By Toi Pearson
It is no secret that the American job market has undergone dramatic changes and some of those changes have affected its citizen’s ability to provide for families, and hope for brighter futures. While those dark days are not yet behind us, there appears to be a silver lining arising in the distance.
Many understand the hardship of finding a job which fits their skill set and pays well, because unfortunately certain markets have been hit harder than others by our country’s financial predicament. But, according to a recent U. S. News and World Report (USNWR) story on their website, a wave of job openings and opportunities are on the horizon for a vast number of careers.
No matter how daunting the thought of a new career can be, the next year – even the next ten years – look very promising for people entering one of the fields listed on the USNWR top 50 careers. I do not have enough room to go into detail about all 50, so I have highlighted 3 that may interest.
These days’ people desire two things: a good education and a good job. A career in HVAC, dental hygiene, or urban planning can almost guarantee both of those.
HVAC, also known as Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning, and Refrigeration systems technicians are expected to increase 28 percent in job opportunities over the next ten years. HVAC technicians earn an average of $20 an hour. The top paying jobs in the HVAC field are in motor vehicle manufacturing, and electric power generation, transmission, and distribution.
Interested candidates can begin to prepare for a job as a HVAC technician as early as high school by taking courses such as: shop math, mechanical drawing, applied physics and chemistry, and computer applications. Technical training is available at a community college or trade school. In both cases, a prospective student will have to select a specialization focus: either installation or repair. Most HVAC technicians graduate from technical training within 6 months – 2 years. Training often includes an apprenticeship sponsored by technical training programs. Apprenticeships offer paid, on-the-job experience for 3-5 years, which is highly valued in the job market. To qualify for an apprenticeship you must have a high school diploma or GED.
Dental Hygienists are expected to experience a 36 percent increase in job opportunities over the next ten years, for people with strong social and administrative skills. Dental Hygienists clean teeth, take and analyze x-rays, teach good oral health, and occasionally help with administrative duties in dentist offices. A dental hygienist earns an average of $21-$32 per hour.
An associate degree in dental hygiene is required by most dental offices to gain an entry-level position, as well as, satisfactory results on written and clinical exams upon graduation. However, to teach or conduct research, a Bachelor of Science or a Master of Science in Dental Hygiene may be required. You can find local, accredited dental hygiene programs at Texas Woman’s University in Denton and Collin College in McKinney. Sanford Brown College, an online institution, also offers an Associate degree in dental hygiene along with many other Texas colleges.
As a part of the course work, classes in dental anatomy, radiology, pathology, and microbiology are required. The Texas Dental Hygiene Association offers several scholarships. Upon graduation aspiring dental hygienists have turned to less traditional places to look for jobs like: school programs, clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. Most dental programs require extra expenses for uniforms, tools, CPR certification, and licensing exam costs.
Urban Planners also known as Regional Planners, have helped to create the world we see, one community at a time. Urban Planners help communities cope with steady growth and change in ways that will improve community quality of life. They must consider city laws, state laws, landscape, budgets, diversity of the city, and what works best for the inhabitants of the city.
Job opportunities for urban planners are lucrative for the city, government, and large and small business campuses. If you work well with tight deadlines, people, and persuasive data then this may be the job for you. Your overall goal, as an urban planner, is to convince the city they need what you are building, that you have considered all options, and will take care of the logistics. You are the team manager who must work with other disciplines not limited to, but including: architecture, finance, math, and communications.
High school students can prepare for a job in this field by taking upper level math courses and sociology related courses. A solid and in-depth knowledge of people and people groups will add a great advantage to your skill set. Land use, cost benefit analysis, and population projection are a few of the college courses taken by people in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning. Few entry level positions ask for Bachelor degrees only, most require a Masters degree.
An urban planner can earn $43,000-$73,000 a year depending on the firm or city employing them. A 19 percent increase in job opportunities is expected for urban planners over the next ten years, because of the rapid growth in city populations and businesses.
Toi Pearson is a former NDG intern and a recent graduate of Texas Women’s University.
