Some of the hottest jobs in the country only require an associate degree. And while you can have a higher degree to fill some of them, only an associate degree is a requirement.

For example, growing areas like health care are an especially good choice for those with associate degrees. “The careers provide one on one care, and men and women in these fields like this type of work,” says Kristina Ierardi, coordinator of career services at Cape Cod Community College in Massachusetts.

Here is a list of jobs that are experiencing growth for those with an associate degree, according to the research on the fastest growing occupations released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Veterinary technologist or technician
If you love working with animals (and aren’t squeamish) dealing with peoples furry pets can make for truly enjoyable work. Many technicians or technologists have the same job requirements as that of a nurse for a regular doctor, and often have to perform tests or make the diagnosis for animals. Hiring is estimated to grow by almost 36 percent through 2018.

Dental hygienist
Working directly with dentists, a hygienist often performs routine teeth cleanings on patients as well as provides instructions on proper oral care. Many hygienists have flexible schedules and work with more than one dentist, which can be a great perk of the job. Employment is estimated to grow by 36 percent through 2018.

Registered nurse
Nurses work with a variety of patients to aid physicians of all types. The settings vary drastically from medical offices to extremely specialized floors of a hospital. Registered nurses make up about 28 percent of hospital workers, and there’s a continued need for the profession. Still competition is tough: “Even graduates of our associate degree program in nursing have been encountering fierce competition in the job market, with employers often preferring to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree,” Ierardi says.

Environmental engineering technician
As interest in sustainability issues increases, environmental engineering technicians will continue to be in high demand. Technicians work with environmental engineers to develop or implement methods that help combat environmental damage. Technicians focus on areas like air pollution, water pollution and recycling. Employment for environmental engineering technicians is estimated to grow by 30 percent through 2018.

Occupational therapy assistants
Working under an occupational therapist, the job of an OT assistant is to help with the mental or physical rehabilitation of patients. Assistants are responsible for teaching patients about proper exercises needed for recovery, and can also work with people who have physical and head injuries or stroke patients, says Morris Pounds a career counselor at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Industrial maintenance technician
Those who enter the industry are required to work on large machines in all areas including manufacturing as well as heating and cooling. Technicians use their mechanical skills and often repair large production machines, Pounds explains. “Many people in the field like to use their analytical mind as well [enjoy] the physical part of the job,” he says.

Choosing a position that fits your skills can be difficult, but many growing fields require only an associate’s level degree to gain employment. That said there are plenty of other opportunities for those starting out with associate degrees. As a high unemployment rate continues, even jobs like retail sales clerks, customer service representatives and bank tellers strongly prefer candidates with an associate degree, Ierardi says. Once you land a position, it may be a good idea to speak with your employer about further opportunities. “Some companies also assist employees in these positions to afford additional educational credentials with tuition assistance, reimbursement or other incentive programs,” she says.

Going back to school is a major decision, especially if it’s been years since you’ve cracked open a textbook. While it can be tough to adjust (and takes a lot of money and dedication) getting an education can be a worthwhile investment.

If you’re thinking of becoming a student again, here are some things to consider before starting your first semester:

1. Work experience
Consider how your work experience will propel you forward once it’s combined with your desired degree. If you’re trying to make a career switch, it’s important to understand whether you’re ready to start from square one upon graduation. Additionally, it’s necessary to truly research whether your new degree will allow for a new career once you graduate points out, Michael Robinson, the chief career coach at careerplanner.com. “I have seen a lot of engineers and non-business folks go for MBAs and when they were done they didn’t look anymore like a businessman than when they started,” he says.

2. Career goals
Consider what your goals are after graduation — is this something that only looks good on your résumé or a program that truly gives necessary knowledge to your career? Robinson suggests asking yourself: “Will you be learning new skills that your employer will value or just getting a new degree?” Understanding the distinction can help you realize if there’s something that could be a better use of your time like getting a new job or striving to work elsewhere in your company or even taking on a side consulting project.

3. Financing
Education is expensive, so make sure you’re getting a good return on investment before making a commitment. Depending on the type of program you sign up for, individual schools can provide funding with grants. Additionally, you can take out private or Federal loans for many education institutions. Gather the list of potential programs and reach out to financial aid counselors to help you make a decision. To decrease costs, you can opt to go to a public versus private university that can be more than double the cost.

4. Time
Depending on the length of the program and whether you’d need to resign from your current job can play an important role in the decision. Taking off from work is a big step, and it’s important to consider any part-time options if you’re not going back to school to make a career switch. If you’ll stay employed consider how many hours are needed to pursue academic endeavors. Not having enough time for school can mean that going back is a waste of money.

5. Career opportunities
Meeting with the school’s alumni can help you assess career opportunities and learn about possibilities for what can be accomplished once you’ve completed a specific program. Be sure to compare your own career goals to those of recent graduates to understand if school would be a good fit.

6. Long-term plans
Thinking through your long-term goals is a great way to make a real assessment. Consider how long you’ll be paying off loans, whether you’re eager to stay in this career for the next decade and whether your industry or sector is healthy and growing. While it can be impossible to really make thorough predictions, it’s important to understand how this type of education can fit into your life.

With the price tag and time commitment of going back to school, assessing key factors is critical. Be sure to think through your long-term plans as well as the true return on investment of attending. And be sure you’re going back for all the right reasons. “If you aren’t getting ahead in your current job, it’s probably not because you don’t have that advanced degree,” Robinson says.

Setting aside time for both school and work can be a stressful endeavor. Meeting constant demands is difficult and prioritizing can become complicated as time-sensitive projects are bound to arise for both.

But there’s good news: As more employers become aware of the benefits that employees receive from continuing their education, you can expect a great understanding of the demands on your time. While you’ll undoubtedly have to work some weekends and late nights, with enough planning it’s possible to balance your work with the demands of school. Though if you’re really feeling overwhelmed, it may be useful to decrease the amount of courses you’re taking at once or hours worked per week in order to be more productive in both endeavors.

Here are a few time management tips to help you get through the challenge of balancing work and school:

1. Take Assignments With You
Since you likely don’t need to be at your desk or computer to finish all of your tasks, be sure to take advantage of things you can do on the go. “Carry your school or work tasks with you to take advantage of pockets of time as they become available,” says Natalie Gahrmann, a coach who specializes in work and life effectiveness. For example, a book for a certain class can easily be read while you’re commuting or even waiting at the doctor’s office.

2. Don’t Cram
Balancing a job with schoolwork can make you feel like you’re always on deadline for something. Starting early on long-term assignments can allow you to save time in order to deal with the unexpected issues that tend to arise at work, Gahrmann says. “Be aware of deadlines, important meetings, and assignments and pace yourself rather than cramming at the last minute,” she suggests.

3. Manage Stress
It’s easy to get stressed out when life gets busy so it’s even more important to think ahead when managing stress, Garhmann says. “By understanding what triggers your stress, how to identify your symptoms and how stress affects you, you can more proactively manage it,” she says. Additionally, meeting up with friends or following an exercise routine can help you turn your focus away from work or school, which can drastically improve your quality of life.

4. Communicate With Your Managers
As she completes her three-year long part-time MBA degree, Betsy*, a senior financial analyst at an insurance company says she tries to communicate her schedule to her managers. She lets her managers know about her expected school tasks and when she plans to do her work-related tasks. Being upfront about what else is required of her, helps keep everyone on the same page, she says. She makes sure her managers know that school doesn’t interfere with, but rather helps her personal and professional development.

5. Use One Calendar
To stay organized, it’s important to keep a central place with all of your deadlines. Whether it’s just a book that you carry with you or a calendar that’s part of your email it’s important to visually see all of the different deadlines you have coming up. Peek at the calendar before establishing upcoming due dates. Also, use your calendar to spread out flexible deadlines, which can also help in balancing your time.

6. Make Accurate Estimates
When setting aside time for school or work-related tasks it’s important to be as accurate as possible about how much time is actually required. Determining correct estimates will prevent you from getting behind throughout the weeks and help you stick to a schedule. For example, if you’ve designated three hours to prepare for a work presentation but it really takes seven, your schoolwork or other projects that you meant to complete over the week may suffer.

* Last name withheld at person’s request.

Getting into a top business school is an arduous process, with potential for pitfalls around every corner. All too often, applicants get so involved with the essay and interview portion of the process, that they underestimate the importance of the recommendation. Applicants need to manage the recommendations component of the business school admissions process as strategically as they do all the other parts.

Deciding on an appropriate strategy can quickly become complicated, particularly if an applicant has clear areas in need of improvement that must be addressed. Initially, the key consideration is identifying how to present such weaknesses in a recommendation that will positively impact the application, then approaching the referee best able to deliver that message credibly and effectively.

Applicants should consider the following five strategies to ensure that their recommendations help lead to admissions success:

1. Assume your referee does NOT have experience writing business school recommendations.
Most don’t, so send the recommendation form with basic guidelines that detail what kinds of topics should be covered in answer responses. By sending guidelines, the referee will understand how to provide information, which helps the admissions committee to corroborate claims made in other parts of an application, as well as learn how the applicant is viewed from a third party perspective.
2. Target referees with executive or senior titles where you can, but only the ones who know you well and with whom you have worked.
The admission committee will be impressed by the insightful comments your referee provides, particularly if observations of your performance come from people with senior-level organizational responsibility. The positive evaluation will put forth the notion of the applicant as a future business leader and as a candidate worthy of joining the business school. For those applicants who are entrepreneurs or non-profit leaders, approach clients who have observed you in a supervisory capacity and are in the position to evaluate your performance on multiple levels.
3. Preemptively balance your admissions portfolio.
If you have a weak class rank or GPA, have the referee focus on your achievements in a group-oriented learning situation. Low GMAT scores should be balanced with past or recent quantitatively-demanding projects. Applicants with short performance records should have referees discuss their qualitative, analytical contributions.
4. Bring performance characteristics to life.
Have referees highlight analytical and leadership abilities as well as career potential through examples — the more vivid, the better.
5. Respond to weaknesses or areas for improvement with candor.
Portrayals of total perfection or flawlessness actually weaken a recommendation. Referees should be guided to resist the instinct to avoid the subject or to superficially respond. Performance reviews are a great place to start, if available, but regardless of the source material, the comments should provide insight into how the applicant responds to constructive criticism or takes initiative to address a shortcoming.

Always bear in mind your desired effect depends on message strategy and substance. The more insightful your referee’s comments are, the more seriously and favorably the admissions committee will weigh your application.

Walter Hutchinson is a 20 year global business school admissions and career strategist who has helped hundreds of people in the Americas, Europe and Asia gain admission to the world’s most prestigious business schools. In 2010 Hutchinson and his company, ApplicationAdvantage, will launch a complete online resource for business school applicants to manage every step in the admissions process.

Networking is certainly a powerful business skill, but it is arguably the most powerful job search skill you can develop. Study after study has shown the enormous value of networking. Whether you consider yourself an expert schmoozer, or a total novice, here are some networking strategies that are bound to help:

Reconnect with Old Co-workers
Make a list of the people you had working relationships with in the past and reach out to them. Whether you have spoken to people recently or not doesn’t matter. With all of the various web based social media sites it is pretty easy to find just about anybody with a quick online search. Talk to people on the phone or in person when possible. An e-mail can be easily forgotten or overlooked, but a phone call or a cup of coffee with the person makes you more likely to be remembered.

Have an Online Presence
Social media is here to stay, and it is very important to have and manage an online presence. If you don’t have an online presence, build one! In addition to posting your resume, you can create (or not create) profiles on many major networking sites for free. These sites are an alternate way to have your profile made publicly available where you can control the information people see (or do not see). They are also a great way to track down new contacts or people you have lost touch with. Next, find out what information is already on the web about you. Start by running a basic Google search on yourself and see what comes up. If you can Google yourself and find something you don’t like, so can a potential employer. A basic Google background check has become almost standard for employers because it is free and it usually turns up a surprising amount of information. You want to make sure you know what information about you is available in the public domain.

Join a Professional or Industry Group
Regardless of what you do for work, there is almost certainly one or more professional organizations that cater to your field … check them out and join them! Many such groups have member directories, regular meetings, networking events, etc. Simply joining is usually not enough –- what you get out of these organizations is usually in direct proportion to what you put in, so use the membership to connect with people in your field.

College Alumni Directories
If you attended college there is a good chance that your school has an alumni directory. In the information age, these directories are almost always available online. College alumni directories are one of the most overlooked, yet most valuable networking resources available to a job seeker. Use these directories to expand your network and contact people in the space you are targeting.

Networking is an extremely useful job search strategy because it gets results and it is often underutilized. In a hyper competitive job market, effective networking can give you a big advantage over your competition.

David Staiti is a Vice President and Practice Manager at The Charles Sterling Group, a nationally focused executive search firm based in Boston. David manages the firm’s accounting & finance search practice and he has almost a decade of search experience.

Paying for a degree can seem like big bucks to shell out each semester. But in almost each instance salaries are significantly higher after getting a degree. Additionally, earning a higher salary year after year can quickly make up the difference of what you initially paid.

Not only does education earn you more money, it also provides better career opportunities for those that continue to invest in education. Many hiring managers look to candidates who have participated in continuing education courses as a sign that they know how to succeed and move up the ladder. While others scan résumés for degrees earned. With so much competition for jobs, those with the most advanced levels of education often win out on career opportunities.

Here’s what to expect with each degree:

Associate’s Degree
Many workplaces won’t consider candidates without at least an associate’s degree, so spending two years to get this type of degree becomes crucial. Investing in an associate’s degree can instantly boost your pay. If you’re attending a community college tuition costs are significantly lower than at a university. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people with an associate’s degree and a full-time job earned a median of $43,142 compared to $35,346 to those who just graduated from high school.

Bachelor’s Degree
Even with so many different types of bachelor’s degrees, it’s fair to say that most undergrad degrees will earn you a salary jump (and many are also a required résumé credential). Those with a bachelor’s degree earn a median salary of $56,687 according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which is 38 percent higher than full-time employees who only graduated from high school.

Master’s Degree
While not all careers require a master’s degree to move up the ladder, people that invest in this type of degree can earn a median salary of $68,058 — a 17 percent increase from those who simply have a bachelor’s degree according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, many master’s programs offer teaching positions, which can decrease the amount paid for education and better the return on investment.

Doctorate Degree
Investing in a PhD is a significant time commitment of at least several years. Though the knowledge gained from a PhD program can result in a significant increase in salary and the opportunities to teach at the college-level as well as consult. PhDs also earn a median salary of $93,613, which is a 27 percent jump from those who only possess a master’s degree.

Professional Degree
Those who continue their studies to get a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Juris Doctor (law) or a medical school degree come out on top when it comes to pay scale. A graduate from law, medical or business school earns a median salary of $100,000 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Though it’s worth noting that many professional degree programs also charge six-figure tuitions, so it’s important to understand your individual return on investment before applying.

Certificate Programs
Investing in a week or month-long certification program can make you seem more appealing to employers. While you won’t get a salary bump from going through a short program, it can help you learn valuable skills in your field and a new certification is bound to help your résumé. “Certifications are usually what jump out to a lot of the hiring managers,” says Andrew Reina, a regional director for Ajilon Finance Solutions, New York-based recruiting firm.

Continuing Education Courses
Signing up to attend courses or seminars as part of ramping up the skill set required for your profession doesn’t always yield more money. Though it’s another way to impress hiring managers and may sometimes be paid for by employers. These courses are also an important part of conveying your willingness to succeed.

As post-business degree salaries continue to rise, there are many career paths you can take after a few years of poring over accounting, economics and mathematics. In addition to traditional management roles in corporations, Leslie Stevenson, director at the career development center at the University of Richmond, says she’s noticed more hiring for careers that didn’t exist for students, including in business, 10 to 20 years ago.
Considering a business degree? Here are some possible career paths waiting for you upon graduation:

Management Consultant
Joining a management consulting firm as an analyst can mean great experience and a good paycheck down the line. Essentially, you’ll be responsible for different strategies and operations initiatives at medium to large companies. “Consultants can specialize in a variety of areas and you typically find that a new consultant quickly builds deep knowledge in a given subject matter,” Stevenson says.

Advertising or Marketing Specialist
If you’re eager to combine your creativity with your business skills, joining a marketing department of a company may be an option. Both advertising and marketing allow you to get involved and grow the brand of your employer, which can influence the bottom line. “Employment of these positions is expected to increase faster than the average through 2010,” says Heather Huhman, founder of Come Recommended and a career coach for recent college grads.

Accountant or Auditor
With high turnover, accounting firms are constantly recruiting new business grads to help with delving into corporate financials while applying current accounting principles. “Given the economic environment and complex reporting regulations, professionals in this field are needed to provide accurate information now more than ever,” Stevenson says. To succeed, accountants need a high-level of quantitative skills and attention to detail.

Investment Banker
Getting a business degree can help you pursue banking after school where you can start as an analyst. Learning the ropes at an investment bank means you’ll be responsible for helping to allocate capital for business ventures. “The finance industry is starting to rebound from a challenging period and there are opportunities for undergraduate business majors to work in this arena,” Stevenson says. “Roles in this area could include corporate finance, sales and trading or research.” Most large banks go through regular recruiting of business graduates during the fall.

Corporate Financial Analyst
Being on the side of the companies instead of the banks can help you develop the finance know-how for helping a company make investment decisions. Financial analysts take time to read the financial statements of the company and have the opportunity to work across departments to get to know a large organization.

Entrepreneur
While becoming an entrepreneur doesn’t require a business degree, business school entrepreneurship courses can help give a realistic picture of your day-to-day duties. It’s also a good training ground for perfecting a business plan.

Clean Technology Specialist
If you’re interested in renewable energy and environmentally friendly production strategies, there are plenty of newly created openings for those with a quantitative skill set. Many large companies are starting to invest in developing socially responsible business practices and are looking for graduates with a business background.

Health-care Administrator
Managing healthcare delivery at medical offices or even entire hospital systems is another possible career. It’s a perfect fit if both health care and business are interests, because the number of openings continues to grow. Most administrators are involved in making sure that specific areas of the health-care organization (such as clinical areas or medical records) run smoothly. As you grow in your career, a master’s degree may become a requirement.

Sales
While a business degree is not essential, training in business can help you hit the ground running once in a sales role. Joining a sales department can help you develop communication and teamwork skills, while providing a fast-paced work environment that focuses on selling a product or service. Sales positions are generally available across all sectors and can help you delve into an area you’re interested in.

With so many different opportunities in the business world, there is always plenty to do and a bachelor’s degree in business is a versatile tool to launch your career. Many employers tout the teamwork and communication skills that are learned during business studies are valuable in many different careers. If you’re looking for a less-traditional career path, develop a strategy for how to apply your business skills that particular position.

While there’s a starting salary gap between an English and a math degree right from the start, deciding which degree is ultimately more valuable for you and your career is more difficult. As a matter of fact, experts point out that while a degree in a more quantitative field may seem like a better bet, choosing to learn something you really love (like humanities) can help you in the long run.

Here’s how the salaries stack up throughout your career:

Starting Out

Liberal Arts: Salaries for many liberal arts graduates tend to hover between $31,000 to $35,000 according to the National Association of College and Employers. Many of the skills learned including communication skills can be extremely valuable when it comes to landing a job in a tough environment like today’s, says Heather Huhman, founder of Come Recommended and a career coach for recent college grads. Graduates “with a high level of creativity and strong communication skills [grads] will have the best job opportunities, and there is a potential for high earnings,” she says.

Math and Science: For many, getting a degree in a science field equals a more clear-cut career path with higher starting salaries. For example, this year’s computer science majors earned an average of $61,407 while math majors going into actuarial science earned $56,320, according to the 2009 NACE survey. The top earning degrees are still in engineering, where a recent graduate can earn an average of $83,121 for going to work as a petroleum engineer.

Mid-Career

Liberal Arts: Many of the people who majored in humanities say that they value their degree 10 years out of college, according to a recent NACE survey. Essentially, they consider the skills taught during their education to be of long-term value for their career. With so much diversity, many liberal arts majors can also enter the business landscape and compete with the salaries of their former math or science classmates. For example, a real estate broker earns an average of $77,420, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. With a degree in humanities there is more room for a career switch in mid-career, which can equal higher pay in the long run.

Math and Science: Using your math and science degree can become even more profitable long after you’ve graduated since there continues to be high-demand for related professions. “Accountants and auditors are needed in virtually every industry,” says Huhman where average salary is between $80,000 and $90,000.

Long-term Investment

Liberal Arts: After 20 years out of college, an English degree — or any degree for that matter — can feel like a distant memory. A liberal arts degree can be a gateway to a variety of professions that can also have a rewarding salary. Alicia, for example, used her degree in literature to enter the human resources field and is now an executive at a multi-national company. “I learned most of what I needed on the job, but it was a good platform,” she says.

Math and Science: Statistically those who majored in quantitative fields fare better in the long run with many being in the $150,000 to $200,000 range. The salaries also vary greatly with geographic locations and costs of living. For example, while a real estate appraiser earns $44,460 on average, the person can earn $96,370 in San Francisco where cost of living is higher, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics.
No matter what you pick, career experts say it’s important that salary be just one factor when picking your major. So if you’ve never been a numbers whiz, investing in a career as an actuary may not get you very far. Bottom line: Make sure the degree you get relates to what you’re eager to do in your career. Also, if you’re deciding between two separate careers, it can be worth it to look up specific salary for your level and geographic location to see how each compares.

In today’s uncertain job market, even the jobs once marked as “recession-proof” are not as safe as we thought. So where should you focus your job search?

Several trends — existing and emerging — continue to drive job growth and creation throughout the United States. Developments in technology, health care, environmentalism and globalization, as well as current trends in the economy are clearing the path for several cutting-edge careers to surface.

If you’re in the market for a new job, here are seven emerging careers that are making a mark and poised for growth in the coming years. Please note that salary and job growth information is not collected for all positions because of the size and awareness of each job.

1. Home stager
The real-estate market is not what it used to be and homes are taking longer to sell. Potential buyers usually decide how much they like a property by picturing their own possessions in the house. That’s not always easy if the home is cluttered with unattractive décor and furnishings. House stagers work with real-estate agents and their clients to improve the appearance of their home and make it more appealing for potential buyers.
Industry umbrella: Interior design
Job growth: N/A
Salary: Most stagers are self-employed and set their own fees. Prices may vary from $75 for an initial consultation to $500 for staging an entire house.

2. Health informatics technician
Each time you go to the doctor, everything about the visit is added to your medical file. As health-care facilities everywhere make the change to electronic medical records, informatics technicians not only transition the files, but they use computer systems to help doctors analyze, diagnose and treat patients based on the information they are given. This computer data also improves care, controls costs and provides documentation for use in legal actions.
Industry umbrella: Health care
Job growth*: 18 percent
Salary**: $31,208

3. Simulation developer
From entire virtual communities like Second Life to various online demonstration videos, simulations are becoming the way of the world. Be it pilots using in-flight simulators to prepare for high-risk situations; landscape architects using video reproduction to help clients envision proposed ideas and plans; or medical students diagnosing and treating virtual patients without risking a real person’s life, simulators are a new way for professionals in all industries to train, practice and prepare for exciting — and potentially dangerous — situations before they happen.
Industry umbrella: Computer software engineers
Job growth: 38 percent, based on industry projections
Salary: $58,163

4. Green jobs
The environmental wave, in addition to President Obama’s promise to create 5 million green jobs, is creating jobs in everything from sales to government to nonprofit organizations. Whether it’s a company researching how to make green products or a consultant implementing recycling procedures, the “clean-energy economy” is creating several opportunities in sectors including, but not limited to, energy generation, transportation, agriculture, waste and wastewater, and research and advocacy.
Industry umbrella: Clean energy and energy efficiency
Job growth: Clean-energy jobs outperformed job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia between 1998 and 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, according to a study by Pew Charitable Trust.
Salary: Salaries depend on specific position

5. Emergency management
Since the Sept.11 terrorist attacks, jobs in the anti-terrorism field have grown. The required skills for positions in the anti-terrorism field are demanding, but a more attainable (yet still in-demand) career option is in emergency planning. Not only do emergency planners prepare and plan for terrorist attacks, they also train and prepare for responses and procedures for other disasters such as fires, floods, hostage situations or pandemics.
Industry umbrella: Management, business and financial operations
Job growth: 7 – 13 percent
Salary: $48,386

6. Career counselor
Workers need jobs; employers need workers. With the present economy, career counselors are needed more than ever. They offer job seekers career guidance and job-hunting advice, and can to help them improve their well-being through their work. Career counselors differ from a career coach in that not only will they help you in terms of your career, they will also seek to improve your overall mental health.
Industry umbrella: Human resources
Job growth: N/A
Salary: $47,074

7. Patient advocate
Anyone who’s ever had health issues knows that the health-care system is not the easiest thing to navigate, especially when you or a loved one is sick. That’s what patient advocates are there for. As the population continues to age and health worsens, patient care advocates will become more important to the job market. Advocates ensure that patients are informed, visiting with the right specialists and taking the right medicines, as well as educating family members on how to care for their sick relative. Perhaps most importantly, patient advocates will sort through medical bills and negotiate fees with health-care providers and insurance companies.
Industry umbrella: Health care
Job growth: 24 percent (for medical and public health social workers)
Salary: $47,560 (for medical and public health social workers), according to the BLS

*Job growth through 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
** US national average salary provided by CBSalary.com, powered by SalaryExpert

Job security has become a bit of a professional artifact. It existed at one time, and your parents or grandparents can attest to it. You probably didn’t witness it firsthand, but the stories they tell are fascinating. If you showed up on time, worked hard and delivered results, you didn’t worry about your job. And if you had a college education? Well, you could pretty much bronze your nameplate because you weren’t going anywhere.

Then the world changed and workers realized they could be gone tomorrow. It sounds a bit like a disaster movie, but it’s the truth. You might think your job’s pretty safe, and chances are your hunch is right, but you probably wouldn’t bet your life savings on it.

No one can guarantee you a surefire way to keep your job forever. What I can tell you is that a proven asset for professionals is education. Not just a degree in business if you want to go into sales, or in accounting if you want to be a CPA. While both are good paths that work for many people, you should also consider other educational credentials that augment your experience.

A bonus degree
A relevant college education is often a prerequisite just to land an interview, but that alone won’t guarantee you the job. You need skills, experience and the right qualities for that position. Once you’ve got the job, you still need to pile on the qualifications. That’s what financial educator Christine D. Moriarty did. Moriarty, president of MoneyPeace Inc, earned her credentials as a certified financial planner, which gives her a strong foundation for financial planning. She still went on to earn an M.B.A.

“I knew years ago I wanted to be a certified financial planner,” Moriarty says. “I am glad to have that credential. It is limiting as opposed to the M.B.A which is broader and allows me the more exposure to other careers if I wanted. When I considered an M.B.A I was told by many people that I did not need an M.B.A to be a CFP. However, I found it to be my best credential for job security, insight and flexibility.”

Moriarty had to weigh the cost of earning her M.B.A against the benefit of staying in the professional world with just her CFA credentials. There’s no easy way to measure the true expense of getting the degree, and no single piece of advice can tell you what the right decision is.

“There are endless studies on whether getting an MBA is worth it. Mostly in the financial lingo of opportunity cost which includes missing [out on] employment for two years compared with increased salary,” Moriarty explains. “The ones I have seen say it is not worth it. However, my experience says what you get along with the credential that does impress people is confidence. You have been exposed to many more situations and reviews of industries, which make you better in a host of analytical situations.”

Because she’s self-employed, the business know-how has helped her navigate the fluctuating economy.

Confidence builder
When consultant Helen Cooke decided to pursue an M.S. in organizational development, she was looking for a way to reinvigorate her career, or at least interest in her career. At the time, she found her job lacked the challenge it once had.

“By taking advantage of the company’s tuition reimbursement, I was intellectually stimulated and able to contribute at higher levels while making my job more interesting as I applied new concepts and models,” Cooke says. “It was a win/win and ensured I was contributing as a high performer with new innovations rather than sitting around bored, disgruntled and complaining.”

The job security was less about showing her qualifications and more about stepping up her performance. Not only did she break out of her rut, but she actually became a better worker, which is perhaps the best way to stay employed. Cooke also thinks part of improving your performance comes from confidence in knowing that you are a better worker because of your educational endeavors.

“[Educated workers] know that they are extremely capable of learning and applying new information, comprehend that ongoing development is critical to not losing ground in the workplace, possess the foresight to invest the time and energy (and money if they don’t have an employer who supports ongoing education) and have the fortitude to stick with it despite the usual competing priorities,” she says.

Whether you’re bored at your job, looking to increase your odds of landing a new one or increase job security, you can choose from a variety of educational endeavors to help your job security:

• A new degree (or a first one)
If a degree exists to complement your existing one, or you haven’t yet earned one in your field, now’s a good time to enroll.
• Certification
Depending on your industry, various certifications might be available to help you qualify for new positions. Some certifications, such as the ones you can get at CB Institute, improve skill sets that are transferable to any industry.
• Training
Training courses don’t get you a new acronym to put after your name, but they do keep you current with industry trends and findings. If you want to show an employer that you’re proactive about your job and you’re not just going through the motions, training courses or seminars will do the trick.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.