This is the second in a two part series
By Toi Pearson
NDG Contributing Writer
This week I am back with four more amazing opportunities for you to consider as a career choice to get back into the job market and hopefully discovering a job you can enjoy. Although some of these suggestions are unconventional and you have never considered them before, you may find (like I did) that change can be good. According to usnews.com, if you are looking for a fresh start in a new and promising career you should look at becoming a (n): actuary, firefighter, school psychologist, or court reporter.
Firefighters do more than rescue people from burning buildings. They also respond and provide help to the victims of car accidents, natural disasters, and hazardous materials in local communities. A good firefighter is disciplined under heavy pressure and creative to solve problems in a hurry. This government-supported job is recession-resistant and comes with a pension, which makes the competition for even entry level position intense. The average firefighter will earn between $32,000 and $59,000 a year and can make an easy transition to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) if interested. The activity level varies depending on the day. One day may be full of excited and rushed responses to local emergencies while other days may not see any action at all. A high school diploma is required, but a college degree is not. However, candidates who have earned an Associate degree and receive EMT training on their own have an advantage. You will need emotional strength, excitement for challenges, and be flexible to survive firefighting.
School psychologists work closely with students and their families to monitor and address issues that affect student performance and success in school. You set up meetings with parents and students, create plans of action to address any problem areas you may observe, and you encourage parental involvement in implementing a solution. Intensive education is required to be considered for such a prestigious and delicate position. Schools require a specialist degree in school psychology, which is offered at the end of a three year graduate program and one year in an internship. Over the next ten years 16,800 new jobs are expected to open for school psychologists. This is because schools are now making an increased effort to offer mental health services for their students. Most school psychologists are self-employed to ensure higher pay and receive upwards of $45,000 a year. While in school it is recommended that you keep a portfolio of all graduate work, and study in the area where you wish to work, or near it. Try to get an internship at the school you wish to work for because it can increase the likelihood of you getting hired at a school where your skills and face are already familiar.
Court reporters record every single word spoken in the courtroom. Sound intense? These verbatim records are highly valued in our justice system because they help to keep the “record straight”. There are other avenues outside of the courtroom for court reporters to explore; 70 percent of all certified court reporters have taken advantage of those avenues. Some options include: broadcast captioners and webcasters. The number of jobs available for court reporters is expected to experience an 18 percent increase in the next 10 years because of the need to provide translation for the hearing impaired. You can earn an average of $47,000 a year in an entry level position; official court reporters earn a per page fee for transcripts. Experienced court reporters say that it is important to establish an area of expertise with any of the following certifications: Registered Diplomat Reporter, Certified Legal Video Specialist, or Certified Broadcast Captioner. There are 150 training programs for court reporting in the United States offered at community colleges, universities, and online; all programs last for a minimum of two years. All court reporters must receive a Registered Professional Reporter Certification. Further licensing requirements for employment vary by state.
Actuaries may seem uptight and stuffy, but their job is anything but. They assess the likelihood and monetary consequences of risks for insurance companies that involve death or serious injury. As an actuary you give insurance companies a heads up on possible expenses that could affect their profitability. The job requires the use of statistics and mathematics; therefore, majoring in either field will give you an advantage when searching for employment. Statistics and Economics are also desired majors by actuary employers. Taking courses in accounting, probability, calculus and finance while in school will prepare a solid foundation for you to build upon when you begin to learn actuary techniques later. A Bachelor Degree is needed to get an entry level position as an actuary, which typically pays $56,000 a year. Employers suggest that aspiring actuaries consider studying actuarial science offered at 100 universities in America. This field can anticipate a 21 percent job increase in the next decade as more and more insurance companies recognize the value of having an actuary on staff.
