Searching For The Hottest Careers of 2013

by Sarah Hayes of the Forum

With so many jobs being moved overseas and a recession that does not seem as if it will end anytime soon, college students may be at a loss as to what to do with their degree once they graduate. The job market is complex and complicated; it is up in the air what kind of job the average college student will find out there in the real world that also fits their skill set. As 2013 begins, it is a good time to take a step back and evaluate what careers and jobs will be the hottest and what kind of skills will be most in demand, especially for current or graduated college students.

Several job fields are due to expand this year, including the health and wellness field. The health field is in constant need of registered nurses due to the country’s growing baby boomer population. Those enrolled in Florissant Valley’s accredited nursing program will find many hospitals looking for their skills. An Associate’s in Applied Science with an emphasis on nursing can be the first step in the direction of a successful career in healthcare.

Another job field on the rise, according to the PR Newswire, is that of technology, especially developing computer software, working with ‘cloud computing’ (computing via a shared wireless network) and developing new kinds of mobile devices. With the rise of devices such as Windows’ Surface tablet and the various versions of the iPad, companies will need workers who can spread their brand across these new platforms. That means knowing how to use these mobile devices and program for them, whether making a website mobile-friendly or creating a company-specific app.

The web browser Yahoo.com has released their list of eight careers to watch in 2013, which can be found below:

· Medical Assistant

· Software Developer

· Dental Hygienist

· Personal Finance Advisor

· Public Relations Specialist

· Social Worker

· Biomedical Engineer

· Veterinary Technologists/Technicians

The one thing they all have in common is that each career asks for some kind of degree or certification, although some do not require it. The lowest level degree required is an Associate’s Degree for a Dental Hygienist, another program offered at Saint Louis Community College. All others ask for Bachelor-level degrees. Becoming a Medical Assistant does not require a degree, though it does ask that graduates pursue a formal educational health program, which includes an Associate’s degree and certificates or diplomas of completion. 

For careers like Personal Finance Advisor and Public Relations Specialist, the must-have degree is in business. An actual license is required for selling stocks. According to Forbes, these fields have been growing by 3 and 4 percent respectively in the past three years. Florissant Valley offers several types of degrees in the fields of business administration and business administration management. 

Other than a college degree, the main key for breaking into a hot career is having experience in the field. This can best be achieved through either an internship or getting an entry-level job directly related to a student’s preferred area. For careers such as computer technology, dedicating time to crafting one’s own software or hardware and making it innovative all show potential employers that there is a level of interest present that cannot be expressed any other way. 

Florissant Valley students still unsure about what career direction to take in 2013 can talk to a campus advisor in the career counseling office on career information and assistance. The counseling office can be found on the top floor of the Student Center, next to the Multipurpose Room. Spring semester hours can be found at the Florissant Valley website (www.stlcc.edu/fv).