Don’t leave the country just yet!
Remember those days when having basic computer skills guaranteed you a great job? The times are a-changin’! Tech jobs are some of the most heavily outsourced positions. Think about it—the guy giving you computer advice over the phone might be living in India, and the people manufacturing your cars most likely live in China.
Why are so many great jobs fleeing the country? We can blame it on cheap labor and the rapid growth of technical education in Asia. Take China, for example. To promote technical education, the country has opened radio and television universities in addition to mainstream schools. Computer Economics, a research firm, has estimated that more than half of all software development work was contracted overseas last year.
Before you go desperately searching for your passport, remember that the U.S. is still full of job opportunities. Believe it or not, there are some jobs that just can’t be shipped overseas! After all, we still need qualified people to run our country. What do all these jobs have in common? Think about job responsibilities that involve literally seeing or touching people. Anything that relates to health care or any other form of personal service can’t be outsourced!
So, what are these dream jobs? Read on:
1. Medical Assistant – Despite the global economy, people will always need a doctor! Medical Assistants are always on-call to help physicians perform routine clinical tasks. Like most health care positions (including nursing), medical assisting is predicted to be one of the fastest growing careers. Best of all, most medical assisting jobs only require a two-year associate’s degree, so you can get started as soon as possible.
2. Education administrator – The country is definitely in need of some good teachers! If you’re already an educator, or are thinking about becoming a teacher, getting a master’s degree in education could land you a great job in administration. You would be overseeing the day-to-day management of a school, which can include everything from overseeing faculty to determining the school’s budget.
3. Dental assistant – Sure, technology is advancing at a speed-of-light pace, but Americans will never be able to get their teeth cleaned from a dentist or dental assistant who is overseas! If you’re in the dental field, you can also take on a variety of roles including selling dental supplies.
4. Computer network installer – Yes, there are still some tech jobs left in America! Despite the fact that many computers are manufactured overseas, you still need someone to come over your house and install the software.
5. Automotive repair – If you had to ship your car overseas to be repaired, the cost of transporting your vehicle would be phenomenal (and take weeks!). This means that mechanics are staying put. The Department of Labor also expects job prospects to be excellent, since many auto workers are hitting retirement.
6. Catering manager – Everyone needs to eat! A catering manager is responsible for preparing and serving the food at large events. Many people learn this trade while working as a chef or other food services career. The majority of catering managers have a culinary degree.
Filed in: College Preparation.









