Choosing an Occupation

Many high school students have the anticipation and expectation of going to college.

While parents expect their children to go to college so that they will gain a valuable education and have a greater chance of getting a job to support themselves and inevitably make their way in this world.

High school students, on the other hand, see college as a way to gain liberation, academic opportunities and pursuits, freedom from their parents' dictatorship and a chance to have fun and be out on their own.

With these two conflicting viewpoints, a college education may be a slight source of stress in the home. Especially when it comes to those high school students making their decisions about what they want to do with their lives.

Fortunately, there are many resources that can help with these decisions.

It is important for parents and students to consider some of the fastest growing occupations and the job market in regards to making their academic decisions. For example, a student may have a great interest in art and they are not sure how to channel that interest.

It is important to consider fields that will allow students a chance to use that creativity and passion in pursuit of a specific profession. Graphic designers, teachers, marketing business professionals and other pathways will allow students to use their creative ingenuity in their future careers.

Currently, the fastest growing professions for those with bachelor's degrees from a University include Elementary school teachers, accountants and auditors, computer software engineers, computer systems analysts, secondary school teachers, and network and computer systems administrators.

This list illustrates the high demand for computer technicians and other professions in the computer field. It is important to let students know what path will lead to a greater likelihood of finding a job.

For students who choose to go beyond a Bachelor's degree, professions with the highest job market include education administrators, management analysts, financial managers, training and development managers, sales managers, and medical and health services managers.

Those who choose to pursue a Master's degree will find jobs as physical therapists, clergy, educational, vocational, and school counselors, instructional coordinators, hydrologists, occupational therapists and substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors. These are the fastest growing occupations in the nation in regards to master's degrees.

Lastly, students who choose to pursue a doctoral degree will find themselves as biochemists, biophysicists, computer and information scientists, postsecondary teachers, clinical, counseling and school psychologists, biochemists and rehabilitation counselors.

This list of fastest growing careers is anticipating the next ten years based upon the level of education achieved.

When it comes to choosing a career, education planners offer a few trustworthy tips.

The first step to choosing a career is getting to know yourself. Figuring out your hobbies, interests, special skills, personality traits and work ideals will help you know what career to pursue. It is also important to know if you work best alone or with a team, if you are a problem solver, a creative person, a people person, a number cruncher or a designer.

Fortunately, there are lots of options and ways of discovering what your skill sets are. There is also always room for development.

Getting to know career options is also an important step in college planning. Making a list with a list of pros and cons will help to narrow down options. It is also recommended to get as much experience as possible pre college or decision.

Talking with the high school guidance counselor, job shadowing, and gaining experience as an assistant in various fields will help to narrow down choices and make the decision a little clearer.

Most importantly, be willing to work hard and recognize that every field has advantages and disadvantages.

Search the job market, your budget and seek advice from those in the field you are considering!