Top Careers 2009

This advice to "do what you love" and the wisdom that "the world is getting flat" speaks to what careers are hot this year. In fact, with the dynamic careers on this year's USNWR list, you are sure to find one that matches your interests and strengths.

With the world going "flat," the jobs that require personal contact will remain high in demand. These include careers in health care and social work. Have you ever thought about becoming a fundraiser, a registered nurse or a school psychologist? Health care is an evergreen sector. People always have health problems and always get sick, and there are numerous health care degrees that can help launch a career in the field.

Friedman continued, "What is flattening the world is our ability to automate more work with computers and software and to transmit that work anywhere in the world…the flatter the world gets, the more essential it is that you do what you love, because…all the boring, repetitive jobs are going to be automated or outsourced."

This, and the fact that baby boomers are retiring, leaves voids to be filled and new areas to be explored.

Nursing is one of the fastest growing careers in America and offers a great deal of stability. A nursing degree can be obtained at many colleges, and the salary is rewarding. Nurses earn about $60,010 a year, and with more experience and education, the figure gets higher. Master's degrees in nursing, which open doors to higher paying administrative positions in hospitals and clinics, can be pursued online.

And despite growing concerns about the outsourcing of technical jobs, the U.S. News and World Report ranks engineering as one of the top careers for 2009. Why is this, exactly? Because good engineers are hard to come by, and there are certain times, particularly where government work is concerned, that outsourcing just doesn’t cut it.

Come graduation time, it is the engineering students with a bachelor's or master's degree that are the most sought after at every university in the country. And their options are diverse. The average salary ranges from $72,300 to $91,860 a year. Engineers can also go into specialty areas such as computers, mechanics or electronics, or they can choose other fields such as banking, consulting or law.

Some of the careers that U.S. News and World Report highlight are ones that baby boomers are going to be stepping out of soon. For example, many women who chose to work in the 1970s became librarians, nurses, counselors, therapists and administrators. As they step down, a new generation needs to step in. And some careers that are recommended are quite different from what the average high school student might dream of doing – such as becoming an audiologist, mediator or urban planner.

Accredited online programs are currently very popular. University of Phoenix has about 300,000 students. The benefits of pursuing your studies online are very clear. You can study from anywhere. You can access your course materials online and work at your own pace. There are no geographic barriers with online learning. You can study while you travel, or you can pursue a degree that might not be offered by a local university near you. Many online programs are very user-friendly, offering live audio, video and text interaction with other students and instructors. For example, Keller Graduate School of Management offers flexible online, campus-based or blended curricula that utilize various tools and teaching platforms to deliver cutting-edge MBA training.

Traditional "brick and mortar" institutions might suit some students, but if you need a flexible program, going the online route might be the right choice for you in planning for one of the hot careers in 2009.

With so many degrees, programs and career options, picking what's best for you can be daunting.

Fortunately, this also means that there is something for everybody, and as Friedman said, you should be able to "do what you love."