6 Tips for making sure your next job is the right job for you Are you ready for a change in your career? If you answered yes, you are not the only one. According to the 2004 U.S. Job Recovery and Retention Survey released by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and CareerJournal.com, 38% percent of the human resource professionals surveyed said they have noticed an increase in turnover since the beginning of 2004. Why are people leaving? According to the survey, better compensation, better career opportunities, and dissatisfaction with their current job. The job market is shifting. More jobs are being created. Demand is up and supply is beginning to drop. It may be an employee's market sooner than we think. If you are ready to switch jobs, it's important to make a good decision. You don't want to walk into someone else's nightmare. You want to make a good choice, not ANY choice, but the right one. So, How Can You Make Sure You Make A Good Choice? Start with the interview. Listen to your heart. Most people who are unhappy in their jobs knew on the interview that the job was not right for them. They chose to ignore their intuition because they wanted the money or the prestige of having that company or title on their resume. Don't let the wrong job happen to you. Follow the tips below to make sure it doesn't. 1. If You Don't Get Along With Your Boss On The Interview, You Never Will Clicking with your boss is essential for a good work life. If you notice on the interview that your boss does not get you, or you do not get him/her, this will not change once you start working there. Use the interview to find out if your boss is interested in what you have to say and understands what's important to in your career before you accept an offer to work there. 2. If You Don't Get Along With Co-Workers, You Never Will If you sense there is a problem with someone you will be working with, listen to what your inner voice is telling you. Working relationships with people you do not like on the interview will only get harder as the time you spend with them increases. If you prefer team oriented environments and your future co-worker says she and others prefer to work alone, recognize that the environment is not a match for you. 3. Stop Worrying About Being Selected Wanting to be selected by an employer sometimes has us talk ourselves into a situation we might not have taken if we were thinking more clearly. The purpose of an interview is for both parties to interview each other to see if there is a fit. Don't try to talk yourself into believing a job is for you when you know in your heart that it is not. This is a recipe for disaster. 4. Decide What You Want First Make a list of what's important to you in a job before going into the interview. Is your workspace a priority? Then ask to see if before you make a decision. Do you want to work 9 to 5pm? Then ask your future boss and colleagues what their days consist of. If they tell you that they arrive in the office at 7am and leave around 8pm, you should expect the same. (Don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise.) Deciding what you want ahead of time will give you the opportunity to ask questions to assess whether you really want the job. 5. Don't Sell Out It is ok to take a job because you need the money. But if it's not the right job for you, then give yourself a timeframe for moving on, and then stick to it. I work with many clients who agreed to less than perfect positions believing they would stay for just one year. But the year frequently became two, and then more, even though the jobs were not satisfying. An interim position is just that. Don't sell out. 6. Be Yourself There really is no other way to find out if you will be accepted for who you are or not. You may fool the people with whom you interview to get the job, but you will only be fooling yourself once you get there and you have to be someone else. So what do you say? You only have one life to live so it might as well be a life you love!

Research shows overwhelmingly that a college degree pays off, but you don't need to earn a four-year degree to reap those benefits. New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that some of the fastest-growing careers out there only require an associate degree.
5 High-growth Jobs for Associate Degree Holders
The bureau recently released its employment projections for 2010-2020. If you are looking to jump into a new career quickly, here are the five fastest growing jobs for associate degree holders.
1. Veterinary technicians

• Projected growth from 2010-2020: 52 percent
• Typical degree: Associate degree in veterinary technology
• Mean annual income in 2010: $31,030

Veterinary technicians work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. They may record patient case histories, take vital signs and perform lab work. While some technicians may work in a research setting, most are employed in private veterinary practices.
The BLS reports demand for veterinary technicians should increase as pet owners are increasingly likely to seek out advanced care for their pets. In addition, the relatively limited number of veterinary technology graduates each year means those with the proper education and training will likely find their job prospects are excellent.
2. Physical therapist assistants

• Projected growth from 2010-2020: 45.7 percent
• Typical degree: Associate degree from a physical therapist assistant program
• Mean annual income in 2010: $49,810

For the elderly and those with chronic conditions, physical therapy offers a way to regain mobility and reduce pain. Physical therapist assistants work under the supervision of a physical therapist to help patients with exercise, balance training and other therapeutic methods. Most states require these assistants to have at least an associate degree. While most physical therapist assistants work in health care facilities, some may provide services within a patient's home.
3. Diagnostic medical sonographers

• Projected growth from 2010-2020: 43.5 percent
• Typical degree: Associate degree in diagnostic medical sonography
• Mean annual income in 2010: $64,900

Jobs for diagnostic medical sonographers are expected to grow significantly as sonography use expands as an alternative to radiological procedures. Sonographers use special equipment to transmit sound waves into a patient's body and then record and interpret the resulting echoes. While ultrasounds for pregnant women may be the most commonly known type of sonography, the technology is also used to monitor the heart, nerves and other organs. Most jobs for diagnostic medical sonographers are found in hospitals, but laboratories, physician offices and outpatient facilities may also employ these health care professionals.
4. Occupational therapist assistants

• Projected growth from 2010-2020: 43.3 percent
• Typical degree: Associate degree from accredited occupational therapist assistant program
• Mean annual income in 2010: $51,300

Like physical therapist assistants, occupational therapist assistants work to help patients regain mobility. However, occupational therapy tends to focus more on rehabilitation services to help improve an individual's ability to conduct daily activities or return to the workforce. It is not uncommon for occupational therapy patients to have mental, emotional, physical or developmental disabilities. Occupational therapist assistants work under the supervision of an occupational therapist and typically see patients in hospitals, nursing homes or other health care offices.
5. Dental hygienists

• Projected growth from 2010-2020: 37.7 percent
• Typical degree: Associate degree in dental hygiene
• Mean annual income in 2010: $68,680

Americans are taking better care of their teeth and that means greater demand for dental hygienists. These professionals take x-rays, remove tarter build up and polish teeth until they shine. In addition, hygienists regularly advise patients on the various aspects of good oral care and may assist dentists in procedures such as filling cavities. Dental hygienists work almost exclusively in dentist offices, and the BLS reports that more than half work on a part-time basis. Hygienists must be licensed, and nearly all states require graduation from an accredited dental hygiene program as a requirement for licensure.
If you are ready for a new job but don't want to spend years in a classroom, consider a career that requires only a two-year education program. Getting an associate degree could be the first step toward these hot jobs.