| The recession has hit deep and wide unsettling | | | | as: |
| more than 5 million Americans from their steady | | | | - Finance - With estimates as high as $1.5 trillion |
| 9-to 5 jobs. Many employees have found only | | | | for the health care overhaul the Obama |
| dead ends in their current industry. But even in | | | | administration is backing it is certain that anyone |
| these difficult times, the health care industry has | | | | with skills in finance and a health care-related |
| managed to add more than 500,000 jobs since | | | | degree or certificate will have good prospects for |
| December 2007, according to the Wall Street | | | | a position in the health care industry. |
| Journal. In all, the health care industry is growing | | | | - Information Technology - An additional 212,000 |
| by an average of more than 17,000 jobs a | | | | IT jobs are projected to be created if the health |
| month. | | | | care reform program put forth by the Obama |
| Many of those new employees are victims of | | | | administration passes. Industry analysts say there |
| layoffs, who have had no prior health care | | | | just aren't that many people who are currently |
| industry experience. These newcomers are | | | | qualified to be health technology experts |
| applying the job skills they learned in banking, | | | | - Communications - Health care is already a |
| information technology, communications and | | | | competitive industry and people with skills in |
| finance to jobs in the health care industry. | | | | communications and marketing are always in need. |
| "There are many good opportunities for people | | | | But adding a health care management degree can |
| who want to work in health care management or | | | | help push a candidate to the top of the list in a |
| administration," says Amy Metzger who has been | | | | crowded field of communicators. |
| in public health for more than 10 years. Metzger is | | | | - Project Management - Digitizing health care |
| a health specialist for a large global nonprofit. "The | | | | records, computer systems that monitor patient |
| industry needs good people in information | | | | and physician scheduling, addition of new medical |
| technology, in finance, both domestically and | | | | technologies, all of these additions require a |
| overseas. If you have a proven record in | | | | systematic change in how a health care system |
| managing similar things it's not that different." | | | | operates. This is where a good project manager |
| Metzger urges laid off professionals to begin a | | | | is needed. |
| health care career, especially public health. "If you | | | | So whether you were laid off from your job as a |
| have some related degree and you go and start | | | | banker, lawyer or CEO, a position in the health |
| with an online healthcare degree program, or even | | | | care industry could be yours with the right |
| earn an online professional certificate, it can help | | | | educational addition to your resume. Consider |
| you transition to a new career in the health care | | | | getting your online degree in healthcare |
| industry." | | | | management or administration. It just might turn |
| Skills you used in your former job are equally | | | | your luck around! |
| applicable to health care related professions, such | | | | |