More good advice

See http://www.bestcareer-4you.com/hot-jobs-for-a-career-change-part-1-of-3.php

Hot Jobs For A Career Change Part 1 Of 3

Trends Magazine has compiled a list of the hottest new jobs for the twenty-first century. Most of them are hot because of emerging technologies and the need for people who know about those new technologies. These jobs can be very lucrative to the person who is lucky enough to secure employment in these areas. Here they are:

-Experience Designer:

These individuals work in the retail industry, creating the essence and aura of a store. Experience designers go beyond the look of a place, creating a unique experience in which shoppers can immerse themselves. From cellular boutiques to the American Girl doll store on New York’s Fifth Avenue, the shops created by an experience designer are often considered works of art; mini universes unto themselves.
Experience designers are involved in every aspect of creation — from choosing accent colors on walls to slanting the windows in the right direction. The next time you go into a boutique and you feel as if you’ve just had an "experience" — you have, and someone went to a lot of trouble to make you feel at home.

-Medical Researcher:

It’s no news that what’s on the forefront of medicine is on the forefront of America’s collective mind. Researchers of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and the developers of prosthetics are the most coveted titles in the healthcare industry. With the aging baby boomer population, the need for cures and treatment plans is both paramount and profitable.

Major developments aren’t only taking place in medicine, but also in the way doctors file medical records. Individuals with the know-how and creative juice to mix tech with medicine can expect seven figure salaries in the year ahead.

-Web Designer:

What’s new about web designers – We already know they have cool jobs, working as the creative arm behind highly trafficked websites. But Trendsresearch.com reports that the profession is still in its adolescent phase, and for 2007 it’s going to be a new era of web design. Monster.com charts a 26 percent growth rate in this field for the past year, which will continue to blossom for the coming year.

With the advent of new flash technology, companies are looking for people who know how to implement this into their web presence since so many people rely on the Internet for information. Being a web designer is definitely one of the hottest jobs around and some companies will also let you work from home!

-Security Systems Engineer:

Monster.com reports that individuals in the protective services industry can expect a rise in demand and salary for 2007. Advances in Vegas-Casino like security systems and satellite maps are helping to wire the world for defense.

Individuals with a head for engineering and computers can easily expect a six-figure salary in this industry. From sonar imaging to keystroke identification, keeping our country and our world safer has never been easier or more profitable.

-Urban Planners:

From the Hong Kong International Airport Residential Tower to suburban "McMansion" sprawl, individuals in residential planning and development can expect a lot of work in the coming year. Urban Planners must meet the demand for real estate that’s both decadent and practical. Prefab one-level homes engineered for the aging baby boomer population are changing the face of suburban America, and boosting the demand for urban planners.

-Viral Marketers and Media Promoters:

Not to be confused with someone in advertising or public relations, a viral marketer knows how to build an audience from nothing with little more than rumor and excitement. Known for such coups as My Space’s Lonelygirl15 and the Blair Witch Project, Viral Marketers begin "contagious" campaigns that spread largely through word of mouth. They now have a foothold in American advertising due largely to the Internet.

-Talent Agents:

As Clint Eastwood would say, "These days, everyone is famous." And as fame and fortune grows for performers and athletes, a new arena opens for their managers, promoters, and general go-to guys.

Although these titles may speak for themselves, duties for those fortunate enough to get close to the stars often include things like latte retrieval and limo reservations. Yet, next to the celebrities themselves, these positions are some of the most competitive in the entertainment industry as well as in the most demand.

-Buyers and purchasing agents:

Trend forecasters predict that 2007 could be a make-or-break year for the retail industry, specifically the department store. Much of the department store’s fate lies in the hands of the buyers and purchasing agents.

These individuals are in charge of store inventory and make decisions on item color, size, quantity, and country of origin. With the recent boom of the retail industry, these jobs are often hard to come by and can be very lucrative if store profitability increases.

-Art Directors:

From Broadway to movie sets, any job that involves paint, lights, cameras, and action is in demand, especially within the 20-30 demographic. Now perceived as the ultimate career for inspired artists with an affinity for pop culture, art directors, set directors, and stage production directors clamor for the top positions that call for hands-on creative genius with a couture designer’s eye.

-News Analysts, Reporters, and Bloggers:

The Internet has created a new realm for reporters and writers, who previously only saw their names and ideas in print. Now, publications with an online division often hire three levels of correspondents: print news writers, online news writers, and bloggers.

Although most personal blogs aren’t profitable enough to stand alone as businesses, writers can use their increasing popularity as another gateway for their voices to be heard.

There is also a list of jobs that are in the biggest demand these days compiled by the folks at CNN Money. There is high demand for workers in the following fields:

-Accounting – Thanks to Enron and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, those who have a few years of corporate auditing experience working for a large public accounting firm can negotiate a sweet package for themselves when they change jobs.

That applies whether they’re leaving the accounting firm to go work for a corporation or if they’re seeking to return to the public accounting firm from an auditing job at an individual company.

College graduates with an accounting degree but not yet a CPA designation might make between $35,000 and $45,000 a year, or up to $50,000 in large cities like New York. After a couple of years they can command a substantial pay hike if they move to large company as an internal staff auditor or to a smaller company as controller. At that point, their salary can jump to anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000.

The expectation is that they will obtain their CPA designation.

If they choose to return to a public accounting firm as an audit manager after a couple of years at a corporation they can earn a salary of $70,000 to $85,000.

-Sales and Marketing

– The healthcare and biomedical fields offer some handsome earnings opportunities for those on the business side.

Business development directors, product managers and associate product managers working for medical device makers, for instance, can do quite well for themselves if they develop a successful track record managing the concept, execution and sales strategy for a medical device before jumping ship.

Typically, they have an MBA in marketing plus at least two to three years’ experience on the junior end to between five and eight years’ experience at the more senior levels. That experience ideally will be in the industry where they’re seeking work.

An associate product manager might make a base salary of $55,000 to $75,000. A product manager can make a base of $75,000 to $95,000, while a business development director may make $120,000 to $160,000. Those salaries don’t include bonuses.

The business development director seeking a vice president position could boost his base to $150,000 to $200,000 — depending on whether the new company is a risky start-up or established device maker.

-Legal -

Intellectual property attorneys specializing in patent law and the legal secretaries who have experience helping to prepare patent applications are highly desirable these days.

The most in demand are those lawyers with not only a J.D. but also an advanced degree in electrical and mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, biotechnology, pharmacology or computer science. Even those patent lawyers who just have an undergraduate degree in those fields have a leg up.

Patent lawyers working for a law firm might make $125,000 to $135,000 to start or about $90,000 if they work for a corporation that’s trying to get a patent or to protect one they already have. With a couple of years’ experience, they can expect a 10 percent jump or better when they get another job.

Legal secretaries, meanwhile, might make $65,000 at a law firm or $55,000 at a corporation. Should they choose to move to a new employer, they can command close to a 10 percent bump in pay.

-Technology -

Two tech jobs in high demand these days are .NET (dot net) developers and quality assurance analysts.

Developers who are expert users of Microsoft’s software programming language .NET can make between $75,000 and $85,000 a year in major cities. If they pursue a job at a company that seeks someone with a background in a given field (say, a firm looking for a .NET developer experienced in using software related to derivatives) they might snag a salary hike of 15 percent or more when they switch jobs.

Those who work in software quality management, meanwhile, might make $65,000 to $75,000 a year and be able to negotiate a 10 percent to 15 percent jump in pay if they switch jobs.

-Manufacturing and Engineering

– Despite all the announced job cuts in the automotive industry, quality and process engineers, as well as plant managers certified in what’s known as "Lean Manufacturing" techniques, are hot commodities.

The same applies to professionals in similar positions at other types of manufacturers.

One lean manufacturing technique is to use video cameras to capture the manufacturing process. A quality engineer will analyze the tapes to identify areas in the process that create inefficiencies or excess waste, both in terms of materials and workers’ time.

Process and manufacturing engineers might make between $65,000 and $75,000. With a certification in lean manufacturing and a few years’ experience, they can command pay hikes of between 15 percent and 20 percent if they choose to switch jobs.

A plant manager making between $90,000 and $120,000 may expect to get a 10 percent raise or more.

Many of the salaries quoted here are based on working in larger cities as opposed to smaller towns; however, it is certainly possible to garner wages such as these when you are working in an industry where there are shortages of knowledgeable individuals. There’s no question that these job fields are lucrative and need workers that can not only perform the job, but do it well.

Discernment of vocation

Interesting viewpoint and tips from a liberal Christian perspective:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/workplace/articles/contemplatingcareerchange.html

Ten Practical Tips When Considering a Career Change
There are hundreds of great career tips, any one of which could be life changing, so picking just ten is daunting. With that said, here are my top ten …

1. Take career assessments. Some of them are simple and free (www.careerkey.org). Others are multi-faceted, and require some financial investment (CareerDirect® Guidance System for $100 from www.crown.org). You can also find good career assessments through local counselors and colleges, many of which use well used standards such as the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory, Myers-Briggs for personality profiling, and Self-Directed Search.

2. Elect a board of advisors. Ask input from your family, friends and fellow workers as well as trusted career advisors and experts. Ask those who know you well how they would describe your abilities, interests, personality and values, as well as your "blind spots." What do they see as work God has prepared for you? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter key word "advisor."

3. Inventory all your life experiences. Include school and education, work experiences, personal interests and hobbies, and community and church activities. Circle the things you did best and liked most, especially activities that were meaningful to you. Contrast and compare what you have discovered in tips one through three. Are there recurring themes, interests, abilities and/or values? For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "sweet spot."

4. Explore the wide world of work fast and free. The internet is great for learning about careers of all kinds. Some helpful sites are America's CareerInfoNet at www.acinet.org, Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco, Career Guide to Industries at www.bls.gov/oco/cg, and Occupational Information Network at http://online.onetcenter.org/.

5. "Netweave" through personal referrals. Whether exploring career direction or looking for a particular job, how much better is it to have a personal referral? Would you believe 42 times? That's 4,200% better! Why? You are good by association with the person who referred you. So, start making connections by helping others. For more information, checkout www.netweaving.com.

6. Educate your gifts. Michael Jordan could jump high, but it didn't mean much until he learned how to play basketball. Talent alone is not enough; knowledge and skill are required. Stay current on fast-changing technologies to remain employable and live a life of continuous learning. To find opportunities for more education, degrees, certifications and classes, checkout www.petersons.com and the American Association of Community Colleges at www.aacc.nche.edu/.

7. Take courses on career planning and job search techniques. Find a CareerOneStop Center near you by typing your zip code into www.servicelocator.org. For a Christ-centered approach, consider a Crossroads Career® Explorer Course. For more info, go to www.crossroadscareer.org.

8. Lose financial weight. If you have debt and cost of living which makes it hard to afford a career change, then it's time to deal with the money issue. Wonderful resources are available to help you decrease your dependence on dollars and increase your freedom to change careers. Check out Crown Financial Ministries at www.crown.org.

9. Plan on working after retirement. Sound like an oxymoron? Forty-eight percent of people who have retired work at least part time. Eighty percent of the soon-to-be-retiring baby-boomers plan on working. For more info, go to www.CareerTIP.net and enter keyword "retire."

10. Generate a positive attitude. Motivational speaker Zig Zigler writes that 85% of the reason people get jobs and get ahead in those jobs is a positive attitude. Exercise forgiveness to free you from hurts from the past, and practice love of others to overcome fear of the future.

Practical and not-so-practical counsel from Richard Bolles

Richard Bolles and the What Color Is Your Parachute books have been around for a while: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/.

They sell for around 18-19 bucks a copy and the market must perceive value in them despite their being a pricey, large-ish volume which doesn't fit well in a briefcase or vest pocket. Whether because of the value of their counsel or because they are entertaining or both, they continue to sell well.

I find the Parachute books hard to read. Maybe that's partly because I think a basic premise of them is seriously, annoyingly wrong. The Parachute books encourage one to navel-gaze until one finds one's perfect vocation. I think for many people, as a practical matter, the perfect vocation isn't discernible within the finite bounds of a human lifetime - it ain't there, they'll never find it, and they'll never get off their backside and engage with life "until they find themselves." I know far too many people who are inclined that way, and Parachute unfortunately validates that inclination.

Perfection is the enemy of the good enough. A career strategy has to be part of a life strategy. For such people, the key can be to find a job you don't hate too much which enables you to arrange your life the way you want it.

That all said, Bolles makes a very useful observation about A Philosophy Of Work, p. 56 of the 2006 edition, viz:
1. The typical job these days is best viewed as a temp job. ...
2. The typical job these days is best viewed as a seminar.. ...
3. The typical job these days is best viewed as an adventure. ...
4. The typical job these days is best viewed as one where the satisfaction lies in the work itself. ... [goes off the track a bit - gets a little masochistic]
5. You need to approach any job with the philosophy that it can be transformed. ... [Maybe. But also check out what Peter Drucker says about "widowmaker" jobs.]

Patent agent - more on career switch pathway

The attractive aspect of this, if you have a science or engineering degree - or maybe even if you don't (see e.g. http://www.oppenheimercommunications.com/Patents/PatentAgentCareers.shtml for a technical writer's story)?

It's one 100-question multiple guess exam and bang, you have a new credential which opens new doors - not many one-shot career-changer projects like that.

Maybe. Wonder why more people aren't doing this?

One attractive aspect would be that some credentials actually REDUCE your practical options. (Law degrees are infamous for this if you get interested in a job as a non-attorney.) But I don't think a patent agent license would do that.

One review course, the PLI course, is pretty expensive, about $2800. 10% discount if you're IEEE, taking it down to about $2500.

According to Oppenheimer, he did it without such a course. But you'd still have to prepare.

Supply chain - a career switch path?

"Supply chain management" is a term you hear a lot now with globalized and outsourced production. It's a new buzzword.

This seems to split the interdisciplinary seam between engineering and business. It might show up in systems engineering, engineering management, or logistics.

Supply chain management has become a big issue with the H1N1 flu vaccine. It's hard to get it right now! Producing H1N1 vaccine has run into problems, but distributing it may be the supply chain weak link.

Like a lot of vaccines, it needs to be carefully refrigerated from production to injection, in a "cold chain" with a managed chain of custody showing that it's been kept in the correct temperature range. It can't get too warm or too cold - there are reports of thousands of hard-to-produce doses being lost.

See http://www.wptv.com/mostpopular/story/Vaccine-ruined/jXS5Vw6cmk6CG6quQ9opBw.cspx

(What kind of equipment and skills would this take? There are medical-grade refrigerators and freezers. Do you also need medical-grade truck drivers and medical-grade custodians and building guards?)

Here's one school that suggests supply chain management as a career switch path:
http://www.umsl.edu/divisions/business/mbaonline/phd/overview.htm