Posts Tagged ‘Careers’

The Strong Interest Inventory Work Style Scale And The Job Market – Part I

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

The purpose of The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) Work Style Scale is to distinguish between individuals who prefer working with data, ideas, or things and individuals who prefer working with people. A score of 45 or below on the SII Work Style Scale indicates a clear interest in working with data, ideas, or things.

Three careers among those considered by the Department of Labor to be the “fasting growing” and “ most in high demand” that have the potential of providing high job satisfaction for individuals with a score of 45 or below include:

  • Computer Software Engineers, applications
  • Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
  • Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Computer Software Engineers

Employment of computer software engineers is projected to increase by 38 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Computer Software Engineers apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. They research, design, develop, and test operating systems-level software, compilers, and network distribution software.

Computer Software Engineers work in a broad range of industries including:

  • Medical
  • Military
  • Communications
  • Aerospace
  • Scientific
  • General Computing Applications.

Education and Training

Most employers prefer applicants who have at least a bachelors degree.

Computer Software Engineers who have completed:

Percent

High School or less

2.9%

Some College

15.3%

Bachelors Degree and More

81.8%
*Source: Department of Labor

The usual college major for applications software engineers is computer science or software engineering.

Income

According to National Association of Colleges and Employers starting salaries for Computer Software Engineers averaged:

  • $56,201  for graduates with a bachelors degree
  • $53,396 fro graduates with a bachelors degree in computer science

Job Title

Median Annual Income
Software publishers

$84,560
Computer systems design and related services

$78,850
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services

$78,850
Management of companies and enterprises

$78,580
Insurance carriers

$74,230
Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences

$97,220
Scientific research and development services

$97,180
Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing

$93,240
Computer systems design and related services

$84,660
Data processing, hosting, and related services

$78,270
*Source: Department of Labor, 2006.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians

During economic recession employment is relatively stable for veterinary technologists and technicians. Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to grow 36 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians conduct clinical work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They carry out many of the same duties for a veterinarian that a nurse would for a physician, including routine laboratory and clinical procedures.

Work setting for Veterinary Technologists and Technicians include:

  • Private Clinics
  • Animal Hospitals
  • Research Facilities

Education and Training

Typically entry-level veterinary technicians have a 2-year associate degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited community college program in veterinary technology in which courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals. A 4-year degree is generally needed to become a Veterinary Technologists.

While every state has their own regulations for veterinary technicians and technologists all states require a credentialing exam.

Individuals interested in careers as veterinary technologists and technicians should try to take as many high school science, biology, and math classes as possible.

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians who have completed:

Percent
High School or less 30.2%
Some College 53.1%
Bachelors Degree and More 16.7%

*Source: Department of Labor

Income

During economic recession employment is relatively stable for veterinary technologists and technicians

The annual median hourly wage of veterinary technologists and technicians reported in 2008 was $28,900.

Percentile wage estimates

Percentile

10%

25%

50%
(Median)

75%

90%

Hourly Wage

$9.50

$11.34

$13.89

$16.81

$19.95

Annual Wage (2)

$19,770

$23,580

$28,900

$34,960

$41,490
*Source: Department of Labor

States with the highest concentration of Veterinary Technologists and Technicians include: Vermont, Colorado, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Arizona.

State

Employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

Percent of State employment

Vermont

380

$14.41

$29,980

0.126%

Colorado

2,550

$14.13

$29,390

0.111%

New Hampshire

630

$14.07

$29,270

0.099%

Rhode Island

460

$16.13

$33,550

0.096%

Arizona

2,420

$13.31

$27,680

0.092%

States paying the highest wage to Veterinary Technologists and Technicians include: New York, Illinois, California, Connecticut, and District of Columbia.

State

Employment

Hourly mean wage

Annual mean wage

Percent of State employment

New York

3,610

$16.92

$35,200

0.042%

Illinois

2,910

$16.88

$35,120

0.049%

California

8,950

$16.81

$34,970

0.059%

Connecticut

1,230

$16.76

$34,860

0.072%

District of Columbia

30

$16.69

$34,720

0.005%
Source: Department of Labor, 2008

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians manage patient record databases and perform quality assurance on their records. They make certain that all the necessary information is in the computer database, and verify that all recorded information  is correct and complete.

While technicians’ duties vary from facility to facility they must pay close attention to detail and accuracy is essential .

Roughly two out of five Medical Records and Health Information Technicians jobs are in hospitals.  Other employ opportunities include:

  • Physician offices,
  • Nursing care facilities,
  • Outpatient care centers,
  • Home health care services.
  • Insurance firms
  • Public health departments

Education and Training

Typically entry-level medical records and health information technicians have an associate degree from a community or junior college. Many employers give preference to technicians who have become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). Advancement in the field is generally achieved by specialization or promotion to a management position.

Computer Software Engineers who have completed: Percent
High School or less 2.9%
Some College 15.3%
Bachelors Degree and More 81.8%
*Source: Department of Labor

Income

The increasing use of electronic health records (EHR) will continue to broaden

Median annual earnings for medical records and health information technicians is  $28,030. The middle 50 percent earned between $22,420 and $35,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,260.

Job Title

Median Annual Income

General medical and surgical hospitals

$29,400

Nursing care facilities

$ 28,410

Outpatient care centers

$ 26,680

Offices of physicians

$24,170

Bill and Account Collectors

$30,630

*Source: Department of Labor, 2006

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In Demand Careers Well Suited To ISTPs

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

ISTPs are realist who apply expediency and reasoning as they manage and adapt to situations. They are happiest when in situations that require immediate attention. Reflective, utilitarian, pragmatic and,logical they have a knack for taking in and retaining data of a technical nature. ISTPs enjoy working in an environment that is casual and informal and lets them use available resources in the most efficient manner possible to deal with concert/ tangible problems. ISTPs prefer a work environment that: Allows for economy of motions and energy and does not require needless routine / Provides the opportunity to use troubleshooting skills / Enables them to understand and apply technology. For ISTPs career satisfaction means: working independently, expediently, and dealing with real world objectives. Three careers that meet these criteria that have been determined by The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to be in high demand are: Forest Fire Fighter, Regional Commercial Pilot, and Civil Engineer. Forest Fire Fighter: Forest fire fighters work as members of a crew to put out fires in forests and rangelands. Qualities necessary to succeed as a forest fire fighter include initiative, good judgment , mental alertness, mechanical aptitude, endurance, strength and the ability to function under conditions of stress and danger. Education and Training: Typically a high school diploma . Completion of community college courses, or  an associate degree, in fire science however  may improve chances for a job .Wage and Projected Growth: BLS estimates median wage for 2006 was $19.80 per hour , $41,190 annually.  Projected occupational growth from 2006 to 2016 is estimated to be between  6%  to 13%.  Regional Commercial Pilot: Flies and navigates small fixed or rotary winged aircraft, for the transport of cargo and passengers. Pilots often start out working for smaller commuter and regional airlines to acquire the experience needed to qualify for higher paying jobs with national or major airlines. Qualities necessary to succeed as a pilot include: mental alertness, mechanical aptitude, the ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust controls to exact positions,  to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, and an aptitude to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions. Education and Training: Pilots very often learned to fly in the military, however a growing numbers of commercial pilots are choosing to receive training  from colleges that have been  certified by the FAA to provide flight instruction. Wage and Projected Growth: BLS estimates the annual median wage for 2006 was $57,480. Projected occupational growth from 2006 to 2016 is estimated to be between 7%  to 13%. Civil Engineer: Plan, design and oversee the engineering duties related to the construction and maintenance of building structures and facilities such as roads, bridges, pipelines, power plants, etc.  General characteristics associated with success in this occupation include  the ability to : work independently, apply general rules to specific problems to produce common sense solutions, and   arrange things or actions in a certain  pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules . Education and Training: A bachelors degree in engineering is required for most all entry-level engineering jobs. College graduates with a degree in a natural science or mathematics occasionally also qualify for some engineering jobs. Wage and Projected Growth: BLS estimates the annual median wage for 2006 was  $32.98 hourly, $68,600 annually.Projected occupational growth from 2006 to 2016 is estimated to be between  14% to 20%.

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