What's Important to You in a Career Path?

CHOOSE A CAREER

What matters to you most in a career? Click on a quality below to see some career paths that might be a match for you.

ADVANCEMENT

Are opportunities to get ahead important to you? Check out these careers.

CREDIT ANALYST	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $48,800. OUTLOOK: 13,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree or higher. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to follow set procedures and routines, attention to detail.	NOTE: Credit analysts are used to family members seeking them out for a wide range of banking advice, says Deborah Young, a credit-analyst manager in Appleton, Wis., at Marshall & Ilsley Bank, a commercial bank. "They ask for CD rates, mortgage rates, and they even ask if you can balance their check books," she says.
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

LOAN OFFICER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $49,180. OUTLOOK: 71,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree in finance, economics or related field. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Initiative, confidence, ability to build relationships, willingness to attend community events as an employer's representative to the public.	NOTE: Loan officers speak in acronyms. Newcomers must learn 287, says Karen Deis, president of LoanOfficerTraining.com, a training firm in Hudson, Wis. For example, a home-loan application form is a "1003" and a closing statement is a "HUD 1." "If someone were to walk into the business and hear all the form numbers, program numbers and acronyms, they'd be totally lost," she says. • Mortgage Bankers Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

INSURANCE ADJUSTER, EXAMINER AND INVESTIGATOR	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $46,060. OUTLOOK: 69,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: College degree preferred; licensing and continuing-education requirements vary by state. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ingenuity, persistence, assertiveness, ability to manage confrontations, a valid driver's license.	NOTE: Claims adjusters need to gain people's confidence quickly, often within the first 10 minutes of first meeting them, says Peter Schifrin, vice president of Schifrin, Gagnon & Dickey Inc., a claims adjustment firm in Los Angeles. "Being a claims adjuster is like going on blind dates every day," he says. • Read the article: "Adjusting to Disaster Is Part a Day's Work." • American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and the Insurance Institute of America
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

AUTONOMY

Is control over what you do and how you do it important to you? Check out these careers.

CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST	INCOME: Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earned $56,360 in median annual wages in 2004.
TRAINING: Independent licensed clinical or counseling psychologists typically must have a doctoral degree. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Emotional stability, maturity, people skills, good communication skills, compassion.	OUTLOOK: 68,000 additional clinical, counseling, and school psychologist employees needed from 2004 to 2014. NOTE: Regardless of what you may have heard in college, psychology majors are no nuttier than the rest of us. A study published in the Journal of General Psychology in 2005 found that students who majored in psychology had the same general levels of psychological well being as other college students. • American Psychological Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

JUDGE, MAGISTRATE JUDGE AND MAGISTRATE	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $97,260. OUTLOOK: 5,000 additional employees needed from 2004 to 2014.
TRAINING: Most judges first work as lawyers, and federal and state judges usually must be lawyers, but about 40 states allow nonlawyers to hold judgeships with limited-jurisdiction. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Integrity, attention to detail and deductive reasoning skills.	NOTE: Don't aspire to be a judge based on what you've seen on TV. "There is absolutely no relationship with the TV judges and what we do," says Joel Rosen, United States Magistrate, United States District Court, New Jersey, and a past president of the Federal Magistrate Judges Association. "They're in the entertainment business. It's totally different in reality." Most judges treat people with more respect and are more thoughtful and quiet, he says.   • Federal Magistrate Judges Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

STATISTICIAN	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $59,960. OUTLOOK: 6,000 additional employees needed from 2004 to 2014.
TRAINING: Master's degree in statistics or mathematics for most jobs. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Strong background in computer science; communication skills.	NOTE: Many statisticians like games of chance, says Janet P. Buckingham, principal analyst at the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. "Statisticians aren't thought of as the gambling type, because we know that the odds are against us," she says. • American Statistical Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY

Is social service important to you? Check out these careers.

PERSONAL AND HOME CARE AIDE	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $17,020. OUTLOOK: 400,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Passing a competency test (if working for employers reimbursed by Medicare, and the federal government suggests at least 75 hours of classroom and practical training, supervised by a nurse). SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Tact, patience, dependability, ability to perform repetitive tasks, desire to help people, good health, ability to pass a criminal-background check.	NOTE: Home-care aides tend to become like family to elderly patients they care for, says Shirley Cohen, executive director of Home Sweet Home Care, a private-duty home-care agency in San Francisco, Redwood City and Walnut Creek, Calif. In some circumstances, she says, "Home-care aides who work with these seniors become more endeared to them than their own families in some circumstances."
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

REGISTERED NURSE	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $53,640. OUTLOOK: 1,203,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's or associate degree, or diploma from an approved nursing program; and passing a national licensing examination. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to stand and walk for long periods, cope with working with health hazards and emotional strain, and adhere to strict guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers.	NOTE: Nurses occasionally must handle situations in which patients leave the hospital without telling anyone, says Deborah Burger, a diabetes case worker and registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, in Santa Rosa, Calif., who is president of the California Nurses Association: "I had a patient that called me from a bar down the street and said he'd be back when the bar closed," she says.   • National League for Nursing • American Association of Colleges of Nursing • American Nurses Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CLERGY	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $37,870. OUTLOOK: 139,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Most have a bachelor's degree or higher. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Listening, oral expression skills; ability to form relationships within a community.	NOTE: Many people know about fire and police-department chaplains and those assigned to units of the armed forces, but fewer know about itinerant postings. The Roman Catholic Church, for example, has a chaplain who travels to circuses to celebrate mass and perform marriages, according to Michael Galloway, president and publisher of Catholic Online. Likewise, there is a priest assigned to carnivals and another for car racing.
Source: Department of Labor.

CREATIVITY

Is creativity important to you? Check out these careers.

SET DESIGNER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $35,890. OUTLOOK: 3,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree at minimum; may require on-the-job training. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Creative thinking; a knack for estimating distances, sizes and quantities.	NOTE: A wide range of knowledge is helpful, says John Felgate, a free-lance production designer in Altadena, Calif. "One week, you could be asked to design an old garage for a commercial, the next week, you could be asked to make oversized cinnamon sticks for a guy in a waffle suit in a cereal commercial," he says. • Read a profile of a set designer: "Behind the Scenes: David Gallo, Scenic Design"
Source: Department of Labor.

CREATIVE WRITER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $45,460. OUTLOOK: 50,000 additional employees between 2004 and 201.
TRAINING: Most have a bachelor's degree, but one isn't required. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to tell a story, convey moods through writing and work without a clear set of rules.	NOTE: Many writers follow rituals before sitting down to write, says novelist Richard McCann, author "Mother of Sorrows" (Pantheon, 2005) and a professor of literature at American University in Washington, D.C. "I once had a writing studio that one entered by walking down three steps, and because I was often afraid before I began my work each day -- afraid of what emotions that I'd find, afraid of what I'd feel about what I was writing -- I would say a phrase for each of the three steps as I entered: 'Down, down, and in,' " he says. "I gave up that studio more than 20 years ago, but I still say that mantra some days before getting to work."
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ART DIRECTOR	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $63,750. OUTLOOK: 24,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: About half of art directors have a bachelor's degree or higher. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: An attention to detail, dependability, creative thinking; originality.	NOTE: One perk of the job is the free samples from big accounts, says Linda Lawyer, president of Linda Lawyer Graphic Design in Beaverton, Ore. "I once had an account with a cheese company, and they sent me 60 pounds of cheddar cheese."
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CUSTOMER CONTACT

Is dealing with outside customers or the public important to you? Check out these careers.

GAMING MANAGER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wages: $59,880. OUTLOOK: 2,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: One or two years' on-the-job training or work with an experienced gaming manager. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Strong leadership and customer-service skills, dealer experience.	NOTE: You may be required to remove cheaters, such as card counters. Casinos are typically open around the clock, seven days a week, and are staffed in three eight-hour shifts. • American Gaming Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

ADVERTISING SALES AGENT	INCOME: 2004 median annual wages: $41,410. Earnings can vary with bonuses and commissions. OUTLOOK: 55,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: On the job; some employers will look for a college degree. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Initiative, persistence, a neat professional appearance.	NOTE: Ad-sales agents must have or develop a thick skin. "Often people think that you are a telemarketer and hang up on you right away," says Marissa Frankel, sales account executive at DC STYLE Magazine in Washington, D.C.
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

POLICE PATROL OFFICER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wages: $45,600. OUTLOOK: 264,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Usually must pass competitive written and physical exams. Police academy can take 12 to 14 weeks. At least a high-school degree is usually required; some departments require college course work. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Integrity, sound judgment, sense of responsibility; must enjoy working with the public.	NOTE: In 2003, 38% of local police departments and 10% of sheriffs departments used police bike patrols on a routine basis, according to the International Police Mountain Bike Association in Baltimore. • International Police Mountain Bike Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

FRIENDLY CO-WORKERS

Is having co-workers who are easy to get along with important to you? Check out these careers.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $61,560. OUTLOOK: 72,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: An accredited physical therapist educational program and licensure exam. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Strong interpersonal skills, compassion, desire to help patients.	NOTE: Many physical therapists get into the business because they are amateur athletes, says Brad Cooper, a physical therapist and writer based in Littleton, Colo. "It's a fit group. I'm a triathlete, and I know a number of therapists who are triathletes and marathon runners." • American Physical Therapy Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $45,370. OUTLOOK: 78,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree preferred. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Listening, speaking skills.	NOTE: Many training-and-development professionals tend to be business-book junkies, says Elaine Biech, president of ebb associates, an organizational-development firm in Norfolk, Va., who is author of "Training for Dummies" (For Dummies, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2005). "You may find them sitting on the floor of a bookstore reading through a stack of books -- preferably in the business section," she says. • Society for Human Resource Management • American Society for Training & Development
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

REGISTERED NURSE	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $53,640. OUTLOOK: 1,203,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's or associate degree, or diploma from an approved nursing program; and passing a national licensing examination. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to stand and walk for long periods, cope with working with health hazards and emotional strain, and adhere to strict guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers.	NOTE: Nurses occasionally must handle situations in which patients leave the hospital without telling anyone, says Deborah Burger, a diabetes case worker and registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, in Santa Rosa, Calif., who is president of the California Nurses Association: "I had a patient that called me from a bar down the street and said he'd be back when the bar closed," she says. • National League for Nursing • American Association of Colleges of Nursing • American Nurses Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

IMPRESSIVE TO OTHERS

Is social status important to you? Check out these careers.

PEDIATRICIAN	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $135,450. OUTLOOK: 212,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Medical degree, additional years of specialized training. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Critical thinking, active listening and oral comprehension and expression skills.	NOTE: Physicians often receive gifts from patients -- for example, urologists and neurosurgeons may receive trips or tickets to the opera or major sporting events. Pediatricians frequently are given pictures of their patients from proud parents. "The qualities that helped pediatricians choose their career are the same qualities that make them feel their present is the best," says Carden Johnston, an emergency medicine pediatrician at Children's Health System, Birmingham, Ala. • American Academy of Pediatrics
Source: Department of Labor.

COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR/DEAN	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $69,400. OUTLOOK: 61,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Experience in a related career, and either a doctorate in their specialty or a bachelor's degree and an advanced degree in college-student affairs, counseling or higher-education administration. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Listening and oral communication skills; ability to develop and maintain constructive relationships.	NOTE: One job hazard is dealing with parents used to seeing their children get what they want, says Stephen Farmer, assistant provost and director of admissions at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "It may be their first experience of seeing their child disappointed. We've had parents call five times in a 15-minute period," he says. • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers • NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

AEROSPACE ENGINEER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $82,370. OUTLOOK: 25,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree in engineering. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Creativity, curiosity, analytical abilities, attention to detail, teamwork; oral and written communications skills.	NOTE: After a successful launch, aerospace engineers typically throw a party, says Ray Johnson, vice president of launch operations at The Aerospace Corp., a company that supports national security space systems based in El Segundo, Calif. • Aerospace Industries Association • American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

INCOME

Is making lots of money important to you? Check out these careers.

SENIOR INVESTMENT- BANKING ASSOCIATE, CORPORATE FINANCE	INCOME: 2004 average annual salary and bonus: $597,752, according to the Securities Industry Association's 2005 Report on Management & Professional Earnings. (The survey covers mostly larger regional and smaller firms, not the largest financial-services firms.)
TRAINING: Experience as an associate investment banker. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to work long hours (initially 70 a week minimum).	OUTLOOK: The job market for senior investment-banking professionals tracks the health of the global economy, says Adam Zoia, managing partner at Glocap Search LLC, a New York-based global executive search firm specializing in finance. Currently, recruiting is robust, he says. NOTE: Read the article: "The Perks and Drawbacks of Being an Investment Banker."

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT A LARGE COMPANY	INCOME: 2005 median annual total cash compensation (salary plus bonus): $832,500, according to Mercer Human Resource Consulting, New York (for CFOs at large companies, most with $5-10 billion in annual revenue).
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree or higher; more than five years' job experience. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Mathematical and deductive reasoning, oral and written comprehension.	OUTLOOK: While executive recruiters report continued healthy demand for CFOs, top opportunities are limited due to the relatively small number of large companies; 242 were included in the Mercer survey. NOTE: Read the article: "Thanks to Sarbanes-Oxley, Finance-Chief Turnover Is Rising."
Source: Department of Labor.

TOP SURGEON	INCOME: Average base annual salary: $421,775, according to SalaryExpert.com. OUTLOOK FOR ALL SURGEONS: 212,000 additional employees needed between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Four years of college, four years of medical school, three to eight years' internship and residency. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Self-motivation, desire to serve patients, willingness to keep up with medical advances, ability to make decisions in emergencies, cope with the pressures and long hours of training.	NOTE: A lot of surgeons pursue hobbies that involve working with their hands, such as woodworking, says James H. Beaty, an orthopedic surgeon and chief of orthopedics at Campbell Clinic, an orthopedic center in Memphis, Tenn., and first vice president of the board of directors at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. • American College of Surgeons
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION

Is intellectual stimulation important to you? Check out these careers.

CHEMIST	INCOME: 2004 median wage: $57,090. OUTLOOK: 33,000 additional employees needed from 2004 to 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree at minimum; research positions may require a master's degree or Ph.D. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Perseverance, curiosity, concentration; ability to work independently and on interdisciplinary teams, and to work with one's hands and computer models.	NOTE: On the CBS TV show CSI Miami, the fictional Miami police crime lab head Horatio Caine (played by David Caruso) is a chemist. He earned a degree in chemistry and joined the Miami-Dade Police Department as a Level-1 Criminologist, according to the show's Web site. • American Chemical Society
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

COMPUTER PROGRAMMER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $62,980 OUTLOOK: 117,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014
TRAINING: Bachelor's degrees commonly required; two-year degree and certificate programs often acceptable. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Logical thinking, persistence, patience, creativity, ability to perform under pressure.	NOTE: Many computer programmers love to work at night, says Niels Lobo, associate professor of computer science at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla. "We are nocturnal. We also drink lots of Coca-Cola and eat junk food, because we are always in front of the computer," he says. • Computing Technology Industry Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

MATHEMATICIAN	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $81,010. OUTLOOK: 1,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: A Ph.D., except for some federal government jobs. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Reasoning ability, persistence, communication skills.	NOTE: "A difficult mathematical problem that has gotten under one's skin is like a toothache. It won't let go of one; it makes one disagreeable although one may not otherwise be a disagreeable person," says Roy Lisker, author and editor of Ferment Magazine, an online publication about math and mathematicians based in Middletown, Conn. • American Mathematical Society
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

JOB SECURITY

Is being able to find another job easily or having many options is important to you? Check out these careers.

REGISTERED NURSE	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $53,640. OUTLOOK: 1,203,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: A bachelor's or associate degree, or a diploma from an approved nursing program, and passing a national licensing examination. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to stand and walk for long periods, cope with working with health hazards and emotional strain, and adhere to strict guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers.	NOTE: Nurses occasionally must handle situations in which patients leave the hospital without telling anyone, says Deborah Burger, a diabetes case worker and registered nurse at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, in Santa Rosa, Calif., who is president of the California Nurses Association: "I had a patient that called me from a bar down the street and said he'd be back when the bar closed," she says. • National League for Nursing • American Association of Colleges of Nursing • American Nurses Association
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS ENGINEER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $76,310. OUTLOOK: 268,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: At least a bachelor's degree and broad knowledge of systems and technologies. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Ability to communicate with others, solve problems, multitask, focus and pay attention to detail.	NOTE: "We are all geeks. We are like the nerds in the movie 'Revenge of the Nerds,' " says Melvin Neil, a senior software engineer with Ferrell Companies, a software company serving the construction industry in Lakewood, Colo. In the 1984 comedy starring Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine, a group of computer-science students at the fictional Adams College try to stop jocks at a campus fraternity from harassing them. It spawned three sequels. • Read the article: "Techie Trade Groups Battle A Stubborn Stereotype."
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CUSTOMER-SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $27,200. OUTLOOK: 778,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: High-school diploma. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: A friendly and professional demeanor; ability to handle problems and angry customers.	NOTE: Customer-service reps often field queries about company mascots. "People call with questions about the Energizer bunny and what sex he is," says Jason Ray, a rep for a call center in Wisconsin that services several companies. He refers callers to Energizer Bunny's online biography. Heather Pasch, a customer-service rep for GEICO Insurance in Lakeland, Fla., refers fans of the company's gecko to his blog.
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

LOWER STRESS

Is having little stress important to you? Check out these careers.

ARCHIVIST	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $37,500. OUTLOOK: 2,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: A graduate degree in history or library science and related work experience preferred. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Research and analytical abilities; organizational and writing skills.	NOTE: Archivists work with a range of materials -- not just books, manuscripts and leather-bound government documents, says Richard Pearce-Moses, director of digital government information at Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a state agency in Phoenix. For example, Mr. Pearce-Moses has worked with collections that include a wax-cylinder Dictaphone, baseball bats and human remains, he says. • The Society of American Archivists
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

SURVEY RESEARCHER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $27,900. OUTLOOK: 12,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: At least a bachelor's degree; sometimes a master's degree and continuing education. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: Attention to detail, patience, persistence, good oral and written communication skills.	NOTE: Survey researchers work hard at persuading people to take the time to respond to them. One tactic: putting stamps on crooked and signing in blue ink to give the impression the surveys will be compiled by "actual people," says Rodney Hayward, director of health-services research and development at Ann Arbor VA Healthcare System, a hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich. • Council of American Survey Research Organizations
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

FORESTER	INCOME: 2004 median annual wage: $48,800. OUTLOOK: 5,000 additional employees between 2004 and 2014.
TRAINING: Bachelor's degree in forestry, range management, or a related discipline. SKILLS/QUALITIES NEEDED: The ability to work alone and meet sometimes-rigorous physical demands. Also, a forester must communicate with landowners, government officials and others, including members of the general public.	NOTE: One challenge of job is repelling bugs, particularly ticks and mosquitoes. "One of our foresters wears flea-and-tick collars for dogs on his wrists and ankles," says Jeremiah Lemmons, a district forester for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in Indianapolis. • Society of American Foresters
Sources: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

PREDICTABLE HOURS

 

Seeking a career with regular and predictable hours? As work continues to encroach on professionals' personal lives, it may be increasingly difficult to find, but some careers you may want to scratch from your list at the outset. Here is a rundown of a sampling of careers with irregular hours, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook:

Careers in emergency services, such as fire fighters, surgeons, emergency medical technicians and paramedics have irregular, hours, and often long ones. Funeral directors also have irregular hours.

In the corporate sphere, computer-support specialists and systems administrators often work on call, carrying pagers or cell phones, and may be required to work on rotating evenings or weekends. Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives also work irregular hours, but often can determine their own schedules.

Reporter and correspondents also often work irregular hours, as well as nights and weekends. The same goes for their counterparts in the public-relations field, as they likewise must be on call around the clock, especially in the event of an emergency or crisis.

Real-estate brokers and sales agents and property managers also often work evenings and weekends and frequently are on call.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

 

Research is scant on careers that can offer work-life balance, according to experts in occupations and working-mother issues. In terms of general fields, health-care, accounting and teaching are likely to offer a better sense of equilibrium than others, they say. If you're interested in a balanced life, you may want to steer clear of law firms and advertising agencies, they say.

Accounting firms and health-care companies are consistent stand-outs on Working Mother magazine's annual "best companies" list of family-friendly employers, according to Carol Evans, founder and chief executive officer of Working Mother Media Inc. Many employers in accounting offer flexible-work options, such as telecommuting, job-sharing and compressed work-weeks, she says. Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies are known for their family-friendly policies, which include amenities to help make juggling responsibilities easier, including dry-cleaning, take-home meals and lactation rooms for nursing mothers.

Teaching careers -- where shorter hours and summers off are still typical -- are generally better structured for care givers than other professions, says Joanne Brundage, executive director of Mothers & More, a nonprofit based in Elmhurst, Ill. "It's still the traditional female roles that we still hear are the best," she says, pointing also to nursing.

Relatively few law firms and ad agencies have made the Working Mother list in its 20-year history, says Ms. Evans. "They don't have the policies in place, they don't do the work, and they stop trying after a while," she says.

BENEFITS

 

If you're seeking a career with good benefits -- health care, retirement and paid time off -- you're best off in white-collar, management or professional positions at large goods-producing employers. These positions tend to have greater access to benefits and employers tend to spend more on them, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Workers in pink-collar jobs (those traditionally held by women, such as secretary, sales clerk and food server), in the service industry, or in small establishments tend to receive the worst benefits. Of course there will be exceptions. For example, secretaries at investment banks are likely to have access to attractive benefits. And while benefits at goods-producing companies are generally better than those offered by employers in the service industry, jobs in the manufacturing sector have been on the decline, so they may be harder to come by. Additionally, employees in blue-collar jobs are likely to be paying higher health-care premiums and co-pays and are less likely to have a pension, according to Heather Boushey, senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C.

When it comes to benefits generally, nowadays you get what you pay for. Many employers typically offer a menu of options, but ask employees to pay for a greater share of the benefits they choose, according to Jack VanDerhei, a fellow at the Employee Benefits Research Institute. "It's a function of how much they're going to charge the employees," he says.