career move.

By Julie Crawshaw

There's good news for people interested in working in health care: The industry is projected to boom for years to come.
In fact, according to a 2012 study titled "Healthcare" from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, the demand for health care workers will grow twice as fast as the national economy from 2010 to 2020, adding 5.6 million new health care jobs.
And with several different career paths in the health care field that are projected to grow in the future, there's something for everyone.
"Typically, when individuals think of a career in health care, the first areas of study that come to mind are nursing, physician assistants, pharmacy, and dental or medical doctors, but there are more than 200 careers within health care," says Shannon Ydoyaga, interim executive director of the Dallas Community College District Careers Resource Center.
Read on to learn more about which careers in health care are growing - and how the right education can help prepare you to get your foot in the door.

Career #1: Medical Assistant

Medical assistants play an important role in assisting physicians with patient care, so it's no wonder it's such a booming career. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 162,900 new medical assisting positions are projected to be added between 2010 and 2020.
Why It's Booming: There are a lot of factors accounting for the strong growth in this field; one big reason is the aging baby boomer population. You can think of it as a chain reaction: the baby boomers cause a higher demand for services, which means more work for physicians. As a result, doctors will need more medical assistants to perform the routine tasks that eat into physicians' time with patients, according to the Department of Labor.
What Medical Assistants Do: Medical assistants might do everything from measuring vital signs to scheduling patient appointments, and assisting the physician wherever necessary, the Department says. Responsibilities, however, will vary by practice.
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Education Options: While most states have no formal educational requirements for medical assistants, the Department notes that most medical assistants have at least a high school diploma, and some graduate from formal education programs. Employers prefer some type of preparation, adds the Department.

Career #2: Medical and Health Services Manager

Demand for medical and health services managers is booming, with the number of jobs in medical and health services management projected to increase by 22 percent - roughly 68,000 new openings - from 2010 to 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Why It's Booming: As the baby-boom population grows older and people remain more active later in life, the need for physicians and other health care professionals climbs. The result? More managers will be needed to organize and manage both medical information and staff members throughout the health care industry, according to the Department of Labor.
What Medical and Health Services Managers Do: According to the Department, medical and health services managers might manage finances of the facility, create work schedules, and keep up to date on new laws and regulations. They might even manage a specific clinical area or department, a medical practice for a physicians' group, or an entire facility.
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Education Options: "Individuals can advance into medical and health services manager positions from medical insurance coding and billing, medical assisting, registered nursing, or with a bachelor's or master's degree in business," Ydoyaga notes. However, the Department notes that aspiring medical and health services managers typically have a bachelor's degree in health administration.

Career #3: Dental Assistant

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that dental assisting jobs are expected to grow by 31 percent. That's 91,600 new dental assisting jobs that may be added between 2010 and 2020. Now that's a career worth smiling about.
Why It's Booming: As research continues to link oral health to general health, the demand for preventative dental services will continue to climb, says the Department of Labor. It also notes that as dental practices grow, so will the need for dental assistants to support them. Another factor at play here is the aging baby-boomer population - and the fact that people are keeping more of their original teeth.
What Dental Assistants Do: Dental assistants take care of a number of responsibilities that can help dentists operate more efficiently. For example, according to the Department, they might prepare the work area for treatment, sterilize dental instruments, and schedule patient appointments.
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Education Options: According to the Department, education requirements vary by state, with some states requiring candidates to complete an accredited program and pass a state exam.

Career #4: Medical Records and Health Information Technician

Another growing career option in this industry: medical records and health information technician. The U.S. Department of Labor projects 21 percent growth for this career from 2010 to 2020.
Why It's Booming: The aging population will need more medical tests and procedures, all of which will need to be documented, says the Department. Someone has to create and manage all that information, and in medicine, that job usually goes to medical records and heath information technicians.
According to Bill Rudman, vice president of education visioning for the American Health Information Management Association, dramatic changes in technology and government initiatives, along with health information exchanges that center on patient care, have also increased the need for Health Information Management (HIM) professionals.
What Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Do: According to the Department, medical records and health information technicians might expect to organize and maintain data, use software to classify treatments by clinical codes, and track patient outcomes for quality assessment.
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Education Options: Typically, those working as technicians in medical records and health information management need a postsecondary certificate, though many have an associate's degree, says the Department. Many employers also require professional certification.

Career #5: Pharmacy Technician

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts 32 percent growth over the 2010 to 2020 time frame for pharmacy technicians, making this another smart career option to consider.
Why It's Booming: There are a variety of factors at play in terms of why this career is growing. For one, advances in pharmaceutical research mean that more prescription medications are being used to fight diseases. The growing elderly population will equal more prescription drug use as well.
What Pharmacy Technicians Do: Pharmacy technicians might perform tasks like compounding or mixing medications, counting tablets, or answering phone calls from customers, according to the Department. Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals may also have different duties, like making rounds in the hospital to give medications to patients.
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Education Options: The Department says that pursuing a career as a pharmacy technician usually requires earning a high school diploma. Some states may also require completing a formal education program and passing an exam, so be sure to check what the requirements are in your state.

Career #6: Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist or Technician

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, from 2010 to 2020, the demand for medical laboratory technologists is expected to grow by 11 percent, with jobs for medical laboratory technicians projected to increase by 15 percent.
Why It's Booming: The aging population means more tests are needed to diagnose medical conditions like cancer or type 2 diabetes, the Department of Labor says. In fact, 70 percent of medical decisions are based on laboratory findings.
What Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists/Technicians Do: Both technologists and technicians might be responsible for performing tests and procedures on body fluids such as blood, urine, and tissue samples using sophisticated lab equipment. However, medical laboratory technologists typically perform more complex procedures than technicians do, and technologists usually supervise the technicians, according to the Department.
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Education Options: Educational requirements for laboratory technologists and technicians differ, the Department says. Medical laboratory technologists typically need a bachelor's degree, but technicians usually need an associate's degree or a postsecondary certificate. Some states require technologists and technicians to be licensed.

Flexible Degrees For Inflexible Schedules

By Yahoo

Does your busy life keep you on a tight schedule? Online education could help you find an opening for your studies.

By Jennifer Berry

Wondering how you're ever going to fit going back to school into your already packed life? You might have the answer at your fingertips. With a computer and a good Internet connection, you could earn your degree online. And you certainly won't be alone.
"There's a fever sweeping the country over online education," says Michael P. Lambert, executive director of the Distance Education and Training Council, a nonprofit agency in the United States specializing in the accreditation of distance education institutions. "One reason for the popularity is the convenience of being able to study at home on your own time and still hold down a full-time job, raise a family, or travel."
Convenience is certainly a significant benefit of online education, but keep in mind that it's not a synonym for easy. Online education requires a high degree of commitment and dedication, so it's not for everyone.
But if you think online education is the right path for you, read on to learn about some degrees you can earn that are especially excellent in an online format.

Online Degree #1 - Bachelor's in Finance

Think you might want to learn the ABCs of financial analysis, but just don't have the time to devote to a traditional brick-and-mortar degree program? An online bachelor's degree in finance might solve your dilemma.
Why Earn This Degree Online: "Finance is one of the easiest topics to teach by distance," Lambert says. "All instruction revolves around case studies and analyzing a company's financial position." Lambert also explains that if you're studying finance online, you might be assigned recently published articles as part of your curriculum. "That keeps the curriculum very fresh," he says.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Online Finance Program.
According to the College Board - a nonprofit organization that advocates for higher education - as a finance major, you'll learn how to understand the economy and stock market, practice making investment decisions, and work with complex computer programs. Some typical courses include accounting and statistics for financial analysis, investments, and financial management.

Online Degree #2 - Associate's in Paralegal Studies

Have you dreamed of joining the legal field, but don't have the time for at least three years of law school after the four years it would take to earn your bachelor's degree? Consider earning your associate's in paralegal studies online: You could tackle your class work on your own time, and prepare to pursue a career in law.
Why Earn This Degree Online: "[P]aralegal studies requires heavy reading, which is very compatible with an online education format," Lambert says. "In fact, paralegal studies has been a popular distance learning program for decades - since before online programs, through correspondence courses - because much of the coursework is reading or case studies."
Next step: Click to Find the Right Online Paralegal Program.
In a paralegal program, you might sharpen your research and writing skills, use computers, and develop your organizational skills, says the College Board. As for courses in this program, they typically include civil procedure, criminal law and procedure, and legal research and writing.

Online Degree #3 - Master's in Business Administration

There are all sorts of reasons you might be considering getting your MBA. Whether you're gunning for a promotion at work, or you're hoping to start your own business, this degree could provide you with the much-needed skills to succeed. And by earning it online, you'll be able to prepare for the next level in your career when - and where - it's most convenient for you.
Why Earn This Degree Online: "This is a great program to study online," Lambert says. "It's very case-study oriented and there's a lot of writing. MBAs are fundamentally analysts - you're brought in to look at a problem and solve it. Online learning is ideal for these people."
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According to the Princeton Review, some of the subjects you might cover in your MBA program include finance, management and accounting, organizational behavior, and economics. And the better schools will help you apply the academic theories you're learning to real-world problems, notes the Princeton Review.

Online Degree #4 - Associate's in Health Information Systems and Technology

Are you interested in learning about the role technology plays in health care, but think you're too busy for school? If you enroll in an online degree program, you could earn your associate's in health information systems and technology and save time by not commuting to campus.
Why Earn This Degree Online: "This is a red hot area for online learning," says Lambert. "Part of that comes from the fact that the students who study this at home can sometimes translate that into income - they can work from home as medical transcriptionists or coders." In other words, because the career can often be done remotely, it makes sense for people to prepare for it by also studying online.
Next step: Click to Find the Right Online Health Information Systems and Technology Program.
What might you expect to study in this type of program? The College Board says that you'll learn to speak the language of medicine, master the latest medical records software, and get up to speed on medical coding. Some typical classes for this major include medical terminology, health care statistics, introduction to coding, and computers in health care, according to the College Board.

Online Degree #5 - Bachelor's in International Business

Are you fascinated by how business works in other countries and cultures, but don't have any time to fit college classes into your jam-packed schedule? Consider earning your bachelor's in international business online - and learn global tricks of the trade whenever it works for you.
Why Earn This Degree Online: "Business subjects are easily taught online," says Lambert. And, he adds, there's a benefit to studying international business online that you might not have considered. "You'll likely get an international student body because the Internet doesn't have geographic boundaries. So you might be taking classes with students from Singapore, Japan, Norway, England, or Germany," Lambert says.
And, he notes, if you're studying international business, what better way to learn than with people from all over the world?
Next step: Click to Find the Right Online International Business Program.
In an international business program, the College Board says you'll learn how to sell products around the world, write business plans, and even speak another language. You might study courses like international finance, marketing, and operations, according to the College Board.