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Top 10 best jobs

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:00 pm
by Phlegm
MONEY Magazine and Salary.com researched hundreds of jobs, considering their growth, pay, stress-levels and other factors. These careers ranked highest.


1. Software Engineer
2. College professor
3. Financial adviser
4. Human Resources Manager
5. Physician assistant
6. Market research analyst
7. Computer IT analyst
8. Real Estate Appraiser
9. Pharmacist
10. Psychologist

Re: Top 10 best jobs

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:19 pm
by Narrock
Phlegm wrote:MONEY Magazine and Salary.com researched hundreds of jobs, considering their growth, pay, stress-levels and other factors. These careers ranked highest.


1. Software Engineer
2. College professor
3. Financial adviser
4. Human Resources Manager
5. Physician assistant
6. Market research analyst
7. Computer IT analyst
8. Real Estate Appraiser
9. Pharmacist
10. Psychologist



Both of my roommates are software engineers making $80k/yr. at R-Systems. It's very stressful though. They do coding all day long, so they get severe mental exhaustion frequently. That's what they tell me anyway.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:26 pm
by Arlos
If any industry needed to unionize, it's software development. The expectation for people to regularly work 80-100 hour weeks is just nuts. That is starting to change, see the lawsuits against Electronic Arts as an example, but name me just about any other salaried job out there that requires you to work 2x full time hours for 1x full time salary.

Honestly, I'd laugh my ass off if, say, Marketing type people were held to such a work schedule, theyd' never make it.

-Arlos

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:27 pm
by Tikker
I have a hard time believing Physician Assistant ranks above physician

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:29 pm
by vonkaar
Recent survey among college students ranked the top bands as followed. Number one: Better than Ezra. Number two, Ezra.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:29 pm
by Arlos
I dunno, physician assistant would strike me as a straight 9-5 type job, and requirs little effort to get trained to qualify for. Physician takes upteen years of med school, and look at the shifts doctors at hospitals have to work, frequently.

-Arlos

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:34 pm
by Diekan
I wouldn't say PA school requires little effort. It may not be as long as a medical school program, but it's in no way shape or form a cake walk.

I can't see how software engineer ranked 1. Not with outsourcing killing the field.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:36 pm
by Donnel
vonkaar wrote:Recent survey among college students ranked the top bands as followed. Number one: Better than Ezra. Number two, Ezra.


Can't let this gem be missed. Much Rofl.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:06 pm
by Martrae
PA's don't carry the liability that docs do.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:29 pm
by Diekan
No they don't. But, just because their school isn't as "tough" as actual med school doesn't mean it's easy, or that PA's need "little training."

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:36 pm
by Martrae
Did I say anything about how tough their schooling is or isn't? I was saying that they are probably high on the list since they don't carry the liability that docs do.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:06 pm
by araby
They can do everything a doctor can do except practice alone. a PA is my gyno-rhino as well as who I see regularly, instead of a physician. I didn't choose this though-I saw her once and knew she would be the right person for me. if there is anything she can't do-the dr she's in practice with does it and he's great too.

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:44 pm
by Arlos
I based my assessment on necessary training by the number of advertisements I see on TV promising < 1 year of training for that career. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but someone needs to pass the information on to those companies doing the advertising...

Note: I'm not talking about Nurse Practitioners, that's an entirely seperate kettle of fish. I know damn well they ahve to go through years and years of training, but that's a completely different job.

-Arlos

Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:48 pm
by brinstar
vonkaar wrote:Recent survey among college students ranked the top bands as followed. Number one: Better than Ezra. Number two, Ezra.


there's a band here in lincoln called "Ezra"

i roll my eyes every time i see an ad for one of their shows

they should do a collaboration album with "Jake"

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:42 am
by Jay
Part of my job is #6

Re: Top 10 best jobs

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:56 am
by Captain Insano
Phlegm wrote:MONEY Magazine and Salary.com researched hundreds of jobs, considering their growth, pay, stress-levels and other factors. These careers ranked highest.


1. Software Engineer
2. College professor
3. Financial adviser
4. Human Resources Manager
5. Physician assistant
6. Market research analyst
7. Computer IT analyst
8. Real Estate Appraiser
9. Pharmacist
10. Psychologist



You know something I don't know why more people don't get into sales for a living.

I think any type of sales with good commision plans are hands down the best jobs.

You are interracting with all kinds of people all the time and there is a thrill and excitement almost every day trying to get the sale done. I have found sales to be the most rewarding field of any type of work ever. I'm not talking about telemarketing or selling vacuums door to door mind you, but more of the professional sales jobs.

Re: Top 10 best jobs

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:02 am
by Narrock
captain_insano wrote:
Phlegm wrote:MONEY Magazine and Salary.com researched hundreds of jobs, considering their growth, pay, stress-levels and other factors. These careers ranked highest.


1. Software Engineer
2. College professor
3. Financial adviser
4. Human Resources Manager
5. Physician assistant
6. Market research analyst
7. Computer IT analyst
8. Real Estate Appraiser
9. Pharmacist
10. Psychologist



You know something I don't know why more people don't get into sales for a living.

I think any type of sales with good commision plans are hands down the best jobs.

You are interracting with all kinds of people all the time and there is a thrill and excitement almost every day trying to get the sale done. I have found sales to be the most rewarding field of any type of work ever. I'm not talking about telemarketing or selling vacuums door to door mind you, but more of the professional sales jobs.



Sales is only a good profession if you get a decent base salary + commission. I see the advertisements all the time. They all say the same crap that are total red flags to watch out for. If you see lines like "Our comission structure is OVER THE TOP!!!" or "Your income potential is UNLIMITED!!!" or "Generous bonus programs!" It's all a stroke. Even the ones that say "No cold-calling, no prospecting... we provide the leads!!!" is total BS. 99.9% of the time the leads are rewashed/recycled "B" leads, and you get more pissed-off people than pleasant people when you call. "Inside" sales jobs that have a base + commission are the only acceptable way to go.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:30 am
by kaharthemad
I have been 1. on that list. I went back to 7. and I think Ill stay there thanx. Software Eng was the devil. That job is gonna be the next Air Controll Tower type job.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:33 am
by Minrott
Sales blows. You gotta have the kind of personality that sheds failure like water off a ducks back or you'll starve. 98% failure and 2% success wouldn't be fufilling to me. Even though that 2% is great money and ahead of the curve.

For me to be happy with what I'm doing I have to know that because of my knowledge and skills that I can do anything that may come up in my profession, or that if there's something I can't do I can learn how. Trying to convince people to buy something from me won't do that for me so I work with metal instead.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:25 am
by Arlos
I'm not bad at selling, I just don't like doing it. It doesnt' fit with my personality. I have no interest in trying to convince some random yahoo that he REALLY REALLY NEEDS whatever the crap it is that I'm selling. If he really wanted it, he'd have gotten it on his own already, so basically I'm trying to fast-talk someone into doing something he probably doesn't want to do. Ick. No thanks. I'd rather do something intellectually fulfilling, that involves mental challenges and thinking through projects, etc.

I'm actually planning on going for a Bio-Informatics specialization in Computer Science. I'd be working with huge gene databases, etc. I think biotech is going to be the next huge wave of growth, especially as the boomers retire and hit nursing homes. Working on intricate projects like genetics interests me way more than trying to convince someone to buy a set of kitchen knives or something. (a sales job I DID do, selling CutCo knives. Good product, hated selling it)

-Arlos

Re: Top 10 best jobs

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:46 am
by Phlegm
captain_insano wrote:You know something I don't know why more people don't get into sales for a living.


Most people don't have the personality nor the charisma to go into sales and be successful.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:18 pm
by Jay
Being in sales isn't the same ole traditional "YOU REALLY NEED THIS PRODUCT NOW OMG" stuff anymore. It's courtesy, over the top niceness and power of suggestion. Put people in a comfort zone, they'll buy anything you tell them you think would be remotely good for them, as long as they like you, not necessarily your product.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:23 pm
by Spliffs
arlos wrote:I based my assessment on necessary training by the number of advertisements I see on TV promising < 1 year of training for that career. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but someone needs to pass the information on to those companies doing the advertising...

Note: I'm not talking about Nurse Practitioners, that's an entirely seperate kettle of fish. I know damn well they ahve to go through years and years of training, but that's a completely different job.

-Arlos


You are thinking of "Medical Assistant" which is a medically proficient secretary. A "Physicians Assistant" is a masters degree level education, with the ability to prescribe drugs and set treatment plans.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:38 pm
by Narrock
Jay wrote:Being in sales isn't the same ole traditional "YOU REALLY NEED THIS PRODUCT NOW OMG" stuff anymore. It's courtesy, over the top niceness and power of suggestion. Put people in a comfort zone, they'll buy anything you tell them you think would be remotely good for them, as long as they like you, not necessarily your product.


I have to disagree with you there. Drive into any car dealership and tell me what happens. Talk to a telemarketer for a couple minutes... they don't want to let you get off the phone. They are trained to not take "no" for an answer. Sales is sales. You have to convince somebody that they need your product, and right now.

When I sold cars for a couple years they boss told us things like, "Nobody walks onto a lot unless they want to buy" and "Nobody walks until the boss talks" God, I hated that prick. Nine times out of ten when you approached someone on the lot who just pulled up they say, "I'm just looking." Then you're supposed to say "Are you looking for an automatic or a manual?" You're trained to give an answer to anything they say, and it's all an aggressive style that leads to the eventual "closing" process.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:42 pm
by Spliffs
Mindia wrote:
Jay wrote:Being in sales isn't the same ole traditional "YOU REALLY NEED THIS PRODUCT NOW OMG" stuff anymore. It's courtesy, over the top niceness and power of suggestion. Put people in a comfort zone, they'll buy anything you tell them you think would be remotely good for them, as long as they like you, not necessarily your product.


I have to disagree with you there. Drive into any car dealership and tell me what happens. Talk to a telemarketer for a couple minutes... they don't want to let you get off the phone. They are trained to not take "no" for an answer. Sales is sales. You have to convince somebody that they need your product, and right now.

When I sold cars for a couple years they boss told us things like, "Nobody walks onto a lot unless they want to buy" and "Nobody walks until the boss talks" God, I hated that prick. Nine times out of ten when you approached someone on the lot who just pulled up they say, "I'm just looking." Then you're supposed to say "Are you looking for an automatic or a manual?" You're trained to give an answer to anything they say, and it's all an aggressive style that leads to the eventual "closing" process.


Yeah, kind of sucks - it's lead to me being rather rude to salesmen. I feel bad about it, but they never get the point if you don't do it.