Industry Overviews

Alternatively, you might want to learn about specific sub sectors of biotechnology such as:

• Agriculture - conducting genetic research that may someday help fight world hunger, agricultural bio-processing is one of the newest and most exciting fields in the biotech industry. Experts agree that the future of farming in the 21st century will be shaped by agricultural bio-processing technology.
• Bioprocessing - helping save lives, making companies more profitable, and determining the future of medicine. Bioprocessing is an interdisciplinary specialty that draws on several scientific fields including: engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biochemistry, biology, and, of course, biotechnology.
• Bioinformatics - working with sophisticated computer equipment, analyzing biological data, and creating massive genetic databases to unlock genetic secrets. The field of biology has progressively transitioned from a bench-based skill to a computer-based science. The bioinformatics sector represents the technological future of the biotech industry.

Biotechnology is truly an opportunity to turn science fiction into science fact!

Energy Careers - Industry Overview

By Housley Carr
InDemand Magazine

The power is out at your house, so you can't watch TV... and the fuel gauge on the car reads empty. Life without energy would not be cool.

Electricity, gasoline and other energy sources are a major part of our lives. But, for the most part, the energy that fuels our lives is out of view. We take it for granted-until we don't have it.

Luckily, a large and growing part of the work force in the United States-and across the world, for that matter-is involved in keeping energy available day in and day out.

These jobs involve things like finding oil and natural gas, extracting and delivering them to their end uses, whether it is heating a home with gas or refining crude oil into gasoline. They also involve finding and mining coal, operating the power plants and maintaining and repairing the power lines that deliver electricity to homes, schools and offices.

Best of all, the demand for energy around the world is growing. And the number of jobs to keep the energy industry humming isn't just growing, it's booming.... Within a few years, engineers with four-year degrees may earn six-figures salaries. According to a recent survey by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, petroleum engineers with a Bachelor's degree and 11 to 15 years of experience can earn nearly $90,000 a year. Those with 16 to 20 years of experience can earn more than $109,000. Petroleum engineers with Master's degrees can earn about $109,000 a year with 11 to 15 years of experience, and nearly $116,000 with 16 to 20 years of work experience in their profession.

The energy industry also needs civil, chemical, environmental, geological, mining, nuclear and seismic engineers. With big-name companies looking to hire the best graduates in these specialties, the pay-and job security can be very good.

In fact, energy industry career prospects haven't been this good for 30 years. Because of a lull in interest in energy-related careers in the 1980s and '90s, the industry "is missing an entire generation of people," says Bill Young, director of enrollment management at the Colorado School of Mines.

With large numbers of energy-industry professionals in their forties and fifties thinking about retirement, young people graduating with energy-related engineering degrees over the next few years "will have huge opportunities," Smith says.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, a "roustabout"- that is, a laborer on an oil or natural gas rig- earns $12.75 an hour, on average. A derrick operator can earn $16.75 an hour and a rotary drill operator can earn almost $18.70 an hour.

Good-paying jobs also exist at electric utilities. "It's not uncommon for someone with our two-year Associate's degree in energy technology to earn up to $15 an hour in their first job and $25 an hour within three or four years," says Barbara Hins-Turner, executive director of the Center of Excellence for Energy Technology at Centralia College, a community college in Centralia,Wash....

You can get your foot in the door at oil and natural gas companies without a college degree. "Workers can enter the oil and [natural] gas extraction industry with a variety of educational backgrounds," the Bureau of Labor Statistics says. The most common entry-level field jobs usually require little or no previous training or experience. Other entry-level positions, such as engineering technician, usually require at least a two-year Associate's degree in engineering technology....

And the range of jobs is almost unlimited. Some electric utilities now are building their first new power plants in years. Coal-mining companies like Massey Energy say that one of their biggest problems is finding enough coal-mining equipment operators to keep up with the demand for coal. Oil and natural gas companies face a similar need for workers to keep up with demand and create the next generation of energy professionals.

Emerging renewable energy technologies, like wind turbines, also need more workers. In West Texas where the wind blows consistently, hundreds of turbines are being installed to generate power that is "clean," meaning power that is generated without releasing very many pollutants into the environment.

"There is tremendous potential for young people in renewable energy," says Herman Schellstede, president of Wind Energy Systems Technology of New Iberia, La. He is planning one of the first offshore wind "farms"-with 50 turbines each 300 feet tall-in the Gulf of Mexico near Texas.

"Energy is the powerhouse of the United States," he says. "And we will always need young people" to keep that powerhouse running.

Financial Services Careers - Industry Overview

Are you drawn to numbers? Do you enjoy considering and taking risks? If so, a career in financial services might be a perfect fit!

Did you know that financial services jobs are available in diverse corporations and government agencies as well as in banks and other financial institutions? These types of positions provide opportunities to apply your skills with numbers in strategic financial planning, quantitative analysis, investment management and sales. Each of the various positions requires different skills and provides different rewards.

Some of the job skills needed for a career in financial services include:

• Mathematical skills
• Analytical skills
• Computer skills
• Communication skills, such as writing and listening
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Integrity
• Ability to work well with others, especially as a member of a team
• Organizational skills

So, if you've always dreamed of trading stocks on Wall Street, consider becoming an analyst in investment management sales. Or, perhaps a career in banking or corporate finance is more your style.

Did you know that the banking profession is one that encourages both personal and professional development and that many banks offer their own training programs to help employees grow? Banking associations also sponsor finance courses and training programs, some of which are held in conjunction with local universities.

All corporations depend on accountants, auditors, and tax professionals to facilitate the flow of money, monitor the bottom line and protect the organization's assets and integrity. There are plenty of opportunities in non-financial services companies.

It's important to remember that financial services is a large and diverse industry. With so many choices to explore, it will help if you determine what aspects of the industry are a match for your skills and interests.

Geospatial Technology Careers - Industry Overview

Want a truly 21st century career that combines interests in the Earth, space, and high technology? How about an emerging field where new "offshoot" opportunities are occurring all the time?

The geospatial industry acquires, integrates, manages, analyzes, maps, distributes, and uses geographic, temporal and spatial information and knowledge. The industry includes basic and applied research, technology development, education, and applications to address the planning, decision-making, and operational needs of people and organizations of all types.

Within Geospatial Technology, Photogrammetrists and Remote Sensing Specialists use pictures and other information from satellites, planes, and ground sensors to plot and gather data about where things are on Earth. Geographic Information Systems Analysts then review and turn this data into maps and decision-making tools.

And where might Geospatial Technology professionals, technologists, and technicians actually work? In addition to local, state, and federal government agencies, these skilled individuals can be found employed in the private and non-profit sectors in a wide-range of related scientific and technical fields, such as agriculture and soils; archeology; biology; cartography; ecology; environmental sciences; forestry and range; geodesy; geography; geology; hydrology and water resources; land appraisal and real estate; medicine; transportation; urban planning and development, and more.

Health Care Careers - Industry Overview

By Colleen M. Sauber
InDemand Magazine

Career choices in health care are incredibly varied, and anyone considering this field has a wonderful array of positions to select from. But so many jobs can make it tough to decide which position best matches your interests and aptitude. What to do?

Consider your goals and interests. Think about what you want to do, what you're good at and, importantly, what you want to learn about.

Many health care positions serve patients directly, working with individuals, their illness or problem and their family. Yet, taking a job in health care does not automatically mean that you will work one on one with sick people or that you must be able to stand the sight of blood.

Take, for example, the position of clinical laboratory technician or medical records specialist. Much of their work occurs away from the patient. Once a blood sample is taken, it travels to the lab where the technician analyzes it and reports the results. Once a patient or health care worker supplies information for a medical record, the rest is processed in an office setting.

But if you enjoy talking with people and feel energized by helping someone directly-say, applying a cast, giving medication or teaching how to best manage diabetes and diet-a lab position might not be to your liking. Person-to-person contact may top your list for what's important in your career, and health care jobs present many fulfilling possibilities.

Education
Because health care is so diverse, colleges and universities often divide their programs into individual schools. These include schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, public health, veterinary medicine, and science and engineering. Expertise in biomedicine and health sciences might be combined with computer science and electrical engineering.

There may also be programs specifically geared to the business side of health care, such as hospital administration and human resources. Others may focus on what is called allied health care, which refers to positions that assist doctors and other health specialists and require far fewer years of education.

Titles in allied health careers often contain the terms technician, technologist, assistant, hygienist, and aide. Although these positions are part of one career group, the schooling, responsibilities and salary among them can be very different.

For example, a high school diploma is needed to become a dental assistant; completion of a technical program is required to become a medical laboratory technician; a two-year associate degree is needed to become a forensic science technician; and a bachelor's degree is a must for a medical technologist.

Whatever schooling you need, financial assistance is a very real possibility. Individual schools and programs can help determine what funds are available....

Training
No skill becomes stale or stays the same in health care! New research findings, technologies and understanding all adds fresh and ever-changing dimensions.

Whichever career catches your attention-one that requires a minimum of a high school diploma, a two-year certification, or a college or advanced degree-your training and your potential for advancement will never stop. Even after you're hired, many positions require a renewable license, certificate or registration. It may mean taking a regular technical or college class, attending seminars, or learning to operate the latest equipment.

But if you're looking for challenge and variety, if you want to feel good about what you do each day and to know that your work makes a difference, you can accomplish all that and more in health care.

Homeland Security Careers - Industry Overview

Many of the activities and occupations that make-up the Homeland Security industry are not new, but until recently these sectors were decentralized and not considered part of one industry. The demands of the 21st century require more unified preparation and rapid, targeted responses.

Homeland Security encompasses a broad range of activities and occupations including:

• Emergency preparedness and response,
• Border and transportation security,
• Infrastructure protection,
• Information analysis, and
• Homeland defense.

Many homeland security jobs and career opportunities are with federal, state, and local government agencies, but there are also plenty of additional opportunities with private companies and nonprofit organizations.

Information Technology Careers - Industry Overview

If you are considering a career in Information Technology (IT), you'll soon realize that there are many occupations available and that IT careers give you the flexibility to work in many different industries.

Just look around and you can see how much we rely on technology everyday. Imagine being part of this exciting, growing, and changing industry. IT remains a critical aspect of work in all industries and sectors, as well as an industry in its own right. However, America continues to suffer from a shortage of qualified IT workers with flexible and portable skills who can readily adapt and respond to ever-changing IT demands and processes.

If you do decide to specialize in technology, you should know that the industry can be viewed either by the types of jobs available or by the industries which are technology driven.

Technology skills and computer proficiency are essential assets for workers in all industries. Even if the career you choose does not focus solely on IT, the job will most likely require the use of computers and technology to accomplish tasks and process information. 92% of all IT workers are in non-IT companies, 80% of which are in small companies (Information Technology Association of America).

For all IT-related occupations, technical and professional certifications are growing more popular and increasingly important. IT workers must continually update and acquire new skills to remain qualified in this dynamic field. Completion of vocational training also is an asset. According to a May 2000 report by the Urban Institute, community colleges play a critical role in training new workers and in retraining both veteran workers and workers from other fields.

People interested in becoming computer support specialists generally need only an Associate degree in a computer-related field, as well as significant hands-on experience with computers. They also must possess strong problem-solving and analytical skills as well as excellent communication skills because troubleshooting and helping others are such vital aspects of the job. And because there is constant interaction on the job with other computer personnel, customers, and employees, computer support specialists must be able to communicate effectively on paper, using e-mail, and in person. They also must possess strong writing skills when preparing manuals for employees and customers.

From the basic entry level positions to Chief Information Officers, there are almost limitless possibilities in Information Technology.

View a couple of videos for an introduction to IT Careers
Video 1

Video 2

Nanotechnology Careers - Industry Overview

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field of discovery.

Scientists and technicians working in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, information technology, and other fields are contributing to today's nanotechnology research - research that is leading to the development of tomorrow's breakthrough applications and products.

Basic Research & Development (R&D) in nanotechnology involves understanding and controlling matter at dimensions of roughly 1 to 100 nanometers - microscopic levels where unique phenomena enable novel applications.

This work uses highly specialized, precision equipment such as electron, atomic, and scanning tunneling microscopes to machinery that is capable of making these extraordinarily small new products.

Basic R&D in nanotechnology is being conducted by the private sector, research universities, and the federal government - with the government playing an important role in this effort.

Commercial applications of nanotechnology research and Development (R&D) are still in their infancy, but this is likely to change dramatically in the next few years.

At present, nanoscale materials are already being integrated in biotechnology, defense, energy, environmental science, information technology, telecommunications, transportation, and various consumer goods.

For example, many computer hard-drives use nano-thin layers of magnetic materials while stain-resistant clothing is also now available. Other products already in the marketplace include burn and wound dressings, water filtration systems, sunscreens, and different parts of automobiles.

In the near future, molecular nanotechnology manufacturing is expected to result in new products in a wide-range of areas, including improved solar cells, better skid resistant tires, wide ranging health care improvements, and enhancements to homeland security and national defense.

These nanotechnology commercial applications are going to mean the availability of a wide-range of better products that are impossible to make today.

To develop and produce these goods, U.S. nanotechnology manufacturers are going to need many thousands of new scientists, engineering technicians, and other production and support workers.