What 10 careers on Money and PayScale.com’s list of America’s best jobs will see big opportunities, and what do hiring managers look for?
6. Physical Therapist
Best Jobs rank: 4
10-year growth: 30%
Median pay: $75,000
A greater focus on strength, wellness and preventative care has moved physical therapy into the mainstream. Now these specialists work with patients of all ages and ailments to improve their standard of health.
East Hartford, Conn.-based Preferred Therapy Solutions has 170 openings for those interested in working with patients who are suffering from disease or injury. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required — though a doctorate is recommended — along with all of the appropriate licenses. Just as important: A love for the job.
“I’m a non clinician, when I talk with someone to screen them, I’m looking for someone who can convey how much they enjoy being a physical therapist,” says employment and human resources director Linda Black.
“Someone that I hired gave me an example of the last patient she had treated and how thrilled she was that that patient was able to stand up on her own and walk down the hall and it brought tears to her eyes. It was catching, it was like maybe I should go back to school and become a PT.”
9. Occupational
Therapist
Best Jobs rank: 19
10-year growth: 26%
Median pay: $72,000
Yes degrees, experience and certification are vital to landing a job as an occupational therapist, but when it comes to helping those that suffer from a disabling condition, compassion is paramount.
As such, Erin Wright, senior recruiter for Lakeland HealthCare, pays just as much attention to a job candidate’s social cues as she does their resume. “A lot of it is their tone,” she says. “The way they answer the telephone, you can hear it in their voice.”
To help screen candidates, she brings them into the office to see how they interact. “We do on-site interviews where they get to meet the team and throughout those interviews we are able to see if they were engaged,” says Wright. “Did they smile? Did they make eye contact?”