If you have to work, why not be satisifed with what you do?
When you think of the best careers out there today, what do you think in terms of? Pay? Availability? Hours? In a report released by CareerJournal.com editors in July, the best careers were identified as having good intellectual stimulation, strong job security, a high level of freedom in what you do, and extensive contact with clients.
These may not be the most obvious qualities to look for in a position, but it seems that they can contribute to your overall satisfaction with one. CareerJournal.com collaborated with the polling company Harris Interactive to survey nearly 4,000 U.S. adults, and 44 percent of those polled described themselves as “highly satisfied” with their careers. When asked to describe their current jobs, this content group of professionals mentioned the four qualities listed above the most.
Everyone knows that job satisfaction is subjective, but the site believes that its results represent some common attributes that factor into whether or not someone is happy with their career. So with this information in hand, CareerJournal.com compiled its list of the best careers of 2006. (Because the survey was conducted in April of last year.) The methodology gets a little tricky at this point, but basically the editors sorted through data and employment projections to find several careers that met these criteria. If you’re unconvinced of how valid this research is, here is a much more lengthy description of how the site reached its findings.
What I’m trying to get to is a list of careers that can and should keep your satisfied in the upcoming years. People are happy with these careers because of the nature of the job and not because of their popularity in the current marketplace. However, if you are concerned about the job security component, know that many of these professions are crucial and should be creating new positions far into the future. The best careers of 2006 (in no particular order) are as follows:
1) Medical researchers
2) Physical therapists
3) Hospital and clinic managers
4) Social workers, counselors, and related managers
5) High school and special education teachers
6) Curriculum and instructional coordinators
7) Management consultants and analysts
8) Sales, marketing, and advertising managers
Unsurprisingly, the best careers all fit into the categories of health care, education, and business. And better yet, CollegeCourses.com can link you to schools that offer degrees in all of these areas.
CareerJournal.com also conducted interviews with real professionals who work in the careers that made its list. So if any of the jobs above interest you, in say curriculum development or health clinic management, be sure to read what these workers have to say. You will get to hear what they love about their careers, as well as what they see as challenges in their professions. For links to all of the interviews, just visit the 2006 Best Careers homepage.