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My partner is looking for a new career. She would like to go to a technical school or maybe a community college but doesn't know what to study. She wants something where the jobs are in demand where she will have little trouble landing a job once she finishes. She has thought about something in the medical field but does not want to be a nurse or have too much physical contact with patients. She is interested in psychology and science. She is looking for something she could do with a one year certificate or maybe a two year degree. Also what would an associates degree in criminal justice qualify someone for?
In my experience the criminal justice certs are not very useful -- most States have paths for police officers and other security oriented positions that focus on skills better learned in the military than community college / vocational school.
Health care fields have better demand for the most part and those that include a technical certification process can be quite well paying. If you don't want too much patient contact you can focus on the diagnositic fields, or evn the surgical specialties where the patients will likely be sedated...
I would qvoid sonography and other medical imaging field and focus on the cytotechnology, where slaries are best.
I've heard there's a glut of x-ray techs and sonographers out there, so many schools (legit state tech and sometimes not so great private for profit schools, i.e. Phoenix,ITT, Sanford Brown, Kaplan) churning out graduates that the market is flooded.
If she's looking for job security, she could look into plumbing or electrical work. I'm not sure how well that would combine her interests, but the money & demand might make up for it. There's also the possibility for her to work for herself if she can't find a job.
Unfortunately besides those "essential" jobs it's difficult to predict what will be in demand even two years from now. It may be the idealist in me coming out, but I think that if she goes for something that she enjoys, she'll be motivated enough to find a job, despite the field.
As far as other careers in science, she could look into lab work or medical coding, something along those lines. I would suggest that she look at various tech schools and community colleges in the area and set up an appointment to speak with an advisor, or at least look at their online catalogue. That might provide more ideas for her.
Just be careful of University of Phoenix, ITT Tech and any of those schools that offer a quick degree...not all of them are as great as they sound. Do a lot of research.
Plumbing sounds good has to be good at cleaning pipes and all sorts of nasty things, I am looking for a plumbing job myself I want to do something that will be around forever. Everything changes this I'm not sure how it could it's been pretty much the same for years.
associate degree in criminal justice is not a good idea. She can go for sonography or pathology.
Well..if she wants to work as a police officer it certainly is a good idea. I should know..i am one. If she wants to be a police officer/state trooper, then of course a degree in Criminal Justice is a good idea..IF she wants to be in Law enforcement. But, if she chooses that path, be sure she wants to do that because although it IS useful when you are trying to be a cop, that is ALL its useful for. Not much you can do with a Criminal Justice Degree OUTSIDE of police work or police related work.
And even if you do go into police work, in addition to the criminal justice degree, id get one in something else too..just to fall back on in case you want to leave the dept.
Tell her to go for whatever pays the most. People say, "Do what you love". But there's always some jackass at work that makes work miserable. If you're making a bunch of money at work you can do what you want as a hobby. Then no one is there to ruin what you love by making it miserable for you.
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