Tony Lee, Chief Alliance Officer & EVP of East Coast Operations, Adicio
Landing the job that’s right for you – that’s a good match for your skills and interests – requires soul-searching, some trial and error and lots of research. Fortunately, if you’re working as a human resources manager, you’ve already made a very smart career choice.
According to the 2012 Jobs Rated Report from CareerCast.com, HR manager ranks as the nation’s third best job, just behind software engineer and actuary. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of 200 different jobs – from Accountant to Zoologist – ranking each profession based on factual analysis and hard data. The rankings are created by researchers who gather mounds of data and sort through all of the factors to break each into five key categories: Physical Demands, Work Environment, Income, Stress and Hiring Outlook. Jobs receive a score in each individual category, and when these are added together, the career with the best overall score is ranked first, while the one with the worst overall score is ranked 200th.
Although everyone’s experience in a certain job can vary greatly, the Jobs Rated report can help you make a more qualified career decision based on data rather than subjective surveys. For instance, Software Engineers who can help with the current technological revolution are reaping the benefits. Their pay is great, hiring demand for their skills is through the roof, and working conditions have never been better, which is why they’re ranked No. 1.
Employment growth for Human Resources Managers also is projected to be a very healthy, at 21% thru 2020, which is on par with most medical professions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you mix their job outlook scores with their income levels (19th on our Jobs Rated list) and throw in the low physical demands, relatively safe work environment and low-to-moderate stress levels, HR Managers should rightly be listed as a Best Job.
“Companies big and small need someone who is skilled in HR,” says Pat Kuhl, Vice President of Human Resources for a Maryland health care system. Today, professionals in Human Resources have more of a strategic role than ever before. “We are relied upon to make sure the needs of the employee are in sync with the company’s goals and in support of the organization’s mission,” says Kuhl, who adds, “It’s not always an easy job, but it is very rewarding.”
Of course, any job may seem like the best job if you’re unemployed and the improving economy hasn’t ushered you back into the workforce. But there are qualities that make some professions more desirable than the rest of the pack. Here is the list of this year’s best jobs, according to CareerCast.com:
Rankings:
1. Software Engineer
2. Actuary
3. Human Resources Manager
4. Dental Hygienist
5. Financial Planner
6. Audiologist
7. Occupational Therapist
8. Online Sales Manager
9. Computer Systems Analyst
10. Mathematician
2012 Worst Jobs
There are days when we all feel like we have the worst job in the world. But when you actually quantify aspects of every job and compare one to another, there’s a definite measureable difference between jobs that are considered pretty good and those that aren’t.
Physical labor, declining job opportunities, a poor work environment and high stress are all pervasive attributes among those jobs that comprise our 2012 Worst Jobs List. Staking claim to the top spot is Lumberjack/Logger. These timber harvesters scored in the bottom 10% in all of our ranking categories except income, where they ranked in the bottom 25%. Unemployment for Lumberjacks is very high, and the demand for their services is expected to continue to fall through 2016. And while working outside all day may seem like a great job perk, being a lumberjack not only is considered the worst job, but also one of the world’s most dangerous.
“The second you lose respect for the tree or the tools, it can come back and bite you,” says Jake Rosa, owner of Dry Brook Custom Sawmilling in Upstate New York. As for job prospects, Rosa says, “It’s not that the demand for the job is declining. It’s finding people who want to do it and work hard at it that is declining.” He adds, “We’re still using paper and wood products all the time, but nowadays, kids would rather play video games instead of working hard and getting their hands dirty.”
The complete bottom 10 this year in order are:
1. Lumberjack
2. Dairy Farmer
3. Enlisted Military Soldier
4. Oil Rig Worker
5. Reporter (newspaper)
6. Waiter/Waitress
7. Meter Reader
8. Dishwasher
9. Butcher
10. Broadcaster
Tony Lee is the current Chief Alliance Officer and EVP of Adicio, the Internet’s leading developer of Web-based classified-advertising solutions, and also the publisher of CareerCast.com & JobsRated.com.
