You can almost count on it at the beginning of the year. Media outlets will try to capitalize on your new year’s resolution to find a new job and will invariably spew out lists of the top career choices that you should pursue. When CSI came out all the rage was pursuing a job as a forensic analyst – “It’s a growth industry!” Whenever these articles come out I read them and just laugh because they draw you in with the prospect of bright new careers that will pay big bucks and then tell you about obscure jobs that in most cases require advanced degrees or skills that the average person doesn’t have. You can read the article by clicking the link below:
Among the wonderful career choices you have that are there for you are :
- A Geneticist – really? According to the article you need some type of PHD to get into this. Hardly something that you can just pick up and pursue tomorrow.
- A Nanotechnology Engineering Technologist – I’m sure that this is an easy field to get into. There are like 30 places that even offer a degree in it according to Wikipedia.
The article went on to suggest several other gems including a Validation Engineer and an Ophthalmic Medical Technologist. Please know that I’m certain that all of these are terrific career paths for people and I’m sure that they also are in growing fields. My issue is that for the vast majority of people that might stumble upon this article – I’m sure there are many seeing as Monster saw fit to post it on the front page of Yahoo – these are completely unrealistic career options.
I just wish that professionals would give good career advice. If you are unhappy with your career or unemployed don’t make the mistake of looking for a job because it is in a cool, growing field. Also don’t make a move because the field offers a significant pay increase – this is the biggest falsity that these articles perpetuate. They always mention that the median salary is somewhere just shy of six figures – who doesn’t want that? What they don’t tell you is what an entry level person makes and that in order to realize the financial gains you have to have experience AND be good at what you do.
If you truly want to make a move you need to do some deep internal reflection. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses. Look at what you like about your job and what you hate about it. Then start looking for career paths that match it.
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