Give Thanks for Careers Helping People in a Disaster

To celebrate Thanksgiving,  Career Key has made a list below of careers and occupations that we rely on in a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy – obvious ones and those behind the scenes.  All this month, please give thanks for the people who help us when we need it most.

All of us live with disaster risk.  91% of Americans live in places at moderate to high risk of earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, high-wind damage or terrorism. (Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute, at University of South Carolina.)  Chances are we or someone we know will be impacted by a natural disaster.

We need many different kinds of people and jobs to help us, in large and small ways – to prepare, plan and recover from a disaster. When you need help, comfort, and information, more than just fire and police departments become involved.

If you’re wondering how to choose a career or volunteer job that gives to your community, consider all the ways these careers help.  Feel free to suggest more careers in the comments - I know this is not an exhaustive list.

We organized these careers by the six Holland personality types and Career Key Work Group (not all groups are shown below).  To learn more about personality-career match and to see a longer list of career options with links to career information (salary, job outlook, training and education), visit Career Key’s “Match Your Personality with Careers.”  The Occupational Outlook Handbook is the best resource for information about these careers.

For more lists of careers, college majors, green jobs, career clusters and career pathways organized by Holland personality type and Career Key Work Group, visit the Career Key website, www.careerkey.org.

Careers That Help People in a Natural Disaster

Realistic

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Forester

Forest or Conservation Worker

Safety and Law Enforcement

Emergency Medical Technician

Fire Fighter

Fire Inspector

Police Officer

Engineering

Construction and Building Inspector

Cartographer or Photogrammetrist

Crafts – Electrical-Electronic

Electrical Power-Line Installer & Repairer

Telecommunication Equipment Installer or Repairer

Transportation and Distribution

Aircraft Pilots (Coast Guard and other government personnel taking measurements by air)

Ambulance Drivers, except EMTs

Construction Crafts & Support

Hazardous Materials Removal Worker

The Construction Trades: Carpenters, Plumbers, and Roofers

Systems Operation

Power Plant Operator

Water Treatment Plant Operator

Investigative

Physical Sciences

Atmospheric Scientist

Environmental Scientist

Geophysicist

Geoscientist

Soil Conservationist

Life Sciences

Conservation Scientist

Natural Sciences Manager

Computer Science & Technology

Computer Programmer

Computer Software Engineer

Network and Computer System Administrator

Mathematics and Data Analysis

Operations Research Analyst

Statistician

Social Sciences

Economist

Geographer

Psychologist

Urban or Regional Planner

Engineering

Civil Engineer

Environmental Engineer

Health and Safety Engineer

Nuclear Engineer

Artistic

Visual Arts

Architect

Graphic Designer 

Communications

Broadcast News Analyst

Editor

Reporter or Correspondent

Technical or Scientific Editor or Writer

Social

Social Services

Clergy

Clinical Psychologist

Counselor

Eligibility Interviewer

Medical and Public Health Social Worker

Nursing, Therapy & Health Promotion

Registered Nurse

Child & Adult Care

Home Health Aide

Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse

Social & Human Service Assistant

Educational Services

School Teachers (all grades)

Enterprising

Business Administration

Administrative Services Manager

Chief Executive Officer

Computer and Information System Manager

Construction Manager

Engineering Manager

Lodging Manager (e.g. Hotel, Motel, Resort)

Medical and Health Services Manager

Natural Science Manager

Transportation, Storage, or Distribution Manager

Government and Public Administration

Education Administrator

Government Service Executive

Emergency Management Director

Regulations Enforcement

Occupational Safety and Health Inspector

Conventional

Mathematical Detail

Claim Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator

Cost Estimator

Insurance Underwriter

Oral Communications

Air Traffic Controller

Customer Service Representative

Police, Fire, or Ambulance Dispatcher

Materials & Records Processing

Production, Planning, or Expediting Clerk

Administrative Detail

Budget Analyst

Occupational Health and Safety Technician