Working World

At Working World, we’ve been bringing you tips for surviving the recession, advice for keeping your job off the chopping block, and profiles of success for inspiration. Now we’re bringing out the big gun. There’s no brown-haired ballroom dancer to feel it coming. There’s no “English muffin” to cover his ears in anticipation. But it’s on its way! (Yes it is!) Can you feel the rumble? Do you hear its approach? It’s the HOT CAREER TRAIN! (Woo-woo!) And it’s here with five careers in Southern California (in no particular order) that will get you on the right track!

Massage Therapy

Do you have integrity, intuition and motivation? Are you health-conscious and caring? Do you enjoy helping others? Sounds like massage therapy might just be your cup of (stress-reducing) tea.

Known as “friction” back in 400 B.C., today massage therapy has embraced the Western culture as a way to treat ailing muscles, reduce stress, rehabilitate injuries and maintain overall physical, mental and emotional health. There are more than 80 different modalities, including the well-known Swedish massage and shiatsu, and depending on which one is used a session can be anywhere from five minutes to two hours.

The job growth rate, which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is expected to go up by 20 percent over the next seven years, makes it the fastest-growing field in healthcare.

“As massage therapy has entered more into mainstream acceptance, the number of massage therapy businesses has also dramatically increased, providing more opportunities for employment,” said Dr. Paul Schwinghamer, founder and director of California Healing Arts College.

Those opportunities come from both private offices and studios or public institutions such as hospitals, nursing homes, fitness centers, airports and spas. Therapists can be self-employed by building a good client base, or they can work part time or full time as an employee. According to Salary.com, 75 percent of therapists in the Los Angeles area earned more than $41,000 per year, with the other quarter earning more than $63,000.

Hold on, now. Don’t go counting those greenbacks just yet. First you have to make it through training.

Programs range from eight to 40 weeks, depending on what kind of degree you’re going for, with varying tuition costs. California Healing Arts College is an ACCSCT-accredited college and has a 720-hour program that includes courses in Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, oscillation, jade stone therapy, foot reflexology, shiatsu, anatomy/physiology, business ethics and clinical studies (where you get to work with actual clients). They also have a direct partnership with Burke Williams Luxury Day Spas to help facilitate employment, and career placement assistance for all graduates.

According to Schwinghamer, it’s a very exciting time for massage therapy in California. Historically, the Golden State has suffered from many difficulties with regard to obtaining massage therapy licensing or permits from local cities and counties. But this past February was the creation of the California Massage Therapy Council, which certifies therapists to work anywhere in the state. And as an active board member, Schwinghamer says this will take the profession to a whole new level.

Homeland Security

It’s safe to say that since 9/11, national and local security has become a major concern for a lot of Americans. Before the attacks, there were several independent agencies that the public looked to for protection, but no central office they could look to for answers and accountability. Now with the national Department of Homeland Security, the profession has become more cohesive, and as threats against national security persist, the number of jobs continues to grow.

“Homeland security encompasses our ability to prevent, protect and respond quickly and efficiently by identifying and thwarting terrorist attacks,” said Harold Hunter, MPA, CPP, CLET, CHSM, a Homeland Security instructor at ICDC College. “As such, students are very interested in intelligence as one of the key mechanisms to identify terrorists.

“Students are also interested in learning the internal workings of our federal government, well beyond what is seen or heard in the news,” he continued. “ICDC’s Homeland Security program will give students an in-depth understanding.”

ICDC has two programs for students to choose from, both of which started in 2009. The first is a vocational diploma program in homeland security and investigation that takes nine months to complete. The second is an associate degree in occupational studies in homeland security, which takes just short of two years to complete.

Courses are taught by retired and former law enforcement personnel from federal, state and local agencies, and former military security specialists. Topics of study vary depending on which program the student pursues, but include intelligence and research collection, crime scene investigation, weapons of mass destruction, defensive tactics and handcuffing, terrorist profiling, cyber terrorism and maritime security.

With a certificate in homeland security and investigation, graduates can pursue careers as public safety officers, school security officers, first responders, disaster volunteers, emergency response personnel, airport security, seaports security, fingerprint technicians, private investigators and even bounty hunters.

Those with an associate degree can apply for positions in federal, state and local government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the IRS and federal protective services; and it will qualify them for entry-level positions in the FBI, FEMA, border patrol, tribal law enforcement, the Federal Air Marshal Service and federal immigration services.

Income rates vary depending on which path is chosen, but according to the Department of Labor, the median income for police and detectives was $58,260 in 2006.

“The ideal Homeland Security student is someone who is an excellent communicator, thinks outside the box, and someone with a passion for serving the public,” Hunter said.

“At the end of the day, students from all walks of life want a career that is both challenging and rewarding; one that has global impact,” said Lisa McGloiry, J.D., director of marketing at ICDC. “Efforts to protect, prevent and respond to terrorist attacks can save individual lives today and those lives in the future.”

Beauty Industry

The beauty industry isn’t a $5 billion industry for nothing. The American culture is one of many around the globe that stresses the importance of personal appearance, and as the home of Hollywood, Los Angeles is a mecca for that mode of thinking. So it comes as no surprise that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, personal appearance workers held 825,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2006, and the industry is projected to grow by 14 percent through 2016.

Of the 825,000, 82 percent worked as barbers or cosmetologists, 10 percent as manicurists and pedicurists, and five percent as skin care specialists.

Barbers tend to be males, as are most of their clients. Some offer facial shaving services in addition to hair care, and a small percentage provide skin care and nail treatments. Cosmetologists are trained to cut, color and style hair, as well as give manicures, pedicures, facial treatments and makeup tips. Manicurists and pedicurists (also known as nail technicians) work solely with nails and keep them trim and polished.

Then there are the skin care specialists, who are trained to give facials, full-body treatments, massages for the head and neck and apply makeup. Many are also trained in hair removal, whether it’s with wax or a laser.

Around 46 percent of personal appearance workers are self-employed through owning their own business or sometimes renting space in a salon. Schedules often include evenings and weekends — when people working the Monday-through-Friday jobs have time to be primped and pampered — and stamina is the name of the game since workers are on their feet for most of the day.

For these positions, all states require the worker to have a license, which can be earned at barber or cosmetology schools and public and private vocational schools.

Marinello Schools of Beauty offer programs in hair care, skin care and manicuring, and all are certified by the state of California. The hair care programs include a 1,600-hour cosmetology program and a 1,500-hour barbering program, both of which cover topics such as haircutting and styling, color, texturizing, skin care, makeup and nail care. The skin care programs include courses in skin analysis, facials, hair removal, exfoliation, nail care and makeup, and their basic esthetician license program is 600 hours. To become a nail technician, students complete a 400-hour program that includes courses in nail care, acrylic nails, nail disorders and diseases, anatomy and physiology and nail art.

Once licensed, employment can be found beauty salons, barber shops, nail salons, day and resort spas and residential care homes. The median income for cosmetologists in 2006 was $10.25 an hour, including tips; $11.13 for barbers; $12.58 for skin care specialists; and $9.23 for nail technicians.

Healthcare Administration

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the time we reach 2016, the healthcare industry will have generated 3 million new jobs, more than any other industry. With continuing advancements in medical technology and patient care, individuals are living longer. The effect of these lengthening life spans can be seen today as the aging baby boomer population has increased the need for healthcare workers. Seven of the 20 fastest growing occupations are related to this industry, and health care administration is one of them.

“The healthcare industry offers significant career opportunities, and some of our students already work in the administrative ranks of the healthcare field,” said Dr. Melissa Hartman, provost and chief academic officer for L.A. College International. “Our programs offer the opportunity for career progression.”

Relatively new to the college, the healthcare administration programs started in the spring of 2008 and include both an associate and a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, with options for a concentration in billing and coding and management information systems, respectively.

Both programs are comprised of core courses, which build a foundation of knowledge, theory and application within the degree; and general education courses, which provide a broad educational base that encompasses mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and communication.

Within the associate program, students can graduate in 18 months having learned healthcare terms and language, how to control costs and maximize profits based on the examination of patient health services, how to outline parameters of information systems, industry regulations, how to apply financial techniques to decision making and how to handle day-to-day admin activities. Skills in marketing and customer service, medical records and insurance, diversity issues, communication strategies and policy and law are also developed.

Bachelor’s degree graduates can make it through the program in 30 months having learned the same skills listed above, with the addition of developing leadership skills, analyzing global healthcare systems and recognizing issues of wellness and aging.

Administration positions are found all over the healthcare industry, leaving the graduate with a wide range of options, such as public and private hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, physician and dentist officers, home health care facilities, outpatient care centers and ambulatory health care services.

As with most jobs in the healthcare industry, earned income for healthcare administration workers varies based on duties, level of education, training and what kind of establishment it is.

While L.A. College currently does not offer internships or externships as part of the programs, they are working with facilities in the area to provide opportunities for future campus students. Until then, Hartman said, “L.A. College provides services to assist in career placement upon graduation in the areas of resume building, interview techniques, networking, career coaching, job search methods, encouragement and support.”

Medical Imaging

Another arm of the healthcare industry that’s experiencing significant job growth is medical imaging, i.e. radiologic technology and sonography. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of radiologic technologist jobs is expected to go up by 15 percent through 2016; for sonographers the rate is even higher at 19 percent.

A typical day for a radiologic technologist includes producing X-ray films, prepping patients for radiologic examinations, positioning patients for the X-ray, keeping patient records, adjusting and maintaining equipment, preparing work schedules and evaluating equipment purchases. Some technologists also become specialized in CT scans, MRI scans and mammography.

Sonography is the use of sounds waves to create an image that helps diagnose a medical condition. As such, the field is most commonly associatted with the ultrasound imaging used during pregnancy. Some sonographers also choose a specialty such as obstetric and gynecologic, abdominal, neuro, vascular and cardiac.

A typical day for a sonographer might include recording the medical history of patient; explaining procedures; adjusting equipment settings to provide the best view of the image; deciphering healthy and unhealthy areas within the image; then taking measurements, calculating values and analyzing the results to present to the physician.

West Coast Ultrasound Institute in Beverly Hills offers two medical imaging programs that have been around for 11 years. One is in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which last seven months for the short program and 13 months for the long; and the other is diagnostic medical sonography, which takes 21 months. The MRI program consists of a three-month prerequisite class that preps students to enter three modules, all of which must be passed to be eligible to sit for the American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists national certification exam.

In the prereq, students are trained in anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, patient care, math, scanning planes, body systems, CPR, blood pressure, pulse, temperature and first aid. They then move on to the first module, which trains students in MRI principles, physics and other fundamentals; number two moves on to MRI sectional anatomy; and the third is a 240-hour clinical externship.

The sonography program is made up of five modules that must be passed to graduate: imaging science, abdominal ultrasound, obstetric and gynecology, vascular ultrasound and physics and instrumentation.

West Coast has a career services department that assists graduates in resume writing, cover letter preparation, workshops on interview techniques and career guidance.

According to the BLS, more than half for both professions are found in public and private hospitals and the rest in physician offices, medical and diagnostic laboratories, diagnostic imaging centers, outpatient care centers and mobile imaging services. Median annual earnings for radiologic technologists were $48,170 in 2006, and $57,160 for diagnostic medical sonographers.   

Beth Duggan is the editor for Working World and Working Nurse magazines. She has worked in the nonprofit and trade publication industries since uprooting herself from Missouri three years ago.

Resources

California Healing Arts College
ICDC College
Marinello Schools of Beauty
L.A. College International
West Coast Ultrasound Institute
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists

Sidebar

Budgeting for Back to School

If breaking the bank is your biggest concern about hitting the books again, check out these resources:

FastWeb – a scholarship search engine that matches students to potential funds based on their qualifications

eStudentLoan – provides resources to help navigate the world of student loans

FAFSA – fill out a free application with Uncle Sam to see if the U.S. Department of Education can help flip the bill

California Employment Development Department – part of the national Workforce Investment Act, the EDD can help you find no-fee training

Federal Pell Grant Program – need-based grants to low-income undergraduate students