Viral Vocations: The New Occupational Outlook

       Our federal government is constantly updating forecasts regarding different occupational sectors. Contained in the "Occupational Outlook Handbook", this is an attempt to direct us to careers that are growing rather than likely to shrink, a benevolent act as well as self enlightened (as it ensures a larger tax base for the government). Various states (including Michigan) also publish more localized versions. Given the ongoing pandemic and its impact on the economy, I offer a few examples of career paths that have become emergent or come to the forefront as those one might consider if just starting out or experiencing a career 'makeover'.

       "When I grow up I want to be a...."

"Bovine Manicurist!"  Admittedly, this occupational 'sector' has little if anything to do with the pandemic but I have been waiting for the chance to write about it and this seemed my best opportunity. A career you probably have not heard of or at least seriously considered, but one with apparently good job security. While vacationing in upper Michigan a few years back, an article caught my attention regarding a local man who understood the basic law of supply and demand, as he offered to clean cows' hooves at ____ per hoof, a task that few wanted to tend to but needed to be done if cattle were to eventually make it to market.

"An Evolutionary Molecular Biologist...as I want to be the one to locate 'Patient Zero', who started this whole mess!" Requiring advanced degrees in biology, biochemistry, and other scientific disciplines, this field of molecular evolution uses principles of evolutionary biology and population genetics to explain patterns of these changes (and hopefully a complete explanation of this viral varmint we can all understand). I don't recall a time in my office I had an aspiring college student tell me they yearned to pursue such an occupation since they were a youngster (related occupations: epidemiologist/virologist).

"A COVID Beach Comber!" Recently, Spain announced it was hiring several thousand individuals for the purpose of maintaining proper distancing on the many popular beaches spanning hundreds of miles of coastline. This, in an attempt to allow beaches to stay open and stem the 'tide' (pun intentional) of COVID. Interested? Not sure what the minimal job requirements are, let alone the current travel restrictions to Spain.

"A risk manager....so I can finally employ my traits of excessive worrying and OCD tendencies!" No doubt a career that will be better appreciated after the pandemic, one which pays for 'disciplined worrying' and informing superiors of what they in turn should be worried about ("if they'd only listen!").

"An ethicist".  Given what we have learned regarding the risk categories of COVID and related health care issues (especially the pace of decision making in the ER's and ICU's), individuals with advanced medical experience along with a sophistication in philosophy and legal issues, will be called on to assist decision making on behalf of patients and families who are not in the best position to do so.

"An office building manager"....well, probably not, as less will be going to the office for  a while (included as an obvious example of what to veer away from, whereas just recently this was a relatively stable job category in many communities).

Choose wisely and remember a few cardinal rules our parents taught us while growing up when considering a career: "be good at more than one thing" (three to five preferably that are 'transportable'); and "the best way to get a job is to have a job" (always better to be looking for a job while still employed).