If you are looking for job security but do not have a college degree, there are still many opportunities available for you in the job market.
The U.S. Department of Labor has ranked the occupations that are expected to have the newest openings between now and 2012. Of the top ten listed, half do not explicitly require a college degree.
These fast-growing occupations may require some post-high school vocational training or on-the-job training. And although not required for entry, a college degree will help in advancement. There are many job openings in these occupations, so if you are interested in any of these fields, it might be a good idea to get a job and see what you think and then you can work on getting more education if you want to advance.
We’ll work backwards, starting with the fifth fastest growing career.
5. Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
If you are athletic, like to help others and love to play, maybe you would be interested in a job in the fitness world.
Description
Fitness trainers are people who help others attain their fitness goals. They do this by demonstrating exercise techniques and helping their clients improve their fitness level. Fitness trainers may work with groups or individually as a personal trainer. Aerobics instructors perform similar duties, except that they tend to focus on teaching group aerobic exercise classes.
Setting and Conditions
Fitness trainers and aerobic instructors usually work indoors in some recreation or health centre or club. Some may also work for corporations or on cruise ships or at summer camps.
Many jobs available at the entry level of these occupations may be part-time or seasonal, but many people do work up to forty hours per week. The risk of injury due to the active nature of the job is relatively high for fitness workers.
Training and Qualifications
It is not necessary to have a college degree to enter this field. However, most fitness trainers and aerobics instructors must earn certification in personal training, weight training or aerobics. Certification is usually good for two years. Fitness workers are also often required the certificate in CPR.
If you are interested in this field, you should be athletic, outgoing and healthy. Employers are also looking for people who are good communicators and can motivate others.
Money
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, in 2002 the median wage for fitness trainers and aerobic instructors was $11.51 per hour. The middle range was between $8.06 and $18.18 per hour. At the high end of the field, the top 10 per cent earned $26.22 per hour or more.
4. Physical Therapist Aides
If you are interested in physical therapy as a career choice, being an aide is an excellent place to start out.
Description
Physical therapist aides work under the supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. They do things like help move patients, clean the treatment area, stock supplies, prepare for patient treatment and some clerical duties. Since they are unlicensed, aides may not perform clinical therapy treatment.
Setting and Conditions
Aides may work full or part-time and generally operate within a physical therapy treatment facility. Many facilities have evening and weekend hours to accommodate their clients so that schedules may vary.
Physical therapy aides need to have some physical strength, as they are required to help move and lift patients. They also spend a lot of time kneeling, stooping and standing on the job.
Training and Qualifications
Aides are usually get trained on the job, and again, for advancement, a college degree is required. Most employers look for high school graduates who are personable and want to help others.
Money
The median annual earnings for this occupation in 2002 was $20,670. The lowest yearly wage was $15,290, and the highest was $29,990.
3. Home Health Aides
If you are interested in the medical field, and you like to be out and about instead of cooped up in a medical building, being a home health aide might be for you.
Description
Home health aides travel to private homes to administer health related services such as checking vital signs, giving medications, cleaning, bathing, grooming, and moving elderly, sick or disabled people. Sometimes they may also help with changing dressings or other medical equipment such as ventilators. Home health aides work under the supervision of medical staff, and they are also required to keep records of their patients’ progress.
Setting and Conditions
Most home health aides work regular forty hour weeks, but the hours may be at any time of the day or night since their services may be required 24 hours a day. They visit several different homes a day and typically only get paid for the hours they are working in a house, not while they are travelling to each home. Workloads generally are heavy, and the duties are sometimes unpleasant as they are working with people who may be easily agitated or uncooperative due to their maladies.
Training and Qualifications
Generally, only a high school diploma is required to gain employment as a home health aide. However, many facilities need employees to complete 75 hours of training and then pass a competency evaluation within four months of work. Once they complete this program, they get the placement on a State registry of nursing aides.
Employers are looking for people who are very reliable, sensitive and have a strong desire to help others. Furthermore, they should have excellent communications skills and be emotionally stable. And applicants for this sort of position must be healthy, and a physical exam is often required before hire.
Money
In 2002, the median earnings for a home health aide were $8.70 per hour. The range of hourly wages was between $7.54 per hour at the lowest and $12.34 per hour at the highest. On average aides who worked for employment services made the most money per hour.
2. Social and Human Service Assistants
If you enjoy working with community service projects and helping others, you might want to check into being a social and human service assistant.
Description
Social and human service assistant is an umbrella term for many job titles. Some of those jobs might be working as a case management aide, social work assistant, community outreach worker, or life skill counsellor. They work under the supervision of people in a variety of fields, including social work, psychiatry, nursing and rehabilitative or physical therapy. Because this occupation falls under so many varied areas, job descriptions are also quite diverse. Social and human service assistants provide some form of an aide to clients relative to the given area.
Setting and Conditions
Again, since the jobs are so varied under this occupation, so are the settings. Some people may work indoors in traditional offices or clinics, while others may work in shelters, halfway houses or may travel to private homes. A forty-hour week is average, but there may be some variance in evening or weekend schedules.
Working in these fields can be quite emotionally draining due to the nature of the work. Heavy workloads and relatively low pay can cause additional stress also.
Training and Qualifications
While there are many opportunities within this field for those who do not have a college degree at this point, employers are increasingly looking for college graduates. However, those with a high school diploma will often receive comprehensive on-the-job training. Some jobs in the field may also require additional items, such as a valid driver’s license or a background check.
Employers in this area are looking for people who are effective communicators, are incredibly responsible and reliable, and effective at time management. Also, due to the nature of this occupation, applicants must exhibit a strong desire to help others and show compassion for those in need.
Money
Again, as of 2002, the median annual income for people in this occupation was $23,370. Yearly earnings ranged from $18,670 to $37,550 at the top. Generally, those people employed by state government agencies earned the most per year on average.
1. Medical Assistants
Do you enjoy doing clerical work and have an interest in the medical field? If so, you may be interested in becoming a medical assistant, which is the fastest growing career for those who do not have a college degree.
Description
Medical assistants take care of general clerical duties in all types of medical offices. In some cases, medical assistants may also perform simple clinical tasks such as taking vitals and preparing lab tests under the supervision of an expert in the office. They also work with patients by teaching them about their medications, and specialized diets. In general, medical assistants may be called on to do any task needed within a medical practice.
Setting and Conditions
Medical assistants work indoors in a medical building. They generally work a traditional Monday through Friday forty-hour week, although some practices are open evenings or weekends. They work with many people at a time, and the job can be stressful, as they must manage many responsibilities at a time.
Training and Qualifications
Employers of medical assistants tend to prefer applicants who have completed a vocational education program in medical assisting. These certificate programs usually last one or two years and are offered at many community colleges or vocational-technical schools. Training in certain tasksn like taking x-rays, may also be required.
Applicants in this field must be neatly groomed, friendly and courteous. They must also be able to handle confidential information and be able to work well with patients. If they are going to perform clinical duties, they must also have some manual coordination.
Money
The median annual earnings for medical assistants in 2002 were $23,940. The lowest pay was $17,640, and the highest was $34,130 per year. Medical assistants who worked in hospitals, on average, made slightly more money per year than those who worked in other medical facilities.
So, if you choose to seek a job in any of these occupations, the chances are that if you are qualified, you will be able to secure a position. Unfortunately, in all of these fields, advancement is still dependent upon continuing education. So if you find you enjoy working in any of the areas discussed here, you might consider getting more training so that you can earn more money and advance in your chosen profession.
For more information on any of careers discussed, see the links below.