Salute to Spouses Blog

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The College Spouse: What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

Not sure what you want to be when you grow up? Join the club! So many spouses I have talked to about going back to school want to go, but aren’t sure what they are interested in. Even though I have always had an interest in criminal justice, I actually didn't start out studying that. When I finally decided to go back to school, I decided accounting was the career for me. That career aspiration lasted about three weeks into my first class. I like math, and it has always been a strong suit of mine, but I honestly didn't think accounting was quite what I thought it would be. It seemed more like making sure you put things in the right column to make sure your accounts balance. So, on to my next major: teaching. I still haven't quite figured out why in the world I picked this, although I think it was a bit of a nod towards my dad, who is a high school history teacher. As with accounting, I quickly realized that it wasn't the career for me.

Why I didn't just start with criminal justice I will never know. I have always been fascinated with that field, and once I started taking criminal justice classes, I knew that's where I belonged. Whether it be studying evidence at a crime scene, studying how the judicial process works, or learning how the juvenile system differs from the adult criminal courts, it all interests me and grabs my attention. I cannot wait to finish my degree and begin my career in the justice system!

Even if you know what you are interested in studying, picking a career isn’t necessarily easy. An easy place to start, see what careers are growing the fastest and perhaps something there will strike your interest.

According to Monster.com, there are 30 career fields that are going to be the fastest growing in the year 2016. I know. Seems like a long time off, but really, it’s not! By the time you go back to school and get your degree, 2016 will be here! Here are the top ten:

10. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors-Median income in 2006: $35,950. Job Outlook: The demand for substance abuse counselors will grow as more people voluntarily seek treatment and drug abusers are sent to treatment rather than jail. 

9. Veterinarians-Median income in 2006: $81,490. Job Outlook: Pet owners are increasingly seeking nontraditional services, such as preventative dental care. Advances in the field are also allowing veterinarians to offer procedures common for humans, including hip replacement, blood transfusions, and cancer treatment, creating a need for more professionals.

8. Medical assistants-Median income in 2006: $26,290. Job Outlook: The medical industry is expected to expand because of technological advances and the growing elderly population. As the healthcare industry expands, more practices and clinics requiring large support staffs are opening. 

7. Theatrical and performance makeup artists-Median income in 2006: $36,730. Job Outlook: While this occupation is growing by a large percentage, it’s still a relatively small profession and the number of people interested in this field will still far exceed the number of available positions. 

6. Personal financial advisors-Median income in 2006: $66,120. Job Outlook: Although this is expected to be one of the top 10 fastest-growing occupations, competition for new jobs is expected to be tough. Again, this industry's growth can be attributed in large part to the millions of baby boomers who will soon retire.

5. Veterinary technologists and technicians-Median income in 2006: $27,750. Job Outlook: Pet owners are increasingly thinking of Tabby or Spot as members of the family, creating a boom in this industry. Pet owners are becoming more affluent, and the number of pets is growing, boosting demand for specialized veterinary services. 

4. Computer applications software engineers-Median income in 2006: $82,000. Job Outlook: This industry will grow as computer networking grows, and businesses seek to become more efficient using emerging technology. 

3. Home health aides-Median income in 2006: $20,100.  Job Outlook: While personal and home care aides provide mostly housekeeping and routine services, home health aides provide more extensive healthcare than family and friends can manage. A growing demand for home services among the elderly and the pressure to contain costs by moving patients home sooner will make home health aides one of the fastest growing aide professions. A possible downside, however, is that most employers only hire on-call hourly workers and do not offer benefits.

2. Personal and home care aides-Median income in 2006: $18,180. Job Outlook: Rapid job growth is expected because of the projected rise in the number of elderly people who are increasingly relying on home care. 

1. Network systems and data communications analyst-Median income in 2006: $67,460. Job Outlook: This profession will grow because, as businesses implement more and newer technology, more professionals will be needed to monitor efficiency and set up networks. 

Want to see the whole list? Check it out at http://www.boston.com/jobs/galleries/30fastest_growing_occupations/

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