Careers for 2005

[Arles]

One of my good friends is looking for another job. He's currently a project manager for group of software developers and designers, but he wants to get more into "computer software engineering" - being more involved in the both design and development of software. He forwarded me some career survey information and I figured I would share it with you guys to get your thoughts. It seems the financial, software engineering and medical science industries are the hottest right now.

The first is the top 25 jobs for 2005:
What makes a job a great job? Obviously, different people will give different answers. It's impossible to account for everyone's personal taste and personality traits -- including foibles -- and how they might fit into a particular job. What makes a great job opportunity is much easier to gauge. How much do you get paid? What kind of professional development opportunities are available? How much room for innovation does a role offer?

Fast Company based this year's index of the top jobs on four categories: job growth, salary potential, education level, and room for innovation. Relying heavily on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Salary.com, and the work of Dr. Kevin Stolarick, a lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University and an expert on the creative class, Fast Company has assembled a list of the 25 Top Jobs for 2005.

1. Personal finance adviser 14. Actor
2. Medical scientist 15. Lawyer
3. Computer software engineer 16. Advertising manager
4. Chiropractor 17. Management analyst
5. Environmental engineer 18. Postsecondary education admin
6. Biochemist and biophysicist 19. Financial manager
7. Sales manager 20. Actuary
8. Epidemiologist 21. Airline pilot
9. Computer system analyst 22. Geoscientist
10. Athlete 23. Market research analyst
11. Agent and business manager 24. Securities sales agent
12. Marketing manager 25. Medical services manager
13. Producer and director

http://biz.yahoo.com/special/bestjobs05.html

The next is by careerjournal:
The editors at CareerJournal.com recently asked themselves a pair of questions: What are some of the best jobs out there, and what are some of the worst? And not in terms of glamour -- or just in terms of salary -- but in terms of things such as job security, emotional stress and basic physical safety.

Best
Accountant
Actuary
Bank officer
Biologist
Computer-systems analyst
Financial planner
Parole officer
Software engineer
Statistician
Web-site manager

Worst
Construction worker (laborer)
Cowboy
Dancer
Fisherman
Garbage collector
Ironworker
Lumberjack
Roofer
Seaman
Welder

[sovereignstar]

I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay
I sleep all night and I work all day

[heybrad]

And as Norm McDonald used to point out...

For the 3rd year running the worst job.... Assistant Crack Whore

[AZSpeechCoach]

There's a joke to be made about bad seamen...but I'm not clever enough to see it right now.

[sovereignstar]

Being a seaman isn't so bad unless Roseanne Barr is doing commentary.

I got nothing.

[gottimd]

One of my good friends is looking for another job. He's currently a project manager for group of software developers and designers

Does he currently work at Initech?

[JonInMiddleGA]

You know what might be interesting (just looking over that first list)?
I wonder how many of us have one of those 25 jobs?

I have a funny feeling that we've got a pretty good percentage who make the list
(or, like me, are at least in a related field/job/position).

[CHEMICAL SOLDIER]

I wonder why nursing isnt on that list?
Well another good career would be as a Military Commissioned officer. Job security for the most part is good especially now that there's plenty of funding and lots of vacancies from 0-1 to 0-3.

[KWhit]

14. Actor

WTF?

[mhass]

26. All the people working for my boss.

But the worst list wasn't numbered.

[Desnudo]

Those studies lack the crucial "getting laid" factor

[sterlingice]

These "studies" are full of crap. Software engineer above athlete and actor. Hell, the fact that athlete and actor are on the list. Just stupid.

SI

[Icy]

Worst is Construction worker? that must be USA, in Spain right now Construction workers can earn more than a doctor as nobody wants that hard work and we are having a construction explossion with thousands of homes built every year.

[Arles]

These "studies" are full of crap. Software engineer above athlete and actor. Hell, the fact that athlete and actor are on the list. Just stupid.

SI

"Fast Company based this year's index of the top jobs on four categories: job growth, salary potential, education level, and room for innovation."

Actor and athlete require little education and offer few job growth options (unless you are the cream of the crop). Also, as a whole, their salary potential is not as great when you consider all people involved. Look at baseball, while there are some people making a lot of money, most players linger in the minors making under 50K. Same goes for actors. Instead of comparing A-Rod or Tom Hanks with the head software engineer for NASA, compare the guy with 5-6 years exp working for 70K at Raytheon, Honeywell or Intel with a guy in double A or an "actor" waiting tables while doing some off-broadway play.