If you’ve decided it’s time to take advantage of one of the many online universities to advance your education while maintaining a full-time job, take some time to learn what employers are looking for. Your approach should be three pronged:
- What are the hottest jobs with income potential that will see you through the balance of your career?
- Determine which jobs augment your existing experience and knowledge.
- Find a training program that will allow you to move quickly through coursework.
Business
MBAs are always in demand, and the better educational pedigree (Yale or Stanford, for instance) that you enjoy, the better are your chances to secure a seat in the boardroom of a corporate powerhouse.
Management Consultant
Here’s an opportunity to put your years of practical experience to work. Freshen your business approach by researching the current market: up-and-coming trends, new approaches to business development, and problem resolution and negotiation in today’s litigious international society. Nationwide, the average income for management consultants is under $150,000, but get a couple of good deals under your belt and you could be earning mid-six figures in just a few years.
Offshoring Manager
Advancements in technology and infrastructure have opened a low-overhead employment pool for corporations, but it still requires daily management and development. Call centers, researchers, and drug development firms are now part of the offshored, nearshored, or homeshored market. Managers must be highly organized, understand international protocols, and possess strong people-management skills. Income potential is well into six figures.
Education
The demands of a growing population ensure that jobs in the education sector will always be available to the job seeker. Check the requirements of the state in which you live to learn about teaching certification and consider a teaching job at a local college. If you’ve already attained your specialized degree, consider one of these hot jobs:
Higher Education Administrator
In our aging society, the upper tier of administrators in the college, university and trade school sector is rapidly approaching retirement, preparing a vacuum of qualified applicants for these challenging, but rewarding, positions. Once the ultimate goal of teachers who moved up through the tiers of education, administrators are now prized for their ability to employ general business management skills to drive the business of the school. At the same time, many universities continue to require their administrators to hold PhDs to ensure that school leaders can understand and apply the core values of the education system. The successful applicant will have a solid grasp of financial management, staff management and development, and management of a large satellite business under the school’s oversight. The national average in compensation for this position in a university setting is $103,000, and benefits includes perks like generous vacation time, holidays, retirement, and medical benefits.
School Psychologist
Again, the working population in this job category is nearing retirement, which affords many opportunities to move into this career. The psychological counselor not only assesses behavioral and special education needs, but also meets with teachers, students and parents to help the student achieve his or her full potential in a supportive environment. Nationwide, the job pays an average of $62,600, accompanied by the typical perks of working in the education field (mentioned above). Compensation in major metropolitan centers may carry as much as a 10% increase over the average.
Our aging society offers many employment opportunities in the broader medical field, from including research, pharmacists, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare practitioners and front- and back-office personnel. The upwardly mobile medical professional might look to one of these specialized fields:
Physician’s Assistant
This aspect of the medical society requires a three-year post-bachelor’s degree that qualifies the practitioner to perform 80% of the duties traditionally provided by a physician without the additional years of study and internship. Surgical PA’s are a sub-specialty that addresses pre- and post-operative care, and is worthy of consideration. The nationwide average income is $83,800, but income levels are substantially lower in smaller towns or remote metropolitan areas.
Registered Nurse
Certified nursing assistants and licensed vocational nurses might consider additional training and certification to become a registered nurse. The best paying jobs are high-stress clinical environments, such as hospitals or dialysis centers that require 12 or more hours of work per day. National income averages approach $65,000, and opportunities for the qualified professional with general business acumen include supervisory positions that carry a $10,000 - $20,000 premium.
Wellness Coach
These positions marry traditional and alternative medicines and appeal to the qualified, established healthcare professional. Wellness coaches incorporate lifestyle management into the health equation, coaching their clients on long-term health practices that extend the quality and quantity of life. A well-founded practitioner can earn in excess of $80,000 per year, with potential income topping $100,000 in larger cities.
Public Service
Public service positions such as corrections officer, firefighter, emergency planning manager, immigration specialist, and politician are always good choices for those who wish to give back to our growing society.
And the Future…
In coming years, jobs in the technology sector, such as Asian business development specialist and data miner, have the potential to provide six-figure incomes to qualified applicants.
Conclusion
While the world financial and employment outlook appears shaky on the surface, many established career fields offer long-term growth potential for the determined job seeker. Know your strengths and consider what stirs your passion. Work from an established foundation to build a future ripe with possibility.
