In high school, you may have dreamed of becoming president. Of course, by the time college graduation approaches, many of us have reassessed our expectations to more realistic goals.
But with our hyper-connected world moving at the speed of light these days, the tried-and-true careers that everyone is pursuing today could quickly become a thing of the past.
So what does the future have to offer? Or better, what demand? Have you heard of ethical hacking? Well, me neither. The writer Thomas Frey, author of the book “Communicating with the future”, in an interview for Forbes, offers a glimpse of the five professions that will be in high demand and fast growing in the future that you should know about. Now is a good time to think again: What do you want to be when you grow up?
1. Logistics
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When you go to the supermarket, you know exactly where to find that toothpaste, oatmeal, and dish soap. But how did it get there? For that, you would have to consult a logistician. These professionals use complex computer software to keep track of the movements of goods and products, as well as ideas to make the process smoother and more efficient. Some logistics even work with government agencies to help clean up debris after, say, a natural disaster.
Why is it a job of the future?
Given the current global economy, companies are looking to streamline production and reduce costs, and they are hiring logisticians to do it. The US Department of Labor forecasts a 26% growth in employment in this field by 2020, and with a median salary of $71.910, logisticians can be a good match.
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According to Frey, logicians are in a profession of change of pace. “Their position is changing drastically,” says Frey, explaining that he hopes these professionals will soon move from physical goods and retail, to the more technologically advanced world of defense, or they can also be very useful to work on things like pilotless planes. , as well as public projects, such as the development of a driverless public transport service.
2. Ethical Hacker
How can a hacker be ethical? Well, it turns out that many companies hire these experts to intentionally hack systems in order to identify problems with security measures before their less ethical counterparts have a chance. You can even become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), a professional who is in charge of network policy creation, intrusion detection, and virus creation.
Why is it a job of the future?
With a median salary of $92.200 per year, these moral outsiders can lead a very comfortable life. However, some worry that ethical hackers have the potential to go "potentially dangerous" and consider taking their skills to the "dark side," which may be why this work is not yet widely accepted. Frey says that for ethical hacking to be a "natural" part of the organizational structure, we need to officially distinguish between what is and what is unethical. For example, does an ethical hacker have the right to distribute information that he accesses through his position? “This [privacy vs. transparency] will not disappear in the short term”, adds Frey. "We need to establish ground rules."
3. Actuary
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Can you predict risk by looking at numbers and statistics? That's what an actuary does. These business professionals use mathematics and statistics to analyze the financial consequences of risk for insurance companies, banks, consulting firms, and the government.
Why is it a job of the future?
In the United States, actuaries earn a national median salary of $87.650, and the Department of Labor predicts that this will only get better for them, with 27% job growth forecast over the next seven years. An actuary's skills "can go in a lot of different directions," says Frey. Although insurance companies often use actuaries, Frey predicts that these professionals will make their way into the medical industry. "The world of health is ready for a lot of big changes," says Frey. They still don't see it.
4. Epidemiologist
By now, you may know that avian flu originated in birds, but do you know who knew it first? An epidemiologist. These disease wizards work to discover the cause of various ailments and diseases, review sterilization techniques and procedures, generate treatment improvements, and create protocol for containing disease and infection in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and research laboratories. Also, you won't even strictly need a medical degree, this job actually requires a master's degree in public health.
Why is it a job of the future?
By 2020, the Bureau of Statistics forecasts a whopping 35,8% growth in employment for epidemiologists, who earn a median salary of $64.220 - because the government is hiring more professionals to analyze the best preventive health care measures. health and new legislation that is improving medical record keeping.
As technology advances, Frey believes the field will further benefit from the "Internet of Things," a term that refers to the way our world is integrating with the Internet. Take “smart dust” as an example, a coating that can be used in tunnels and airplanes to detect changes in temperature and chemicals in the air. In the future, Frey says it's likely that the smart dust, which contains a microscopic sensor, could be modified for use in humans to help epidemiologists identify precursors to various diseases.
5. Front End Engineer
When you click a button on your favorite website, it takes you to another page. Simple truth? Well, someone has to program that button to do what you're expecting, which is anything but simple. Front-end engineers, also called front-end web developers, create what you see online every day. In addition to all the coding that is required for the gig, front-end developers must also have ideas and knowledge about what will work best for a user.
Why it's a job of the future The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 22% job growth in this field by 2020, which is higher than the expected 14% growth for software developers. And with a median salary of $81.670, web developers have the wherewithal to make their lives beautiful, too, not just their websites. This is a "super critical position," says Frey, adding that how companies engage with customers online can determine future success. And who will they hire to make their websites more intuitive and effective? Front-end engineers, of course.
Source: Forbes
Being in a globalized world it is easy to determine that these careers may have great potential in a few years in Colombia, however our internal peculiarities may cause special needs to arise for our context.
What could be these needs that will cause some professions to emerge and gain demand in our country?
