In Pennsylvania, jobs in the medical, healthcare, gaming, and technology sectors are very popular. But there’s more. The world of cosmetology and the leisure and hospitality industries are thriving as never before. So let’s see what jobs are in high demand in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania has always been a state in change. The state is growing and progressing and it seems they’re constantly on the move and the demand for qualified and well-trained staff is constantly high.
Pennsylvania is home to world-renowned universities and colleges that offer great nursing education and training so you can secure one of the jobs that are in high demand and you’ll be surprised. It’s not all about the traditionally high-scoring positions.
IT Specialist
Over the last few decades, digitalization has changed much of the way we all work. In many sectors, Pennsylvania leads the way and all these sectors need well-educated Information Technology (IT) experts. Larger organizations and corporations rely heavily on a technology-based infrastructure to function effectively.
To become an IT Specialist, you must have, obviously, strong IT skills and your knowledge of computer networks, operating systems, hardware technologies, LAN, and software, and how to keep facilities up to par.
Working as an IT manager or specialist is a great option for people looking to work on a career that will allow them to leverage their knowledge and IT, management, and problem-solving skills to provide people and businesses with effective information technology and systems management.
Generally, computer and information systems managers are required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology. It will take some four years to complete such a program that comes with courses in mathematics, software development, and computer programming. Educational programs on Management Information Systems (MIS) include business courses as well.
A post-graduate degree holds you even in better stead and will allow you to earn over $100 an hour if you are self-employed. If you have an experience of 5 to 10 years, then it surely is a bonus and will make you highly eligible for the job. This gives the necessary exposure to handle a team and multiple projects at a time.
Cosmetologist
After you’ve earned your high school diploma or GED, becoming an Esthetician is within reach. It is key that you become knowledgeable about the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art. A career in cosmetology is very popular in Pennsylvania and many students choose this professional track.
Having a degree from a top beauty school will only help build your resume. Something also to consider while in school or if you just graduated is to get an internship or enter an assistant program. That will help give you the real-world experience needed to get the better jobs in the industry.
You can become a cosmetologist by attending a certificate or associate degree program at one of Pennsylvania’s beauty academies that may take one or two years to complete. After you earned your degree from an accredited cosmetology or beauty school, you can pursue a wide variety of cosmetology careers. When you are in doubt, take a free career aptitude test to learn if this profession is right for you.
These positions include Barber; Hair Stylist; Cosmetologist; Hair Color Specialist; Esthetician, Manicurist; Nail Care Artists; Salon Manager or Owner, Sales Representative for Manufacturers or Distributors; Makeup Artist; Fashion Show Stylist, and so on.
Dental Hygienist
Dental Hygienists provide preventive oral healthcare. They clean teeth by removing tartar and plaque build-up using techniques learned in Dental Hygienist programs. Their responsibilities also include taking x-rays of the clients’ teeth, apply fluoride, and depending on the state provide patients local anesthesia.
Because Dental Hygienists typically only see their patients once to twice a year for check-ups their most important responsibility is to teach patients proper dental hygiene habits. Most Dental Hygienist programs take 4 years to obtain a bachelor’s degree.
A Dental Hygienist is not only responsible for cleaning teeth, but they also detect signs of oral disease and provide preventative care and education. They also may be responsible for applying dental sealants, prophylaxis, and topical fluorides. Dental Hygienists also assist dentists or other medical professionals.
Once accepted into a Dental Hygienist program, you will be trained and educated in Dental Hygiene courses such as radiography, oral anatomy, and pharmacology. When you have completed Dental Hygienist school, you will need to take the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania licensing exam.
Medical Equipment Technician
Medical equipment technicians or BMETs (biomedical equipment technicians) are installing, maintaining, and repairing medical patient-care equipment. They test and calibrate (parts of) equipment and, when needed, repair and/or replace the equipment or parts.
Most employers are looking for candidates who completed post-secondary education and hold an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering. Many technical colleges provide programs in this field as well as certificate programs for further specialization.
To ensure that readings of sophisticated medical equipment are complete and accurate, medical equipment techs perform periodical routine checks and maintenance to make sure that, for example, CAT scanners or X-ray devices function properly. To keep up to par with new techniques and technological developments, they regularly need to attend continuing training courses.
They also maintain and repair various types of operating tables or electric wheelchairs, and perform maintenance and repair jobs on medical equipment used by eye doctors or dentists. In case a machine or a piece of equipment is not working properly or is damaged, the BMET will assess the problem and he may need to adjust or replace certain hydraulic or mechanical parts. Sometimes, the software needs to be adjusted or reset to be able to optimize the equipment.
Medical equipment repairers usually can be found working in healthcare-related settings such as hospitals, elderly homes, doctor’s offices, dentists’ clinics, opticians’ offices, and at various healthcare centers. Some of these professionals are employed by the equipment manufacturing industry, but most are working for wholesale suppliers.
Culinary Chef
Getting into the field of gastronomy is a popular professional direction for many students in Pennsylvania. To become a Culinary Chef, you must have professional culinary training. The world of gastronomy offers a great variety of opportunities for aspiring chefs. But mind you, being a culinary chef may, at times, be pretty dangerous and physically demanding.
Chefs are working with sharp tools and heat, and they’re spending lots of time on their feet in a fast-paced, stressful, high-pressure setting. They also typically work long hours in the evening and on weekends and holidays, but the profession is highly popular.
The best way to put your self on track to become a professional chef is to be educated in the culinary arts. By attending culinary college you will be able to learn different kitchen techniques, hygiene and sanitation need in the kitchen, as well as kitchen management.
In culinary school, you will be exposed to different types of cuisines and preparation techniques that will allow you to become a successful chef. Don’t be just a cook, be the one who has mastered culinary art forms, and provide creative input into the menu and presentations, become a top chef!
Besides Chefs training, provide culinary schools also majors in baking and pastry arts, professional cooking, kitchen management, and beverage management. Culinary schools will be able to help you find something that suits your interests.
If the culinary arts are your passion and you just received your degree from culinary school there are many different career choices for you: Executive Chef; Sous Chef; Pastry Chef; Personal Chef; Research Chef; Hotel & Resort Management; Restaurant & Food Service Management.
Acupuncturist
Acupuncturists insert needles in specific locations on the body to properly distribute the energy force throughout the body. The insertion of the needles usually will create a warming sensation, known as tapping into the Qi. According to Chinese medicine, Qi is the energy that flows throughout the body and helps regulate the body’s functions.
The needles are used to help clear the path in which the Qi might be blocked allowing proper energy flow to resume to that portion of the body. If you want to become an acupuncturist in Pennsylvania, you will need to attend a school for acupuncture. Quite a few people decide later in their careers to switch to acupuncture as they don’t want to stay in their chosen profession. A wise decision.
After graduating from acupuncture school most states will require you to take and pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) examination to become a Licensed Acupuncturist. School training usually lasts anywhere from 2 to 4 years. Courses of study range from biology, anatomy, and physiology.
Acupuncture is a medical technique that uses needles inserted into the skin of the body as a form of treatment for a wide variety of medical purposes. It is used to aid in pain relief, to promote healthy living, to support infertility treatments, and to assist in therapeutic practices. Acupuncture originated in Asia as a form of Chinese and Japanese medicine.
Before they perform their services, acupuncturists will learn and evaluate a client’s wishes and needs, to be able to come up with a treatment plan that is in line with all applicable laws and regulations. They must have strong people skills to be able to interact well with their clients and to resolve all possible concerns. Some acupuncturists are self-employed and run their own small business offices, while others work in healthcare facilities.
Photographer
Photographers (specifically portrait photographers) are not required to have a post-secondary degree, but photojournalists, news photographers, and scientific and industrial photographers typically are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in professional photography or a related field.
Many photographers take additional classes because most employers are not only looking for creative candidates who have ‘a good eye’, they also are seeking applicants who have well-developed technical knowledge, and a good understanding of photography-related computer software programs.
Today, there are quite a few junior colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade or vocational-technical schools that provide courses in professional photography. Photography instruction usually covers topics such as processes, equipment, and techniques, and there are also a few art schools that provide courses in photographic composition and design.
If a photographer wants to be a scientific photographer, for example, holding a college degree in medicine or biology or chemistry can be useful. Self-employed photographers may additionally benefit from marketing, business, or accounting courses. Often, photographers start out assistants to professional photographers, and this allows them to get experienced, to get in touch with prospective clientele, and to work on their portfolios.
The digital revolution has changed the world of photography, and now the majority of photographers are using digital cameras that capture images in an electronic way, and photographers consequently are able to edit the images on a computer.
They can store their images on a portable memory device (for example on flash drives, memory cards, or disks), and when they transfer the raw material to a computer, they may use processing software to modify the images and adjust or improve them by using a variety of special effects such as color correction.
Photographers nowadays are using computers, editing software, and high-quality processing machines and printing equipment. In the world of commercial photography, photographers usually present their photographs digitally to their clients, but in the world of photography for non-commercial clients, such as portrait and wedding photographers, they often present their photographs in albums, and provide framing services as well.
Psychologist
Over the last few years, an increasing number of students choose psychology as their major. The professional psychology arena is vast, and when you have completed your education in college or university and are a psychologist, your work will depend mainly on your theoretical orientation, your specialization, and the people you serve.
Psychologists are seeking to understand and explain human behavior, thoughts, feelings, and emotions. They study cognitive, social, emotional processes, and human behavior through observing, recording, and interpreting in what way people are relating to each other and their environment.
Usually, psychologists hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology. The majority of Psychology Master’s degree programs do not require students to have an undergraduate degree in psychology but want applicants to take prerequisite courses such as introductory psychology, statistics, and experimental psychology.
There are also a number of universities and colleges in Pennsylvania that offer doctoral degree programs for students holding a master’s degree in psychology, while other programs accept candidates who hold a bachelor’s degree and a major in psychology.
Early Childhood Teacher
Today, becoming an early childhood teacher has become the desire of more and more students. Teachers can help children to get big in life. To help children in every way, it is vital for teachers to have a grip on the basic teaching concepts. In case you are looking to start a career in teaching, then it is a good idea to acquire an early childhood education degree.
Early childhood education is all about teaching and helping children to grow. It is about making children aware of the fact that they can discover things on their own. As early childhood education is for children under the age of 6, so, the ways of teachings should be different.
In this situation, children are taught while keeping the fun-factor intact. To stimulate their interest, different types of games are used. So, creativity can also be considered as an important feature to check in a teacher. Also if you hold a GED, you can get into college and earn an Early Education degree and work toward a steady career.
To become an Early Childhood Educator, you can obtain associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees in early childhood education at a community college or through an accredited program offered by 4-year colleges and universities. You will be trained in concepts that are directly related to a child’s development. The basic emphasis is to improve the chances for a child to get successful in school.
Personal Trainer
More and more people choose a personal trainer to get or stay in shape. Personal trainers are in the business of helping their clients in becoming healthier persons. To become a Personal Trainer, you need to be patient and have the ability to motivate and inspire people.
Often, persons who don’t know what they should do in a gym, hire their personal trainer in order to guide them properly at workouts and to support them in their efforts to reach their fitness goals. Many health clubs require potential personal trainers to have certification credentials, but those who have advanced certifications or degrees are preferred.
Learning how to deal with different body types and different personalities is an essential element for being a successful personal trainer. Additionally, well-developed overall knowledge about exercise and nutrition are key elements to be successful at the job, and exercise and science play a collective role in being a successful personal trainer.
You need to complete a personal trainer program at a trade or vocational school or community college. The course will prepare you for a successful career. Good schools will educate you perfectly well in all facets of personal training. Their programs will cover elements such as the best way to discuss fitness goals with specific clients and how to motivate them properly.
You will learn various nutrition options and how best to deal with special conditions, such as bringing patients back in shape after a stroke or heart attack. You will learn to make programs for individuals, for example, asthma, injuries, osteoporosis, eating disorders. or cancers. You will be taught names and locations of all bones and muscle groups in the human body, and you will gain knowledge of required insurance coverage and all sorts of legalities.