|
Trade Schools Directory >
Education & Career Articles Index >
Second Careers
Second Careers
If you feel that you have accomplished all your goals in your current career field, that you have skills or talents which are currently going to waste, or are working in an industry that is on the decline and facing lay-offs, training for a second career could be a great option for you.
After spending many years in one career, it can be a refreshing experience to re-train for a career path that you are passionate about. The first step is to think about your interests, and what you would enjoy doing, because as businessman, author, and motivational speaker Harvey Mackay said, “Find something you love to do and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
The next step is to consider an in-demand industry that could mesh with your ideal job. Some industries with huge growth opportunities include healthcare, education, and technology. Even if the career you have in mind doesn't seem to fit into one of these industries, allow yourself to think outside of the box, and you may be surprised to find how many opportunities can open up. For example, if you enjoy cooking, but cringe at the thought of the long shifts required of a chef, which often includes nights and weekends, a career in the healthcare industry helping the elderly with meal preparation could be a great fit for you.
Now that you have narrowed down what you want to do, and in what industry, you may need to return to school to gain the necessary skills and knowledge. A great choice to consider is a vocational or trades school, which can provide focused, career-oriented training that allows you to graduate and move on to 'the real world' in much less time than traditional colleges or universities.
If you are stuck as to what program or career path would be best suited to you, the U.S Department of Labor's 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great place to peruse a wide range of careers, what they entail, their estimated future growth, and salary averages. The Occupational Outlook Handbook can be found at www.bls.gov/oco. Here are some examples included in the handbook of rewarding positions that are expected to stay on the rise.
HEALTHCARE
Occupational Therapist Assistants & Aides
- Employment expected to grow much faster than average.
General Overview/Duties: Working under the direction of Occupational Therapists to provide patients with rehabilitative services and bettering their quality of life by helping them to improve their ability to perform daily activities.
Career Environments : Hospitals, Offices of Occupational Therapists, Nursing & Residential Care Facilities, Community Care Facilities for the Elderly, Home Health Care Services, State Government Agencies.
Medical Assistant
- Employment projected to grow much faster than average.
- Expected to be one of the fastest growing occupations over the 2006 – 2016 decade.
General Overview/Duties: Handling both administrative and clinical tasks to keep health facilities running smoothly.
Career Environments : Physicians’ Offices, Public & Private Hospitals, Residential Care Facilities, Offices of Chiropractors, Optometrists, and Podiatrists.
EDUCATION
Teacher Assistant
- Job prospects expected to be favorable.
General Overview/Duties: Providing classroom teachers with both instructional and clerical support, supervising students in environments like cafeterias, schoolyards, hallways, and field trips, and recording grades, setting up equipment, and helping prepare instruction materials.
Career Environments : Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Schools, Pre-Schools, Childcare Centers, Religious & Community Centers.
Adult Literacy & Remedial Education Teacher
- Job opportunities expected to be favorable, especially for those teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).
General Overview/Duties: Instructing adults and youths in ESL, and general/basic education, including reading, writing, and performing elementary math calculations.
Career Environments : Local School Districts, Adult Learning Centers, Community Colleges.
TECHNOLOGY
Computer Systems Analyst
- Job opportunities projected to increase much faster than average, with more new jobs expected to be created.
General Overview/Duties: Providing organizations with computer technology that can meet their needs, incorporating rapidly changing technologies into existing computer systems.
Career Environment: Employment opportunities can be found in every sector of the economy, including computer systems design companies, governments, insurance companies, financial institutions, hospitals, wholesale companies, and universities.
Computer Software Engineer
- One of the occupations expected to grow the fastest and add the most new jobs over the 2006 – 2016 decade.
General Overview/Duties: Applying principles of computer science and mathematical analysis in order to design, develop, test, and evaluate computer software and systems. Often involves working directly for companies and organizations, or working for companies contracted to coordinate the construction, maintenance, and expansion of businesses and organizations.
Career Environment: computer systems design companies, software publishers, government agencies, computer manufacturers, financial institutions, insurance providers, or work as an independent consultant.
© 2001 - 2009 Beelineweb.com
Trade Schools Site Map |
Programs |
Programs to Locations
Cities |
Education Resources
|
