How did I get here? It’s a question that can come to mind under an assortment of circumstances. But I do not ask it after waking up on top of a foreign couch, under a face of hot, molten makeup, nor next to an empty bag of Taco Bell. I beg this question as a seasoned, scholarly veteran. Four majors, three years and countless beverages later, here I am. Alive, yes, but also apprehensive in regards to the foggy, uncharted Davy Jones Locker that is my future. Sound familiar? I feel for you, my fellow fourth year. Not so much? You just get ready, because your quarter-life crisis is fast approaching.
Some lucky schmucks have been chasing their biology diplomas since placing in the 4th grade science fair. Others, like me, have recognized their academic strengths and weaknesses, but continue to ponder the unknown possibilities of the career-based abyss. I know the basics: “accountant”, “journalist”, “entrepreneur”, but as our digital age of technological underpinning advances, antiquated titles such as these are adapting to meet new needs. Corporations have introduced entirely new occupational sectors in order to meet contemporary demands. The good news about these cutting-edge positions? They may not be as cut-throat as you’d think.
While undeniably intimidating, the avant-garde job market also offers something uniquely appealing to the twenty-something graduate: the opportunity to seize brand new careers where competition hasn’t reached critical mass. It some cases, you really can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Especially if these tricks revolve almost exclusively around technology and the dog happens to be your mom.
Although they do not eliminate rivalry completely, the following job listings are fairly common sectors of modern businesses, yet have only been established within the past decade. Bottom line? Good news for you and bad news for your elder, net-novice opponents. Take a new-aged gander at these fresh, happenin’ titles that you may have yet to consider putting your talents toward.
1. App Developer
Aside from that one friend T9-ing his unfortunate, confused way through life, nearly every modern American relies on a smart phone to function. Whether it’s finding your way to the town’s best burritos or training your pointer finger to sporadically slice pictures of two-dimensional fruit, there’s an app for that. More than likely, there are multiple apps for that. There will continue to be apps for that as long as attention spans stay low and expectations stay high. Think you’re the next Steve Jobs? Got a knack for programming? Been brewing up a better version of Bejeweled Blitz? This may be your higher calling. Forbes reports that there are currently over 16,000 mobile app development opportunities up for grabs on indeed.com. With relentless demand for the next greatest download, this futuristic field may just be the final frontier for all of you iPioneers.
2. Sustainability Expert
If you’re bent on unleashing your inner Captain Planet, now is the time, tree huggers. What was once known to the masses as recycling has developed into the booming enterprise of corporate sustainability. The green initiative might just be the most prevalent trend since the emergence of the crop top. And hippies and health conscious housewives aren’t the only ones hopping on the (probably ethanol-fueled) bandwagon. Since the inception of the Eco Era, environmental agencies like the EPA have cracked down on regulating the sustainable strategies of big businesses. Most large-scale enterprises now have entire teams dedicated toward making sure their ventures won’t bitch-slap Mother Nature. From quantifying corporate carbon footprints to waste reduction management, countless firms are on the prowl for environmentally aware leaders. Lucky for us, we have been raised with biodegradable spoons in our mouths. Start pursuing UF’s snazzy, new Sustainability degree and you could be well on your way toward making an annual $200,000 with the other green game VPs.
Via: planetmattersandmore.com
3. User Experience Designer
Do you enjoy standing in line at Wells Fargo? Does the sight of a twelve page legal agreement make your heart skip a beat? Do you crave the sweet sound of crackling hold-music flowing whimsically from the customer service dispatcher of Verizon and into your ears for fifty minutes? If you answered yes to any of the above, then I owe you a sturdy smack to the face. If you have a pulse and priorities, chances are pretty good that you have some degree of intolerance for shitty services. For every product or consumer-based enterprise, there is an entire team of employees dedicated toward ensuring that buyers, shoppers, and clients leave with peace of mind. Quick-thinking corporate marketers have keyed into the fact that every interaction with an entity, from Allstate to Macy’s, is also a user experience, and they’re paying close attention these days. UEDs have a knack for recognizing the consumer viewpoint and working to ensure that they have big, stupid grins on their faces. Forbes estimates that there are close to 170,000 current Indeed.com listings in this branch, so if you have big ideas for nixing that round-the-corner line at Chipotle, buck up.
Via: elit.unwblogs.org
4. Social Media Manager
Most professors scoff when gazing into a sea of open laptops because they know that there’s a higher chance of piano-playing cats than lecture notes on the other side of that screen. But then again, most professors aren’t social media managers. Do you consider those 300 “Likes” on that perfect, Valencia-enhanced sunset your greatest achievement? Does adrenaline seep through your veins after submitting that perfectly worded status update in a flawless 140 characters? Enter this rapidly growing business division and you’ll be able to tweet your heart out while putting #moneyinthebank. Social media strategists focus on building their employers’ or clients’ brands through the use of social media sites and tools, whereas online-community managers specialize in fostering user discussion for the marketers they support. What does a social media or online-community manager need to succeed? Essentials include great written communication skills, a sense of humor, empathy, a
marketing background and lots of experience with social media tools. While nearly every breathing Millennial is plugged in, only the crème de la comment section socialmedialites will thrive.
5. Chief Listening Officer
Some people, it seems, have supernatural abilities when it comes to sensing the next big thing. We all have that friend who is first to inform the world about Hollywood’s latest make up or break up or being the one to promote the Vine app long before it caught on. That friend would best try his or her hand as a chief listening officer. These folks are the eyes and ears of modern corporations, helping to keep their business strategies one step ahead of competitors’. Forbes contests that the role of the listener will expand “as more and more companies rely on social streams and online exchanges for customer service reasons”. If you are keen on spotting the latest and greatest from a mile away, put those ears to good use through your career.
It’s a brave new world out there and as public interests reflect innovative and contemporary needs, there will undeniably be a market necessity for current, social knowledge. That’s where we step in. While the future is brimming with insecurity, it is also an exciting time for our generation’s job seekers. Even if by coincidence, we possess many skills and assets that reflect the flourishing modernization of the world. Times they are a changin’ and essentially, we are the ones who are capable of keeping up.
Photo courtesy of: nptjobs.blogspot.com
