10 Best Entry Level Jobs In 2009

While job hunting news has been all doom and gloom over the past few months, CareerBuilder has just come out with its list of the Ten Promising Jobs For The Class of 2009. For each job it outlines the  recent employment numbers as well as estimated growth numbers through 2016. The list includes many broad careers (like Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager) and also lists the type of major that would be best suited for each job.

After reading the list, I have a couple of observations:

1. Seventy percent (Seven out of ten) require some form of technical/analytical ability. This means that the jobs are best suited for New Grads with degrees such as Computer Science, Engineering, and Business Administration. This is great if you are in one of these programs, but the news isn’t as encouraging if you are working towards a liberal arts degree.
2. The need for accountants and auditors far surpasses any of the other nine jobs. I assume that this is a direct result of an increased need for corporate financial accountability (after many Enron-like scandals).

So what can you take away from this? 

If you are still in school, you need to be sure to position yourself properly in terms of “in-demand” skills. It’s important to know which skills employers are looking for, and how they translate into open positions. This may mean switching your major/minor, taking extra courses, or working towards a professional designation. Now is the time to make these important decisions.

However, if you have already completed your degree/diploma, and you don’t have the skills required by one of these jobs, don’t panic. My advice will be to frame the skills you do have in such a way that it makes you attractive to employers. Worst case scenario, you can always take some additional classes or work towards a professional designation.

Overall, it’s a very interesting list. I’d be interested to see if the predictions of future employment numbers come true!