ISFJ Popular Careers

• Good employment opportunities are expected because of the need to replace the large number of workers who leave the occupation each year.
• Many salespersons work evenings and weekends, particularly during peak retail periods.
• Employers look for people who enjoy working with others and who have good communication skills, an interest in sales work, a neat appearance, and a courteous demeanor.
• Although advancement opportunities are limited, having a college degree or a great deal of experience may help retail salespersons move into management positions.

• Job opportunities should be very good.
• Hospitals will account for the vast majority of job openings, but a growing number of openings will arise in other settings.
• An associate degree is the minimum educational requirement, but a bachelor's or master's degree may be important for advancement.
• All States, except Alaska and Hawaii, require respiratory therapists to be licensed.

• Good interpersonal skills are critical.
• A high school diploma or its equivalent is the most common educational requirement.
• A large number of job openings are expected.
• Opportunities should be best for persons with a wide range of clerical and technical skills, particularly those with related work experience.

• A license is required in every State and the District of Columbia.
• Residential real estate brokers and sales agents often work evenings and weekends.
• Although gaining a job may be relatively easy, beginning workers face competition from well-established, more experienced agents and brokers.
• Employment is sensitive to swings in the economy, as well as interest rates; during periods of declining economic activity or rising interest rates, the volume of sales and the resulting demand for sales workers fall.

• Requirements for admission to training programs vary; most applicants have a college degree and some health-related work experience.
• Physician assistants must complete an accredited education program and pass a national exam in order to obtain a license.
• Employment is projected to grow much faster than the average.
• Job opportunities should be good, particularly in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities.

• Many physicians and surgeons work long, irregular hours.
• Acceptance to medical school is highly competitive.
• Formal education and training requirements—typically 4 years of undergraduate school, 4 years of medical school, and 3 to 8 years of internship and residency—are among the most demanding of any occupation, but earnings are among the highest.
• Job opportunities should be very good, particularly in rural and low-income areas.

Key Points

• Numerous job openings and excellent job opportunities are expected.
• Most jobs are in nursing and residential care facilities and in hospitals.
• A high school diploma is required for many jobs; specific qualifications vary by occupation, State laws, and work setting.
• This occupation is characterized by modest entry requirements, low pay, high physical and emotional demands, and limited advancement opportunities.

• Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2008–18 decade.
• Job prospects should be excellent.
• About 62 percent of medical assistants work in offices of physicians.
• Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but many complete 1-year or 2-year programs.

• This occupation includes a large percentage of part-time and self-employed workers.
• Many States require formal training and licensure in order to practice massage therapy.
• Employment is expected to grow faster than average as more people learn about the benefits of massage therapy.

• Long hours, including night and weekend work, are common.
• Employment is projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations.
• College graduates with degrees in hotel or hospitality management should have better opportunities for jobs at full-service hotels and for advancement than those without a degree.