What jobs are growing in the DuPage and Chicagoland area?

[The Beast]

In certain areas, jobs in specific fields aren't doing well, virtually are non-existent or can't be found as a result of "keen competition." Obviously, I have inquired many times about people and their jobs, as well as of what to go into. Though I would rather hear some thoughts on what fields or jobs are actually growing from people instead of just researching blogs and websites online that seem to be spouting off incredible and irrelevant information to the answer that I'm seeking.

 

While I am interested in getting into the sports industry, it is competitive and I just didn't get an internship with the seven places that I applied to. I got one interview with the Academy in Lisle but I never heard back from them, so I'm considering different options as far as "careers" go. With that being said, in your professions, particularly in the healthcare, legal, PR or business fields, what do you see as some jobs that are growing in the DuPage and Chicago land areas? Or if you aren't in those fields, what do you believe is growing and dying?

Edited June 21, 2010 by The Beast

[Marky Mark]

In certain areas, jobs in specific fields aren't doing well, virtually are non-existent or can't be found as a result of "keen competition." Obviously, I have inquired many times about people and their jobs, as well as of what to go into. Though I would rather hear some thoughts on what fields or jobs are actually growing from people instead of just researching blogs and websites online that seem to be spouting off incredible and irrelevant information to the answer that I'm seeking.

 

While I am interested in getting into the sports industry, it is competitive and I just didn't get an internship with the seven places that I applied to. I got one interview with the Academy in Lisle but I never heard back from them, so I'm considering different options as far as "careers" go. With that being said, in your professions, particularly in the healthcare, legal, PR or business fields, what do you see as some jobs that are growing in the DuPage and Chicago land areas? Or if you aren't in those fields, what do you believe is growing and dying?

 

Don't go into software development/IT - those jobs are being outsourced like crazy to overseas.

[bigruss]

Don't go into software development/IT - those jobs are being outsourced like crazy to overseas.

Eh, depends on what you want to go into. There are plenty of IT jobs now and the area is still growing heavily.

[G&T]

Law isn't growing anywhere.

 

Healthcare is the place to be in any market.

[shipps]

Drug trafficking

[The Beast]

Law isn't growing anywhere.

 

Healthcare is the place to be in any market.

When I say Law, I really mean being a Paralegal even though I'd have a BA in Business Management/Administration. I'm not sure what healthcare job I could possibly get other than becoming an EMT or something that doesn't require an ungodly amount of science courses.

[SoxFan1]

Human trafficking

Even better.

[SoxFan1]

When I say Law, I really mean being a Paralegal even though I'd have a BA in Business Management/Administration. I'm not sure what healthcare job I could possibly get other than becoming an EMT or something that doesn't require an ungodly amount of science courses.

My sister got the same degree and is now a paralegal. She loves it.

[ptatc]

In certain areas, jobs in specific fields aren't doing well, virtually are non-existent or can't be found as a result of "keen competition." Obviously, I have inquired many times about people and their jobs, as well as of what to go into. Though I would rather hear some thoughts on what fields or jobs are actually growing from people instead of just researching blogs and websites online that seem to be spouting off incredible and irrelevant information to the answer that I'm seeking.

 

While I am interested in getting into the sports industry, it is competitive and I just didn't get an internship with the seven places that I applied to. I got one interview with the Academy in Lisle but I never heard back from them, so I'm considering different options as far as "careers" go. With that being said, in your professions, particularly in the healthcare, legal, PR or business fields, what do you see as some jobs that are growing in the DuPage and Chicago land areas? Or if you aren't in those fields, what do you believe is growing and dying?

 

There is always a demand for physical therapists. However, it is 3 more years of schools once you get your Bachelor's degree. You come out with a DPT, Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and are guaranteed a job.

[The Beast]

My sister got the same degree and is now a paralegal. She loves it.

My question would be, do I have to go get an associate's degree to be a paralegal or do they hire and retrain people with bachelor's degrees? I have research and writing skills in my background so I don't know what else they want me to know...but if she says it is a good job, I'll take her word for it - it pays decently for what its worth.

 

Too bad I don't wish to meet the pre-reqs for PT or OT. I though I read somewhere that techs also make good money in health care.

[Texsox]

Think about all the jobs illegals are doing and be ready to take one of those when they get deported. Meat packing plants, landscapping, restaurants, migrant farm worker, will all be looking for new employees.

 

And in general, if you hold a degree past the minimum, it will be accepted.

 

 

 

 

[BigSqwert]

Medicinal marijuana shop manager.

[Chisoxfn]

Eh, depends on what you want to go into. There are plenty of IT jobs now and the area is still growing heavily.

If you can get experience implementing Oracle or SAP you can do quite well. I'm getting involved in some of those type of projects right now, related to Oracle and It could open up some more doors for me (outside of the accounting realm).

[bigruss]

If you can get experience implementing Oracle or SAP you can do quite well. I'm getting involved in some of those type of projects right now, related to Oracle and It could open up some more doors for me (outside of the accounting realm).

Totally agreed, right now Im getting experience at my internship with SAP and I know that I will have an abundance of opportunities because of this experience.

 

Three letters can make your resume very impressive, SAP.

[Chisoxfn]

Totally agreed, right now Im getting experience at my internship with SAP and I know that I will have an abundance of opportunities because of this experience.

 

Three letters can make your resume very impressive, SAP.

Not to mention the massive amounts of money it takes large companies to implement one of the big systems. Your talking about between 100 and 250 million to implement. Could be more for all I know.

 

I've worked at a company that was migrating to SAP, spent 100M and than wrote it all off because they weren't even close. Now I'm at a company going to Oracle and the bill ain't cheap and we still won't be done with our world wide roll out for a while.

 

Russ, that will be super beneficial. If I went back and was going to change anything, I'd probably look into that. I don't have the IT skills but what I do have is the finance/accounting side with a decent mix of IT and am hoping to get more involved in being the middle man between IT and Finance because it appears there aren't many people who know enough about both and one of the huge problem areas is that IT ends up creating something without the options finance wants or without the capabilities (or they do way too much, etc). And that is just one small area of the platform since SAP/Oracle are so much more than just Finance/Accounting tools.

 

They handle the procurement, production, taxes, etc.

[Jenksismyhero]

My question would be, do I have to go get an associate's degree to be a paralegal or do they hire and retrain people with bachelor's degrees? I have research and writing skills in my background so I don't know what else they want me to know...but if she says it is a good job, I'll take her word for it - it pays decently for what its worth.

 

Too bad I don't wish to meet the pre-reqs for PT or OT. I though I read somewhere that techs also make good money in health care.

 

You can, but most of the "professional" firms require a paralegal certificate. But really, at least as an attorney, I love working in the small firm without the office politics. Pay isn't as good, but value of life is immensely better (actual contributing member to the firm versus bring a grunt working 80 hrs a week). I'm sure it's the same feeling for our paralegal.

[The Beast]

You can, but most of the "professional" firms require a paralegal certificate. But really, at least as an attorney, I love working in the small firm without the office politics. Pay isn't as good, but value of life is immensely better (actual contributing member to the firm versus bring a grunt working 80 hrs a week). I'm sure it's the same feeling for our paralegal.

Where is your small firm located? Do you think firms would allow someone to come in and do a job shadow? I would much rather have a better job with less pay than a more stressful job with more pay. The work is probably interesting so I'd definitely consider that as a career, even though it doesn't really relate to my major (which I'm fine with, a lot of the jobs I'm looking at just require a degree).

[bigruss]

Not to mention the massive amounts of money it takes large companies to implement one of the big systems. Your talking about between 100 and 250 million to implement. Could be more for all I know.

 

I've worked at a company that was migrating to SAP, spent 100M and than wrote it all off because they weren't even close. Now I'm at a company going to Oracle and the bill ain't cheap and we still won't be done with our world wide roll out for a while.

 

Russ, that will be super beneficial. If I went back and was going to change anything, I'd probably look into that. I don't have the IT skills but what I do have is the finance/accounting side with a decent mix of IT and am hoping to get more involved in being the middle man between IT and Finance because it appears there aren't many people who know enough about both and one of the huge problem areas is that IT ends up creating something without the options finance wants or without the capabilities (or they do way too much, etc). And that is just one small area of the platform since SAP/Oracle are so much more than just Finance/Accounting tools.

 

They handle the procurement, production, taxes, etc.

 

The % of SAP/Oracle implementations that fail is mind boggling. Ive been hearing stories here about the first go at SAP and how it almost crumbled the company. But once it gets going the software is very impressive and can do so much like you said.

 

Even though I am an IS/IT major (along with General Management) I am coming from the business side of it and dont have the programming skills of many of the engineers here on my team. I still can keep up with them in the more basic work (work that doesnt require months of training to know how to use) and I am more interested in the management part of IT. My goal right now is to start off as a technical engineer and work my way up in the management sides (as there is 2 basic paths, management or a more veteran programmer who leads projects but does not want to mess with the business side).

 

If you get experience working with SAP and with your Accy/Fin background you will have alot of opportunities to go into project management or high level management. I know alot of people up high in IT management and the biggest thing they look for is the ability to get work done, and technical skills for managers is secondary. They need to know what is going on, but only at a high level.

[Iwritecode]

An interesting thing is happening in IT. I know mainframe programming which has been around for a long time and continues to be used by a lot of companies.

 

The first problem is that many of the programmers that know these languages are going to be hitting retirement ages within the next 10 years or so. The second problem is that there aren't very many younger programmers to take over simply because the languages aren't taught in schools anymore.

[bigruss]

An interesting thing is happening in IT. I know mainframe programming which has been around for a long time and continues to be used by a lot of companies.

 

The first problem is that many of the programmers that know these languages are going to be hitting retirement ages within the next 10 years or so. The second problem is that there aren't very many younger programmers to take over simply because the languages aren't taught in schools anymore.

IMO thats where outsourcing comes from. Not just from overseas, but American programmers will work for outsourcing companies and can be trained by them too.

 

IT outsourcing is becoming a monster of its own. The biggest problem I see with it is that none of the companies that Ive heard of or worked with are considered very good, and they cost alot to hire.

 

The biggest thing from that turnover is going to be losing the senior programmers and their leadership and knowledge from their experiences.

[Controlled Chaos]

You can, but most of the "professional" firms require a paralegal certificate. But really, at least as an attorney, I love working in the small firm without the office politics. Pay isn't as good, but value of life is immensely better (actual contributing member to the firm versus bring a grunt working 80 hrs a week). I'm sure it's the same feeling for our paralegal.

Do you think he would suffer gender discrimination? In my 11 years at this law firm I have seen 1 male paralegal come through here and he didn't last more than a couple months. I think there is a reluctance by male attorneys to work with male paralegals. Any thoughts? Also, lawyers are some of the most difficult people to work for. Their job is very demanding, hence they are very demanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Beast]

Do you think he would suffer gender discrimination? In my 11 years at this law firm I have seen 1 male paralegal come through here and he didn't last more than a couple months. I think there is a reluctance by male attorneys to work with male paralegals. Any thoughts? Also, lawyers are some of the most difficult people to work for. Their job is very demanding, hence they are very demanding.

Part of my issue is that I don't fit with a lot of jobs. Obviously I'm not some smoking hot woman paralegal. I also would not be good with sales, so that is out, and I don't fancy accounting or finance. So with my skills it appears that guidance counseling, being a paralegal or doing something completely unrelated might suit me. Google ISFJ. That's my personality type, and unfortunately I don't fit a lot of extroverted careers, though I can try to force myself to be more extroverted.

[Chisoxfn]

Part of my issue is that I don't fit with a lot of jobs. Obviously I'm not some smoking hot woman paralegal. I also would not be good with sales, so that is out, and I don't fancy accounting or finance. So with my skills it appears that guidance counseling, being a paralegal or doing something completely unrelated might suit me. Google ISFJ. That's my personality type, and unfortunately I don't fit a lot of extroverted careers, though I can try to force myself to be more extroverted.

Go into the repo business. You are pretty big dude from what I remember and you don't have to have great peoples skills.

 

Or you could become the next, Dog, the Bounty Hunter?

 

Maybe you could become a UPS driver? They pay pretty good.

[Iwritecode]

The biggest thing from that turnover is going to be losing the senior programmers and their leadership and knowledge from their experiences.

 

That's part of the reason I have my job now. So I can learn from these guys before they retire and gain more experience.

 

It also helps that I already have 12 years experience in this field and I'm only 32.

Edited June 22, 2010 by Iwritecode

[The Beast]

Go into the repo business. You are pretty big dude from what I remember and you don't have to have great peoples skills.

 

Or you could become the next, Dog, the Bounty Hunter?

 

Maybe you could become a UPS driver? They pay pretty good.

What I am getting at is that while I do not want to do something that is completely extroverted, I have people skills, and I also have have above average written communication skills. I do not believe that I could handle something so competitive as sales, but that I could direct a team of individuals to do a task. I'm the type of person who needs to recharge after a social event instead of being energized by it - I enjoy the small group setting better.

 

Part of the reason I majored in business over the other fields is that I still can use numbers, I will learn statistics, and while working for the school's sports information office, I can still practice and get feedback on my writing ability. What I seek is more of a PR job, but I don't necessarily have all of the characteristics for the job. We will see of what is to come, but I've also thought about going back for a Master's in School Counseling or in PR (to be more qualified for technical writing and PR). Here are some job titles that I've considered (the goal is to get a job that requires a college degree):

 

High School Guidance Counselor

Education Administrator

Paralegal (AAS)

Police Officer

Public Relations Specialist

HR Manager

Business Teacher

Technical Writer

Market Research Analyst

Purchasing Manager