Careers: Do as I say, not what I did

  • Dick Farrell
  • April 29, 2013
  • 341
                        
If you want to feel really old, consider that the typical graduating high school senior is 18 years old and knows very little of the world before their birth year of 1995. That teenager has never been without the Internet, Mp3 files or GPS. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, has been around forever. Their recollection of 9/11 is sketchy. They were six. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen are very representative of “old people’s music.” Elvis? Who’s he? Bill Clinton was president when they were born, but they don’t remember him as such. They know him today as Hillary’s husband. Jimmy Carter and the first George Bush have always been elderly. In 1995, the Cleveland Indians boasted a lineup with seven of nine players hitting .300 or better. The Indians went to the World Series that year and again in 1997 (and lost both times). Seems like only yesterday for me. But today’s high school seniors don’t remember. They think of the Indians as a mediocre also-ran. Certainly times have changed. And that includes the job market for which today’s high school seniors need to prepare themselves pretty darn quick. And don’t use me as an example – “newspaper reporter” has been deemed the worst job in America, according to CareerCast.com, an online career site. Who knew? Thanks, Internet. In an effort to steer high school seniors into a career that will pay them more than $10 an hour, I have compiled a list of the top career paths with the help of a number of sources, including but not limited to NBC News, Buckeye Career Center, Manpower and the U.S. Department of Labor. Keep in mind, dear high school seniors, that pretty much everyone who holds down a job wishes he/she had done something else at some point in their lives. Work, after all, is work, and it is supposed to be a part of your life for 40 years or so. And if it was really supposed to be that much fun all the time, we wouldn’t dream of vacations or retirement. And you won’t be graduating into any of these careers. More schooling and apprenticeships are required. Sorry. Here are my top five career paths for 2013: 1. Construction. As the homebuilding market rebounds and as old buildings need to be replaced with new ones equipped for the information age, there is a dire need for skilled workers, including carpenters, plumbers, electricians and what is referred to as “tool-wielding” trades, which I assume includes welders. There always seems to be a need for welders. 2. Health care. You name it and just about any job connected to the health care industry will be in demand in the coming years, including nurses, home health care workers, nurse practitioners, outpatient service providers and so on. You don’t have to be a doctor to make good money, but you should have paid attention in science class. 3. Truck drivers. Don’t laugh. A friend of mine in the trucking business pays drivers a substantial wage with great benefits. The job demands a special type of individual and skill but offers a work life outside a cubicle. There’s a lot to be said for that. 4. Sales reps. The Labor Department and other sources report that there is a need for people who are good at selling things. So, the key is knowing what you’re selling and having the gift of gab. You probably should be well-read and interesting because skeptical customers will snuff out a phony in a heartbeat. 5. Engineers. I think this group is special, and while I’m in awe of the work done by skilled tradesmen, I’m blown away at what engineers do and how they do it. I wish I would have studied science with more vigor when I was in school. Engineers already are working on cars that will drive themselves. Thank an engineer for the wondrous things that will come our way over the next few years. There you have it. Yes, it’s a short list and certainly not all-inclusive. And remember to stay away from certain careers that appear to be doomed by the Internet. Ahem. Read more from Dick Farrell at TuscBargainHunter.com.


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