Kobe Bryant Scores 49 Points

10 Great Careers You've Probably Never Heard Of

by Jessica Santina

Technology, demographic shifts, new legislation, and consumer preference changes have effectively eliminated many jobs. (Met any dodo trainers lately? Or FORTRAN pros, for that matter?) However, there's an upside to obsolescence: the creation of jobs that, until recently, no one had ever heard of--and perhaps you still haven't.

So here are the 10 hottest emerging careers that you might not know about, but probably should:

1. Nursing Informatics:

Healthcare may be the fastest growing industry, but it also suffers from a horrendous lack of computerization. While your fast food order is now entirely automated, most hospitals still do their record-keeping on paper. That's where nursing informatics professionals come in. Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year from preventable medical errors, which digital record-keeping could help to eliminate. Nursing informatics specialists, with training in both nursing and health information technology, bridge the gap between IT and patient care--an essential part of healthcare in the future. That's why many of them make over $100,000 a year.

2. Experience Designer:

What do Starbucks and Apple Stores have in common? They both rely on creating an inviting customer experience. And the more businesses realize the value of a good experience to a customer, the more in-demand experience designers will be. These professionals, with training in retail management or merchandising, do everything from selecting colors and fabrics to determining the scents or sounds of a room, to create the ultimate shopping experience. For their skills, experience designers average around $60,000 a year.

3. Viral Marketers:

They're not marketers with colds. Remember when, in the months before The Blair Witch Project opened in theaters, the Sci-Fi Channel documentary and accompanying Web site garnered a Witch cult following? This hype, a spectacular viral marketing campaign, led a $60,000 film pull in nearly $30 million dollars on opening weekend. Viral marketers, savvy marketing or advertising pros with multimedia design training, create "contagion" about products or services through word-of-mouth. And the more sophisticated audiences get, the more sophisticated tactics by well-trained viral marketers will be needed. In big cities, marketers average roughly $80,000.

4. Bloggers:

Just 10 years ago, blogging would have sounded to most like a verb relegated to video games. But now, freelance writers, marketers, Web designers, finance professionals--even tea-drinkers--can draw people from around the world to read what they're thinking. Businesses are catching on, which is why they'll often hire people to blog about their products, and some bloggers can actually sell ads on their personal blogs. Are your personal thoughts worth paying for? They are, especially if you have education and a unique voice. Top bloggers can make six figures, and a handful are said to make millions.

5. HVACR Technicians:

The term "HVACR" (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) may not be new to you. But what these technicians do now is. Energy-efficiency and indoor air quality are hot topics, and those who know how to work with ever-more-sophisticated HVACR systems are few and far between. And they may be richly rewarded with salaries that may range from $35,000 up to the triple digits.

6. Carbon Management Consultant:

It sounds like a glorified name for a coal miner, but these business professionals--usually MBAs in an engineering or project management specialty--are an integral part of helping businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, which everyone's concerned with these days, thanks to climate change and tough legislation. These specialists might earn between $60,000-$100,000--or more while making the world a safer place.

7. International Logistics Manager:

Technology keeps making the global village smaller, meaning that more and more companies are operating internationally. International logistics managers, who generally earn degrees in logistics or supply chain management, ensure that materials and products are transported safely, on time, and within budget. Global trade is projected to increase by roughly 9 percent in the coming years. With average salaries that exceed $60,000 a year, these professionals are well paid for their international experience.

8. Conservation Scientists:

Once called simply "forest rangers," these environmental jobs are among the nation's fastest growing because, as we discover, there's more to protecting our national wild lands than preventing forest fires. A diploma in wildlife and forestry conservation can put you on the front lines of this booming career, which has a median annual salary of over $56,000.

9. Welders:

Yes, welders. Welding is all new and hotter than ever, thanks to increased manufacturing of technology, the need for welding in numerous high-tech industries, and newer, cleaner methods that have revolutionized welding. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that 450,000 welding jobs will be open by 2014. And those willing to travel could earn as much as $50 an hour.

10. Personal Chef:

Once the domain of celebrities and presidents, personal chefs are now offering their services to anyone interested in letting someone else cook dinner. Nationwide trends toward saving time in food shopping and preparation, as well as a growing desire to "cocoon"--an effect of war, terrorism, and working too much--have led to the development of a career for chefs who don't want to work in restaurants. And it's one of today's fastest growing culinary careers.

So blaze that trail. Set a trend. Lead the way. By training for an emerging career, you're helping to make the future, which promises to be an exciting one.

Ubuntu 8.04

Should be out by now... can't wait do d/l it... I wonder why it's still the rc, is it because of the time difference!? ARGH!!!