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6 Top Career Choices To Consider

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School guidance and career counselors often urge you to follow your passion when pursuing a career. They emphasize this because you’re more likely to work harder and achieve greater success if you love your job. But while this may sound practical, in reality, it doesn’t always work that way.

In this rapidly modernizing world, careers once thought top-tier are slowly dying away and becoming obsolete. For example, real estate agents aren’t as popular today as they were a decade ago. People can now pick a home of their choice from numerous websites and online tools without paying extra charges. This profession may be wiped out entirely in the next few years as the technology becomes more accessible and user-friendly worldwide. Therefore, career professionals now recommend taking on a different approach. They now endorse potential candidates to develop a passion for a job that aligns well with their skills and capabilities. Doing so will have employers pursuing you instead of the other way around.

Choosing the right career is a tough decision, especially with so many options out there. But keeping up with evolving trends and the likely future scenario, you may want to consider these top 6 career choices.

1. Business intelligence analyst

While technology has made it highly convenient for businesses to gather data, the vast information makes the analysis even more complex. Besides navigating through valuable data, slicing, dicing, and refining it to gain useful insights can be challenging. This is where the role of a business intelligence analyst comes in. Earning a masters in applied statistics online can help you gain the relevant knowledge and skills needed to improve a company’s efficiency. By combing through large databases, you can generate reports allowing businesses to make informed decisions.

A business intelligence analyst career is becoming increasingly popular as businesses understand the importance of data but don’t have the means to interpret it. Their average salary is around $98,000 annually, with additional opportunities for bonuses, commissions, and profit-sharing. 

2. Health services manager

Career opportunities in the healthcare industry have gone far beyond patient care now. You can pursue a profession that has more managerial roles and allows you to take on a leadership position. One such career is that of a health services manager who can handle a facility’s various management tasks like finance, policymaking, human resources, and health informatics. Some of the primary duties include coordinating, directing, and administering facilities and services throughout a particular healthcare facility.

As a health service manager, you’ll still work for the patients. However, your job responsibilities will cater to all the behind-the-scene care that goes into providing medical services. You can work in various workplaces, including the private or public sector, and large-scale hospitals or even small-town clinics. 

Typically, a health service manager earns a median pay of $101,000 annually. This salary can vary depending on where you work and your experience. Since the healthcare sector is growing far and wide, this career will likely grow along with it.

3. Software developer

Software developers design and code software that we usually use on mobile phones and computers. Businesses mainly hire them to build a program or application to operate specific tasks or perform particular functions. To determine the client’s needs, you must closely work with them and create software that aligns with their interests and brings proficiency in their systems. You can also upgrade older software and improve its competency by introducing better and advanced updates. Modern technology is constantly evolving, and keeping current systems compatible with these innovations is necessary.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers can earn up to $110,000 annually. It’s one of those professions that have an excellent job outlook in the upcoming years. 

4. Physician assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who provide patient care, conduct medical examinations, order diagnostics, and prescribe medicine. Some of their job responsibilities are similar to that of a medical doctor (MD) but generally, PAs require supervision. However, they enjoy greater job satisfaction, better job stability, and improved work-life balance. More importantly, if you decide to pursue a career as a PA, you’ll spend less time and money on school. In some states,

PAs can also work independently and may only consult a physician on particular cases or when they need help. Most PAs work full-time in hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, or emergency care units. As a PA, your median salary can reach $121,000. And with more governments investing in healthcare, this salary may significantly rise in upcoming years.

5. Industrial engineer

An industrial engineer designs and builds production layouts or processes to improve the efficiency of a system. Their primary objective is to drive productivity, minimize waste, and reduce overall costs without compromising the quality standards. Despite the world becoming automated by the day, industrial engineers remain in popular demand. The main reason is that industries need someone to develop automation programs that can operate how they want them to.

Your job as an industrial engineer will be to combine elements from various systems to design an approach that ensures maximum proficiency. Since several sectors regularly look to employ them, you’ll always have an opportunity to explore job options. You can also look to expand across different industries and pick one that best suits your interests. 

The annual median salary for industrial engineers in the U.S. is $88,950, making them one of the highest-paid engineers.

6. Occupational therapist

Occupational therapy involves the therapeutic use of routine functions to treat a patient’s physical, mental, emotional, or developmental ailments that hinder them from performing everyday tasks. Occupational therapists receive training and education in helping these patients regain their ability to carry out these functions by employing various techniques and approaches.

Physical therapists or nurses typically help patients with pain management or assist them during recovery. In contrast, an occupational therapist treats a patient as a whole and works towards making them independent again.

As an occupational therapist, you can work in hospitals, therapy offices, nursing homes, or clinics. You can even take on clients privately and visit them in their homes to work with them. As of 2022, the average annual salary of an occupational therapist in the U.S. has reached $94,827.

Conclusion

With so many opportunities available, picking an ideal profession can seem a little daunting. Ideally, you must first identify your interests and skills, then look for careers that best align with them. Remember, while a good job must be able to pay the bills, it’s not all it should do. Your efforts must be worthwhile, and your chosen career should help you find the satisfaction you need.

The post 6 Top Career Choices To Consider appeared first on Jobacle.com.

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Does Data Monetization Really Require A Process Discipline?
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Does Data Monetization Really Require A Process Discipline?

To get good at it, our answer is yes…

Updated this article to include design principles and other elements, as CDOs and CDAOs continue to prove the value of data analytics to COOs and CEOs. The path to the C-suite is in proving the ROI of data analytics, setting up the tests, and providing the evidence.

As an analytics practitioner and leader, I have always stressed the need to create a predictable, repeatable, stable process for analytical data innovation. A data innovation process would help the firm monetize its critical data assets. A monetization capability has applications for several marketing and business domains such as campaign management, customer experience, product development, customer and prospect segmentation, and more (risk, etc.). A good data monetization process has at its core the ability to generate pilots every quarter to facilitate more significant tests and learning. Analytical data innovation has a direct impact on customer satisfaction and retention.

This article was written a few years back initially; however, at that time, the only thing we seemed to hear about was quick wins and not about setting up monetization and test and learn as a process. I posit that the continued focus on quick wins only and not creating a process for learning may be hindering analytical adoption and moving data analytics maturity to the next level. There are good quick wins and bad quick wins depending on whether they are measurable and scalable. It might now be time to suggest a more defined team and process be stood up within the CDAO and design worlds to hit the accelerator on monetizations. In some firms, particularly in Fintech, design practices joined at the hip with CDAOs are beginning to create such a process. My updates to the process are below.

Data Innovation Process Updates

The challenges in developing the analytical data innovation process include:

  • Building out a robust data monetization capability to drive consumer and commercial strategy by improving revenue and profit impacts across various activities.
  • Developing a strategic analytics roadmap to take the company to the next level. As a starting point, one needs to understand the current state of data analytics and decision sciences.
  • Optimizing the function to drive organic growth by retrofitting existing capabilities as the business transforms from offline to digital channels.
  • Building a highly regarded, expert team with new skill sets to create analytical products and monetize the data while ensuring compliance with consumer privacy and other regulatory considerations. This includes design skill sets.
  • Using Agile and Agile at Scale to create squads and new teams, with new departments coming online, such as design practices and data analytics COEs. Set up lean start-up protocols using design principles to create tests based on a monetization process that has a clear path to be deployed within the company’s strategy. The discipline of design can help CDAOs and CDOs bring their quick wins to life. Business cases and ROI goals should be set for each test and monetization.
  • Establishing an orientation to innovation and change leadership, focusing on an efficient test and learning discipline to improve the bottom line. In many firms, this is still not a defined process and team, although, as mentioned, start-ups and fintech seem to be ahead in this area.

For each pilot, a monetization process needs to be followed, starting with defining the business case and vetting it with business partners and executives. Is the business willing to make changes and deploy the learnings? After gaining concurrence from the business partners, assemble the right team to keep the monetization effort on track, including executive sponsors, consultants/analytics experts, academics, design practice experts, prototyping firms, line of business sponsors, and IT.

To create the proper pilot development process, you can borrow from both Agile and SDLC, which ensures the formulation of the appropriate business and data requirements. Take the best elements from different project management methods to create the criteria. For example, a development process method can ensure success measures are established for the project.

The following steps are to perform feasibility analysis, create a prototype, and validate the pilot. For most analytical pilots, this involved creating test segmentations or models which can then be deployed in the market so one can read and validate the results. Some of the steps I have gone through in validating pilots included ensuring that we had actual data and systems to deploy the analytic solution. For example, some models require unique data sources to be able to score and implement them at their point of use.

The final step is to determine how far along the monetization cycle you will take an analytical pilot. For example, many times in segmentation, you may find a profitable segment but the segment cannot quickly grow or scale. On the other hand, a pilot that goes into implementation will require execution support and the establishment of success metrics. One new comment on this is that the pilot should have a definition of done and clear success metrics that the CEO and COO are aware of and endorses so that when the pilot is a success, it can be rolled out and celebrated.

My philosophy is to maintain a pipeline of analytical pilots, knowing that only 10%-20% will be fully monetized. This is the central premise behind the test that learns and fails fast and cheaply. Design practices can now help expand the number of pilots that are monetized. See Randy Bean’s book Fail Fast Learn Faster for perspectives on this.

Ideally, there is enough diversity of pilots in the queue to generate new analytical products quarterly. This process is iterative as the pilots should be viewed as living solutions, and permanent departments, squads, and tribes should be set up to perpetuate this model.

Given that many CDAOs are still struggling with tenure and investment and proving the ROI, I want your thoughts on how this process can help and what you think is the state of the state is on test and learn and monetization. Are quick wins still quick, or does this process need to usurp quick wins?

Alumni Services: The New Outplacement Your Company Needs
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Alumni Services: The New Outplacement Your Company Needs

Does your company currently provide outplacement services for laid-off employees? Maybe you do, but only for executives or C-suite members. No matter your company’s outplacement strategy, it’s time for your organization to invest in modern outplacement services—because your company alumni deserve it.

Outplacement services offer structured support to outgoing employees, helping them transition smoothly into new career opportunities. Outplacement is also an investment that can yield numerous benefits for a company, contributing to overall organizational success during periods of change or downsizing.

Benefits Of Outplacement Services

Outplacement services concept

For laid-off employees, outplacement services offer a range of valuable benefits. These services are designed to provide practical and emotional support, helping individuals navigate the challenges of finding new employment opportunities. The best outplacement services empower employees with the tools, knowledge, and emotional assistance needed to successfully navigate a job search or career transition after a layoff and move forward with confidence and optimism.

For a company, investing in outplacement services reflects a commitment to ethical and responsible business practices, supporting departing employees, and reinforcing a positive employer brand, all of which can contribute to the long-term success of the organization.

Benefits for Employees:

  • Personalized guidance and assistance with job searching, resume and cover letter writing, interview preparation, and networking.
  • Access to training and development resources that can enhance their skills and marketability in a competitive job market.
  • Emotional support and guidance to help maintain confidence and motivation during a potentially challenging period.
  • Access to networking events, job fairs, and industry connections.
  • Targeted assistance based on their unique skills, experience, and aspirations.
  • Quicker results than if they were navigating the process on their own due to expert guidance and resources.
  • Sense of closure and support that allows them to leave their previous job on a positive note and foster a sense of gratitude towards their former employer.

Benefits for Your Company:

  • Accelerates the re-employment process for laid-off employees, reducing the financial and emotional strain on them and their families.
  • Boosts morale among remaining staff by demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of departing employees.
  • Enhances the company’s reputation and preserves its employer brand from positive word-of-mouth from departing employees, which can help attract top talent in the future and mitigate negative publicity.
  • Maintains productivity and engagement levels among remaining staff, as they perceive that the company values its workforce, even during challenging times.
  • Leads to shorter unemployment periods for laid-off employees, potentially reducing the company’s financial burden related to severance packages and unemployment insurance.
  • Minimizes the risk of potential legal actions by showing that the company has taken steps to support employees during layoffs.
  • Contributes to a positive workplace/organizational culture by showcasing the company’s commitment to its values and fostering a sense of loyalty among both current and former employees.

The Problem With Traditional Outplacement Services

Traditional outplacement services are expensive. Most start-ups and newer companies can’t afford to invest in traditional outplacement services for laid-off employees, and larger companies might be hesitant to invest due to the cost, especially when hundreds or thousands of employees might be laid off at one time.

Individual coaching is the most expensive type of coaching available with traditional outplacement services. A company could opt for group coaching, which is typically a cheaper option, but that can be less customized, less confidential, and less effective.

Work It DAILY’s Alumni Services: A Modern Approach To Outplacement

Work It Daily's Alumni Services, outplacement services for laid-off employees

We know that outplacement services have numerous benefits for both employees and companies. But the cost of traditional outplacement services is a major drawback. So, what’s the updated, modern solution?

Work It DAILY’s Alumni Services.

Work It DAILY, an expert-led, online, on-demand career coaching platform, can help your organization manage layoffs effectively at a fraction of the price of “traditional” outplacement services.

Services include:

  • 24/7 access to our coaching team for questions and material reviews
  • 24/7 access to a private online community
  • Resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn reviews
  • Interview preparation help
  • Unlimited networking opportunities inside the platform
  • Access to 14 exclusive online courses (over 200 hours of video content)
Your ex-employees are your company alumni. If you believe your company and every past, present, and future employee deserves the best outplacement services, contact us today and receive your confidential information packet.
Traditional outplacement services are outdated. Alumni Services is the new outplacement you’ve been looking for: affordable, effective, and led by expert coaches Check out Work It DAILY’s Alumni Services today. Your company and all its alumni will thank you.


3 Things You Need To Know About Remote Work
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3 Things You Need To Know About Remote Work

As a 20-year career coaching veteran who used to be in staffing and recruiting industry, I know exactly what companies are thinking about right now. And you need to pay attention because a lot of the remote jobs you see aren’t going to stay remote.

If you want to stay remote or if you want to get a remote job now, you need to know these three things…

1. Startups & Lifestyle Companies Will Likely Stay Remote

@j.t.odonnell 3 Things You Need To Know To Get Remote Work. #remotework #remote #work #remotejobs #remotejobs2022 #careermode #careertok #edutok #careerchange #jobsearch #jobsearchtips #careeradvice #careertips #jobs #careers ♬ original sound – J.T. O’Donnell

The first thing you need to understand is that startups and lifestyle companies are the ones that will most likely keep jobs remote. Startup companies are trying to save money, so if they don’t have to rent space and have all that overhead, it gives them more opportunity to spend money to build the business. So they’re going to be more inclined to allow you to work remotely.

Lifestyle companies are ones where the executive team wants to work remotely, so if they want to work remotely, then they have to let their employees work remotely too. This is one of the reasons why remote work is here to stay.

2. You Can Usually Work Remotely As An Independent Contractor

Man on laptop works remotely

The second thing you should consider is being an IC (independent contractor) versus an FTE (full-time employee). It’s much easier to be remote when you’re in IC. That’s because as an independent contractor, a company can’t legally dictate where you work and the hours you work. So if a company hires you as an IC, you often can do the work wherever and whenever you want.

As a full-time employee, though, the company you work for can dictate where you work. Therefore, they could let you work remotely now, but then change their mind and bring you back in. So being an IC has advantages. However, if the company ever has to cut costs, ICs are the first ones to go because there aren’t any ramifications. There’s no impact on their unemployment insurance and other things like that. So you have to be careful because you’re easier to fire.

3. If You Work On A Laptop, There’s A Higher Chance You’ll Get To Work From Home

Woman on laptop works remotely

The last thing I want you to think about is that the work that can mostly be done remotely is tech work or computer work—something where you can take a laptop or a cell phone and do the majority of your work. And so staying in that kind of work can increase the chances that you can do it remotely from anywhere in the world.

However, one thing that’s happening now is companies are figuring out they can pay people less money because they want to work remotely. So salaries are going down. And on top of that, they’re saying, “Well, if I can hire people remotely, I can hire people in other countries. They’ll take a third of what people here in the U.S. want.” So competition is going to increase for these remote jobs, which means these salaries are going to decrease. So you’ve got to be prepared for that. You need to be thinking about these three things and the pros and cons of each one.

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