Hottest careers for blacks - job opportunities

Ebony, Nov, 1993

WITH expected growth in career fields as varied as engineering, environmental sciences, law enforcement and health care, Blacks must prepare now to meet the challenges of the future. And by almost all accounts, the most promising fields for Blacks in the coming years will be occupations in accounting, computer technology and engineering.

But the Black college career placement directors, labor experts, trade officials and market analysts who cited these and other up-and-coming fields say professionals entering the work-force and those who decide to change careers may find that the road to success is hard to find.

Corporations have already streamlined their budgets and staffs, leaving room only for those employees who are highly advanced and capable of superior performance. Most professional jobs require a two-year degree, computer aptitude and practical job experience for success. Job-seekers interested in pulling in the top-dollar positions must also gear up for additional training even after landing that dream job.

Post-recession professionals are also becoming familiar with another lean lesson: fulfillment in today's market must be defined by more than just monetary gain. Employees must now look more closely than ever before at benefit packages that include advanced educational opportunities, flexible hours and other incentives for overall job satisfaction.

The list that follows is a compilation of recommended occupations by the U.S. Department of Labor and several market analysts interviewed for this story. Their findings are based on professions that shows that greatest potential for growth, lucrative salaries(*) and overall job security for the future. Although this career listing is meant to tantalize a competitive nerve, it is in no way an all-encompassing guide to the best jobs.

The bottom line is clear. Whatever the chosen profession, Blacks who are equipped with the skills--and the mindset--of the 21st century will succeed. "In the end," says Dr. Margaret Simms, director of research at the joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, "you should look for something that you can sustain an interest in because if you're not reasonably interested and happy with the things that you do, you're not going to be your most productive."

ACCOUNTING

Companies that dispense goods and services abroad depend on the expertise of accountants to siphon through complicated international tax treaties, and domestic firms need experts for internal auditing, bookkeeping and account management. As a result, these professionals can expect a very bright future. "The accounting profession is growing and as this growth continues I think there should be significant opportunities for African-American candidates," says Bert N. Mitchell, founder and CEO of Mitchell/Titus & Co. in Manhattan, the largest Black CPA firm in the country. "The absolute need for good talent makes it a good choice for bright people of all races." Dr. Lawrence Mathews, chief financial officer of The Wellness Plan in Detroit and president of the National Association of Black Accountants, agrees. "When you talk about job security, your financial people are the last to be let go in a company," Mathews adds. "It's a global economy that accounting people are working in. They are more than accountants; they are providers of critical information." jobs for these critical informers range from entry-level account managers and bookkeepers, with starting salaries ranging between $30,000 and $50,000, to top-level chief financial officers or company presidents, with salaries in the mid-six figures. A bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, certification and an MBA are recommended for the best salaries and job options. Strong math and English backgrounds are a must, and as computerized spreadsheets become second nature to the business, mastery of computer skills is a plus.

COMPUTER SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

Digital technology has become more comprehensive and sophisticated than ever before. Modern computers can do everything from automating dance steps to emulating a painter's canvas and even interacting with customers via satellite. Although jobs in this market have lagged in recent years, they are expected to increase. "Blacks should be involved in all aspects of the field, not confined to legendary systems, which are mainframe-type computer systems," says Chicago entrepreneur Charles Green, president of CIM3, a computer UNIX system house, and chief information officer of Concerned Health Care of America, Inc., a software maintenance future advancements in the field. Developments in system designs, using such methodologies as object-oriented technology and information engineering he projects, will be at the cutting edge of the field. Those pursuing computer careers should possess analytical skills and a broad knowledge base about information engineering and advanced computer languages. The professionals in highest demand are knowledge engineers who couple their computer expertise with another business base. Entry-level computer programmers earn $31,584 on average. Programmers salaries cap off at about $45,000. Knowledge engineers typically get bachelor's degrees in computer engineering or software engineering. Starting salaries begin at about $28,000 and rise to about $65,000.