Choosing a career is a daunting task in itself — especially with the complication of a pandemic on top of the already stressful job hunting process.
With economic upheaval causing lay-offs and reduced job opportunities, the past year has dealt many people a tough hand.
As the job market begins to open back up, it might be tempting to select the first couple of offers that come your way. After all, who can be choosy when you don’t know if there’s another opportunity? However, it might be wise to refrain and consider more lucrative options in Minnesota that can add to your growth, develop your career, and help you recover significantly from the past year’s setbacks.
Losses and opportunities in Minnesota
Consider how the pandemic affected different sectors in Minnesota when assessing your options. While a career in food might’ve been fairly secure before, recent events have shown that hospitality and leisure are especially vulnerable in today’s crisis. In fact, bars, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, and recreation businesses here in the North Star State saw more than 120,000 jobs lost last year.
Fortunately, national and state budgets have remained steady in the first quarter of 2021, thanks to pandemic relief funding and federal stimulus programs. Better budgets mean better job opportunities, and with the latter steadily on the rise, you might wonder how you can find opportunities that will help you recover. If you are looking to switch careers, here are paths worth considering.
Data Scientist
If you love crunching numbers and analyzing statistical data, then becoming a data scientist might be suited for your skills. This job is in high demand since so much of the world is data-driven these days, requiring professionals that know how to read, interpret, manage, store, and protect it.
Data science involves learning programming languages and developing data management hardware and software for actionable insights, so this profession is applicable virtually anywhere there’s technology. For instance, your data science degree might launch your career as a database administrator in areas like healthcare, which can certainly earn you a good salary.
Financial Manager
A financial manager’s role is to maintain the financial health of a company, direct investment activities, and develop strategies for short-term and long-term financial goals. They play a critical role today in rebuilding companies following the aftermath of 2020.
Financial managers are some of the most sought-after professionals in business administration. While mostly found in the insurance and banking industries, they have skills applicable to any sector, particularly where long-term strategy and data analysis are concerned. Given that this role is expected to grow by 19% over the next decade compared to the 7% average for other careers, it’s a smart choice and a lucrative one at that! Although certification is not required, financial managers who earn them can demonstrate competence in their field. Some examples include Certified Public Accountants, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and Certified Treasury Professional, to name a few.
Psychologist
Mental wellbeing has taken center stage as the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Minnesota observed more people seeking help since the pandemic started. Careers in mental health services increased in response to higher rates of depression and anxiety, which became more prevalent as a result of isolation, uncertainty, and lack of job security during this time.
Psychologists help those suffering from depression pinpoint any life events, distorted thought processes, and maladaptive behaviors that may be causing feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and extreme bouts of prolonged sadness. Whether you choose to pursue a career in psychology or psychiatry, or even join support groups such as those under NAMI, a career in mental health continues to be more lucrative as everybody copes with COVID-19 and its effects.
Choosing a career path
Choosing a career path is a challenging endeavor, even more so in the middle of a pandemic. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to settle for a less than satisfactory role in terms of career growth and potential earnings. Choosing a lucrative career shouldn’t mean giving up opportunities for fulfilling work, and even during this uncertain time, it is possible to land a role that allows you to do good work and reap its rewards in full.
Written for givemethemike.com by Sofia Bare
