Best Careers with the Most Promising Futures for 2011

Graduating students and experienced professionals are looking for the best careers with the most promising futures for 2011. You should focus your attention on high-demand professions where job supplies will outpace demand for the next decade.

Factors in Determining Best Careers

U.S. News & World Report© publishes a top 50 professions list each year. This list is one of hundreds produced by publications interested in serving prospective job seekers. These guides should only be a starting point in your search for a new profession. Indeed, you need to dig deeper into the requirements and contexts of prospective professions before filling out applications. You also need to look at your own interests and skills to see what needs to be done to start a new career.

You should start by looking at what industries are in demand at the moment. Some basic research will reveal that information technology and health care meet these criteria. It is also important to look at regional demand for specific positions and companies. You will find that college towns have higher demands for liberal arts majors than towns with production facilities. Every professional should think how past experiences and skills can be reconfigured to fit into future job requirements. A technical writer for a software company may have sufficient knowledge and interest in software to pursue more technical careers in the field.

Computer Software Engineer

U.S. News & World Report© considers the field of computer software engineering one of the most promising in 2011. Software companies and publishers have constant need for software engineers with specialized knowledge. The supply of these positions continues to outpace demand due to the shortage of people familiar with programming language. This professional field requires engineers to keep up with updated language, software trends and other updates. You can learn how to create and troubleshoot software by pursuing a career in computer software engineering.

The number of computer software engineer jobs is estimated to increase by 32% between 2008 and 2018. An influx of 295,000 jobs over the next decade reflects the expansion of the software industry in the United States. The great draw to computer software engineering for professionals is the high median pay. U.S. News & World Report© finds that the median income in 2008 was $85,000. Another attraction to this field is job security, which comes from the highly specialized nature of software engineering. The barrier to entry is significant with many employers looking for graduate degrees in computer science along with programming certifications.

Lab Technician

Observers of the employment market would highlight the healthcare sector as a growth area in 2011. You need not pursue medical or nursing degrees to find work at hospitals and research facilities. A good entry point for people interested in medicine is in lab technician work. Lab technicians are integral to diagnosing illnesses through blood tests, biopsies and other examinations. You can find work at clinics, research facilities and physician offices when you meet the qualifications for a lab technician.

U.S. News & World Report© indicates that lab technician jobs should grow by at least 10% over the next ten years. The median income for a lab technician in 2008 was $35,380, which is significantly higher than other entry-level jobs. Lab technicians need not have advanced degrees in order to find employment. Many two-year colleges and technical schools host programs for lab technicians. Your experiences in the lab will be more critical to employment than your academic qualifications.

Urban Planner

The future of metropolitan areas around the world relies on the work of urban planners. These experts are familiar with the minutiae of the cityscape from the placement of stop lights to highway design. Urban planners have been tasked with revitalizing downtown areas throughout the United States in the past two decades. As cities evolve over the next decade, urban planners will be in high demand. Architectural firms interested in working with local governments will employ more urban planners. Local and state governments will also hire urban planners to oversee infrastructure development. You can help shape the city of the future by training to become an urban planner.

Urban planning jobs will grow by 19% in the next decade with 45,000 jobs available in 2018. Some of these jobs will be created thanks to federal stimulus money designed to boost economies in struggling cities. The median income for an urban planner in 2008 was $59,810 according to U.S. News & World Report©. You can start on your path to urban planning work with an undergraduate degree in urban planning. This field places a premium on academic preparation with urban planners often holding graduate degrees. You may also need to seek out certifications in geographic information systems (GIS) and other software. These qualifications will catch the attention of employers that need urban planners to complete a backlog of projects.

Security System Installer

The rise in home and condo ownership in the past two decades has created a parallel need for security systems. Security system companies have popped up to address the need for security perimeters in office buildings. The vanguard of the security system industry is the installer. A security system installer is responsible for incorporating security stations, sensors and cameras into homes and offices. This highly skilled position requires a great deal of mechanical aptitude as well as a willingness to work long hours. U.S. News & World Report© has counted security system installation as one of the best careers with the most promising futures for 2011.

The typical security system installer made an annual salary of $36,660 in 2008. Security system companies should add more than 16,000 jobs by 2018, a 25% increase over the number of jobs in 2008. You might be able to find work as a security system installer with a consistent job history and basic education. Your employer may offer company training along with funding for electronics certifications at local technical schools. Security system installers look to stay busy into the future as there has been no slowing the demand for home security.