Let your graduation caps soar high as your dreams! Now that school has almost come to an end, many college graduates are preparing to look for a job. May is the peak hiring month and continues throughout the summer. The most popular careers for graduating students for 2021 are under these two industries: healthcare and technology.
For those graduates who are not aligned in these industries, do not be disheartened by your major. This does not dictate your career trajectory; there are a lot of job opportunities in front of you. There are roles that are not under these two industries that are also on the rise which we will list as well.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment growth to be at 0.4 percent or an increase from 162.8 million to 168.8 million in 2019-2029. The healthcare industry and its related occupations are expected to have the most significant growth among all sectors. This is because six out of the ten fastest-growing jobs are healthcare-related.
The demands of healthcare services are due to the increase in the growing rates of chronic conditions, aging baby-boom population, and longer life expectancies.
Below is a list of some of the popular careers under the healthcare industry.
Physician Assistants
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Master’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $112,260
Also known as PAs, are licensed medical providers to diagnose disease and treat illness, and prescribe patients with medications. They can treat patients with significant autonomy because of their advanced education in general medicine. They practice medicine by collaborating with licensed physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers in hospitals, physician offices, and clinics.
Dentists
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Doctoral or professional degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $158,200
Dentists are doctors who are experts in oral health. They diagnose and treat patients’ problems that are related to parts of the mouth such as teeth, gums, and perform surgery on teeth, bone and soft tissues of the oral cavity. They also give instruction and advice on oral health care.
Orthotists and Prosthetists
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Master’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $68,410
Orthotists and prosthetists treat, assess, prescribe, design, fit, provide therapy, monitor, and educate patients who need supportive devices such as braces, artificial hands, arms, feet, and legs, and other medical and surgical devices.
Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Master’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $115,800
These are also referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Nurse Anesthetists provide anesthesia related care before, during, and after a patient’s procedure and provide pain management as well. Nurse Midwives provide care for women and newborns. These include handling the patients during labor and delivery, parental care, gynecological assessment, and family planning services. Nurse Practitioners provide holistic approach to patient care by assessing the patient’s needs, ordering and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory test results, diagnosing disease and illness, and prescribe medication.
As for the technology industry, the most popular careers for fresh graduates are:
Software Developer
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $107,510 per year
Due to the increasing demand of computer software, software developers are needed by companies that deal with computer system design, manufacturing, or software publishers. The projected employment growth is 22 %, faster than all the average occupation from 2019-2029.
Software Engineer
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $111,164 per year
According to the 2019 data collected by LinkedIn, Software Engineer is the No. 1 role that fresh graduates desired for the second year in a row. It is popular not only because of the growing demands for Software Engineers, but also because the average salary for an entry-level role is $83,000.
There are thousands of job openings not only for the healthcare and technology industries. Listed below are some of the popular careers for new graduates:
Salespersons
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $45,730 per year
Being in sales builds you critical-thinking skills that always matter in whichever career you want to pursue next. A job in sales is one of the easiest paths to take for a recent graduate like you. Salespersons are always in demand as all sectors deal with sales. Almost any company deals with sales, so you have a sea of options. And the starting pay isn’t bad either, with a median salary of $45,730.
Teacher
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $61,660
Teaching positions are suitable for entry-level. The annual salary is decent for new graduates and can balloon after quite some time in the field. Teachers have steady job growth. Schools are constantly on the lookout for fresh minds as their educators. Thus, you have a good chance of getting hired quickly as a teacher. Here’s an online course to prepare you for becoming a teacher.
Accountant
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $71,550
Accountants require higher education to secure a certification. You will need to pass the qualifying board exams and complete a particular set of requirements to finally become an accountant. While becoming an accountant sounds like a long process, the profession is a reputable one that earns lucrative pay. There is also an ample opportunity for career growth as you can advance in higher positions over time. Check out this online course in becoming a successful accountant: The Creative Accountant.
Project Manager
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $90,139
Project managers are essential for every business organization. That’s why there is a heavy demand for the role. They help ensure successful and efficient project implementation. With their aid, a business can meet its goals on time and ensure employees are on the right track. However, before you can become an actual PM, you will need to start as an assistant first and work your way up and secure a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Here’s a PMP course to help you get started in your career.
Administrative Assistant
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $39,850
Becoming an administrative assistant is the easiest way to start a career in the corporate world. You will learn the ropes of how offices work which come in handy in advancing in your career. Administrative assistance is the perfect entry-level job if you just got out of college. It’ll teach you all the know-how of the workplace functions. This also allows you to work closely with high-level executives in the organization, build your network, and open up lots of potential opportunities.
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Financial Analyst
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $81,590
Financial analysts work in banks, insurance companies, financial services, and more companies that need business finance guidance. Financial analysts have varied responsibilities—they design mathematical models, analyze data, prepare financial reports, and forecast trends. The job requires numeracy, critical thinking skills, and a good background in finance. If your major is related to finance, business, or economics, you have a significant advantage in pursuing this career. You can learn more about how to become a successful financial analyst here.
Account Manager
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $69,165
Account managers hold several clients for a company. Their job is to deliver excellent client service and bridge the gap between the client and the client. They create business opportunities and maintain good relationships with clients. Account manager roles are suitable for entry-level job seekers. It also expands career opportunities in sales, marketing, and business development.
Actuary
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $108,350
Actuaries work in banks, insurance companies, and government agencies as experts in risk analysis. It requires higher education to qualify as an actuary. It’s a lucrative job that people miss out on. It’s the type of profession that offers job security, career advancement, and good pay. If you are interested in becoming an actuary, here’s a comprehensive career guide for you.
Business Operations Manager
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Master’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $100,780
Business Operations Managers are essential in overseeing the daily operations of a business. Other primary roles include problem troubleshooting, employee motivation, and business correspondence with the higher-ups. To become a business operations manager, you’ll have to gain substantial experience working in operations and obtain a master’s degree in Management or Business Administration.
Statistician
LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree | 2019 MEDIAN PAY: $92,030
Statisticians are highly in-demand in a wide variety of fields. Their expertise and knowledge are highly sought after in finance, insurance, technology, healthcare, and more. The complexity of the job and its educational requirements make up for its good annual salary. You display a higher chance of landing the job when you have a related master’s degree. You can learn more here on how to become a statistician.
In finding a job, you should ask yourself what you love and enjoy doing the most. Then do some research of available jobs for that particular interest and take some time to think on the positions you have gathered carefully. The most important thing is that you choose a career that will make you happy. Do more of what makes you happy and the rest will follow.
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