How to Ask your Employer for a Raise

Asking for a raise can be stressful. Being prepared will help you to focus on what you want. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to ask your employer for a raise.
Be Realistic:
What are people doing your job getting paid? If you have a good idea of what those in your industry are being paid, you can make a fair assessment of what your salary should be. Keep in mind that a $60,000 salary being paid to someone in Toronto is very different from a $60,000 salary being paid to someone in Nova Scotia. Salary scales and rates vary from area to area and you might not make as much if you live in a smaller area. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
Do You Deserve a Raise?
Of course, we all feel like we're worth a lot, but simply working at the same rate of pay for a certain amount of time doesn't necessarily mean you deserve a raise. Just showing up for work and doing what's required of you doesn't necessarily entitle you to ask for a raise. Make a list of your accomplishments and why you deserve a raise. It will go a long way to justifying your request if you can concretely show your boss why you are valuable to the company.
Decide What You Want:
Are you looking for a certain percent wage increase? Decide what rate you'd like, and be prepared to negotiate. Conventional negotiations usually suggest that you start with a little more than you want, then be prepared to accept a little less. Though it's tempting to ask for a lot initially, be careful because you risk being turned down altogether.
If your company isn't prepared to pay you what you want, have a back-up plan that includes either no wage increase or a smaller wage increase, plus more vacation time, paid days off, or other perks. This is a good plan that might get you a little bit of what you want, especially if you know your boss is going to say he cannot afford to pay you any more money.
Pick The Right Time:
Scheduling a meeting with your boss right after a budget restraint seminar is probably not the best time. Pick a time when you know your boss will be relaxed and in a good mood. Make sure there aren't any stressful situations occurring at the office at the time you want to ask for a raise. Pick a time that's opportune for you too, such as after you've just successfully completed a big project, or during a favorable employee review.
Make Your Case:
Present your case professionally and with confidence. Don't let it get personal by telling your boss what you need the money for. It's not your boss's problem that you need more money. Never get angry or present ultimatums to your boss. Instead, prepare your case. Have all the documentation you need to back-up your request. Focus on your own achievements. Don't worry about what others in your office are getting paid. Be clear about what you want and be prepared to substantiate your claims of being a valuable employee with hard facts. If you're in sales, show your employer that you've met or exceeded your quotas. If you're in the service industry, present your boss with favorable customer reviews or examples of how you went beyond your job description to help a client.
Follow-Up:
If you don't get what you want initially, ask for suggestions from your employer as to what they could provide you with instead.

If your boss decides to review your case and delays a decision, suggest a time frame for meeting again. This will help keep your request in the forefront of your boss's mind, and your boss will know that eventually, your request will have to be addressed and resolved. 

Retracting a Resignation

You've handed in your letter of resignation to your employer but for whatever reason, you find yourself needing to retract your resignation. Here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Are You Certain?
There are some good reasons to remain in your current job and there are some that could have a negative impact on your career. By all means, if you change your mind about leaving your job and you really want to stay, that's up to you. Keep in mind that your loyalty to your present employer has been questioned and that your work environment has been altered by you submitting a letter of resignation. It might take some time to regain the trust of those around you, including your employer.
If you feel that your employer has pressured you into retracting your letter of resignation, trying to buy time until they can hire someone else, consider the impact that can have on your career. It puts your own job search on hold. Ensure you make the decision for yourself in a way that benefits you.
If your employer has promised you increased pay, benefits, or other goodies to convince you to retract your letter of resignation, make sure these are in writing and concrete. Hold your employer to his or her promises.
Going Ahead:
If you do decide to retract your resignation, make sure you do it in writing. Just as your letter of resignation was important, so is the letter letting your employer know you wish to retract it. Make sure it is professional, to the point, and accurate. Let your employer know that you wish to retract your letter of resignation and why. Reasons can include such things as you've simply changed your mind, you've discussed it with your employer and you've agreed on increased responsibility, promotion, increase in pay, etc.
Remember to keep your letter professional and free of negativity. Along with your resignation letter, this will likely remain in your employment file.
The first paragraph of your retraction of resignation letter should state clearly that you are rescinding or retracting your resignation letter that you submitted.
The second paragraph should deal with why you are retracting your resignation. If you are staying because of improvements to your work environment such as pay increase, make sure you state the terms you and your employer have agreed upon.
End your letter by letting your employer know that you appreciate the opportunity XYZ Company has given you and that you wish to continue to contribute to the company's success in the future, or some variation of this. Ending positively is a good way to stress your desire to stay with the company.
Remember though, that depending on legal circumstances and company policy, your employer may not need to accept your retraction of resignation and you may be forced to live with your original decision to leave your job. 

How To Get A Job Promotion?

You love your job but you want more. Deciding where to start can be a challenge. Here are some tips and suggestions on what it takes to get a promotion.

Decide What Your Career Goals Are:

It's easy to get side tracked if you don't have clear goals. Planning where you'd like to be in your career allows you to think ahead and see what path you'll need to take to accomplish your goals. Giving yourself a time frame to accomplish certain goals is a great motivator. By having realistic goals, you also make sure you don't put too much pressure on yourself. Decide where you'd like to be in the next six months, one year, etc. and figure out what it will take for you to get there.

Network:

Seek out opportunities to make a good impression on your superiors. By staying in touch with those in your work environment, you'll also gain valuable access to information about upcoming promotions, trends in your industry, and growth within the company. By networking, you'll also find out who has the power to make promotion decisions.

Work Hard:

It's no secret that working hard is definitely one of the ways to get a promotion. Consider taking on extra projects that no one wants. Take an active leadership role that lets you shine and shows your superiors that you can deal with extra responsibility. Learn about the company you work at and the industry you are involved in so that you can contribute more to your work environment. You'll not only gain valuable experience by learning new things, but you'll have the opportunity to get your hard work noticed.

Communicate:

Let your superiors know of your career goals. Often, they are aware of opportunities before anyone else. By gaining their support in your career goals, they can help you achieve them. Encourage them to give you extra projects or tasks that will help you work towards your goal. Ask them what it takes to achieve the promotion you are looking for and work at acquiring those skills.

Communication isn't only verbal. Show you can do the job you want by dressing and acting the part. Having the right attitude will also get you a long way towards your goals.

Ask For The Promotion:

If you never ask, you'll never know. Depending on your company's policies, promotions may come as a result of internal reviews. When your review comes, make sure you are prepared and have documented all the achievements, improvements, and extra work you've done. You'll be in a better position to ask and receive t

Search Jobs Form Your Android Mobile Phone with Hire-A-Droid

Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the future, the job market, and what opportunities exist today given all of the economic, social and business changes throughout the world. Old powerhouse industries of “industrialized” countries of the Western World all seem to be gravitating to countries with a lower cost workforce and fewer regulations.

At the same time, the globalization of almost every major industry, combined with the overwhelming adoption and integration of the Internet throughout almost all markets, is creating more and more unique opportunities that never existed even a decade ago. In other words, the world is changing around you, and unless you’re proactive and take the bull by the horns – the opportunities this “new world” presents will pass you by. One of the easiest ways to identify and capture new opportunities is by staying on top of the job market for your skills and professional experience.

Here at MUO, we’ve covered some of the most popular online resources for job hunting. The problem with using the Internet for job hunting is that you’re usually blocked (or discouraged) from doing this kind of activity from where you work during the day, and you may not have the time to job search when you’re home. One solution is to take advantage of mobile job search tools so that you can hunt for new job opportunities while you’re riding the subway or the bus, or you’re sitting in the waiting room.

Conduct an Android Job Search

After numerous unpaid furloughs and forced “vacation management,” I started exploring the job market to see how much things have changed over the past decade or so. Not only did I discover new exciting opportunities, but thanks to the explosion of the Internet, but I also discovered an awesome mobile tool on the Android Market for job hunting called Hire A Droid.

This is quite the little powerhouse, because it hunts through multiple job search engines and returns all of the results to you to review and apply for. The search screen is very intuitive and even offers operator buttons like “AND”, “OR” and “NOT” to aid you in stringing together effective search queries.  You can choose from any one of 18 countries to perform your search.

Best of all, this job search app lets you save your previous search queries so that if you search for the same keywords every day (as most people do), this feature will let you conduct the same search with a single click.

The search listings that Hire A Droid turns up is pretty comprehensive, coming from major job search resources like LinkUp, SimplyHired, Indeed and CareerBuilder. When you want to save time by hunting for jobs across a wide range of sources, this is the app that you’ll want. Where other mobile job search apps turn up no results, Hire A Droid will often turn up listings.

Almost every search I tried turned up at least some listings, and a lot depends on the area that you’re searching as well. Within each listing you’ll see the job title, date posted, the company name and the location. If you want some more details, just click once 0n any of the job ads and it’ll drop down with more information.

When you click on any of the extended details, you’ll end up on the application page for that employer. This page may look different for every job listing. You’ll typically always see a detailed review of the position. Additionally you’ll usually have several application options available. For example, in one case I found an ad that lets you email the listing to yourself or to a friend, or you have the opportunity to instantly submit your resume for the job.

In another listing, I was whisked to a page that looked pretty much like the employer website, but contained within the Hire-A-Droid app. Even in this case, there was the option to either apply immediately while online, or email the listing. In most cases you will probably want to just email the listing to yourself so that you can apply once you’re home and back at your computer.

Obviously, Hire A Droid is easily the best choice of any available mobile job search app in the Android market because it covers so many job search engines at once. Many people swear by their favorite job search engine, but if you use Hire-A-Droid where you can search them all, you’ve got all of your bases covered.

Do you know of any other useful mobile job search apps? If you use any, do you apply straight from the phone or wait until you’re home and on your computer? Share your insight and experiences in the comments section below.

by makeuseof

Most Dangerous Jobs in the World

Skyscraper Windows Cleaners

You need nerves of steel to be a window cleaner in Dubai. When this worker spotted a mark on an apartment window, he just had to pop out to give the glass a quick wipe with a squeegee. Nothing odd about that – except that the apartment was located 400ft up on the 34th floor of a tower block in Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. He stepped out on to the narrow ledge and, holding the frame, stretched across to wipe away the annoying smudge. As he takes his life into his hands, at least he has the sense to hold on to the window frame, even if it is by his fingertips, as he goes about his task. He was snapped making sure the windows were sparkling by a resident in a neighbouring apartment block. He didn't have a safety harnesses or cradles and helmets. He had nothing. When it comes to safety among its massive immigrant workforce, the Dubai authorities have a dubious record. Conditions in which immigrants are expected to work have been a subject of discussion in the United Arab Emirates for many years. Yet the majority of these employees have no voice, especially when it comes to their own safety. They are also aware that, if they are deported, there are thousands of others willing to take their place.

Helicopter Linemen

The first time you see these guys over the power lines you may think it's fake. But linemen who work from helicopters are for real and they are considered a highly specialized area of line work; few linemen have the special training to perform it. Incredible as it seems, live high voltage transmission lines can be worked barehanded. The lineman must be isolated from the ground by using an insulated bucket truck or other method. The lineman wears special conductive clothing which is connected to the live power line, at which point the line and the lineman are at the same potential, allowing the lineman to handle the wire safely.
Live wire work is extremely common on low voltage distribution systems within the UK as all linesmen are trained to work 'live'. Live wire work on high voltage distribution systems within the UK is carried out by specialist teams. These teams are sometimes referred to as 'Hot Glove' teams.

Crocodile Wrestlers

The daily grind at the office may not seem so bad after viewing these startling images.
For, no matter how grumpy your boss may be this morning, at least you aren't actually risking life and limb by sticking your head in his jaws.
But that is exactly what the crocodile wrestlers at a Thai zoo do on a daily basis. The men at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo perform what may well be the world's most dangerous job. The wranglers have been performing the stunts at the zoo on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand, since it was set up in 1985. During the hour-long shows they stick their head between the jaws of some of the zoo's biggest crocs, in the style of Krai Thong, a legendary Thai crocodile hunter. 

Lion Trainers

Newlyweds from Montana, celebrating in Las Vegas were checking out the lion enclosure at the MGM Grand Hotel when they videotaped these images. The man was videotaping the male and female lions and their two trainers when all of a sudden the male took exception at something that was going on and made a lunge. A struggle ensued and a female also decided to join the fray but the trainer managed to break free with the help of his colleague and made a hasty escape from the enclosure with the male still appearing extremely agitated. There is no evidence of any blood being spilled, but the trainer is evidently in great pain during the attack. Soundproof glass muffled any noise, however. Jack Hanna appeared on GMA and he said the attack would be considered mild. The trainer was lucky it was the male getting over-excited as females launch much more devastating attacks. 

Miners

Gilberto Angulos does not need to say a word to tell the tale of working 30 years in Chile's mines. His broken body does all the talking for him. A jagged scar runs down his forehead. A metal plate keeps his fractured left forearm together. A bone never properly set juts from his left shoulder. The injuries are the remnants of a mine explosion that nearly killed him. In 2003, Angulos was driving excavation equipment in a large copper mine when he felt a rush of air. Instead of being killed, Angulos was taken 1,300 miles (2,092 km) south to Santiago, where he spent a year in the hospital. The damage to the miner was permanent. Now the San Jose mine collapse and got trapped 33 men in Chile. The owner and operator of that mine, the San Esteban  Mining Co., did not complete promised improvements to the mine where the men were trapped for 70 days, 2,300 feet (701 meters) underground. Many of the 33 trapped miners and their peers had had numerous brushes with death in the depths of a mine. Mario Gomez had two fingers sliced off by falling rocks. Victor Segovia spent a year recovering after a rock slammed into his back. Franklin Lobos was trapped for three hours during a previous cave-in. Hector Avila worked 20 years in the mines and became close friends with several of the recently-trapped miners when he worked with them at the San Jose mine. A geologist was killed in the same 2007 accident, prompting the closure of the San Jose mine. But the mine was reopened soon after.
Since 2000, 374 miners have died practicing their trade in Chile, according to government statistics. That seems like a fun job, doesn't it? 

Target Girls

Target girl is a term sometimes used in circus and vaudeville to denote a female assistant in "impalement" acts such as knife throwing, archery or sharpshooting. The assistant stands in front of a target board or is strapped to a moving board and the impalement artist throws knives or shoots projectiles so as to hit the board but miss the assistant. The presence of an assistant as a human target provides a powerful element of risk. Without assistants placing themselves in danger these acts would be simple demonstrations of accuracy, but with the potential for injury or death the show is much more dramatic. Where can I apply? 

Loggers

Logging takes an annual toll like few other occupations. The biggest hazard, according to Roger Smith of RL Logging in Olympia, Wash., comes from logging mountain slopes. "You're working steep terrain with 70-degree, 80-degree grades with rocks and sliding logs," he says. About half the time, he's taking down 60- to 70-year-old trees with trunk diameters of 30 inches or more. If not felled correctly, these can go crashing down slopes, rolling over anyone in their paths. The old forest canopies often have those snags, which are big dead branches that break off and can fall erratically when the tree comes down. Loggers call them "widow makers." Even after the trees are cut, the job of loading them can be tough. "Somebody just got killed here recently," he says. "He was running a harvester and one of the teeth of the chain broke off and went right through the bulletproof glass window of his cab." 

Fishermen

129 deaths per 100,000 people employed in the industry and 61 injuries per 100,000 for 2008, makes working in the Fishing Industry the number one most dangerous job in the world. A Cable TV show, Deadliest Catch, on the Discovery Network, shows real crab fishers in the Bering Sea. They make a living working many hours a day, 7 days a week, often in the dark, without a break for long stretches of time. They must perform the catch within the window of opportunity, or lose their income for the year. Freezing water and icy boat decks can lead to horrific accidents, and storms can swamp small fishing vessels, sometimes claiming entire crews. 

Deminers

Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing either land mines, or naval mines, from an area. Manual demining is still the best system currently in use because it has been proven that the current generation of mine clearance machines can only clear up to an 80 percent certainty at best, whereas manual demining can give a 99.6 percent certainty. But this work can be very dangerous. Demining resulted in at least 500 deaths from 1996 to 2002. 

Construction Worker

These are the people you see hoisting those giant steel beams to create the structural framework of office buildings and other large projects. The United Steelworkers union claims that deaths among structural construction workers are increasing as owners and managers try to cut costs. The most common cause of death among them, according to the BLS, is falling.

Five things to consider before starting your own businees

Getting free from dominating bosses and the possibility to make your own decisions is one of the lures of starting your own business. As attractive as it looks, not everyone is suited for self-employment. Before you go ahead with any plan to start a business it is important to take a close look at yourself and ask yourself some important questions.

1. Do you have enough start-up capital and a back-up income?

It takes money to make money, even if it is only a home business. Make sure that you have enough funds to equip yourself and begin marketing before taking the plunge. Also, don't expect to make a lot of money in the early stages of your business. You will need to set aside enough money to provide for you and your family during the initial start-up period for your business. Consult with other similar businesses and find out how long it took them to become viable.

2. Are you a self-moving person?

This is the key quality that separates an employee from and entrepreneur. If you need to wait around and be told what to do, then you would find it easier to get a job with a company rather than to launch your own business. On the other hand, if you are able to think of an idea and carry it out without prodding from someone else, then you may be able to succeed in your own business.

3. Are you willing to work more than a standard 9-5 day?

When you work for someone else you are contracted to work a certain schedule. At the end of the day, you can often able to just forget about the job, go home and relax. When you have your own business you carry a load of responsibility on your shoulders and you will often end up working longer hours than a normal salaried employee. If you like what you are doing and if your business is financially rewarding then you may not mind putting in a lot of extra hours and working when other people are resting. Once again, there is no "right" or "wrong" here. It is just a question of looking deeply at yourself and finding out what you are best cut out to do.

4. Is your family ready to back you up?

You may have a great idea for your own business, but before you begin you have to see if your family is ready to support your ideas. If you start your own business there may be an element of risk and an increased demand on your time. Owning your own business and having a lot of responsibility can also be very stressful. It is crucial that your closest loved one, the ones who share your life, also share your vision and will provide the emotional support and understanding that you need in order to be successful.

5. Are you passionate about the business that you want to set up?

In order to be successful in your own enterprise you will have to be self-moving and you may have to work harder than an employee in someone else's firm. If you do not really like what you are doing you will find it hard to get the inspiration and drive that is required for such a task. Choose an activity that you know something about and choose an activity that you enjoy doing. The ideal business would be one where you have some prior knowledge and something which you enjoy doing.

One thing to remember, there is nothing wrong with being an employee and working for someone else. There are a lot of advantages in terms of job security, steady income, standard hours and other benefits. It is just a question of looking at your total situation and making the right choice. On the other hand, if you do possess the qualities of an entrepreneur and really have a good idea backed by adequate capital and expertise, then starting your own business may be the best thing you will ever do. 

"The entrepreneur in us sees opportunities everywhere we look, but many people see only problems everywhere they look. The entrepreneur in us is more concerned with discriminating between opportunities than he or she is with failing to see the opportunities." Michael Gerber Quote

 by David Bon

Hot Careers for Accountant/Auditor, Financial Examiner, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Registered Nurse, Computer Software Engineer/Applications through 2018 and Beyond

Are you ready to learn about some of the hottest careers? Check out these hot job opportunities through 2018 and beyond... then see how you can get started.

Hot Career #1: Accountant/Auditor

Accountants keep finances in order by taking care of things like overseeing cash flow and filing tax paperwork. Auditors analyze finances to ensure everything is being done according to the law.

Hot factors:

• There were 1.3 million accountant and auditor jobs in 2008...
• And the Department of Labor projects about 279,400 new positions to be added through 2018.
• Changing financial laws, evolving regulations, and more detailed scrutiny of company finances mean fast job growth for accountants.

Training options:
Bachelor's degree in accounting
Bachelor's degree in finance

Median salary: $59,430

Hot Career #2: Medical Assistant

As a medical assistant in the growing health care field, you'll work to keep a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office running smoothly by keeping records and/or taking patients' vital signs.

Hot factors:

• Medical assistants held a whopping 483,600 jobs in 2008, and that number is projected to grow...
• In fact, medical assisting is one of the fastest growing jobs out there. The Department of Labor projects a 34 percent growth rate from 2008-2018.
• More health care facilities are employing people who can do administrative as well as clinical work, which means more opportunities for medical assistants with the right training.

Training options:
Associate's degree in medical assisting
Medical assistant certificate program

Median salary: $28,300

Hot Career #3: Financial Examiner

As a financial examiner, you'll make sure that businesses follow financial laws and regulations. After recent financial scandals, there's lots of demand for workers who can help keep organizations finances in order and follow current regulations.

Why it's hot:

• This job should grow much faster than average (41 percent more job openings) over the next few years.
• Businesses are increasingly aware of the need to follow financial regulations.
• More government oversight of the financial sector means more jobs.

Training options:
Bachelor's degree in accounting

Median salary: $70,930

Hot Career #4: Dental Assistant

Dental assistants should find lots of opportunities in this growing field to help patients care for their teeth and help the dentist with paperwork and equipment.

Why it's hot:

• This in an in-demand job with 36 percent more openings predicted.
• Population growth and increasing dental health for older people will drive the need for dental workers.
• Dental patients are demanding flexible hours, so evening and weekend appointments mean more assistants will be needed.

Training options:
Associate's degree in dental assisting
Dental assistant certificate

Median salary: $32,380

Hot Career #5: Physical Therapist Assistant

If you want a stable career with rewarding work, this may be just the right fit for you. Assistants help patients recover after an injury or illness. They work directly with patients and perform support tasks like record-keeping.

Why it's hot:

• As the baby boomers age, there will be more demand for physical therapy to recover from illness and injury.
• Insurance companies are starting to cover more procedures, so more workers will be needed.
• In fact, the Department of Labor expects to see fast growth in job openings for this position.

Training options:
Associate's degree in physical therapy
Physical therapy certificate

Salary: $46,140

Hot Career #6: Registered Nurse

Working in hospitals, clinics, and doctor's offices to keep patients healthy and treat illnesses and injuries is a job that's lucrative and fulfilling.

Why it's hot:

• More emphasis on preventive care and aging baby boomers will drive demand.
• Health care reform means more people will be insured, so more nurses will be needed.
• Half a million new nurses will be needed by 2018.

Training options:
Associate's degree in nursing
Bachelor's degree in nursing
Nursing diploma

Median salary: $62,450

Hot Career #7: Computer Software Engineer, Applications

Designing and creating programs to run on digital devices - from laptops to cell phones - is a booming business. This field is expecting even further growth, especially in the mobile arena.

Hot factors:

• It's one of the fastest growing careers... and with technology continually evolving, that's no surprise.
• The Department of Labor predicts a 34 percent increase in jobs between 2008 and 2018.
• They number of new jobs to be created: 175,100.

Training options:
Bachelor's degree in computer programming
Bachelor's degree in computer engineering

Median salary: $85,430

All salary data is from the U.S. Department of Labor, May 2008.

By Yahoo

Jobs for People Who Don't Like People

If you don't like working with others, you just may love one of these jobs. Do you work better in a team of one? Do you despise water cooler small-talk? Are you... an introvert?

On Fox's hit show House, Hugh Laurie's character loves to diagnose diseases but hates the patients who have them. Although it makes for good television, becoming a doctor probably isn't an ideal career move for people who don't like people.

But there are plenty of other jobs that are better geared for those who hate to socialize. Check out these careers that let you get the job done while keeping social interaction to a minimum.

Accountant

While just about any job will require some amount of face-time with co-workers and clients, accountants find themselves diving into a spreadsheet more often than reaching for a cell phone. With plenty of financial data and tax information to digest, chit-chat time is at a minimum.

Related Degrees:
Accounting/Finance
Business Administration
MBA

Good News: The U.S Department of Labor predicts a 22 percent increase in job opportunities for accountants and auditors through 2018.

Average Salary for Accountants/Auditors: $59,430

Computer Programmer

It's not uncommon to see computer programmers listening to music while coding. Telecommuting is also an option at some companies. If you can write the code (which isn't easy) many tech managers will be happy to leave you alone.

Related Degrees:
Programming & Software
Computer Science
IT & Information Systems

Good News: Job opportunities are expected to soar 22 percent for computer programmers and software engineers through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Average Salary for Computer Programmers: $69,620

Writer

Writing is a solitary process. The ability to block out distractions and stay focused is essential in this career. Marketing is one industry where writers and copywriters are in demand.

Related Degrees:
Marketing/Communications
English/Creative Writing

Good News: The Department of Labor expects salaried writing positions to increase as the economy strengthens. Online media outlets are driving many of these writing opportunities.

Average Salary for Writers/Authors: $53,070

Forensic Science Technician

Although crime scene investigators have to deal with people, it's often just dealing with their hair, tissue, or DNA samples. When not collecting evidence, working in a laboratory setting is most common for forensic scientists.

Related Degrees:
Forensics/Crime Scene
Criminal Justice
Police & Law Enforcement

Good News: Jobs for forensic science technicians are expected to grow 20 percent through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Average Pay for Forensic Science Technicians: $23.97/hour

Budget Analyst

Similar to accountants, budget analysts help organizations increase profits by improving efficiency. But the bulk of their time is spent working independently while compiling and crunching numbers.

Related Degrees:
Operations/Six Sigma
Accounting/Finance
E-Business/E-Commerce

Good News: Thanks largely to consulting opportunities, budget analysts will enjoy a 15 percent increase in jobs through 2018, according to the Department of Labor.

Average Salary for Budget Analysts: $65,320

Medical Transcriptionist

Petty office politics and gossip don't easily reach the ears of medical transcriptionists, who wear headphones while transcribing dictated recordings from doctors and other health care pros. A no-nonsense, buttoned-up approach can help since you'll be editing reports for grammar and clarity. Many MT's work at home or off-site from their clients.

Related Degrees:
Medical Transcription
Medical Billing & Coding
Medical Assisting

Good News: Independent contractors are common in this career, with many working from home.

Average Pay for Medical Transcriptionists: $15.41/hour

Actuary

Risk assessment is the name of the game for actuaries, who spend their days analyzing the habits of people and companies. Instead of talking with people, though, their work is based on statistics.

Related Degrees:
Accounting/Finance
MBA
Operations/Six Sigma

Good News: Employment of actuaries is expected to jump 21 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Average Salary for Actuaries: $84,810

By Chris Kyle